the end of May, when it was withdrawn. It rested and trained in the
Woevre (Sponville) until June 9. It entrained at Mars la Tour and moved
to Laon via Sedan and Liart. From there it marched to the Marne front
through Vailly-Lannoy-Brecy.
BATTLE OF THE MARNE.
2. It was in line on the Chateau Thierry-Vaux sector from June 15 to the
end of July. In the attacks of late July the division was hit hard. It
was thrown back on Bezu-St. Germain, Beuvardes, Pere en Tardenois and
relieved about July 30.
3. The division was moved to the Argonne in early August and about the
10th entered the Vacquois sector, which it held until the end of the
month.
BATTLE OF THE SOMME.
4. It returned to the Somme area and on the night of September 6–7
relieved the 6th Cavalry Division northeast of Fins. Until the 28th it
was engaged at Fins, Hendicourt, Gouzeaucourt, Villers, and Guislan.
Losses were very heavy, including 2,200 prisoners.
CAMBRESIS.
5. After a week’s rest, the division reentered line south of Cambrai on
October 5 and fought in this region until the 15th. Here it lost another
650 prisoners.
6. As a result of these extraordinary losses the division was dissolved
at Maubeuge on October 22.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as third class. Its losses were unusually heavy
in prisoners whenever it was engaged in an active front. When it was
dissolved its effectives numbered less than 1,000 rifles.
202d Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │ │405. │406. │408. │406. │97.
│ │406. │ │411. │ │408.
│ │407. │ │412. │ │411.
│ │408. │ │ │ │412.
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │ │ │3 Sqn. 2 Gd. Uhlan
│ │ │ Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │406 F. A. Rgt. │Art. Command: │66 Art. Command:
│ │ 406 F. A. Rgt. │ 406 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ │ 65 Ft. A. Btn.
│ │ │ 867 Light Am. Col.
│ │ │ 868 Light Am. Col.
│ │ │ 1387 Light Am.
│ │ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │(202) Pion. Btn.: │202 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │ │
│ │ 383 Pion. Co. │ 383 Pion. Co.
│ │ 402 Pion. Co. │ 402 Pion. Co.
│ │ 182 T. M. Co. │ 98 Searchlight
│ │ │ Section.
│ │ 352 Searchlight │ 182 T. M. Co.
│ │ Section. │
│ │ Tel. Detch. │202 Signal Command:
│ │ │ 202 Tel. Detch.
│ │ │ 91 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │403 Ambulance Co. │403 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │403 Field Hospital.│403 Field Hospital.
│ │404 Field Hospital.│404 Field Hospital.
│ │302 Vet. Hospital. │302 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │ │867 M. T. Col. │612 M. T. Col.
│ │983 M. T. Col. │
│ │1387 M. T. Col. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Odd Units. │ │203 Cyclist Co. │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
HISTORY.
(408th Regiment: Guard. 411th and 412th Regiments: 10th Corps
District—Hanover.)
1916.
The 202d Division was formed in October, 1916, in the Lockstedt
cantonment (9th Corps District, Altona). The 405th and the 406th were
organized at the Lockstedt cantonment, the 407th at the Altengrabow
cantonment, and the 408th comes from Guard depots.
RUSSIA.
1. In the course of October, 1916, the 202d Division was sent to the
Russian front. Its organization was changed; it gave up the 405th to the
203d Division, the 406th and the 407th to the 205th Division. It was at
this time composed of the 408th and two regiments received from the 203d
Division, the 411th and the 412th (Hanover), which were formed at the
Munster cantonment as “coast-defense regiments.”
COURLAND.
2. In December, 1916, the 202d Division was identified in the region of
Riga.
1917.
1. In March, 1917, and until the end of August, 1917, the 202d Division
occupied in Courland a sector in the vicinity of Toukkoum.
RIGA.
2. In the middle of September it was at the east of Riga. It was also
identified at Riga on October 29.
3. In November the 202d Division was entrained for the Western Front.
(Itinerary: Riga-Mitau-Insterburg-Koenigsberg-Thorn (408th)-
Schneidemuehl-Posen-Leipzig-Halle-Frankfort on the Main-Sarrebrueck-
Sarreguemines.) It detrained at Dieuze on November 20.
LORRAINE.
4. The division stayed in the rear of the front in the vicinity of
Dieuze until the middle of January, 1918 (six weeks’ training).
RECRUITING.
The 408th Regiment was built up out of depots of the Guard and was
recruited from all sections of Prussia. The 411th and 412th were
theoretically from Hanover, with some recruits furnished by the 9th
Corps District.
1918.
1. The division held the Lorraine sector until May 19, when it was
relieved by the 3d Guard Division. It entrained near Moyenvic on May 19
and traveled via Metz-Spincourt-Longuyon-Sedan-Charleville-Marle to
Flavy le Martel, where it detrained on May 21.
OISE.
2. On the night of May 22–23 it relieved the 11th Division west of
Noyon. It was in line when the attack of June was made and advanced by
Orval as far as Bethencourt. Here it remained in sector until about July
10, when it exchanged sectors with the 105th Division at Autreches. In
this area it was struck by the Allied attack in mid-August and forced
back on Audignicourt. The losses were very heavy, including 2,000
prisoners. It was relieved on August 27.
3. The division was railed to the vicinity of Vouziers after its relief
in line. While resting at Sugny (Sept. 2–12) it was re-formed. The 412th
Regiment was dissolved and its effectives distributed between the 408th
and 411th Regiments. The 97th Regiment, from the dissolved 108th
Division, replaced the 412th Regiment in the division.
4. It was engaged in Champagne near Maisons de Champagne from September
12 to 24. After that it was in close support of the 42d Division until
the 27th, when it reentered line at Fontaine les Dormois. Until October
10 the division saw heavy fighting about Meuse and Challerange. It lost
very heavily, including more than 800 prisoners.
5. The division rested from October 11 to 21. It was reengaged southeast
of Vouziers (near Falaise) on the 21st, and after the 1st of November
retreated by way of Longwe (2d), Boult aux Bois (34d) to the Meuse
(8th).
When it appeared opposite the United States front on November 3, the
division had been completely shattered. The 411th Regiment, for
instance, had only three companies each with a rifle strength of 100 to
110 men.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as third class. After the battle in eastern
Champagne in late September the division could be regarded as destroyed.
203d Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │ │405. │405. │405. │405. │406.
│ │409. │ │409. │ │409.
│ │410. │ │410. │ │410.
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │ │ │2 Sqn. Body Gd.
│ │ │ Hus. Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │ │203 Art. Command: │203 Art. Command:
│ │ 406 F. A. Rgt. (2 │ 403 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ Abts.). │
│ │ 403 F. A. Rgt. │ 2 Abt. 8 Res. Ft.
│ │ │ A. Rgt.
│ │ │ 778 Light Am. Col.
│ │ │ 969 Light Am. Col.
│ │ │ 977 Light Am. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│403 Pion. Co. │Pion. Btn.: │417 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │ │
│ │ 403 Pion. Co. │ 403 Pion. Co.
│ │ 183 T. M. Co. │ 1 Ers. Co. 23
│ │ │ Pions.
│ │ Tel. Detch. │ 20 Searchlight
│ │ │ Section.
│ │ │ 183 T. M. Co.
│ │ │203 Signal Command:
│ │ │ 203 Tel. Detch.
│ │ │ 152 Wireless
│ │ │ Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │Ambulance Co. │402 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │405 Field Hospital.│405 Field Hospital.
│ │Vet. Hospital. │406 Field Hospital.
│ │ │303 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │ │M. T. Col. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Odd units. │ │202 Cyclist Co. │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
HISTORY.
(406th Regiment; 3d Corps District—Brandenburg. 409th and 410th
Regiments; 9th Corps District—Schleswig—Holstein.)
1916.
The 203d Division was formed in Germany (September, 1916) and trained at
the Lockstedt cantonment (a great many men from the class of 1917; also
men previously wounded or sick and men taken from units at the front).
COURLAND.
1. On October 20 the 303d Division took over a sector on the Dvina
(region north of Dvinsk.)
1917.
RIGA.
1. The division stayed on the Dvina until September, 1917. It
participated in the offensive on the Riga and fought to the north of
Friedrichstadt.
2. After the taking of the town the 203d Division occupied a sector at
Grenyn. Favored by calm conditions, it gave up men to the 75th Reserve
Division, which was preparing to go to France. On December 8 it was
billeted in Riga. About December 18 the 405th Regiment left the Division
and was replaced by the 406th, coming from the 205th Division. In the
meanwhile the division had brought up its strength by obtaining men from
the 332d Infantry, which did not intend to leave until March, 1918 (with
the 77th Reserve Division).
FRANCE.
3. At the end of December the 203d Division entrained for the Western
Front. The 410th left Riga on the 26th. (Itinerary: Eydtkuhnen-
Koenigsberg-Schneidemuehl-Berlin-Giessen-Coblenz-Treves-Thionville-
Charleville.) It detrained at Tournes in the night of January 1–2, 1918.
RECRUITING.
The 406th recruits in Brandenburg, Schleswig-Holstein, and, to a lesser
extent, Hanover and the Hanseatic cities; furnished the recruits for the
409th and the 410th. The changes effected in the personnel during the
last part of the stay on the Russian front left these units fairly
heterogeneous.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The offensive value of the 203d Division in February, 1918, was only
mediocre. Before leaving for the Western Front the 405th, which was to
have remained in (hardly glorious) Russia, changed all its young men for
the older men in the other two regiments. The 203d was said to have
played a part in the Riga offensive. Gen. von Luettwitz commanding the
division, was said to have been relieved of his command a short time
thereafter.
1918.
BATTLE OF REIMS.
The division continued to hold the sector east of Reims (near Beine)
until the German offensive of July 15. It attacked west of Prunay and
penetrated as far as the Vesle. In front of Beaumont it lost very
heavily. After the failure of the attack the division held the sector
from Prunay to east of Les Marquises until August 30, when it was
relieved by the 9th Division.
CHAMPAGNE.
2. It rested near Laon until October 1, when it was reengaged in
Champagne between Orfeuil and Marvaux. In 8 days of severe fighting it
lost very heavily and was obliged to retire from line.
3. The division was in army reserve until October 15, after which it was
engaged southeast of Vouziers near Olizy and Falaise. On November 1 it
was opposite the American front and took part in the final retreat of
the Meuse at Mohon.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as second class. By the end of hostilities the
division was decimated and completely exhausted.
204th Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │407. │413. │407. │413. │407. │413.
│ │414. │ │414. │ │414.
│408. │415. │ │120 Res. │ │120 Res.
│ │416. │ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │ │4 Sqn. 19 Uhlan │4 Sqn. 19 Uhlan
│ │ Rgt. │ Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │407 F. A. Abt. │Art. Command: │204 Art. Command:
│408 F. A. Abt. │ 27 Res. F. A. Rgt.│ 27 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ │ │ 101 Ft. A. Btn.
│ │ │ 1263 Light Am.
│ │ │ Col.
│ │ │ 1264 Light Am.
│ │ │ Col.
│ │ │ 1317 Light Am.
│ │ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│404 Pion Co. │204 Pion Btn.: │204 Pion Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │ │
│ │ 3 Res. Co. 13 │ 3 Res. Co. 13
│ │ Pions. │ Pions.
│ │ 116 Pion. Co. │ 116 Pion Co.
│ │ 184 T. M. Co. │204 Signal Command:
│ │ Tel. Detch. │ 204 Tel. Detch.
│ │ │ 75 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │563 Ambulance Co. │563 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │407 Field Hospital.│252 Field Hospital.
│ │408 Field Hospital.│407 Field Hospital.
│ │Vet. Hospital. │249 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │ │M. T. Col. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Odd units. │ │204 Cyclist Co. │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
HISTORY.
(13th Corps District—Wurttemberg.)
1916.
The 204th Division was formed in Germany in June and July, 1916. Its
original composition was the 407th Brigade (413th and 414th Infantry,
13th Corps District, Wurttemberg) and the 408th Brigade (415th and 416th
Infantry, 12th and 19th Corps Districts, Saxony).
1. The two brigades, which had respectively been trained at the
Muensingen cantonment in Wurttemberg (the 407th) and at Neuhammer (the
408th), were brought together at the end of July, 1916. The division was
then sent to Belgium. It detrained at Cortemarck on July 27.
FLANDERS.
2. Almost immediately put in line, the 204th occupied the Dixmude-
Bixschoote sector until October 1 and then the Ypres salient
(southeast). At the end of 1916 the 415th and the 146th Infantry were
taken from the front and transferred to the 212th Division and replaced
by the 120th Reserve Infantry (Wurttemberg), coming from the 58th
Division.
1917.
1. After four weeks’ rest in the region of Ghent in February, 1917, the
division came back to the sector at the southeast of Ypres.
2. It was relieved on June 10, three days after the British attack
against the heights of Wytschaete-Messines. The division was only
partially subjected to this attack, but suffered some losses during the
artillery preparation.
ALSACE.
3. After having been at rest at Gheluvelt on about June 20, the 204th
Division was transferred to the vicinity of Sarreberg, then on July 8 to
the west of Basle, where it remained until July 20. From July 20 until
August 15 it held a sector in Upper Alsace (north of the Rhone-Rhine
Canal).
FLANDERS.
4. Again sent to Belgium, it went into line to the north of St. Julien,
southeast of Poelcappelle, at the end of August. No important
engagement.
CAMBRÉSIS.
5. Relieved from the Ypres front on September 13, it took over a sector
near Cambrai (Boursies-Demicourt; Sept. 24-Nov. 13).
FLANDERS.
6. Relieved about the middle of November, it went back to Flanders,
where it alternated with the 58th Division to the north of Poelcappelle
until the end of February.
RECRUITING.
The division has been entirely made up of Wurttemberg recruits since
December, 1916.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
Fairly good division.
1918.
1. After its relief northeast of Poelcappelle on February 28, the
division rested near Lille until March 21. Elements of the division were
in line at Fromelles on March 9 and others participated in a raid (the
13th) in the Boutillerie sector.
2. The division left the Lille area on March 21 and marched in stages to
Douai, arriving there on the 27th. It was in support northwest of Vitry
en Artois on the 29th. On the 30th it marched toward the battle front
south of the Somme via Inchy-Peronne (Apr. 1), Assevillers, Rosieres,
south of Moreuil.
BATTLE OF PICARDY.
3. It was engaged in the Braches-Sauvillers sector from April 1 to May
11. It was relieved by an extension of the front of the neighboring
divisions and retired to rest and train near Chaulnes until June 5.
BATTLE OF THE OISE.
4. The division left Chaulnes about June 5 and marched in three days to
the Lassigny-Noyon front. It advanced in reserve on the 9th by Gury-
Mareuil-Lamotte. It was engaged south of Ribecourt near Bethancourt
until the 12th. From the 13th to the 18th the division was in reserve.
It was reengaged on the night of the 18th–19th and held the sector of
Vignemont-Antheuil until the 1st of August, when it was relieved by the
54th Division.
THIRD BATTLE OF THE SOMME.
5. It rested in the suburbs of Lassigny until August 8. It then marched
to Damery, arriving there on the 10th and immediately entering line. In
the next week the division was thrown back by Damery, Villery les Roye
to Goyencourt. The division suffered heavy losses, including about 370
prisoners near Roye.
LORRAINE.
6. The division was railed to Lorraine and rested near Blamont during
September. Drafts amounting to about 700 men were incorporated in the
division in mid-September.
7. The division left Lorraine on October 5 and detrained at Bertry on
the 7th. It was engaged on October 8 east of Catelet, and in the next 10
days fell back through Cremont, Maretz, Sains, Souplet, Catillon. Its
heavy losses, including 1,200 prisoners, led to its withdrawal on
October 18.
8. On October 22–23 the division was reengaged southeast of Le Cateau.
It held there until the breakdown of the line on November 5. Thereafter
it fell back on Maubeuge, through Favril, Limont, Fontaine.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as third class. Before the attack of August it
had about 2,700 rifles. The losses in August had a depressing effect on
the morale of the troops.
205th Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1916 │ 1917
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │ │406. │403. │406.
│ │407. │ │407.
│ │439. │ │427.
│ │ │ │439.
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │ │ (?)
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │405 F. A. Rgt. │Art. Command:
│ │
│ │ 405 F. A. Rgt.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│377 Pion. Co. │(205) Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ │ 377 Pion. Co.
│ │ 408 T. M. Co.
│ │ 205 Tel. Detch.
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │ │255 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│ │Field Hospital.
│ │Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transport. │ │615 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │ │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────
─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1918 │ 1918
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │ │405. │403. │405.
│ │407. │ │407.
│ │439. │ │329.
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │ │2 Sqn. 13 Uhlan.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │405 F. A. Rgt. │405 Field Art. Rgt. (Rgt.
│ │ Staff, 1 and 2 Abt.).
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│ │(?) Pions.
Liaisons. │ │
│ │350 Searchlight Section.
│ │71 Searchlight Section.
│ │205 Div. Signal Command.
│ │205 Tel. Detch.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │ │255 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│ │215 and 216 Field Hospitals.
│ │305 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transport. │ │615 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │612 Landst. Inf. Rgt. │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────
HISTORY.
(405th, (?) 407th: 4th District-Prussian Saxony.) (439th: 15th District-
Alsace.)
1916.
The 205th Division was organized at the end of 1916, partly from new
regiments formed in the interior, partly from regiments taken from the
zone of the armies on the Eastern Front.
RUSSIA.
1. The end of November, 1916, the division was reported behind the front
(region northeast of Vilna). At that time it comprised the 406th and
407th Infantry, taken from the 202d Division, and the 439th Infantry
formed in the region of Vilna. With the 226th Division next to it, it
belonged to the reenforced 3d Reserve Corps (10th Army).
1917.
COURLAND.
1. In January, 1917, the division was in line on the left bank of the Aa
(Courland). The 407th Infantry lost heavily in January and February.
2. The division then occupied the front east of Kalzeen (region of
Mitau) from April to September.
3. In October it was identified north of Lake Lobé. During the last
three months of 1917 many men were taken from this division for the
Western Front. In this manner it sent men to the 47th Reserve Division
in April, to the 14th Division at the end of October, and to the 75th
Reserve Division (before it left) in November.
RECRUITING.
The division from its origin was of a very mixed composition. This
diversity increased following the many drafts taken from it in 1917 and
the diversity of origin of the men sent in exchange.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
On the Russian front since its organization.
Fighting value mediocre.
1918.
COURLAND.
1. In February the 205th Division was to the southeast of Riga.
2. In April it was in Livonia near Walk. About this time the commanding
general was decorated. Toward the beginning of June the division was
identified in the Narva region, where it remained until the end of the
war, with the exception of the 439th Regiment, which was transferred to
the 94th Division about the middle of September.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated third class.
206th Division.
COMPOSITION.