who are inclined to desertion (67 deserters from the 73d Reserve
Infantry Regiment on Sept. 28, 1917). (November, 1917.)
1918.
1. About April 6 the division was relieved and moved to Belgium,
entering line at Dixmude on April 17.
BATTLE OF THE LYS.
2. On the 25th the division moved south and reenforced the battle front
at Vierstraat. It fought in the Ypres area until May 1, when it was
relieved, after losing about 40 per cent of its effectives.
CHAMPAGNE.
3. The division appeared in Champagne on May 10, taking over the sector
west of the Suippe from the 232d Division. About June 1 a battalion of
the 78th Reserve Regiment was detached and took part in the attack on
Rheims. Afterwards it returned and the complete division was in its
sector on June 15. The division was withdrawn from Champagne just before
the July offensive.
4. It was reengaged in Champagne on July 27 south of Le Mont sans Nom.
It continued in this sector until the 1st of September.
5. The division moved directly from line in Champagne to line south of
Concy le Chateau, where it was engaged until October 14. Withdrawn from
the Selle front, elements of the division were immediately engaged on
the Oise at Mont d’Origny (Oct. 17), but the bulk of the division was
not identified until October 24, south of Catillon. Until the armistice
the division fought in the vicinity of Catillon (Nov. 4), Fesmy (5th),
Prisches (6th), Lemont Fontaine (8th).
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as first class. In 1918, except for the Lys
offensive in April, the division was engaged only on the defensive.
19th. Ersatz Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │ │Ers. │45 Mixed │23 Ers. │45 Mixed │23 Ers.
│ │ Btns.: │ Ers. │ │ Ers. │
│45 Mixed │45 and │ │32 Ers. │ │32 Ers.
│ Ers. │ 46. │ │ │ │
│ │63 and │47 Mixed │47 and 48│47 Mixed │24 Ers.
│ │ 64. │ Ers. │ (Brig. │ Ers. │
│ │ │ │ Ers. │ │
│ │ │ │ Btns.).│ │
│47 Mixed │47 and │ │ │ │40 Ers.
│ Ers. │ 48. │ │ │ │
│ │88 and │ │88 and 89│ │
│ │ 89. │ │ (Brig. │ │
│ │ │ │ Ers. │ │
│ │ │ │ Btns.).│ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │ │ │4 and 5 Sqns. 19
│ │ │ Hus. Rgt.
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │1 Ers. Abtls. of │1 Ers. Abtls. of 28│45 Ers. F. A. Rgt.
│ the 28 and 48 F. │ and 48 F. A. │
│ A. Rgts. │ Rgts. │
│1 Ers. Abtls. of 32│1 Ers. Abtls. of 32│47 Ers. F. A. Rgt.
│ and 77 F. A. │ and 77 F. A. │
│ │ Rgts. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│1 Ers. Co. 12 │1 Ers. Co. 12 │1 Ers. Co. 12
Liaisons. │ Pions. │ Pions. │ Pions.
│1 Ers. Co. 22 │1 Ers. Co. 22 │1 Ers. Co. 22
│ Pions. │ Pions. │ Pions.
│ │254 Pion. Co. │254 Pion. Co.
│ │ │
│ │ │88 Res. Pion. Co.
│ │ │164 T. M. Co.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │5 Bav. Ldw. Brig. │5 Bav. Ldw. Brig. │21 Labor Btn.
│ (4 Bav. Ldw. and │ (4 Bav. Ldw., 5 │
│ 5 Bav. Ldw. │ Bav. Ldw., and 60│
│ Rgts.) │ Res. Rgts.). │
│ │100 Ldw. Inf. Rgt. │85 Labor Btn.
│ │9 Jag. Btn. │4 Btn. 15 Ldw. Rgt.
│ │ │ (Until April.)
│ │ │60 Res. Inf. Rgt.
│ │ │100 Ldw. Inf. Rgt.
│ │ │ (Until October.)
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │45 Ers. │23 Ers. │45 Ers. │23 Ers.
│ │ │ │
│ │24 Ers. │ │24 Ers.
│ │ │ │
│ │32 Ers. │ │32 Ers.
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │5 Sqn. 19 Hus. Rgt.│5 Sqn. 19 Hus. Rgt.
│ │
│1 Ers. Sqn. 12 C. │
│ List. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │47 Ers. F. A. Rgt. │47 Ers. F. A. Rgt.
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│519 Pion. Btn.: │519 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 1 Ers. Co. 12 │ 1 Ers. Co. 12
│ Pions. │ Pions.
│ 1 Ers. Co. 22 │ 1 Ers. Co. 22
│ Pions. │ Pions.
│ 254 Pion. Co. │ 164 T. M. Co.
│ 164 T. M. Co. │ 1 Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ 253 Searchlight │569 Signal Command:
│ Section. │
│ 569 Tel. Detch. │ 569 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 47 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │272 Ambulance Co. │272 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│506 Field Hospital.│506 Field Hospital.
│507 Field Hospital.│518 Vet. Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │M. T. Col. │766 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
HISTORY.
(12th and 19th Corps Districts—Saxony.)
1914.
VOSGES.
1. The 19th Ersatz Division (Saxon) detrained on August 18, 1914, before
Strassburg. In action in the Vosges on the 20th, it went up the valley
of the Bruche and fought on the Meurthe below St. Die, at St. Michel,
and advanced to La Salle (Sept. 6).
LORRAINE.
2. Having suffered in these engagements, the division was withdrawn. On
September 19 it was in the Blamont area, where it was reenforced by the
5th Bavarian Landwehr Brigade. It occupied the sector of Blamont-Ember-
Menil-Parroy.
1915.
LORRAINE.
1. In 1915, and until October, 1916, it guarded the same front in
Lorraine (from the canal of the Marne to the Rhine as far as the Cirey
area).
2. About the month of April the 100th Landwehr was reattached to the
division, the battalions of which were grouped in July into 4 Ersatz
Regiments (Nos. 23, 32, 24, 40).
1916.
LORRAINE.
1. During its stay in Lorraine the 19th Ersatz Division was not engaged
in any serious fighting. The 23d Ersatz alone took part in the affair of
Thiaville, February 28, 1916.
COTES DE MEUSE.
2. Relieved in the area of Badonviller-Leintrey, at the beginning of
October, 1916, the 19th Ersatz Division was reduced to three regiments
(23d, 32d, 24th Ersatz) and sent to the Briey area (Oct. 8) and from
there to Verdun (sector of Watronville-Damloup).
1917.
COTES DE MEUSE.
1. The 19th Ersatz Division remained in the same sector of the Cotes de
Meuse for almost all of the year 1917. It lost very slightly.
2. Withdrawn from the sector Moranville-Watronville about November, the
division was sent to rest in the Longwy area.
BEZONVAUX.
3. About December 8, it was assembled and sent to Spincourt where, on
December 11, it went into line north of Bezonvaux.
RECRUITING.
The 19th Ersatz Division is recruited from the Kingdom of Saxony.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 19th Ersatz Division remained in Lorraine for a long time; it did
not take part in any serious battles. After October, 1916, it only
occupied quiet sectors on the Cotes de Meuse.
It can not be considered as an attack division.
1918.
1. The division occupied the quiet Beaumont sector until June 30, when
it was put at rest near Longuyon until July 11. During this time the
division was given training to fit it for a war of movement. On July 16
it was moved to the Rheims front. Entrained at Montmedy on the 12th, the
division reached Nouvion Porcien the next day, and went by stages to
Bermericourt (northeast of Rheims), where it rested in reserve. On the
17th it moved to the vicinity of Rozoy.
BATTLE OF THE AISNE AND MARNE.
2. From July 20 to 31 the division was engaged in severe fighting at
Plessier-Huleu and Grand Rozoy.
3. It rested near Marle until the 21st of August undergoing
reconstruction. It entrained on that date at Voyenne and reached La Fere
the next day, from where it marched to Barisis and Folembray.
BATTLE OF THE AILETTE.
4. The division entered the line in the Quierzy-Manicamp-Champs area on
August 23. It sustained a French attack on the 28th, losing nearly 500
prisoners. The division was withdrawn on September 3.
5. The division was moved by train from Voyenne to Haboudange via Marle,
Montcornet, Sedan, Montmedy, Longuyon, Audun le Roman, Thionville, Metz,
and Benestroff. It marched to Hampont to the Huhnerwald Camp, where it
rested until September 15.
LORRAINE.
6. It entered line at Arracourt on the 15th and occupied that quiet
sector until the end of hostilities.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as third class. In 1918 it saw but two weeks’
service on an active front.
19th Landwehr Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │91 Res. │383 Ldw. │91 Res. │383 Ldw. │ │383 Ldw.
│ │385 Ldw. │ │385 Ldw. │ │385 Ldw.
│ │388 Ldw. │ │388 Ldw. │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │ │ (?) │2 Sqn. 6 Res. Hus.
│ │ │ Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │281 F. A. Rgt. │Art. Command: │
│ │ 91 F. A. Rgt. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │(419) Pion. Btn.: │519 Signal Command:
Liaisons. │ │ │
│ │ 303 Pion. Co. │ 519 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 319 T. M. Co. │
│ │ Tel. Detch. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │226 Ambulance Co. │226 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │396 Field Hospital.│396 Field Hospital.
│ │91 Res. Field │10 Field Hospital.
│ │ Hospital. │
│ │519 Vet. Hospital. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │788 M. T. Col. │788 M. T. Col.
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
HISTORY.
(383d Landwehr Regiment: 3d Corps District—Brandenburg. 385th Landwehr
Regiment: 7th Corps District—Westphalia. 388th Landwehr Regiment: 12th
Corps District—Saxony.)
1916.
BELGIUM.
1. The 19th Landwehr Division was formed at the same time as the
divisions of the 200 Series (September-October, 1916). It was formed at
Cortemarck on September 29, 1916, by the union of the 383d, 385th, and
388th Landwehr Regiments. These were made up of Landsturm battalions
(Service of Supplies) of the 4th Army in Belgium, to which were added
returned wounded. The 3d Battalion of the 388th Landwehr Regiment
(Saxon) is the old 4th Battalion of the 100th Landwehr.
DIXMUDE.
2. In the beginning of October, 1916, the 19th Landwehr Division
replaced the 204th Division in the Dixmude-Steenstraat sector. It
remained there more than a year.
1917.
RUSSIA.
1. Relieved from the Dixmude front about the middle of October, 1917,
the 19th Landwehr Division was transferred to Russia at the beginning of
November.
RIGA.
2. Arriving in the Riga area about November 15, it went into line near
the coast.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 19th Landwehr Division is made up either of elderly soldiers or
those of mediocre physical strength, forming a body of men incapable, it
appears, of an offensive effort.
In Belgium, however, the division organized an assault troop capable of
making assaults.
1918.
LIVONIA.
1. The 19th Landwehr Division was identified on the shores of the Baltic
in March. The 383d Landwehr Regiment was at Libau on May 8; the 385th
Landwehr Regiment at Riga on the 15th.
FINLAND.
2. Toward the end of July all three regiments of the division were
identified in Finland, but seem to have gone to Esthonia by August,
where they were again identified in October.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as fourth class.
20th Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │39. │79. │39. │79. │40. │77.
│ │164. │ │164. │ │79.
│40. │77. │40. │77. │ │92.
│ │92. │ │92. │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │17 Hus. Rgt. (3 │ │17 Hus. Rgt. (2
│ Sqns.). │ │ Sqns.).
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │20 Brig.: │20 Brig.: │20 Brig.:
│ 10 F. A. Rgt. │ 10 F. A. Rgt. │ 10 F. A. Rgt.
│ 46 F. A. Rgt. │ 46 F. A. Rgt. │ 46 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. │1 Pion. Btn. No.
Liaisons. │ │ 10: │ 10:
│ │ Field Co. 10 │ 2 Co. 10 Pions.
│ │ Pions. │
│ │ 20 Pont. Engs. │ 20 T. M. Co.
│ │ 20 Tel. Detch. │ 20 Tel. Detch.
│ │ │ 20 Pont. Engs.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │40. │77. │40. │77.
│ │79. │ │79.
│ │92. │ │92.
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │5 Sqn. 17 Hus. Rgt.│5 Sqn. 17 Hus. Rgt.
│ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │20 Art. Command: │20 Art. Command:
│ 46 F. A. Rgt. │ 46 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ 155 Ft. A. Btn.
│ │ 813 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 921 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1339 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│(1/10 or 127) Pion.│10 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ Btn.: │
│ 2 Co. 10 Pions. │ 2 Co. 10 Pions.
│ │
│ 3 Co. 10 Pions. │ 3 Co. 10 Pions.
│ 20 T. M. Co. │ 20 T. M. Co.
│ (296) Searchlight │ 90 Searchlight
│ Section. │ Section.
│ 20 Tel. Detch. │ 20 Signal Command:
│ │ 20 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 83 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │24 Ambulance Co. │24 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│Field Hospital. │100 Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │93 Field Hospital.
│ │20 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │553 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │3 Gleiwitz Landst. │
│ Depot │
│Btn. (6 C. Dist. │
│ Btn. No. 26). │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
HISTORY.
(10th Corps District—Hanover and Brunswick.)
1914.
The 20th Division and the 19th Division formed the 10th Army Corps
(Hanover).
FRANCE.
1. At the outbreak of the war the 20th Division went to the Elsenborn
Camp, August 8–10, and entered Belgium on the 11th. It was a part, with
the 10th Corps, of the 2d Army (Von Buelow). It fought at Charleroi, at
Guise, at St. Quentin. It took part in the battle of the Marne from
September 6 to 9 (Congy, Mondement), after which it retired by way of
Neufchâtel sur Aisne to the northwest of Rheims. It took up its position
between the Aisne and Brimont.
1915.
At the beginning of 1915 it was still holding the lines in the vicinity
of Rheims. At the end of March the 164th Infantry Regiment was
transferred to the 111th Division (new formation).
GALICIA.
2. At the end of April, with its regiments raised to four battalions
each, the 20th Division (as well as the 19th Division) was sent to
Galacia, where it took part in the operation of Mackensen’s army. It
lost very heavily there. From July 28 to September 23 the 11th Company
of the 77th Infantry Regiment received at least 133 men as replacements.
FRANCE.
3. Brought back to France in September, the 20th Division took part, in
the month of October, in the battles in the Champagne.
4. From November, 1915, to June, 1916, it held a sector north of the
Aisne (west of Craonne).
1916.
RUSSIA.
1. On June 8, 1916, the 20th Division, with all of the 10th Army Corps,
was transferred again to the Eastern Front. In four days it arrived in
the Kovel area by way of Berlin and Brest Litowsk.
2. On June 13 it was engaged in stopping the Russian advance and then
occupied a sector near Kiselin. Its regiments were filled up in
September and October.
From June to November the losses of the 92d Infantry Regiment had
averaged 160 men per company. (Statements of deserters.) This is the
number of the replacements received during the same period by the 9th
Company of the 77th Infantry Regiment.
FRANCE.
3. The 20th Division was relieved on November 11 and entrained on the
15th for France. Itinerary: Warsaw-Kalich-Berlin-Dusseldorf-Aix la
Chapelle-Liége-Namur. Billeted first in the area of Anor Hirson, the
20th Division was sent to the Sissonne Camp, where its regiments
received training.
4. At the end of December the division took over the sector of Moulin
sous Touvent, Chevillecourt, where it was relieved on January 30, 1917.
1917.
1. In February, 1917, the 20th Division was transferred to Alsace
(Sundgau) in anticipation of a French offensive.
2. In the beginning of March it was brought back to the Laon area, where
it was billeted until the French attack of April 16; its regiments
received some replacements.
CHEMIN DES DAMES.
3. In the night of April 16 all the units of the division were
assembled. On April 17–18 they took their positions along the plateau of
the Chemin des Dames on both sides of Cerny en Laonnois, relieving the
16th Reserve Division, which had suffered heavy losses. Between April 18
and May 5 the three regiments of the 20th Division suffered heavy losses
from bombardments. On May 5 (renewal of the general attack by the
French) the division again lost heavily. It was relieved immediately
after the attack. (Apr. 27 to Aug. 10, the 10th Company of the 77th
Infantry Regiment had received not less than 211 men as replacements.)
4. After a few weeks of rest, the division was put into line (end of
May) in a sector of Champagne (Moronvilliers).
RUSSIA.
5. In the beginning of July it was relieved and transferred for a third
time to the Russian front, first in Galicia and then in Courland. It
remained there until September 19. At this date it entrained at Riga and
was brought back to France by way of Chavli, Kovno, Grodno, Bromberg,
Berlin, Hanover, Cologne, Aix la Chapelle, Mons, Valenciennes.
FLANDERS.
6. Arriving at Roulers on September 27, it immediately went into action
in an attacking sector, north of Zonnebeke, without having any rest, on
October 4.
ARTOIS.
7. Relieved almost immediately, it was put into line on October 17 in
the Queant sector, where it still was at the beginning of February,
1918.
RECRUITING.
It is recruited from the Province of Hanover in the Duchy of Brunswick.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
It had very heavy losses on May 5, 1917 (many killed, 700 prisoners),
which, joined to the preceding losses, lessened the value of the 20th
Division very much.
It is to be noted that two weeks before the attack of May 5 the units of
the division defended themselves obstinately.
1918.
CAMBRAI.
1. The division was relieved by the 119th Division about the middle of
January; it, in turn, relieved the 119th Division during the first week
in February. It was relieved by the 195th Division on February 16, and
marched to Aubigny au Bac; it reached Basaecles (southeast of Tournai)
the 18th. Here it was given a month’s course of training in open
warfare.
2. On March 14 the division marched to Peruwelz and then via St. Amand-
Lourches-Bouchain, arriving at Pronville, where it entered line on the
20th. It advanced through Noreuil, Bapaume, Grevillers, Irles, and
Miraumont. During this fighting the division suffered severely, its
casualties amounting to 50 per cent of its effectives; very few officers
left. It did not advance with the rest of the line during the night of
the 24–25th, its place being taken by the 24th Division. It followed in
support of the line, however, and relieved the 24th Division east of
Colincamps on the 29th. A document captured on the 28th shows that the
strength of the 3d Battalion of the 77th Regiment (excluding the machine
gun company) was reduced to 214 men. Another battalion was reduced to 80
men and 1 officer.
WOEVRE.
3. The division was withdrawn early in April, and was sent to the Mars
la Tour region, where it rested and was reconstituted. About the 20th it
relieved the 82d Reserve Division in the Seuzey-Lamorville-Spada sector
(north of St. Mihiel); relieved toward the end of the month, it went to
the Arlon area, where it received large drafts (in large part of the
1919 class), and where it was put through a long and thorough course of
training. Toward the end of June it was transported to the Sedan area,
from which it marched (about July 15) toward Soissons.
SOISSONS.
4. On the 21st of July the division reinforced the front near
Villemontoire (south of Soissons). Here heavy losses were again
suffered. It was relieved by the 50th Reserve Division on the 29th and
went to rest in the Chimay area, where it received a draft from the
disbanded 260th Reserve Regiment (78th Reserve Division).
ARRAS.
5. On the night of the 27–28th of August the division moved up into the
Drocourt-Queant line, south of Drocourt, and during the following days
went into line in the Oppy sector (northeast of Arras), where a British
attack was expected. The division was withdrawn again during the night
of September 1–2.
6. On the 3d of September it came into line near Ecourt St. Quentin
(south of Arleux), and covered the withdrawal across the Canal du Nord.
It was withdrawn on the 10th.
CAMBRAI.
7. On the 12th it counterattacked in the Havrincourt sector (southwest
of Cambrai). During the subsequent fighting the division suffered heavy
losses. It was withdrawn on the 1st of October.
8. After a few days’ rest it relieved the 21st Division in the
Montbrehain sector (southeast of Cambrai), where it fought until the
13th, when it was relieved and went to the vicinity of Montmedy, where
it rested for about three weeks. Losses, 70 per cent.
MEUSE.
9. The division was expected to enter line west of the Meuse, but the
orders were changed suddenly, and it entered line to the east of it near
Reville on November 5. It remained in line until the 11th, not being
heavily engaged, however, all the prisoners captured subsequently
stating that they were members of rear-guard detachments.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The 20th is rated as a first-class division. It fought well throughout
the year and suffered enormous losses. Besides the replacements already
noted, the division received a large draft from its recruit depot in
September (about 50 men per company); September 28, the 92d Regiment
received 93 men; October 30, the companies received 30 men apiece from
the 27th Reserve Regiment (197th Division, dissolved); the companies had
a combat strength of 80 to 100 men.
20th Landwehr Division.
COMPOSITION.