Division was transferred to Marle (Apr. 16–19). On April 21 and 22
elements of the division were distributed upon different points of the
Aisne front to replace the units exhausted by the French attack of April
16, and soon afterwards were regrouped north of Laffaux Mill. The 33d
Reserve Division suffered very heavy losses withstanding the French
attack of May 5 and counterattacking on the days following (May 5–7)
(1,000 prisoners); almost the entire 2d Battalion of the 67th Reserve
Infantry Regiment was captured.
3. Withdrawn in part from the Aisne front on May 12, the 33d Division
again had some of its units in action between the Aisne Canal and
Laffaux Mill until May 23 (German attack of May 16, where the 130th
Reserve Infantry Regiment suffered heavy losses).
4. At the end of May the 33d Reserve Division returned to the vicinity
of Sarreburg to rest and be reorganized. It received recruits not only
from the recruit depot of Beverloo, but also from the depot at Warsaw.
LORRAINE.
5. About June 10 it again took over its former sector in Lorraine
(Blamont-Leintry).
VERDUN.
6. On August 23 the division went into action on the Verdun front
(sector of Baumont-Chaume wood). It underwent the French attack of the
26th where it suffered heavily. It again had recourse to the Warsaw
recruit depot which sent it, among other reenforcements, untrained men
of the Landsturm second Ban.
7. Relieved about September 10, the 33d Reserve Division was transferred
to Galicia by way of Metz, Frankfort, Erfurt, Dresden, Breslau, Cracow.
GALICIA.
8. It was identified in Galicia at the beginning of October.
RECRUITING.
After the 8th Bavarian Brigade was withdrawn the 33d Reserve Division
was exclusively Prussian. Its regiments were recruited almost entirely
from the Rhine Province and Westphalia. In May, 1917, however, following
the losses suffered on the Chemin des Dames, a great number of young men
came from Western Prussia (1918 class), coming from the large depots of
Beverloo and Warsaw. At the end of August the Warsaw depot sent
untrained men from the Landsturm II Ban from the 9th and 10th Corps
Districts.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 33d Reserve Division is a good division.
At Verdun elements of the division fought vigorously and made the French
advance very difficult on October 24, 1916.
Between May 5 and May 7, 1917, the division launched very violent
counterattacks against Laffaux Mill. Elements of the 364th Infantry
Regiment succeeded in capturing the Chateau de la Motte. In the sector
of Beaumont at Verdun the 1st Battalion of the 364th Infantry Regiment
put up a very stubborn resistance to the French on August 26, 1917.
The 33d Reserve Division was very much exhausted by the attacks on the
Aisne. The reenforcement which it received on May 4, 1917, were mostly
men belonging to the 1918 class. On August 26, 1917, more than one-
fourth of the prisoners belonged to this class.
In January, 1918, it already counted among its ranks young men of the
1919 class, who had arrived on January 14.
Taking into account its recent long rest and its intensive training in
offensive warfare and the declarations of prisoners captured in March,
1918, who all declare that their division is an assault division
destined to take part in a great breaking through offensive, we must
conclude that the 33d Reserve Division has again become an organization
of high quality (Mar. 30, 1918).
1918.
BATTLE OF THE AISNE.
1. The division continued to hold its sector northwest of Rheims until
the Aisne offensive in May. It advanced with the rest of the line,
having as its objective the Marne River. It progressed through Cauroy
(27th), St. Thierry (28th), and Vrigny (31st). Here the line was
stabilized. The division was withdrawn June 20.
CHAMPAGNE.
2. On June 25 the division relieved the 88th Division in the Mont Têtu
sector (Eastern Champagne). It was on the extreme left of the German
attack east of Rheims on July 15, and suffered so heavily that it was
withdrawn on July 20.
3. In mid-August the division was broken up. The 364th and 67th Reserve
Regiments were drafted to the 16th and 34th Divisions.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The 33d Reserve Division was rated as fourth class. As a result of its
failure in the Aisne and Champagne offensives, it was disbanded in
August, 1918.
34th Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │68. │67. │68. │67. │68. │67.
│ │145. │ │145. │ │145.
│86. │30. │86. │30. │86. │30.
│ │173. │ │173. │ │173.
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │16 Uhlan Rgt. │ │5 Sqn. 12 Jag. z.
│ │ │ Pf.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │34 Brig.: │34 Brig.: │34 Brig.:
│ 69 Rgt. │ 69 Rgt. │ 69 Rgt.
│ 70 Rgt. │ 70 Rgt. │ 70 Rgt.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. │1 Pion. Btn. No.
Liaisons. │ │ 16: │ 16:
│ │ Field Co. 16 Pion.│ 2 Co. 16 Pion.
│ │ │
│ │ 34 Tel. Detch. │ 34 T. M. Co.
│ │ 34 Pont. Engs. │ 34 Tel. Detch.
│ │ │
│ │ │ 34 Pont. Engs.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │ │Labor Btn. 34 Div.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │68. │67. │68. │30.
│ │30. │ │67.
│ │145. │ │145.
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │5 Sqn. 12 Jag. z. │5 Sqn. 12 Horse
│ Pf. │ Jag. Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │34 Art. Command: │34 Art. Command:
│ 70 Rgt. │ (?) F. A. Rgt.
│ │ 116 Ft. A. Btn.
│ │ 1174 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
│ │ 1191 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
│ │ 1192 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│132 Pion. Btn.: │132 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 2 and 3 Cos. 16 │ 2 Co. 16 Pion.
│ Pion. │
│ 34 T. M. Co. │ 3 Co. 16 Pion.
│ 259 Searchlight │ 34 T. M. Co.
│ Section. │
│ 34 Tel. Detch. │ 193 Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ 34 Pont. Engs. │34 Signal Command:
│ │ 34 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 18 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │Ambulance Co. │41 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│281–283 Field │281 Field Hospital.
│ Hospitals. │
│Vet. Hospital. │283 Field Hospital.
│ │34 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │Light Mun. Col. │567 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │44 M. G. S. S. Abt.
│ │249 Reconnaissance
│ │ Flight.
│ │119 Art.
│ │ Observation
│ │ Section.
│ │83 Balloon Sqn.
│ │534 Carrier Pigeon
│ │ Loft.
│ │(Elements attached
│ │ June 6, 1918.
│ │ German
│ │ documents.)
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
HISTORY.
(16th Corps District—Lorraine.)
1914.
Upon mobilization, the 34th Division and the 33d Division were organic
parts of the 16th Army Corps (Metz).
MEUSE.
1. At the outbreak of the war the 34th Division marched with the 5th
Army (German Crown Prince), entered France on August 21, by Audun le
Roman and by way of Nouillon Pont, and reached the Meuse, which it
crossed at Vilosnes and Sivry on September 1. It advanced as far as
Beauzée and Seraucourt.
ARGONNE.
2. After the battle of the Marne it retired to the north and took up its
position in the Argonne.
1915.
ARGONNE.
1. The 54th Division remained in the Argonne without interruption from
September, 1914, until about August 15, 1916. It took part there in the
offensives of January and July, 1915, where it suffered heavy losses. On
January 18, 1915, the 30th Infantry Regiment had already lost 56
officers and 2,723 men. (Official List of Casualties.)
2. After these violent battles, it received fairly large replacements.
The division suffered no serious losses in this sector during the period
which followed these engagements until its relief on Aug. 15, 1916.
1916.
VERDUN.
1. On this date the 34th Division was transferred to the right bank of
the Meuse at Verdun.
2. It went into action in the Chiaumont sector at the end of August,
1916, and during the month of September, took part in some very severe
battles in this vicinity.
3. On September 20, its losses were very great because of our attack.
The regiments of the 34th Division again lost heavily in the course of
our offensive of October 24, which succeeded in recapturing the
Douaumont Fort and the Thiaumont Works; on that day, their resistance
was rather weak. The 67th Infantry Regiment received about 71 men for
its 8th Company in the week of October 28-November 5.
VOSGES.
4. On October 29 the 34th Division was relieved. Beginning with November
14, it occupied a calm sector in the Vosges, southwest of Senones. At
this time it received fairly large replacements. The 173d Infantry
Regiment was transferred to the 223d Division, a new formation.
1917.
ARGONNE.
1. At the beginning of February, 1917, the division returned to the
Argonne. It remained there a short time. In the middle of March, it was
relieved and transferred to the region north of Rheims (beginning of
April).
CHAMPAGNE.
2. Immediately after our offensive of April 16, the 67th and 30th
Infantry Regiments went into action in the vicinity of Brimont, while
the 145th Infantry Regiment was sent to Cornillet as a reenforcement
from April 18 to 20.
3. About April 25, the 34th Division was again concentrated in the
Brimont sector, where it relieved the 43d Reserve Division.
4. About the middle of June it extended its sector to include the
stretch from the Champ du Seigneur to the Verrerie of Courcy. During the
attacks of April the division suffered very heavy losses; the 145th
Infantry Regiment lost about one-third of its effectives.
FLANDERS.
5. On July 21 the 34th Division was relieved from the Rheims front and
sent to Flanders on August 7. It remained in reserve in the vicinity of
Dadizeele until August 12. It then went into action near the Ypres-Menin
road, where it had heavy losses.
WOEVRE.
6. On August 24, it left this front for La Haye, where it went into line
southeast of Thiaucourt (vicinity of Flirey) and remained until October
31.
CAMBRAI.
7. At the beginning of November, it was in the vicinity of Cambrai. It
took part in the German counterattack of November 30.
LAONNOIS.
8. After a rest in December, the 34th Division occupied the sector of
Crandelain, on the Ailette, until January 7, 1918.
RECRUITING.
Because of the difficulty of recruiting in its own corps district
(Lorraine), the 34th Division is composed mostly of Westphalians and men
from the Rhine Province. The name of “Magdeburg” given to the 67th
Infantry Regiment has only a historic value.
The men, as a rule, belong to the classes of 1912 to 1918.
The replacements received by the division in Lorraine (September, 1917)
brought in an undetermined number of men more than 25 years of age,
especially those of the Landsturm of about 30 years of age, withdrawn
from the Russian front and trained for a while in a depot in the
interior.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 34th Division was one of the good Divisions of the German Army.
Nevertheless, at the time of our attack upon Thiamont on October 24,
1916, it had a period of genuine weakness.
Its attitude in the Brimont sector in April and May, 1917, was such that
it must still be classed among the good divisions.
At Ypres, in August, 1917, charged with the defense of one of the most
important sectors, it did not realize the hopes of the German High
Command.
According to the interrogation of a prisoner (February, 1918), the 34th
Division is a shock division destined to attack.
1918.
LAON.
1. Early in January the division which had been resting near Laon,
relieved the 3d Bavarian Division near Courtecon (south of Laon);
withdrawn toward the end of February, it went to rest near Liesse
(northeast of Laon), where it remained until March 15.
PICARDY.
2. Then it marched toward the front via Marcy (west of Marle) and
Ribemont. On the 21st it entered line south of St. Quentin, took Benay,
which was its objective, crossed the canal, and took Jussy on the 23d.
It continued its advance as far as Pontoise (southeast of Noyon). It was
withdrawn on April 2, after having lost 50 per cent of its total
effectives, and went to rest in the area southeast of Roye. While here
it received 1,000 replacements.
3. On the 10th, it came back into line south of Guiscard (north of
Noyon). It was withdrawn about the 20th, the 50th Division taking over
its sector.
4. After spending about 10 days near Beaumont en Beine (southeast of
Ham) training in close and open order and in rifle practice, the
division relieved the 223d Division south of Appilly (east of Noyon) on
May 1. On the 15th, it received 15 replacements per company. It was
relieved by the 9th Bavarian Reserve Division on the 20th, and went to
rest, first in the region east of Chauny, and then in the St. Gobain
forest (south of La Fère).
AISNE.
5. After having been in reserve four days near Pernant (west of
Soissons), the division reenforced the front near Ambleny (west of
Soissons) on June 12, attacking, the same day, with the Coeuvres-Vic sur
Aisne road as its objective. It could make no headway at all, and
suffered losses of about 30 per cent of its strength. It was withdrawn
about the 6th of July.
6. On the 19th, it came back into line near Vauxbuin (southwest of
Soissons), and was withdrawn on the 22d after suffering severely; over
300 in prisoners alone. It went to rest in the Guise area; later, it
moved to the vicinity of Coucy le Château. While here, it received as a
draft the dissolved 67th Reserve Regiment (33d Reserve Division
disbanded).
AILETTE.
7. The division reenforced the front near Cuts (southeast of Noyon) on
August 15. It was withdrawn on September 25.
ST. QUENTIN.
8. It entrained the same day north of St. Gobain, and detrained in the
St. Bohain region the next day; it rested here for two days, and was
transported by truck to St. Quentin on the 28th. The following day, it
relieved the 221st Division southwest of that town. On the 30th, it was
forced to relinquish St. Quentin to the French. It continued to
withdraw, but fighting stubbornly, and was relieved on the 9th of
October near Fontaine-Uterte (northeast of St. Quentin). It rested for a
week between Avesnes and Maubeuge.
GUISE.
9. It moved to the Petit Verly-Grougis region (northwest of Guise) on
the 17th, in support of the 81st Reserve Division, but that unit being
placed hors de combat by the attack of the 18th, the 34th Division found
itself in the front line, and even lost nearly 100 prisoners. It was
relieved on the 23d after losing nearly 700 more prisoners. It then
rested about a week in the Vervins region.
10. On November 1, it returned to line near Puisieux (south of Guise),
and withdrew along the line Marly, Romery, Sommeron. It was still in
line on the 11th.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The 34th has always been considered as one of the best second-class
divisions. As a result, however, of its heavy losses during the spring,
it contained large numbers of boys of the 1919 class. Having been
engaged without rest from the middle of August until the end of the war,
it was reduced to the point where it has less than 1,000 effectives
left. In all probability, it would soon have been dissolved had the war
continued.
35th Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │70. │21. │70. │21. │87. │141.
│ │61. │ │61. │ │61.
│87. │141. │87. │141. │ │176.
│ │176. │ │176. │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │4 Jag. z. Pf. │ │5 Hus. Rgt. (2
│ │ │ Sqns.).
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │35 Brig.: │35 Brig.: │35 Brig.:
│ 71 Rgt. │ 71 Rgt. │ 71 Rgt.
│ 81 Rgt. │ 81 Rgt. │ 81 Rgt.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. │1 Pion. Btn. No.
Liaisons. │ │ 17: │ 17:
│ │ Field Co. 17 Pion.│ 1 Co. 17 Pion.
│ │ 35 Tel. Detch. │ 4 Co. 36 Pion.
│ │ 25 Pont. Engs. │ 35 T. M. Co.
│ │ │ 35 Tel. Detch.
│ │ │
│ │ │ 35 Pont. Engs.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │ │2 Assault Detch.
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │87. │141. │87. │61.
│ │61. │ │141.
│ │176. │ │176.
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │2 Sqn. 5 Hus. Rgt. │2 Sqn. 5 Hus. Rgt.
│ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │35 Art. Command: │35 Art. Command:
│ 71 Rgt. │ 71 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ 1 Abt. 18 Res. Ft.
│ │ A. Rgt.
│ │ 715 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 716 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1305 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│133 Pion. Btn.: │133 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 1 and 2 17 Pion. │ 1 Co. 17 Pions.
│ 35 T. M. Co. │ 2 Co. 17 Pions.
│ 35 Tel. Detch. │ 35 T. M. Co.
│ 36 Pont. Engs. │ 223 Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ │35 Signal Command:
│ │ 35 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 121 Wireless
│ │ Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │44 Amb. Co. │44 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│289, 293 Field │289 Field Hospital.
│ Hospts. │
│35 Vet. Hospital. │293 Field Hospital.
│ │35 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │568 Light Mun. Col.│568 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
HISTORY.
(17th Corps District—Western Prussia.)
1914–15.
EAST PRUSSIA.
1. The 35th Division formed with the 36th Division the 17th Army Corps
(Danzig). It remained on the Eastern Front from the beginning of the war
until October, 1915. It took part in the battles of Gumbinnen and
Tannenberg, then in the two German offensives upon Warsaw. It
participated in the operations on the Bzura and the Narew, where it
remained until August 1, 1915.
RUSSIA.
2. It was sent to rest near Bielostok, and at the end of September,
1915, the decision was made to send it to the Western Front.
3. It entrained at Grodno about October 6, and arrived about the 10th in
the vicinity of Péronne where it was filled up. The 9th Company of the
176th Infantry Regiment received no less than 60 men between October 3
and 13.
FRANCE.
4. In the middle of October it went into the Roye sector and remained
there during the entire winter of 1915–16.
1916.
SOMME.
1. About May 25, 1916, it went slightly to the north and occupied the
sector between the Chaulnes-Amiens railroad and the south of Soyécourt.
2. At the beginning of July, when the Somme battle began, the 35th
Division was holding the front from west of Vermandovillers to the south
of Chilly. The 176th Infantry Regiment was sent into line in the sector
of Herbécourt-Estrées on July 2 and lost 170 prisoners to the French.
This regiment lost heavily in the French attack of July 20 between
Belloy and the Ètoilé wood.
3. On September 4 and the days following the 35th Division was effecting
a relief at the time of the French offensive and suffered considerably
because of this (almost 2,000 prisoners, 39 of whom were officers).
4. It had to be retired from the front on September 8 and sent to rest
at Ham. Between October 15 and 20 it again went into line from the
southwest of Chaulnes to the southwest of Chilly.
5. According to official calculations, the 35th Division had casualties
of 6,102 men, 68 per cent of the effectives engaged, in the course of
the battle of the Somme.
1917.
ST. QUENTIN.
1. The 35th Division remained in the vicinity of Chaulnes until the
German retirement. It took part in the retreat and established itself in
the Hindenburg Line south of St. Quentin at the end of March.
ARTOIS.
2. After a few days of rest in the vicinity of Guise at the beginning of
April, the division took part in the battle of Arras in the second half
of April. At this time it lost about 50 per cent of its fighting men.
The 141st Infantry Regiment received in May 135 to 140 men per company
to make up for its losses (1918 class and men liberated by the
dissolution of the 618th Infantry Regiment).
FLANDERS.
3. Sent to rest for the entire month of May in the vicinity of Lille and
filled up by replacements of 3,000 men coming from the recruit depot at
Warsaw on May 9, the 35th Division was sent into Belgium and occupied,
on May 31, the banks of the Ypres-Comines Canal. On June 7 it lost
heavily there (5,000 to 6,000 men, of whom 1,272 were prisoners).
4. Reorganized on June 11 in the vicinity of Cambrai, by replacements
mostly made up of returned convalescents and wounded, the division was
then sent into line in a calm sector north of St. Quentin, where it
remained from June 21 to October 20.
FLANDERS.
5. On October 22 and 23 it reappeared on the Flanders front in the
sector of the Houthulst wood. It had rather serious losses between
October 22 and 25.
It was relieved on January 22, 1918, and sent to rest east of Bruges.
RECRUITING.
The 35th Division is recruited from western Prussia with some help from
the 6th Corps District, especially in June, 1916 (important replacements
made up of miners from Silesia). There is a rather large proportion of
Poles, not only from the 17th Corps District, but also from the 5th and
6th Corps Districts.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 35th Division has taken part in numerous battles. Its quality has
been greatly weakened by the incorporation of recruits of the 1918
class, and by the increase of the Polish elements.
The 35th Division appears to be a mediocre division (July, 1917).
The morale of the 141st Infantry Regiment, 50 per cent of which are
Poles, appears poor. (November, 1917.)
1918.
YPRES.
1. The division was at rest east of Bruges (Maldeghem) until about
February 17, when it was engaged in the vicinity of Merckem until March
20.
BATTLE OF THE LYS.
2. It entrained at Pitthem on the 22d and moved to Carvin. It was in
reserve at Evin-Malmaison until March 27, and later in reserve south of
Lens (near Rouvroy) until April 1. It was moved to Lille and engaged
from April 8–9 to the 14th at Neuve-Chapelle, Lestrem, Locon, Neuf
Berquin. In the fighting on April 12 the division lost heavily. It was
withdrawn on April 14.
FLANDERS.