3. On the evening of the 26th it left and marched toward the_Histories of two hundred and fifty-one divisions of the German army which participated in the war (1914-1918)

27th it was in reserve; on the 28th it attacked near Trigny (west of

Rheims) and succeeded in advancing about 5 kilometers. On the 6th of

June the 86th and 232d Divisions, supported by the 33d Reserve Division,

captured the town of Bligny (southwest of Rheims), but lost it the same

afternoon when the French counterattacked. The 86th Division had quite

heavy losses. It was relieved on July 21 by the 50th Division and went

to rest in the region northwest of Rheims.

4. On the 10th of August the division reenforced the front near Muizon

(west of Rheims). It was relieved by the 10th Reserve Division on the

28th.

LAON.

5. During the night of September 18–19 it relieved the 50th Reserve

Division near the Colombe farm (south of Laon). It was relieved about

the 23d of October.

6. The division came back into line on November 5 in the vicinity of

Marle; on the 7th it was identified northeast of Vervins; and on the 9th

at Hirson.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 86th was rated as a fourth-class division. It did not participate in

any of the great offensives during 1918, but it did attack vigorously on

two occasions and on the whole acquitted itself better than other

divisions similarly rated.

87th Division.

COMPOSITION.

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

│ 1915 │ 1916

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

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

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

Infantry. │Griepenkeri. │Leimbach │173. │345.

│ │ (345). │ │

│ │Runge (346). │ │346.

│Normann. │Schwarz (347).│179. │347.

│ │8 Landst. │ │8 Landst.

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

Cavalry. │87 Cav. Rgt. │87 Cav. Rgt.

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

Artillery. │87 F. A. Abt. │87 F. A. Rgt.

│ │841 F. A. Btry.

│ │

Engineers and│ │4 Co. 26 Pions.

Liaisons. │ │

│ │2 Ldw. Pion. Co. (Gd. C.

│ │ Dist.).

│ │87 T. M. Co.

│ │

Medical and │ │

Veterinary.│ │

│ │

Transport. │ │

Odd units. │ │156 Cyclist Co.

Attached. │ │10 Labor Btn.

│ │75 Labor Btn.

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

│ 1917 │ 1918

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

Infantry. │173. │345. │179. │345.

│ │ │ │

│ │347. │ │347.

│ │8 Landst. │ │3d Res. Ers.

│ │ │ │

Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 3 Horse. Gren. Rgt. │1 Sqn. 3 Jag. z. Pf.

Artillery. │Art. Command. │3 Artillery Command:

│ 87 F. A. Regt. │ 38 Field Art. Rgt.

│ │ 34 Ft. Art. Btn.

│ │ 878 Light Mun. Col.

│ │ 975 Light Mun. Col.

│ │ 949 Light Mun. Col.

Engineers and│Pion. Btn.: │87 Pion. Btn.

Liaisons. │ │

│ 4 Co. 26 Pions. │ 242 Pion. Co.

│ │

│ 3 Ldw. Co. 6 Pions. │ 2 Ers. Pion. Btn. No. 26.

│ 87 T. M. Co. │ 113 Searchlight Section.

│ 264 Searchlight Section. │87 Div. Signal Command.

│ 87 Tel. Detch. │ 87 Tel. Detch.

│ │ 163 Div. Wireless. Detch.

Medical and │69 Ambulance Co. │69 Ambulance Co.

Veterinary.│ │

│131 Field Hospital. │131 and 132 Field Hospitals.

│132 Field Hospital. │191 Vet. Hospital.

│Vet. Hospital. │

Transport. │157 M. T. Col. │

Odd units. │156 Cyclist Co. │

Attached. │ │

│ │

HISTORY.

(345th Regiment; 5th Corps District—Posen. 347th Regiment; 2d Corps

District—Pomerania. 3d Reserve Ersatz Regiment; 9th Corps

District—Schleswig—Holstein.)

1915.

The 87th Division as well as the 89th Division came from the Thorn

Corps, which was engaged on the Eastern Front from the beginning of the

war.

RUSSIA-POLAND.

1. Its battalions were made into a division at the beginning of June,

1915. Before that time the Ersatz battalions, from which it was formed,

belonged to the Griepenkerl and Plantier detachments (Thorn Corps), and

fought near the Polish frontier between the Vistula and Prasnysz. These

were the Leimbach-Zerener regiments which became the 345th, the Runge

which became the 346th and the Schwarz which became the 347th, and to

which latter unit the 8th Landsturm Regiment organized in June, 1915, at

the Elsenborn cantonment was joined.

2. Beginning in July the elements of the 87th Division took part in the

offensive against the Russians: Battles between Drobin and the Vistula,

then to the west of Pultusk; pursuit fighting up to lower Narew (July

18–22); siege of Novo-Georgievsk (Aug. 13–19); battles of Niemen (Aug.

31-Sept. 8) and of Vilna (Sept. 9–26).

3. After having fought between the Bogin and Drisviaty Lakes (Oct.

5–19), the division took up a position in that region.

1916.

DRISVIATY LAKE.

1. The 87th Division occupied the Drisviaty-Vidzy line the entire year

1916 and until the month of October, 1917.

1917.

COURLAND.

1. In October, 1917, the 87th Division relieved the 2d Division in the

Illukst sector. While there it received its first reenforcements from

the 1919 class.

2. Relieved from that front at the end of December, the division was

brought together in the Kovno region. It got a great many men from the

23d Landwehr Division, especially from the 26th and 66th Landwehr

Regiments.

RECRUITING.

This division was one of the most heterogeneous of the Prussian Army.

Not only were its regiments recruited in three different Provinces, but

the considerable amount of replacements received since November, 1917,

were from various different regions—men from the class of 1919 from the

9th and 11th Corps Districts in November, 1917, later from the 14th

Corps District; Landwehr from the 4th and 6th Corps Districts at the end

of December; men from the 8th, 14th, and 18th Corps Districts (a small

number) during its stay in Champagne.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 87th Division coming from Russia at the end of March seemed to have

but a mediocre combat value (April, 1918).

1918.

1. The division held the quiet sector at St. Marie a Py until June 18,

when it was relieved by the extension of the flanking divisions. The

division up to that time had had slight losses and was available for

active service.

SECOND BATTLE OF THE MARNE.

2. It entered line on June 22 on the Aisne front near Bouresches. During

this period the division was engaged in harder fighting. In the American

attack south of Torcy the division lost heavily in killed and wounded on

June 25–26. Three hundred prisoners were taken on those days. It took

part in the German retreat until July 26, when it was withdrawn near

Charmel.

SCARPE-SOMME.

3. The division rested at Charleville until August 25. It entrained and

moved to the Bapaume-Peronne area, where it was engaged on August 26–27,

south of Longueval. It was pushed back by Flers (29th), les Boeufs (Aug.

31), north of Morval (Sept. 1), Le Transloy (3d), east of Manancourt and

northeast of Etricourt (4th), northeast of Fins (7th), northwest of

Gonzencourt (9th). It was relieved on the night of September 11–12.

During this period in line the losses of the division were severe. More

than 1,000 prisoners were taken from this division.

4. In spite of heavy losses it was given only a short rest at Vaucelles

(south of Cambrai), and again placed in line east of Villers Guislain on

September 18 for the purpose of delivering a counterattack. It was held

in line at this point until about September 28, when it retired to rest

at Walincourt.

LORRAINE.

5. On October 12 the division came into line southwest of Chateau

Saline. It rested on that quiet front until about November 1, when it

was sent north, and on November 8 came in line at Haut Bugny. The last

identification was northeast of Rocquigny on November 10.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class. As a sector holding unit it saw

heavy service on the Marne and in Picardy.

88th Division.

COMPOSITION.

│ 1915 │ 1916

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

Infantry. │21 Ldw. │10 Ldw. │175 Ldw. │(349) Ldw.

│ │38 Ldw. │ │(350) Ldw.

│1 Ldw. Ers. │4 Ldw. Ers. │176. │351.

│ │5 Ldw. Ers. │ │352.

│ │6 Ers. │177. │353.

│ │8 Ers. │ │(354).

│ │7 Ers. │ │

│ │9 Ers. │ │

Cavalry. │6 C. Dist. Field Cav. Rgt. (2│88 Cav. Rgt.(4 Sqns. ex-Field

│ Sqns. of 6 Hus. Rgt. and 2 │ Cav. Rgt. 6 C. Dist.).

│ Sqn. of 2 Uhlan Rgt.). │

│ │

Artillery. │1 Ers. Abt. 42 F. A. Rgt. │88 F. A. Rgt.

│ │223 F. A. Rgt.

│ │

Engineers and│1 Ldw. Co. 6 Pions. │6 Ldw. Pion. Btn.:

Liaisons. │ │

│2 Ldw. Co. 6 Pions. │ 88 T. M. Co.

│3 Ldw. Co. 6 Pions. │ 88 Pont. Engs.

│ │

│ │ 88 Tel. Detch.

│ │

Medical and │ │

Veterinary.│ │

│ │

Transport. │ │

Attached. │ │31 Landst. Inf. Rgt.

│ │111 Labor Btn.

│ 1917 │ 1918

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

Infantry. │176. │352. │176. │352.

│ │353. │ │353.

│ │425. │ │426.

│ │ │ │

Cavalry. │(?) Sqn. Horse Jag. Rgt. │1 Sq. 10 Jag. z. Pf.

│ │

│2 Sqn. 88 Cav. Rgt. │

Artillery. │223 F. A. Rgt. │88th Field Art. Rgt.

│ │123 Foot Art. Btn.

│ │980, 982, and 1028 Light Mun.

│ │ Col.

Engineers and│6 Ldw. Pion. Btn.: │88 Pion. Btn.:

Liaisons. │ │

│ 1 Ldw. Co. 6 Pions. │ 349 Pion. Co.

│ 2 Ldw. Co. 6 Pions. │ 3 Co. Res. Pion. Btn. No.

│ │ 33.

│ 88 T. M. Co. │ 88 T. M. Co.

│ 249 Searchlight Section. │ 92 Searchlight Section.

│ Tel. Detch. │88 Div. Signal Command:

│ │ 88 Tel. Detch.

│ │ 102 B. Div. Wireless Detch.

Medical and │277 Ambulance Co. │277 Ambulance Co.

Veterinary.│ │

│141 Field Hospital. │54 and 141 Field Hospitals.

│26 Ldw. Field Hospital. │193 Vet. Hospital.

│Vet. Hospital. │

Transport. │M. T. Col. │

Attached. │111 Labor Btn. │

│ │

HISTORY.

(352d and 353d Regiments; 6th Corps District—Silesia. 426th Regiments;

9th Corps District—Hanseatic cities.)

1915.

1. The 88th Division grew out of the war garrison of Breslau, which was

made up of the 21st Brigade of Landwehr (10th and 38th Landwehr) and by

Silesian and Saxon Ersatz battalions. This originally was the Breslau

Corps, which after the brigade of Landwehr was taken from it, became the

Menges Division. The Ersatz battalions being formed into regiments, the

division then comprised three brigades—1st Landwehr Ersatz Brigade

(later the Schmiedecker Brigade), Paczensky (later Buddenbrock) Brigade,

and the Zenger Brigade. Its regiments bore the names 4th and 5th

Landwehr Ersatz and 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th Ersatz.

RUSSIA-POLAND.

2. In April-May, 1915, the Menges Division fought on the Pilica.

3. In July it was between the Vistula and Pilica taking part in the

offensive against Russia.

4. It advanced in August through the region of Narew (to the south of

Pultusk, Aug. 4; to the north of Bielsk, Aug. 19). At the end of August

it reached the region of Vilna; to the west of Dvinsk in September.

DRISVIATY LAKE.

5. When the front became stationary it took a position near the

Drisviaty Lake (September).

6. The Menges Division became the 88th Division. The Ersatz Battalion

Brigades were regrouped and distributed between six regiments, numbered

349th and 350th Landwehr, 351st, 352d, 353d, 354th Regiments of

Infantry, forming in turn the 175th, 176th, and 177th Brigades.

1916.

DRISVIATY LAKE.

1. The 88th Division occupied the Drisviaty Lake sector from September,

1915, until September, 1917.

2. In July, 1916, the division was reconstituted. The 354th Regiment

went to the 216th Division. In August the 349th Landwehr and the 350th

Landwehr Regiments were engaged on the Stokhod with the 150th Regiment

of the 37th Division.

The 88th Division was now made up of the 351st, 352d, and 353d

Regiments.

1917.

DRISVIATY LAKE.

1. In May, 1917, the 123d Division gave the 88th Division the 425th

Regiment in exchange for the 351st Regiment of Infantry (Saxon). At this

time all the Saxon elements were out of this division and it became

entirely made up of Prussian personnel.

2. Thus constituted (352d, 353d, and 425th) the 88th Division was

relieved from its position near Drisviaty Lake about September. It

remained in the Dvinsk region.

3 The 425th Regiment was replaced by the 426th Regiment, the latter

coming from the 3d Division.

RECRUITING.

The oldest regiments of the division, the 352d and the 353d, were

primarily recruited in Silesia, and the 426th in the 9th Corps District.

Members of the 1919 class were identified with the division in April,

1918.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Average.

1918.

ST. QUENTIN.

1. Early in January the division left Russia and, traveling via Kovno-

Wirballen-Koenigsberg-Posen-Berlin-Trèves-Thionville, detrained at

Sedan. After resting and training in the Cambrai region, it entered line

in the Fresnoy sector (northwest of St. Quentin). It remained in line

here, although it had two 10-day rest periods during which it was

occupied only in field service training and in the usual practice

marches, excepting two manœuvres with artillery. It attacked on the

21st, and although held up a day in front of Holnon wood it did very

well, especially when it is considered that the division was considered

unfit for combat upon its arrival from Russia.

2. Just before reaching Vermand on the 24th it stopped advancing, and

the line continuing to go forward it remained in reserve. On the 27th it

proceeded to the Moreuil area (southeast of Amiens), where it arrived

when the German advance was already checked. It was withdrawn about the

2d of April, after having suffered very heavy losses.

CHAMPAGNE.

3. About the 12th of April it relieved the 11th Division south of

Rouvroy in eastern Champagne. It was relieved about the 25th of June by

the 33d Reserve Division and went to rest near Monthois, where it was

trained.

4. About the 13th of July it came back into line in the Tahure sector

just west of where it had previously been. The next day it attacked in

the first line; it could make no progress (it will be remembered that

thus the whole offensive was a failure) and suffered heavy losses,

especially on account of gas. It was relieved early in September and was

reported at rest south of Rethel on the 4th.

WOEVRE.

5. On September 12 the division moved up behind the front near

Dampvitoux (north of Thiaucourt), but since it was soon seen that the

American offensive had only a limited objective it did not enter line

until the 23d. It was relieved by the 224th Division during the night of

October 16–17.

MEUSE-ARGONNE.

6. The division arrived at Stenay during the night of the 19th–20th of

October and on the 21st entered line near Cunel (north of Montfaucon).

It remained in line until the armistice was signed.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

In March the British wrote: “From the bearing of prisoners of the 88th

Division, recently captured, it appears that this formation, which from

its composition might be expected to be indifferent is of a very fair

quality and well-disciplined. Men and officers are mostly young and

keen; many of the latter are active.

“As a fighting formation, the 88th Division thus appears to have been

brought up to the standard of the majority of the German divisions in

the western theater and in addition has a leader well acquainted with

the conditions of warfare on this front.”

Although its subsequent conduct was not such as to justify completely

the above estimate, it did at least prove that its rating as a fourth-

class unit was too low.

89th Division.

COMPOSITION.

│ 1915 │ 1916

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

Infantry. │21 Ldw. │10 Ldw. │178. │333.

│ │38 Ldw. │ │375.

│(In November the above passed│ │8 Ldw.

│ to the 14 Ldw Div.) │ │

│Jonas (178). │333. │ │

│ │375. │ │

│ │8 Ldw. │ │

Cavalry. │89 Cav. Rgt. │89 Cav. Rgt.

Artillery. │89 F. A. Abt. │89 F. A. Rgt.

│ │

│ │911 F. A. Btry.

Engineers and│ │5 Co. 6 Pions.

Liaisons. │ │

│ │2 Res. Co. 17 Pions.

│ │89 T. M. Co.

│ │89 Pont. Engs.

│ │89 Tel. Detch.

Medical and │ │

Veterinary.│ │

│ │

Transport. │ │

Odd Units. │ │

Attached. │ │11 Labor Btn.

│ │45 Labor Btn.

│ 1917 │ 1918

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

Infantry. │178. │333. │178. │333.

│ │375. │ │375.

│ │8 Ldw. │ │

│ │ │ │

Cavalry. │4 Sqn. 11 Drag. Rgt. │4 Sqn. 11th Drag. Rgt.

Artillery. │Art. Command: │89 Field Art. Rgt. (Rgt.

│ │ Staff, 1 Abt. Staff Btries.

│ │ 1 to 3).

│ 89 F. A. Rgt. │

Engineers and│Pion. Btn.: │5 Co. 26th Pion. Btn.

Liaisons. │ │

│ 5 Co. 26 Pions. │89 Div. Signal Command.

│ 2 Res. Co. 17 Pions. │89 Tel. Detch.

│ 89 T. M. Co. │

│ Tel. Detch. │

Medical and │68 Ambulance Co. │68 Ambulance Co.

Veterinary.│ │

│Field Hospital. │264 Field Hospital.

│Vet. Hospital. │183 Vet. Hospital.

Transport. │721 M. T. Col. │586 M. T. Col.

Odd Units. │ │36 Bav. Mun. Col.

Attached. │ │

│ │

HISTORY.

(333d Regiment: 5th and 6th Corps District—Silesia. 375th Regiment: 17th

Corps District—Western Prussia. 8th Landwehr: 3d Corps

District—Brandenburg.)

1915.

The 89th Division reached its present form of organization about

October, 1915. With the 87th Division, it was used to form, while named

Westernhagen Division, the Thorn Corps, and was engaged on the Eastern

Front from the beginning of the war. It at first was comprised of the

21st Landwehr Brigade, taken from the Breslau Corps and the Jonas

Brigade (Keller Regiment and the 8th Landwehr) which became the 178th

Brigade. In November, 1915, this division having given up the 21st

Landwehr Brigade to form the 14th Landwehr Division, it brought up its

strength to three regiments by taking the 333d Regiment from the 84th

Division.

RUSSIA.

1. During the middle of October, 1915, the 89th Division was identified

in the Krevo sector, which it occupied until the end of August, 1916.

1916.

ROUMANIA.

1. About the 24th of August, 1916, the 89th Division was transported to

the Transylvanian front (detraining near Maros-Ludas on Aug. 30).

2. It fought in the vicinity of St. Georges de Brasso (middle of

October); near the Roumanian frontier in the valley of Buzeu (October-

November); on the Buzeu-Rimnicu-Sarat highway (end of December); and

near Plaginesci (Dec. 31).

1917.

ROUMANIA.

1. In the middle of January, 1917, the 89th Division was in line to the

north of Rimnicu.

2. From the end of January to the middle of August it occupied a sector

north of Focsani, east of Odobesci. It took part in the attacks made, in

August, north of Focsani and suffered very heavy losses. After a few

days’ rest it took over the sector between Panciu and Marasesci.

RECRUITING.

The 89th Division took part in the entire campaign against Roumania.

It was kept on the Roumanian front until May, 1918.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Its offensive value seemed mediocre.

1918.

ROUMANIA.

1. In January, 1918, the division furnished a great many replacements to

the 76th Reserve Division which was destined to leave for the Western

Front; men were also sent to the 115th Division.

2. Relieved southeast of Panciu early in January, the division remained

for some time in reserve in the Focsani region, then came back into line

northeast of that town. It was identified there in March and April. In

June the 375th Regiment was identified by contact near Drenoud in

Macedonia, but left soon after for the Panciu region where it was

identified on the 28th of July. The division was identified near

Bucharest late in October.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The Division was rated as fourth class.

91st Division.

COMPOSITION.

Histories of two hundred and fifty-one divisions of the German army which participated in the war (1914-1918) · 第 60 / 78 段

3. On the evening of the 26th it left and marched toward the front; the