the 7th Army (Von Heeringen). Entraining on August 8, 1914, for Upper
Alsace, it fought there until the 13th. It was transferred from there to
south of Sarreburg and crossed the French frontier after the battle of
the 20th. It advanced by way of Raon l’Étape across the Meurthe. At the
beginning of September it was concentrated near Avricourt and went to
Tergnier; from there to Craonne and Hurtebise. It fought there from the
middle of September to the middle of October.
2. Concentrated at Laon on October 20, the 30th Division (as well as the
39th Division) arrived on the Lys on the 29th.
FLANDERS.
3. The 15th Army Corps, now a part of the 6th Army, went into action
southeast of Ypres, an area in which it remained for almost 15 months
(October, 1914-January. 1916).
1915.
FLANDERS.
1. Before our attacks of 1915, the 30th Division was attached, with the
15th Army Corps to the 4th Army. It went into action south of Ypres.
The 136th Infantry Regiment left it in April and became a part of the
115th Division (a new formation).
1916.
VERDUN.
1. Toward the end of January, 1916, elements of the 30th Division were
transferred to Verdun to take part in the February offensive.
2. On February 24 the 15th Army Corps, which was on the western wing of
the German attacking forces, went into action on the front of Maucourt-
Warcq.
3. The regiments of the 30th Division suffered slightly during this
period, the battle having been less intense in the Woëvre. Only the
105th Infantry Regiment, in action as a reenforcement of the 3d Army
Corps, suffered very heavy losses.
4. The 30th Division was not relieved after the battles of February and
the beginning of March. It remained in the sector and, on July 11, the
99th and 143d Infantry Regiments took part in a new offensive. On August
8 the 143d Infantry Regiment attacked the works of Thiaumont and was
decimated. At this time the regiments were filled from day to day by
irregular replacements. (Between July 7 and 19 more than 136 men were
sent to the 11th Company of the 99th Infantry Regiment.)
SOMME.
5. About the end of September the 30th Division was relieved and sent to
rest in the Cambrai area. It went into line a short time afterwards, on
the Somme at Sailly Saillisel and remained there one month. It again
lost very heavily (the 143d Infantry Regiment lost half of its
effectives).
6. Relieved at the end of November, the 30th Division was sent back to
the Verdun front.
MEUSE.
7. After a rest near Dun sur Meuse, it went into line in the vicinity of
the Mort Homme, then of the Côte du Poivre and east of Louvemont (from
Dec. 15 to the end of January, 1917) without taking part there in any
important offensive or defensive engagement.
1917.
CHAMPAGNE.
1. On March 1, 1917, it went into line in the sector east of Auberive
and was still there at the time of our spring offensive in Champagne. It
underwent this attack at the beginning of May and occupied the sector
until the middle of August. During this time, between April 17–20 and
the beginning of May, 1917, the losses of the 30th Division were very
great. The effectives of the 105th Infantry Regiment were reduced to 400
men; this regiment had to be reorganized in the Argonne.
MEUSE.
2. About August 25 the 30th Division was again transferred to the Meuse
and occupied the trenches in the vicinity of Forges-Bethincourt, where
its losses were slight.
CAMBRAI.
3. About October 24 the division was relieved. The British attack on the
Cambrai front on November 20 caused it to be recalled in haste. It was
sent into line on the 23d, and remained there until about December 10.
CHAMPAGNE.
4. At rest in the Sedan area, it was sent to the Champagne front,
northwest of Auberive, about the middle of January, 1918.
RECRUITING.
Of the three regiments of the division, one, the 105th Infantry
Regiment, is Saxon. Stationed in Alsace since 1871, it has represented
Saxony in the occupation of the Reichsland, and continues to draw its
recruits from Saxony. The other two, Prussian, are composed mostly of
Westphalians.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 30th Division is a good division and well commanded.
The morale, which is good in the 99th and 143d Infantry Regiments, would
seem to be mediocre in the 105th Infantry Regiment (Saxon) in November,
1917.
This last regiment, very much exhausted on April 17, 1917, was accused
by the other regiments of having given way. It was withdrawn from the
division for a month.
1918.
CHAMPAGNE.
1. The middle of January the 30th Division relieved the 28th Reserve
Division near Ville sur Tourbe; it was relieved about the 20th of March
by the 52d Reserve Division, entrained near Vouziers and traveled via
Hirson and Marle to the area northwest of Laon.
MONTDIDIER.
2. On the 27th it left and marched via Achery-Vendeuil-Jussy-Flavy le
Meldeux, Freniches-Libermont-Solente-Gruny, reaching Framicourt on the
12th of April, and entered line the following day south of Cantigny
(west of Montdidier). It was withdrawn on May 16.
3. The division had suffered casualties amounting to 30 per cent of its
total effectives, and so when it was withdrawn, it moved to the region
south of Roye to refit. Here each company received between 40 and 50
1919-class recruits, after which the division was trained. On June 12 it
reinforced the front near Courcelles (south of Montdidier). It suffered
heavy losses in the fighting that followed, and was withdrawn about the
22d.
CHAMPAGNE.
4. During the night of June 28–29 the division relieved the 1st Bavarian
Division astride the Souain-Sommey road. It seems to have been “leap-
frogged” by the 2d Bavarian Division on the 15th—the opening day of the
Champagne offensive—but it relieved the 2d Bavarian Division on the
19th. It was relieved by the 22d Division on August 10, and went to rest
in the Lens area.
CAMBRAI.
5. On the 23d of September it left and moved to the Cambrai area, where
it arrived the following day. On the 27th it reenforced the battle front
south of Villers Guislain (south of Cambrai). It was pushed back
steadily in the ensuing weeks, and was withdrawn about the 28th of
October, southeast of Englefontaine (south of Quesnoy), and went to rest
in Maubeuge.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
Until this year the 30th had always been considered a first-class
division. During 1918, however, it was not used nearly so much as other
shock units. The fact that, although it was in line only a fortnight
after more than a month’s rest, it was not used in the attack of July 15
in Champagne, but was put back into line as soon as it was seen that the
offensive there was a failure, is significant. It would seem that the
German High Command considered it as only a second-class division.
30th Bavarian Reserve Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │84 Ldw. │70 Res. │5 Bav. │2 Bav. │5 Bav. │2 Bav.
│ │ │ Ers. │ Ers. │ Ers. │ Ers.
│5 Bav. │7 and 8 │ │4 Bav. │ │4 Bav.
│ Ers. │ Brig. │ │ Ers. │ │ Ers.
│ │ Res. │ │ │ │
│ │ Bn. │ │ │ │
│10 Bav. │11 Bav. │10 Bav. │11 Bav. │10 Bav. │11 Bav.
│ Res. │ Res. │ Res. │ Res. │ Ers. │ Res.
│ │14 Bav. │ │14 Bav. │ │14 Bav.
│ │ Res. │ │ Res. │ │ Res.
│ │ │84 Ldw. │70 Res. │84 Ldw. │70 Res.
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │9 Res. Hus. │9 Res. Hus. │9 Res. Hus.
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │1st Frs. Abt. 13, │239 F. A. Rgt. │239 F. A. Rgt.
│ 31, and 80 F. │ │
│A. Regts. │ │252 Ldw. F. A. Rgt.
│ │ │1 Mountain F. A.
│ │ │ Abt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│4 Co. 15 Pions. │4 Co. 15 Pions. │2 Ldw. Co. 15 Corps
Liaisons. │ │ │ Pions.
│2 Ldw. Co. 15 Corps│2 Ldw. Co. 15 Corps│249 Pion. Co.
│ Pions. │ Pions. │
│ │ │88 Res. Pion. Co.
│ │ │
│ │ │230 T. M. Co.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Odd Units. │ │30 Res. Cyc. Co. │30 Res. Cyc. Co.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │1st Ldst. Btn. │ │1 Ldst. Btn.
│ Kempton. │ │ Passau, 1st Bav.
│ │ │ Corps No. 5.
│1st Bav. Corps No. │ │1 Ldst. Btn.
│ 13. │ │ Mindelheim, 1
│ │ │ Bav. Corps No.
│ │ │ 14.
│ │ │1st Ldst. Btn.
│ │ │ Neustadt, 2 Bav.
│ │ │ Corps No. 4.
│ │ │1 Ldst. Btn.
│ │ │ Eisenach, 11
│ │ │ Corps No. 12.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │5 Bav. │8 Bav. │5 Bav. │8 Bav.
│ Ers. │ Ldw. │ Ers. │ Ldw.
│ │15 Bav. │ │15 Bav.
│ │ Ldw. │ │ Ldw.
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │4 Bav. │ │4 Bav.
│ │ Ers. │ │ Ers.
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │2d Sq. 9 Res. Hus. │1 Sq. 1 Bav. Res.
│ │ Cav. Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │8 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │4 Bav. F. A. Rgt.
│ (Elements). │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│22 Bav. Pion. Btn. │22 Bav. Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│13 Bav. Res. Pion. │ 13 Bav. Res. Pion.
│ Co. │ Co.
│5 Bav. Ldw. Pion. │ 5 Bav. Ldw. Pion.
│ Co. │ Co.
│230 T. M. Co. │ 22 Bav.
│ │ Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│430 Bav. Tel. │430 Signal Command:
│ Detch. │
│ │ 430 Tel. Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │23 Bav. Ambulance │23 Bav. Ambulance
Veterinary.│ Co. │ Co.
│5 Bav. Field │5 Bav. Field
│ Hospital. │ Hospital.
│30 Bav. Vet. │36 Bav. Field
│ Hospital. │ Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │Light Mun. Col. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Odd Units. │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │54 Ldst. Foot Art. │
│ Vtn. │
│ │
│2d Btry/5 Bav. F. │
│ A. Rgt. │
│ │
│ │
│4 Btry/5 Bav. F. A.│
│ Regt. │
│ │
│9 Btry/5 Bav. F. A.│
│ Rgt. │
│ │
│1 Ldst. Btn. │
│ Bruchsal, 14 │
│ Corps No. 3. │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
HISTORY.
(Bavaria.)
1914.
ALSACE.
1. The 30th Bavarian Reserve Division, constituted in August, 1914, half
of Prussian and half of Bavarian troops, operated in the Vosges
beginning with August 17, and entered St. Dié on the 27th.
In 1915, with the 39th Reserve Division, formed after it, it made up the
Eberhardt Corps, since then the 15th Reserve Corps. These 2 divisions
comprised a total of 25 battalions, reserve units, Landwehr or Ersatz,
Bavarian for the most part, to which were subordinated Landsturm
Battalions.
They were scattered, after the retirement of the first part of
September, 1914, among the valleys of the Plaine and the Liepvrette
(Ste. Marie aux Mines).
The predominance of Bavarian troops in these Divisions had the effect of
causing both to be officially called Bavarian. As a matter of fact, they
were afterwards almost exclusively filled by Bavarian contingents.
1915.
1. In 1915 the 30th Bavarian Reserve Division continued to occupy the
same sector of the Vosges, south of the valley of the Plaine. It
remained there until May, 1917. The 39th Bavarian Reserve Division was
at its left, holding the lines as far as Ste. Marie aux Mines.
2. In the spring of 1915, the Brigade Ersatz Battalions of the divisions
were grouped into regiments and became the 2d and 4th Bavarian Ersatz
Regiments, forming the 5th Bavarian Ersatz Brigade.
3. The two Brigades of the 30th Bavarian Reserve Division took an active
part in the battles of La Fontenelle in June and July, 1915.
1916.
1. Vosges sector (south of the Valley of the Plaine, Senones, Le Ban-de-
Sapt).
2. In October, 1916, the 11th and 14th Bavarian Reserve Regiments went
to the 1st Bavarian Landwehr Division and to the 9th Bavarian Reserve
Division.
The 30th Bavarian Reserve Division received, in November, the 8th
Bavarian Landwehr Regiment from the 1st Bavarian Landwehr Division, and
in December the 15th Bavarian Landwehr Regiment, taken from the 39th
Bavarian Division, which received the 2d Bavarian Ersatz Regiment in
exchange.
1917.
LORRAINE.
1. In April, 1917, the 30th Bavarian Reserve Division was relieved from
the Vosges sector, which it had occupied since its formation, and sent
into line on the Lorraine front (sector of the Seille).
2. At the end of October, it was transferred to Upper Alsace (north of
the Rhone-Rhine Canal), where it relieved the 3d Reserve Division.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 30th Bavarian Reserve Division is a sector division, as it has
occupied the front either in Lorraine or Alsace since its formation. Its
offensive value is mediocre.
In the 8th Bavarian Landwehr and the 4th Bavarian Ersatz Regiments, the
average age of the men is 38 years. The men of the machine gun companies
are younger, according to the ordinary rule. In the 15th Bavarian
Landwehr Regiment the majority of the men are more than 30 years old.
Each battalion of the 8th Bavarian Landwehr Regiment possesses an
assault troop composed of young men averaging 24 years of age.
There is also a Divisional Assault Company.
1918.
HAUTE ALSACE.
1. The division remained in line north of the Rhine-Rhone Canal until
the armistice was signed.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division possesses very little fighting value. The men are, for the
most part, old, and the fathers of several children. Then, too, a great
many are those—untrained Landsturm—who usually, for physical defects,
were not inducted into the army when their classes were called to the
colors; these men complain of the hard work. Moreover, Bavarians came to
believe that Prussia was “using” them. It was found necessary to
establish shock detachments with each battalion, and these do all of the
necessary patrolling.
31st Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │32. │70. │32. │70. │32. │70.
│ │174. │ │174. │ │174.
│62. │60. │62. │137. │ │166.
│ │137. │ │166. │ │
│ │166. │ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │7 Uhlan Rgt. │ │5 Sqn. 7 Uhlan Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │31 Brig.: │31 Brig.: │31 Brig.:
│ 31 F. A. Rgt. │ 31 F. A. Rgt. │ 31 F. A. Rgt.
│ 67 F. A. Rgt. │ 67 F. A. Rgt. │ 67 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. │1 Pion. Btn. No.
Liaisons. │ │ 27. │ 27.
│ │ Field Co. 27. │ 1 and 2 27 Pion.
│ │ Pion. │
│ │ 31 Pont. Engs. │ 31 T. M. Co.
│ │ │
│ │ 31 Tel. Detch. │ 31 Tel. Detch.
│ │ │
│ │ │ 31 Pont. Engs.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │ │Field Recruit Depot
│ │ │ 31 Div.
│ │ │153 Cyclist Co.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │32. │70. │32. │70.
│ │174. │ │166.
│ │166. │ │174.
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │ │5 Sqn. 7 Uhlan Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │31 Art. Command: │31 Art. Command:
│ 31 F. A. Rgt. │ 31 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ 44 Ft. A. Btn.
│ │ 1005 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
│ │ 1011 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
│ │ 1012 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│136 Pion. Btn.: │93 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 1 Co. 27 Pion. │ 1 Co. 27 Pion.
│ │
│ 31 T. M. Co. │ 3 Co. 32 Res.
│ │ Pion.
│ 505 Searchlight │ 31 T. M. Co.
│ Section. │
│ 31 Tel. Detch. │ 40 Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ │31 Signal Command:
│ │ 31 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 116 Wireless
│ │ Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │262 Ambulance Co. │262 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│Field Hospital. │326 Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │333 Field Hospital.
│ │161 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │Light Mun. Col. │564 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │24 M. G. S. S.
│ │ Detch.
│ │2 and 3d Abt. 44 F.
│ │ A. Rgt.
│ │121 Ft. A. Rgt.
│ │1 Abt. 44 Ft. A.
│ │ Rgt.
│ │2 Abt. 6 Ft. A.
│ │ Rgt.
│ │1 Abt. 74 Ft. A.
│ │ Rgt.
│ │134 Art.
│ │ Observation
│ │ Section.
│ │75 Sound Ranging
│ │ Detch.
│ │134 Balloon Sqn.
│ │105 Balloon Sqn.
│ │256 Reconnaissance
│ │ Flight.
│ │(Elements attached
│ │ May 15, 1918.
│ │ German document.)
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
HISTORY.
(21st Corps District—Lorraine, part of Lower Alsace, and southern
portion of the Rhine Province.)
1914.
Upon mobilization, the 31st Division, with the 42d Division, constituted
the 21st Army Corps.
LORRAINE.
1. At the beginning of the war the 31st Division was a part of the 6th
Army (Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria). In August, 1914, it was on the
Lorraine frontier; on the 12th of August at Chateau Salins, Rechicourt.
It fought at Dieuze on August 20, where the 174th Infantry Regiment lost
half of its effectives. The division was at Luneville on the 23d,
marched upon Rehainviller, Gerbeviller on the 24th; at Rozelieure Essey
on the 26th; in the vicinity of Moyen-Domptail at the beginning of
September; it withdrew to Dieuze about September 11.
SOMME.
2. Transferred to the vicinity of St. Quentin-Vermand, about September
18, the division occupied the vicinity of Fouquescourt on September 26
and 27; attacked in the direction of Bouchoir on October 6. At the end
of October the division took over the front of Fouquescourt-Chaulnes and
kept it until the end of January, 1915. At this date the losses of the
174th Infantry Regiment, since the beginning of the war, amounted to 81
officers and 3,521 men. (Official List of Casualties.)
1915.
RUSSIA.
1. About January 25, 1915, the 31st Division left the Somme for the
Eastern Front, leaving the 60th Infantry Regiment in France, and
detrained at Tilsit.
2. Concentrated in Eastern Prussia, at the beginning of February, it was
a part of the Hindenburg Army.
3. On February 14 it left the region of Augustowo to advance to the
east. It reached Sopockin on the 20th and took up its position with the
21st Army Corps on the line Sopockin-Chatbine (north of Grodno). On the
9th of March, in a counterattack of the Russians, it suffered heavy
losses.
4. From March 29 to April 24 it took part in the battles in the vicinity
Kalwaria-Mariampol.
5. At the end of April it was withdrawn from the front and reorganized.
From the time of its arrival in Russia until April 10, the first
battalion of the 166th Infantry Regiment had lost 17 officers and 1,022
men, the 1st Company alone losing 5 officers and 336 men.
6. At the end of July the division again occupied the lines near
Mariampol.
VILNA.
7. In the month of August it took part in the offensive upon Vilna. It
advanced to Kovno on August 19, to Vilna at the end of September, and
reached the area Smorgoni-Soly, where it stopped in October.
8. The division was relieved on October 6. It went back into line about
October 24, in the sector of Postawy-Lake Narotch.
NAROTCH.
1. The 31st Division occupied the vicinity of Lake Narotch until its
departure for the Western Front in December, 1917.
2. At the end of March, 1916, it opposed the Russian offensive in the
vicinity of this lake; it lost very heavily.
1917.
BELGIUM.
1. On December 5, 1917, it was relieved from the Russian front, and
after a few days rest at Vilna entrained for Belgium on December 16.
(Itinerary: Wirballen-Koenigsberg-Elbing-Dirschau-Ramberg (?) Aix la
Chapelle-Verviers.) It detrained about the 21st, in the vicinity of
Ghent and took up its position at the end of January, 1918 south of the
Ypres-Roulers line where it alternated with the 12th Reserve Division.
RECRUITING.
The 31st Division is recruited mostly from the vicinity of Sarrebrucken
and St. Wendel in the Rhine Province. Most of the replacements are
furnished by Westphalia.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 31st Division was on the Russian front from February, 1915 to
December 1917. The quality is mediocre.
1918.
YPRES.
1. From January 19 to February 4 the division held the Moorslede sector
(south of Ypres-Roulers railway). The division rested until the 14th in
the vicinity of Lendelede. It relieved the 12th Reserve Division on the
14th in its old sector at Moorslede which it held until March 3, and
again from March 21 until April 4.
BATTLE OF THE LYS.
2. About April 4 the division was withdrawn and marched to the Messines
front. The route lay through Menin, Werwicq, Comines, Warneton. It was
engaged on April 10 to 12 in the Bois de Ploegsteert. For its fighting
in this area the division was mentioned by the German communique of
April 13. From the 12th to the 17th, it was in second line. It fought
south and southwest of Kemmel from April 18 to 24 when it passed into
close support until the 26th. The division’s losses were large in this
severe engagement. The 3d Battalion of the 174th Regiment is known to
have lost from 60 to 70 per cent of its effectives.
3. When relieved in the Kemmel area, the division rested north of
Tourcoing until May 6, undergoing reconstitution. It returned to line
north of Kemmel on the night of May 6–7, relieving the Alpine Corps. It
suffered heavily from the French attack of May 21, losing many
prisoners. It was relieved on May 24, and rested in the Courtrai-Menin
area until June 15. It was engaged in the sector south of Ypres from
June 15 until July 27.
WOEVRE.
4. Following its arduous service on the Ypres front, the division was
moved to a quiet sector on the Woevre. It was moved from Belgium by way
of Brussels, Namur, Charleville, Sedan to Mars la Tour from where it
marched to the front and took over the St. Mihiel sector on July 29,
which it held until September 3.
BATTLE OF ST. MIHIEL.
5. The division was resting in the area north of Dampvitoux when the
American attack was made on the St. Mihiel salient. It was brought into
line north of Thiaucourt on the 14th and held this sector until October
28.
MEUSE-ARGONNE.
6. On the 31st, the division was engaged at Imecourt (northeast of
Grandpre) and took part in the final combats in that area. It was still
in line on November 11.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as third class. In spite of its relatively low
quality it appears to have been used as an attack division in the Lys
offensive. The losses in the spring and the presence of numerous
Lorrainers in its composition lowered the value of the division after
May, 1918.
32d Division.
COMPOSITION.