─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬────────────────_Histories of two hundred and fifty-one divisions of the German army which participated in the war (1914-1918)

│ 1917 │ 1918

─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────

│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.

─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────

Infantry. │75 Res. │249 Res. │75 Res. │249 Res.

│ │250 Res. │ │250 Res.

│ │251 Res. │ │251 Res.

─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────

Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 2 Uhlan Rgt. │3 Sqn. 2 Drag. Rgt.

─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────

Artillery. │(?) Art. Command: │55 Res. F. A. Rgt.

│ 55 Res. F. A. Rgt. (9 │82 Ft. A. Btn.

│ Btries.). │

│ │826 Light Am. Col.

│ │

│ │1189 Light Am. Col.

│ │1190 Light Am. Col.

Engineers and│(375) Pion. Btn.: │375 Pion. Btn.:

Liaisons. │ │

│ 75 Res. Pion. Co. │ 384 Pion. Co.

│ 384 Pion. Co. │ 75 Res. Pion. Co.

│ 275 T. M. Co. │ 275 T. M. Co.

│ 333 Searchlight Section. │ 65 Searchlight Section.

│ Tel. Detch. │475 Signal Command:

│ │ 475 Tel. Detch.

│ │ 145 Wireless Detch.

Medical and │537 Ambulance Co. │537 Ambulance Co.

Veterinary.│ │

│95 Res. Field Hospital. │98 Res. Field Hospital.

│99 Res. Field Hospital. │99 Res. Field Hospital.

│Vet. Hospital. │169 Vet. Hospital.

Transports. │586 M. T. Col. │742 M. T. Col.

Odd units. │75 Res. Cyclist Co. │

Attached. │ │

│ │

─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(249th and 250th Reserve Infantry Regiments, 14th Corps District—Grand

Duchy of Baden. 251st Reserve Infantry Regiment; 11th Corps

District—Electorate of Hesse.)

1915.

RUSSIA.

1. The 75th Reserve Division, trained at the Heuberg Camp in Baden,

included two regiments of the 14th Corps District and one from the 11th

Corps District. The first two were formed from the six field battalions

from Baden, Nos. 61 to 66; the third, from three Thuringian field

battalions, Nos. 58 to 60.

2. Forming a part of the 38th Reserve Corps with the 76th Reserve

Division, it was sent to the Eastern Front at the end of January, 1915.

3. On February 17 it was in the vicinity of Augustowo, after taking part

in the battle of Mazurian Lakes, where it lost heavily (250th Reserve

Infantry Regiment).

4. At the end of February and the beginning of March it occupied the

front near Chtabin.

5. On March 9 it attacked north of Ostrolenka and marched to Ossowiec.

It remained in the region north of Ostrolenka until the end of April.

6. In the summer, it took part in the march upon Vilna and advanced

beyond this by way of Wileisk (Sept. 24), south of Lake Drisviaty (Oct.

6).

7. At the end of October, the 75th Reserve Division went somewhat to the

south and took over the sector of Spiagla, south of Lake Narotch.

1916.

LAKE NAROTCH.

1. The division remained in line in the vicinity of Lake Narotch until

the end of July, 1916. In the spring of 1916, it received the Russian

offensive in this area.

2. At the beginning of August, it was transferred to the Stokhod. We

find it southwest of Sviniouki on October 1; south of Kisselin on

November 9 (except the 251st Reserve Infantry Regiment sent to Galicia

on Oct. 30).

GALICIA.

3. At the end of November, the entire division was in Galicia, where it

occupied the sector of the Narajowka (north of Halicz, Rohatyn).

1917.

GALICIA.

1. The 75th Reserve Division was retained in the vicinity of Halicz, and

of Brzezany until July, 1917 (in reserve from the end of March to the

end of May).

COURLAND.

2. On July 25 the division left Galicia to go to Smorgoni, from which

place it was transferred to the Riga sector (Uxkull) at the end of

August. After the taking of Riga, it advanced beyond the Dvina and took

up its position on the Meloupe.

FRANCE.

3. On December 1 the division entrained for France. (Itinerary: Riga-

Mitau-Kovno-Marienburg-Berlin-Hanover-Cassel-Cologne-Coblentz-Trèves-

Thionville-Metz-Charleville-Hirson-Vervins.) It detrained at St. Gobert

and Vervins about December 7.

AISNE.

4. Sent to rest near Vervins, about December 26, the division took over

the sector of Chavignon-Urcel on the 27th.

RECRUITING.

The divisions formed in 1915 were not homogeneous. The 75th Reserve

Division consists of two regiments from Baden and one from the

Electorate of Hesse.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Since the 75th Reserve Division comes from Russia and has only been on

the French front since the end of December 1917, it is difficult to form

a judgment as to the combat value of this organization.

At the end of December elements of the division took part in maneuvers

supported by tanks (at Voulpaix, west of Verdun). (Interrogation of

prisoner, Feb. 20, 1918.)

At the beginning of February the 251st Reserve Infantry Regiment took

part in a division maneuver in which the infantry had to fight simulated

tanks. (Interrogation of prisoner, Mar. 11, 1918.)

DISCIPLINE.

It is to be noted that during the trip from Russia to France 40 men

belonging to the Minenwerfer and pioneer companies, were reported

missing. (Interrogation of prisoner, Jan. 31, 1918.)

1918.

PICARDY.

1. The division was relieved south of Laon on March 26 and went to Laon.

By way of Champignon (west of Crepy), Charmes, it marched to Chauny,

where it went into line on March 30. It was engaged until about April

14, and then went to rest north of St. Gobain.

BATTLE OF THE MATZ.

2. It returned to line southeast of Canny sur Matz on the night of May

16–17 and took part in the battle of Noyon in June. It was relieved

about June 20 and rested until July 2. It was in line at Courcelles from

that date until August 18. Prior to the French attack on August 18, the

division counted about 3,000 combatants. It suffered important losses

between the 8th and 18th.

3. The division rested in the Bois de Champien and Bois de Glandon until

August 23 and then in the Bois du Tunnel. On the 27th it went to Ham. On

the night of August 31-September 1 it relieved the 1st Reserve Division

in the sector Libermont-Bois du Tunnel. It fell back across the Canal du

Nord on September 3 and continued its retreat through Sommette, Dury,

Bray St. Christophe until it reached a position at Happencourt on

September 7. It was relieved on the 13th by the 22d Reserve Division.

The attack of August and September had completely disorganized the

division and greatly reduced its morale.

LE CATEAU.

4. The division returned to line west of Bellenglise on September 20 and

was heavily engaged for 10 days.

WOEVRE.

5. On November 10 the division came into line near Jametz on the

American front.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. Throughout 1918 its morale

appears to have been low, and after the battle of Matz its effectives

were greatly reduced.

76th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────

│ 1915 │ 1916

│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.

Infantry. │76 Res. │252 Res. │76 Res. │252 Res.

│ │253 Res. │ │253 Res.

│ │254 Res. │ │254 Res.

Cavalry. │76 Res. Cav. Detch. │76 Res. Cav. Detch.

Artillery. │76 Res. Brig.: │76 Res. Brig.:

│ 56 Res. F. A. Rgt. (6 │ 56 Res. F. A. Rgt.

│ Btries.). │

│ 58 Res. F. A. Rgt. (6 │ 58 Res. F. A. Rgt.

│ Btries.). │

│ │

Engineers and│76 Res. Pion. Co. │76 Res. Pion. Co.

Liaisons. │ │

│76 Res. Pont. Engs. │276 T. M. Co.

│ │76 Res. Pont. Engs.

│ │

Medical and │1 Ambulance Co. │

Veterinary.│ │

│ │

Transports. │76 Res. Train Detch. │

Odd Units. │76 Res. Cyclist Co. │76 Res. Cyclist Co.

│ 1917 │ 1918

│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.

Infantry. │76 Res. │252 Res. │76 Res. │252 Res.

│ │253 Res. │ │253 Res.

│ │254 Res. │ │254 Res.

Cavalry. │3 Sqn. 1 Res. Uhlan Rgt. │3 Sqn. 13 Uhlan Rgt.

Artillery. │(?) Art. Command: │76 Art. Command:

│ 56 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ 56 Res. F. A. Rgt.

│ │

│ 58 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ 2 Abt. 24 Ft. A. Rgt. (5th

│ │ and 7th Btries.).

│ │ 763 Light Am. Col.

│ │ 1081 Light Am. Col.

│ │ 1082 Light Am. Col.

Engineers and│(376) Pion. Btn.: │376 Pion. Btn.:

Liaisons. │ │

│ 76 Res. Pion. Co. │ 77 Res. Pion. Co.

│ 77 Res. Pion. Co. │ 76 Res. Pion. Co.

│ 276 T. M. Co. │ 76 Searchlight Section.

│ 344 Searchlight Section. │476 Signal Command:

│ Tel. Detch. │ 476 Tel. Detch.

│ │ 188 Wireless Detch.

Medical and │538 Ambulance Co. │538 Ambulance Co.

Veterinary.│ │

│100 Field Hospital (Res.). │100 Res. Field Hospital.

│101 Field Hospital (Res.). │101 Res. Field Hospital.

│Vet. Hospital. │146 Vet. Hospital.

Transports. │M. T. Col. │743 M. T. Col.

Odd Units. │76 Res. Cyclist Co. │

HISTORY.

(11th and 18th Corps District—Hesse Electoral, Hesse—Nassau, and Grand

Duchy of Hesse.)

1915.

RUSSIA.

1. The 76th Reserve Division (included in the 38th Reserve Corps with

the 75th Reserve Division), formed in January, 1915, grows out of three

field battalions (Feld bataillone), Nos. 55–57 of the 11th Corps

District, and out of six field battalions, Nos. 67–72 of the 18th Corps

District. It was sent toward Russia at the beginning of February, 1915.

2. On February 13 it was identified in the region of Gumbinnen. It was

really part of the group which operated in the region of Wylkowyszki-

Mariampol.

3. On March 2 it was on the Sopotzkyn-Chtabin front.

4. In March it was northeast of Prasnysz.

5. In April it was in the region of Suwalki-Augustowo.

6. In May it was north of Suwalki.

7. On June 23 the 76th Reserve Division went to the Dubissa area.

8. On June 30, region of Eydtkuhnen.

9. The summer offensive of 1915 brought it, through the region of Vilna,

to Kovno (Aug. 16) and then to the south of Smorgoni (Oct. 6–10).

It was withdrawn from the front about October 15 and was at Vilna on

November 1 and in the region of Mitau on December 5.

1916.

COURLAND.

1. Then moved toward the north, the 76th Reserve Division took up a

sector on the Dvina, opposite Uxkull (Jan.-Aug., 1916).

ROUMANIA.

2. From the 10th to the 20th of September the division was moved to the

Roumanian front.

3. In October it took part in the battles in the regions of Hermannstadt

and Brasso (Kronstadt).

4. At the end of October or beginning of November it occupied the

vicinity of Campolung. At the end of December, to the south of Rimnicu-

Sarat.

1917.

ROUMANIA (FOCSANI).

1. With the stabilization of the Roumanian front, it was in line to the

north and east to Focsani, where it remained from January to April,

1917.

2. In May it was in reserve. At about this time it seems to have been

brought to the rear of the French front.

3. The division reappeared in Roumania, in the vicinity of Focsani, from

August 6 to 14. It attacked on the 15th and suffered heavy losses.

4. Put in reserve, near Focsani, it went back into line at the beginning

of October to the north of Iresti. It was still in that region at the

beginning of January, 1918.

RECRUITING.

The 252d Regiment in Thuringe, 253d Regiment in Hesse-Nassau, and 254th

Regiment in the Grand Duchy of Hesse. These last two regiments may be

termed Rhenish regiments.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 76th Reserve Division was at all times used on the eastern front.

1918.

1. The division was moved to the Western Front in the spring after

exchanging its older men for younger men from the divisions remaining in

Roumania. It entrained at Focsani on March 7 and traveled by way of

Hermannstadt, Budapest, Breslau, Erfurt, Fulda, to Metz, where it

detrained on March 15. The 254th Reserve Regiment was in cantonments a

few days at Fort Luitpold and then went to Norroy le Veneur where it

remained about 12 days. It entrained on March 31 and proceeded by way of

Sedan and Charleville to Hirson (Apr. 1). From there it marched via

Remigny-Golancourt-Roye-Narvillers-Hangest-Plessier-Rozainvillers, where

it went into cantonments for three days.

MONTDIDIER.

2. On the night of April 12–13 the division relieved elements of the 23d

Division between Malpart and La Chappelle-St. Aignan. About May 2 the

division extended its front to the north and relieved a part of the

240th Division. This was a defensive sector at this time. On May 9 the

French made an attack on Grivesnes Park while the 76th Reserve Division

was holding it. The attack was a complete surprise and caused many

casualties. Between April 10 and May 8 the losses averaged 30 to 35 men

per company and the number of combatants on May 9 was about 75 per

company. It was relieved in the middle of May.

VERDUN.

3. The division entered line in the Verdun region to the south of

Bezonvaux on June 21. It was withdrawn from the quiet sector in mid-

July, and on the 29th relieved the 46th Reserve Division southwest of

Soissons. Until August 2 it was not involved in the attack. It defended

the flanks of the German retreat energetically until its withdrawal on

September 8. A week later its regiments were used singly to support the

units in line in delaying the French advance on the line Coucy le

Chateau-Ferny-Sorny. The losses in the fighting were considerable,

including 575 prisoners. It showed itself a good defensive division.

4. On September 25 the division came in line on the extreme left of the

American line in the Argonne. On October 10 all three regiments were

opposite the United States troops in Grandpre. It remained in line until

November 8 before it was finally withdrawn.

The excessive use of the division gave rise to serious internal

discontent. The rifle strength of the regiments was down to less than

300 by October 24, and the troops were demanding a rest. Some companies

refused to enter the line in mid-October. The divisional commander was

obliged to issue an appeal to the division on October 21 to hold out.

The entire rifle strength of the 2d Battalion, 254th Reserve Regiment,

was but 3 officers and 75 men on October 28.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. As a defensive sector holding

unit the division showed a power of sustained resistance that warranted

a higher classification. By the end the division had been completely

used up.

77th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

│ 1915 │ 1916

│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.

Infantry. │77 Res. │255 Res. │77 Res. │255 Res.

│ │256 Res. │ │256 Res.

│ │257 Res. │ │257 Res.

Cavalry. │77 Res. Cav. Detch. │77 Res. Cav. Detch.

│ │

Artillery. │77 Res. Brig.: │77 Res. Brig.:

│ 59 Res. F. A. Rgt. (6 │ 59 Res. F. A. Rgt.

│ Btries.). │

│ 60 Res. F. A. Rgt. (6 │ 60 Res. F. A. Rgt.

│ Btries.). │

Engineers and│77 Res. Pion. Co. │77 Res. Pion. Co.

Liaisons. │ │

│77 Res. Pont. Engs. │277 T. M. Co.

│ │77 Res. Pont. Engs.

│ │

Medical and │1 Ambulance Co. │

Veterinary.│ │

│ │

Transport. │77 Res. Train Detch. │

Odd units. │77 Res. Cyclist Co. │77 Res. Cyclist Co.

Attached. │ │

│ 1917 │ 1918[25]

│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.

Infantry. │77 Res. │255 Res. │77 Res. │332.

│ │256 Res. │ │257 Res.

│ │257 Res. │ │419.

Cavalry. │4 Sqn. 2 Horse Jag. Rgt. (?) │4 Sqn. 2 Horse Jag. Rgt.

│77 Res. Cav. Detch. (?) │

Artillery. │(?) Art. Command: │(?) Art. Command:

│ 59 Res. F. A. Rgt. (9 │ 59 Res. F. A. Rgt.

│ Btries.). │

│ │

Engineers and│(377) Pion. Btn.: │1 Co. 1 Pions.

Liaisons. │ │

│ 78 Res. Pion. Co. │1 Ldw. Co. 7 C. Dist. Pions.

│ 277 T. M. Co. │39 Res. Searchlight Section.

│ 39 Res. Searchlight Section.│277 T. M. Co.

│ 477 Tel. Detch. │477 Tel. Detch.

Medical and │539 Ambulance Co. │539 Ambulance Co.

Veterinary.│ │

│103 Field Hospital (Res.). │103 Res. Field Hospital.

│104 Field Hospital (Res.). │104 Res. Field Hospital.

│Vet. Hospital. │105 Res. Field Hospital.

│ │Vet. Hospital.

Transport. │M. T. Col. │744 M. T. Col.

Odd units. │77 Res. Cyclist Co. │77 Res. Cyclist Co.

Attached. │ │403 Pion. Btn. (?)

Footnote 25:

Composition at the time of dissolution.

HISTORY.

(255th Regiment: 7th Corps District—Westphalia. 257th Regiment, 332d

Regiment: 8th Corps District—Rhenish Province.)

1915.

The 77th Reserve Division was formed at the Senne Cantonment (7th Corps

Region) in January, 1915, with six field battalions (Nos. 31–36) of the

7th Corps Region and three of the 8th, (Nos. 37–39.) With the 78th

Reserve Division, it composed the 39th Reserve Corps.

RUSSIA.

1. Brought to the Eastern Front at the beginning of February, detraining

at Insterburg, it was a part of the army operating in Eastern Prussia

after February 12.

2. At the beginning of March it was engaged on the Sopotzkyn-Chtabin

front in the region of Simno; on March 9 it covered the retreat of the

21st Corps and fell back to Seiny, Suwalki and Augustowo (Mar. 10 to

31).

3. During May and June the 77th Reserve Division took part in the

Courland raid. On May 5 it was identified as being on the Rossieny-

Beisagola front (to the South of Chavli).

GRODNO.

4. Taking part in the summer offensive, it advanced through the regions

of Grodno, Olita (Aug 30) and Vileiki (Sept 27).

5. At the beginning of November it established itself in the vicinity of

Kchtchava, east of Novo-Alexandrovsk.

1916.

COURLAND.

1. The 77th Reserve Division stayed in the region north of Kchtchava—and

south of Dvinsk during all of 1916 and until August 1917. In August of

1916 it gave one of its regiments—the 256th—to the Mitau group and later

to the 218th Division.

1917.

COURLAND.

1. At the end of August, 1917, the 77th Reserve Division was transferred

from the region of the Dvinsk to the Riga front, being brought up to

strength by the addition of the 332d Regiment, the latter having

originally come from the 83d Division after having successively been

part of the 11th Landwehr Division and the 8th Cavalry Division.

2. In October the 77th Reserve Division appeared in the vicinity of

Friedrichstadt; near Jakobstadt, at the end of October. The 255th

Regiment may have participated about this date in the occupation of the

island of Oesel.

3. On November 5 the division is identified in the region of Libau; on

January 20, the 257th Regiment at Mitau; and to the northwest of the

Novo-Alexandrovsk-Dvinsk railway, the 255th Regiment on February 10. On

March 1 the 332d Regiment of Infantry was to leave “in order to advance

in the East” (letter).

RECRUITING.

Principally Westphalia for the 255th Regiment; Rhenish provinces for the

257th and 332d Regiments. Numerous recruits from Lorraine and Alsace.

Poles in the 332d Regiment, which received the Ersatz Battalion of the

19th Infantry at the time it was formed.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 77th Reserve Division did not leave the Russian front. One of its

present regiments, the 332d, is a former regiment of the Posen garrison,

of which two of the three battalions were Rhenish Landsturm battalions.

Successive replacements gave this regiment the appearance of an ordinary

regiment. In January, 1918, the older and sickly men were released.

1918.

1. The division left Russia about April 1 and traveled via Magdebourg-

Hildesheim-Cologne-Gerolstein-Gouvy-Bastogne-Lebramont-Sedan-Liart-

Rozay-Montcornet, detraining in the vicinity of Laon on April 4. It

marched by stages toward Villers-Carbonnel-Athies, where it rested and

trained from April 11 to 19. On April 20 it entered the line north of

Hangard and was engaged until the end of the month.

SOMME.

2. It returned to line east of Villers-Bretonneux on May 18 and held

that sector until July 4.

WOEVRE.

3. The division was moved to the Woevre by Hirson and Montmedy and on

July 14 relieved the 183d Division in the Flirey sector. It held that

sector until the American attack on St. Mihiel on September 12. The

division suffered very heavy losses in prisoners, but had few other

casualties, the prisoners stating that they were completely cut off by

the American barrage. It was withdrawn on September 16 and did not

thereafter return to line.

4. What remained of the 77th Reserve Division was reassembled at Pagny

and was occupied in organizing the ground between Pagny and Prenay. A

report of October 11 stated that the division passed through Berlin on

its way to the Balkan front on October 2. The division was then

considered as withdrawn from the Western Front.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. It was not seriously engaged

except in the St. Mihiel attack, which practically destroyed the

division. Its morale was only mediocre. Deserters from the Alsace-

Lorraine element in the division were numerous.

78th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

Histories of two hundred and fifty-one divisions of the German army which participated in the war (1914-1918) · 第 56 / 78 段