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

│ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918

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

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

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

Infantry. │2 Res. │359. │2 Res. │359. │2 Res. │359.

│ Ers. │ │ Ers. │ │ Ers. │

│ │394. │ │394. │ │394.

│ │4 Res. │ │4 Res. │ │4 Res.

│ │ Ers. │ │ Ers. │ │ Ers.

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

Cavalry. │ │2 Sqn. 2 Uhlan Rgt.│5 Sqn. 10 Drag.

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

Artillery. │265 F. A. Rgt. │206 Art. Command: │206 Art. Command:

│ │ 265 F. A. Rgt. │ 265 Field Art.

│ │ │ Rgt.

│ │ │ 1 Abt. 27 Foot

│ │ │ Art. Rgt.

│ │ │ (Btries. 2 to 4).

│ │ │781, 1215, and 1230

│ │ │ Light Mun. Cols.

Engineers and│ │(206) Pion. Btn.: │206 Pion. Btn.:

Liaisons. │ │ │

│ │ 6 Co. 30 Pions. │ 2 Res. Co. Pion,

│ │ │ Btn. No. 27.

│ │ 2 Ldw. Co. 18 │ 6 Co. 30 Pion.

│ │ Pions. │ Btn.

│ │ 167 T. M. Co. │204 Searchlight

│ │ │ Section.

│ │ 206 Tel. Detch. │206 Div. Signal

│ │ │ Command.

│ │ │206 Tel. Detch.

│ │ │142 Div. Wireless

│ │ │ Detch.

Medical and │ │210 Ambulance Co. │210 Ambulance Co.

Veterinary.│ │ │

│ │157 Field Hospital.│156 and 157 Field

│ │ │ Hospitals.

│ │158 Field Hospital.│306 Vet. Hospital.

│ │306 Vet. Hospital. │

Transport. │ │781 M. T. Col. │616 M. T. Col.

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

HISTORY.

(359th Infantry: 3d District—Brandenberg. 394th Infantry: 9th

District—Schleswig—Holstein. 4th Reserve Ersatz: 10th District—Hanover.)

1916.

The 206th Division was organized in Belgium at the beginning of 1916. It

was composed of three infantry regiments—the 359th (9th, 10th, and 120th

Brigade Ersatz Battalions), the 394th, composed of men taken from the

17th Reserve Division, and the 4th Reserve Ersatz (36th, 37th, and 38th

Reserve Brigade Ersatz Battalions).

SOMME.

1. After holding for some time in September the sector of Dixmude

(359th), the division was sent to the Somme in October, where it was

engaged at four different times (region of Péronne, La Maisonnette, and

vicinity of Marchelepot) and suffered heavy losses.

ALSACE.

2. Relieved November 25 and entrained near St. Quentin for Alsace. Took

over the sector of Ban de Sapt until the beginning of January, 1917.

1917.

LORRAINE.

1. Sent to rest in the region of Chateau Salins and went into line about

the middle of February, 1917, between the forest of Bezange and

Leintrey. Remained there until April 20.

CHEMIN DES DAMES.

2. Sent to the Laonnois, where it was stationed near Mont Cornet from

April 22 to 30, then at Laon from April 30 to May 4. Then went to the

Chemin des Dames (Laffaux, west of the Oise-Aisne Canal). Relieved June

10, after suffering very heavy losses.

LORRAINE.

3. After a month’s rest in Lorraine at Blamont-Sarrebourg, the division

was in reserve about the middle of July in the region of Romagne-

Montfaucon.

HILL 304.

4. At the end of July it took over the sector of Hill 304-Pommerieux,

where its losses were very heavy during the French attack of August 20

(1,074 prisoners). Relieved in haste two days after this attack and sent

to rest behind the Reims front until the middle of September, and

received about 1,000 replacements taken from the Russian front.

REIMS.

5. The division then held the Berru-Cernay sector, where it did not take

part in any important operations (middle of September to Nov. 24).

ST. QUENTIN.

6. About November 28 sent to the St. Quentin front (Pontruet sector).

RECRUITING.

“Regiments from Hanover, Schleswig-Holstein, and Brandenburg,” according

to a German communique which designated in this fashion the 4th Reserve

Ersatz, the 394th Infantry, and the 359th Infantry.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The division attacked energetically May 24, 1917, at the Panthéon, and

June 6 at La Royere. Composed of men from the active army, the reserve

and the Ersatz. It is a good division. Its three regiments gave proof of

good fighting qualities during the many local attacks at the Chemin des

Dames.

It should, however, be noted that in front of Verdun the division did

not offer any resistance to the French attack of August 20, 1917. As

early as August 14 two regiments of this division had already had 100

deserters.

The sanitary conditions of this division were bad at this period (many

cases of dysentery).

1918.

1. The 206th Division was withdrawn from line in the sector northwest of

St. Quentin early in February, and went to rest in the region of Fresnoy

le Grand. After a short stay here it moved to the Fourmies area, where

it received intensive training in open warfare.

PICARDY.

2. On March 16 the division began marching toward the front via

Wassigny-Fresnoy le Grand-Fonsommes-Fontaine Uterte. On the 20th it

rested in the Hindenburg Third Line. On the 22d it started out again via

Lesdins-Fayet, crossed the old front lines northwest of St. Quentin, and

spent the night in the former British lines in the Holnon wood. The

following day it marched to Martigny, where it spent the night in tents.

On the 24th it crossed the canal; the 4th Reserve Regiment encamped at

Voyennes; the 394th Regiment marched to Bethencourt and attacked along

the canal without suffering heavy losses. On the 26th, the 394th

proceeded by Damery and Andechy without being engaged; the 359th was

engaged at Guérbigny, and the 4th Ersatz reached the former German

trenches near Roye. During the night of the 27th–28th the division

entered Montdidier. The 28th, the 4th Ersatz was engaged at Mesnil-St.

Georges, leaving many prisoners in the hands of the French. On the 30th

the division attacked at Fontaine sous Montdidier. It was relieved

during the night of the 12th–13th of April by the 6th Bavarian Reserve

Division and went to rest in the region of Gruny, Sept-Fours and

Languevoisin. Here it was reconstituted.

3. During the night of the 14th–15th it relieved the 45th Reserve

Division near Assainvillers (southeast of Montdidier). It was relieved

by the 222d Division on May 9, and was sent to the Nesles, where it was

identified on the 26th. Three days later it received 700 replacements

from its depot. It was also trained during the period spent here. Toward

the end of May it came to the vicinity of Baboeuf (east of Noyon); eight

days later it was near Bussy; then on June 8 in the Boulogne area.

OISE.

4. On the 11th of June it came into line reenforcing the 19th Division

near Belloy (southeast of Montdidier). It was still in line at the time

of the attack of August 8, during the course of which it was forced back

with heavy losses as far as Boulogne le Grasse. It was withdrawn near

here on the 15th.

5. After a brief rest it came back into line on the 22d near Pontoise

(southeast of Noyon). It was withdrawn on the 30th.

6. On the 6th of September it came back into line near Fresnes (south of

Peronne). It was relieved by the 105th Division on the 20th.

CAMBRAI.

7. On the 3d of October it relieved the 3d Naval Division, north of

Rumilly (south of Cambrai). From the 8th until the division was

withdrawn (about the 11th) it was heavily engaged and severely punished,

losing some 1,200 prisoners; it was forced back to Carnières (east of

Cambrai).

8. The division rested and refitted for a fortnight and then reenforced

the front on November 1 near Villers-Pol (southeast of Valenciennes). It

continued in line but was made to fall back; prisoners were captured on

the 11th at Hyon (south of Mons).

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 206th was rated a second-class division. The division commander was

decorated after the battle of the Somme. On the other hand, the brigade

commander issued an order (Oct. 6) to remedy straggling in the division.

On the whole, however, the division did well, though not brilliantly.

207th Division.

COMPOSITION.

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

│ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918

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

Infantry. │89 Res. │413. │89 Res. │98 Res. │89 Res. │98 Res.

│ │209 Res. │ │209 Res. │ │209 Res.

│ │213 Res. │ │213 Res. │ │213 Res.

Cavalry. │ │(?) Sqn. 7 Uhlan │4 Sqn., 7th Uhlan

│ │ Rgt. │ Rgt.

Artillery. │268 F. A. Rgt. │(?) Art. Command: │207 Art. Command:

│ │ 268 F. A. Rgt. │ 75 Field Art. Rgt.

│ │ │ 38 Ft. Art. Btn.

│ │ │834, 1217, and 1330

│ │ │ Light Mun. Col.

Engineers and│236 Pion. Co. │(207) Pion. Btn.: │207 Pion. Btn.

Liaisons. │ │ │

│ │ 4 Co. 14 Pions. │3 Ers. Co. Pion.

│ │ │ Btn. No. 24.

│ │ 336 Pion. Co. │168 T. M. Co.

│ │ 169 T. M. Co. │190 Searchlight

│ │ │ Section.

│ │ 207 Tel. Detch. │207 Div. Signal

│ │ │ Command.

│ │ │207 Tel. Detch.

│ │ │98 Div. Wireless

│ │ │ Detch.

Medical and │ │211 Ambulance Co. │211 Ambulance Co.

Veterinary.│ │ │

│ │240 (?) Ambulance │159 and 160 Field

│ │ Co. │ Hospitals.

│ │159 Field │307 Vet. Hospital.

│ │ Hospital. │

│ │160 Field │

│ │ Hospital. │

│ │307 Vet. Hospital. │

Transport. │ │M. T. Col. │

HISTORY.

(98th Reserve: 16th District—Lorraine. 209th Reserve: 2d

District—Pomerania. 213th Reserve: 9th District—Schleswig—Holstein.)

1916.

1. The 207th Division was organized in Belgium toward the end of

September, 1916. The 45th Reserve Division furnished the 209th Reserve

and the 46th Reserve Division the 213th Reserve. Its third regiment, the

413th, which came from the 204th Division, was replaced by the 98th

Reserve (from the 212th Division) at the beginning of 1917.

FLANDERS.

2. Assembled in October on the Belgium coast (Zeebrugge-Blankenberg) and

went into line before Ypres toward the end of November (Zonnebeke-Ypres

road to the Ypres-Comines Canal).

1917.

1. Held the Ypres front until the end of April, 1917.

ARTOIS.

2. At the beginning of May it fought in Artois (Bullecourt, south of

Pronville).

MESSINES.

3. Relieved about June 3 and went back into line in the region of Ypres,

east of Messines, June 12 to July 6. Did not have heavy losses in spite

of serious fighting.

4. In July sent to rest in the vicinity of Roubaix.

YPRES.

5. Beginning on the night of August 1–2, it was again engaged east of

Ypres in the vicinity of Hollebeke and Zandvoorde, and counterattacked

to recapture Hollebeke. Remained in this sector until October 8.

LENS.

6. On October 20 took over the sector north of Lens, where it alternated

with the 220th Division.

RECRUITING.

A composite division. The 98th Reserve got replacements principally from

Westphalia; the 209th Reserve from Pomerania; the 213th Reserve from

Schleswig-Holstein.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

This division has only a moderate fighting value.

1918.

LENS.

1. The division continued to hold the quiet Loos sector until April 13,

when it was relieved by the 220th Division.

LA BASSEE CANAL.

2. It was engaged north of the La Basse Canal on the night of April

13–14. The 98th Reserve Regiment attacked on the 18th on the canal.

After the attack the three regiments held the line to the south of the

canal until the end of April.

3. The division rested in early May. On the 18th it was engaged south of

the La Basse Canal, near Hulluch and Anchy les La Basse. It held this

sector without event until it was relieved on the night of July 1–2 by

the 10th Erzsatz Division. The regiment marched to Wahagnies, entrained

at Libercourt on the 3d and detrained near Bac St. Maur on the same day.

VIEUX BERQUIN-CAMBRAI.

4. It relieved the 44th Reserve Division during the nights of July 3–4

and 4–5 near Vieux Berquin. After a month it exchanged sectors (between

Aug. 6 and 8) with the 52d Division which had been holding a sector

south of Lens. The sector continued quiet in August and September. The

division was relieved on the night of the 24th–25th by the 111th

Division and reenforced the front northwest of Cambrai on September 28.

After three days of severe fighting and heavy losses it was obliged to

withdraw.

BELGIUM.

5. The division was taken to Deynze about October 8 and came into line

on the 14th near Thielt between Pittem and Iseghem. It was pushed back

toward Denterghem (18th–19th) and later toward the line Courtrai-Ghent

(Deynze, Tulte, Waereghem, Oct. 21 to Nov. 1). The division withdrew to

reserve on November 1 and thereafter was out of line.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. Its morale was reported to be

indifferent at the end of October.

208th Division.

COMPOSITION.

│ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918

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

Infantry. │185. │25. │185. │25. │185. │25.

│ │185. │ │185. │ │185.

│ │65 Res. │ │65 Res. │ │65 Res.

Cavalry. │ │1 Sqn. 6 Res. │1 Sqn. 6 Res.

│ │ Dragoon Rgt. │ Dragoon Rgt.

Artillery. │267 F. A. Rgt. │Art. Command: │267 Field Art. Rgt.

│ │ 267 F. A. Rgt. │157 Foot Art. Btn.

│ │ │819, 1284, and 1357

│ │ │ Light Mun. Col.

Engineers and│ │(208) Pion. Btn.: │208 Pion. Btn.

Liaisons. │ │ │

│ │ 252 Pion. Co. │252 Pion. Co.

│ │ 338 Pion. Co. │338 Pion. Co.

│ │ 16 T. M. Co. │16 T. M. Co.

│ │ 291 Searchlight │28 Searchlight

│ │ Section. │ Section.

│ │ 208 Tel. Detch. │208 Div. Signal

│ │ │ Command.

│ │ │208 Tel. Detch.

│ │ │80 Div. Wireless

│ │ │ Detch.

Medical and │ │113 Ambulance Co. │113 Ambulance Co.

Veterinary.│ │ │

│ │78 Field Hospital. │78 and 300 Field

│ │ │ Hospitals.

│ │300 Field Hospital.│308 Vet. Hospital.

│ │308 Vet. Hospital. │

Transport. │ │618 M. T. Col. │618 M. T. Col.

HISTORY.

(25th: 8th District—Rhine Province. 185th: 14th District—Grand Duchy of

Baden. 65th Reserve: 8th District—Rhine Province.)

1916.

The 208th Division was organized in the region of Sissonne at the

beginning of September, 1916. Its three infantry regiments came from

older divisions—the 25th from the 15th Division, the 185th from the

185th Division, the 65th Reserve from the 16th Reserve Division.

Before being transferred to the 208th Division these regiments were

engaged in the battle of the Somme, where the 18th Infantry especially

was particularly tried (July 5–18).

GALICIA.

1. On September 3 the division was sent to the Eastern Front, via

Luxemburg-Aix la Chapelle-Berlin-Leipzig-Cracow-Lemberg.

2. Fought at Brzezany and Halicz from the middle of September to the end

of October.

FRANCE.

3. About the beginning of November it returned to the Western Front, via

Lemberg-Budapest-Vienna-Salzburg-Rosenheim-Munich-Frankfurt-Cologne-Aix

la Chapelle-Liege. Detrained November 13 at Caudry.

SOMME-ANCRE.

4. On November 18 it went into line north of the Ancre, where it was

seriously engaged in a series of local attacks.

5. Relieved December 12 and went to rest northeast of Ghent.

1917.

FLANDERS.

1. At the beginning of February, 1917 the division took over the sector

Ypres-Comines Canal, which it held until February 25.

2. After a month’s rest in the region north of Ghent it returned to the

front (sector Bixschoote-Langemarck) from March 28–29 to middle of

April.

ARTOIS.

3. April 24 the division was engaged before Arras between Gavrelle and

Roeux and was severely tried during the British offensive.

HINDENBURG LINE (OISE).

4. Withdrawn from the Artois front May 8 and went into line in a quiet

sector south of St. Quentin, between Berthenicourt and Moy, where it

remained for more than three months, May 14–15 to August 18. Received

about 1,000 replacements, among others from the 616th Infantry

dissolved, in May.

FLANDERS.

5. About August 23 went to Flanders, via Origny-Le Cateau-Mons-Ghent-

Deynze-Lichtervelde. September 4–5 it went into the sector of

Langemarck. Though already sorely tried by artillery fire, it was

subjected to the British attack of September 20, which again caused it

very heavy losses. The 1st and 3d Companys of the 185th Infantry were

entirely destroyed or captured; the rest of the 1st Battalion was

reduced to a handful of men (letter).

ST. MIHIEL.

6. Left the Flanders front September 29 and went to Lorraine where it

took over the St. Mihiel sector.

CAMBRAI-ST. QUENTIN.

7. November 26 it entrained for the region of Cambrai where the 25th

Infantry fought on the 30th in support of the 34th Division. The

division then held the sector southwest of Villers Guislain-north of

Epehy until the beginning of February, 1918. Relieved at that time, and

at the beginning of March took over the sector west of Bellenglise,

northwest of St. Quentin.

RECRUITING.

The 185th Regiment is a Baden regiment (German communiqué of Nov. 26,

1916). The other two regiments are from the Rhineland, and thus the

division may at times be designated under the general appellation of

“Rhenish troops.”

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The division took part in many battles on different fronts and generally

did well.

When it was put in line at Ypres in September, 1917, 25 per cent of its

fighting forces belonged to the 1918 class, and these young elements

seem at this time to have weakened the fighting spirit of the division.

(Information from the British, October, 1917).

1918.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

1. The division was in the Bellenglise line sector when the attack of

March 21 began. By the evening of the 21st it had advanced as far as le

Vergnier. The next day it advanced via Bernes and Catigny and entered

Peronne on the following day, remaining there until the 25th, when it

crossed the Somme near Biaches. On the 26th the division advanced 4

kilometers encountering slight opposition, and on the 27th advanced 12

kilometers without opposition. It reached Framerville on the 28th after

some fighting and on the 29th was engaged against a British

counterattack between Cayeux and Beaucourt. A day or so later it was

retired from the front near Marcelcave. The casualties of the division

in the offensive were estimated by the British as 70 per cent.

HANGARD.

2. It rested near Clery, in the vicinity of Peronne, from April 1 to 18.

It came into line north of Hangard (night of Apr. 21–22) and was heavily

engaged until May 4. Again the division suffered very heavy losses.

WOEVRE.

3. The division went to rest in the Valenciennes area on May 7. About

June 4 it entrained and traveled via Mons-Namur-Charleville-Conflans to

Chambley, where it detrained a day later. On the night of June 4–5 it

entered line of the quiet St. Mihiel sector and stayed there until the

end of July.

SECOND BATTLE OF PICARDY.

4. Relieved on July 28, at St. Mihiel, the division was transported to

the Noyon area, and on August 12 was engaged near Belval (south of

Lassigny). In the next two months the division was constantly being

pressed back. The line of its retreat was through Beaurains-Genvry-

Guiscard-Berlancourt-Ville Selves-Crigny-Flavy le Martel-Benay-Cerisy

(south of St. Quentin). It was relieved by the 1st Reserve Division on

September 30.

5. After hardly a week’s rest, the division reentered lines near Cambrai

(southwest of Merguies, later Haussy) about October 8. It held in that

sector until the 23d. Few days later it was reengaged between

Valenciennes and Le Quesnoy (Ruesnes), but after a few days in line

retired from the front.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. It took a prominent part in the

March offensive and thereafter was a strong defensive division. Although

its effectives were greatly diminished in the fall, its morale remained

above the average.

211th Division.

COMPOSITION.

│ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918[33]

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

Infantry. │ │27. │211. │27. │211. │27.

│ │75 Res. │ │75 Res. │ │75 Res.

│ │103 Res. │ │390. │ │390.

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

Artillery. │269 F. A. Rgt. │Art. Command: │(?) Art. Command:

│ │ 269 F. A. Rgt. │ 269 F. A. Rgt.

Engineers and│ │(211) Pion. Btn.: │1 Res. Co. 2 Pion.

Liaisons. │ │ │ Btn. No. 27.

│ │ 1 Res. Co. 27 │421 T. M. Co.

│ │ Pions. │

│ │ 268 Pion. Co. │211 Tel. Detch.

│ │ 421 T. M. Co. │

│ │ 211 Tel. Detch. │

Medical and │ │222 Ambulance Co. │222 Ambulance Co.

Veterinary.│ │ │

│ │170 Field Hospital.│170 Field Hospital.

│ │173 Field Hospital.│171 Field Hospital.

│ │Vet. Hospital. │173 Field Hospital.

│ │ │Vet. Hospital.

Transports. │ │M. T. Col. │M. T.Col.

Footnote 33:

Composition at the time of dissolution, August, 1918.

HISTORY.

(27th; 4th District—Prussian Saxony. 75th Reserve; 9th

District—Schleswig—Holstein and Hansa towns. 390th; 18th

District—Hesse—Nassau.)

1916.

The 211th Division was organized September 15, 1916, at Tournai.

The 27th Infantry came from the 27th Division (4th Army Corps), the 75th

Reserve from the 17th Reserve Division (9th Army Corps), the 103d

Reserve (which was replaced by the 390th in January, 1917) came from the

23d Reserve Division (Saxon). These three regiments fought in July to

August, 1916, in the battle of the Somme before being assigned to the

211th Division.

1. About September 20, its organization being completed, the division

was sent north of the front of the Somme, to put up defensive works in

the region of Nurlu-Manancourt.

SOMME.

2. October 14 it went into line at the St. Pierre-Vaast wood, from where

it was relieved November 6.

SOISSONS.

3. It then took over the sector north and west of Soissons (Nov. 20).

1917.

1. In January, 1917, the 103d Reserve was transferred to the 58th

Division (Saxon) and replaced by the 390th, recruited in the Rhineland

and Hessa, coming from the 16th Reserve Division, which had been formed

from drafted companies as well as from elements of the 21st and 25th

Divisions and 25th Landwehr Brigade.

AISNE.

2. The division, thus composed, held the Soissons sector until about

March 20. On this date it retired through Terny, Margival, to

Vauxaillon, where it established its lines and opposed the French attack

of April 16.

LAFFAUX.

3. Temporarily withdrawn from the front on April 20, the division went

to the north of Laffaux, south of Vauxaillon, from May 10 to 25. During

these two periods on the Aisne front the division suffered heavy losses

(especially the 27th, which had already received men from the 1918

class, among other reenforcements, at the end of April). It was

reorganized partly from the dissolution of the 625th Infantry (Hessian).

FOREST OF ST. GOBAIN.

4. June 25 the division held the forest of St. Gobain (sector of

Bassoles-Aulers). At the end of July it took over the sector of Cerny-

Malval Farm.

5. At the end of December it went to rest and train at Gizy (west of

Liesse) and vicinity for four weeks.

RECRUITING.

The three infantry regiments came from three different Prussian

Provinces-Prussian Saxony (27th Infantry), Schleswig-Holstein and Hanse

towns (75th Reserve), Hesse-Nassau, 390th Infantry. The reenforcements

from the Russian front in 1917 also gave a certain number of Hanoverians

from the 411th Infantry.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Histories of two hundred and fifty-one divisions of the German army which participated in the war (1914-1918) · 第 70 / 78 段