completed by reenforcements containing a strong proportion of the 1918
class. These young soldiers, according to prisoners’ statements, showed
only mediocre military qualities (counterattacks at Laffaux).
During the four weeks which it spent in the vicinity of Liesse the
division took part in several training exercises (breaking through
maneuvers on an 8-kilometer front with simulated enemy tanks).
(Interrogation of prisoners, Mar. 7, 1918.)
1918.
BATTLE OF PICARDY.
1. The division was relieved the 8th of March in the Chamouille area and
went to rest and train near Laon until the 19th. It marched toward the
jumping off point east of La Fere by Crepy en Laonnois, arriving there
on the 20th. It followed up the attack at La Fere, crossing the Oise
near Travecy, until the 22d, when it was engaged west of Travecy. It
advanced through Farguiers-Quessy-Liez-Chauny-Quierzy-Varesnes,
suffering heavy losses, until the line stabilized near the Aisne Canal
at Manicamp and Champs. It held this sector until May 27.
OISE.
2. When the French retired on the front, following the German advance to
the Marne, the division advanced as far as Moulin sous Touvent-Nampcel
(May 27–31). It held that sector until the beginning of July. It
withstood a French attack on July 3, lost 666 prisoners, and was at once
relieved by the 15th Division.
SOISSONS.
3. The division rested until mid-July southeast of Soissons. It was
brought back on the 20th at Mercin-Vauxbuin to oppose the Allied
counterthrust and was in line until August 3.
4. After its withdrawal the division was taken to the neighborhood of
Charleville and dissolved. The 390th Regiment and 75th Reserve Regiment
were broken up and sent as drafts to the 42d Division and the 87th
Division. The 27th Regiment replaced the dissolved 32d Reserve Regiment
in the 113th Division.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as second class. It was in line almost without
interruption from February to August, 1918. When the effective strength
had reached a minimum the division was dissolved.
212th Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │57. │20. │212. │415. │ │182.
│ │114. │ │416. │ │
│ │98 Res. │ │182. │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │ │2 Sqn. 18 Uhlan │5 Sqn. 18 Hussars.
│ │ Rgt. │
│ │ │Staff, 2 Bav. Uhlan
│ │ │ Rgt.
│ │ │1 to 4 Sqns. 2 Bav.
│ │ │ Uhlan Rgt.
│ │ │M. G. Sqn. 2 Bav.
│ │ │ Uhlan Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │279 F. A. Rgt. │67 Art. Command: │67 Artillery
│ (Saxon). │ │ Command:
│ │ 279 F. A. Rgt. │ 279 Field Art.
│ │ │ Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│2 Ldw. Pion. Co. │(212) Pion. Btn.: │212 Div. Signal
Liaisons. │ (14 C. Dist.). │ │ Command:
│ │ 3 Res. Co. 22 │ 212 Tel. Detch.
│ │ Pions. │
│ │ 422 T. M. Co. │
│ │ 212 Tel. Detch. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │225 Ambulance Co. │177 Field Hospital.
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │177 Field Hospital.│312 Vet. Hospital.
│ │Vet. Hospital. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │ │757 M. T. Col. │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
HISTORY.
(12th and 19th Districts—Saxony.)
1916.
The 212th Division was organized between the 5th and 15th of September,
1916, in the region of St. Quentin. At that time it comprised the
following three infantry regiments, taken from already existing
divisions: The 20th from the 6th Division, the 114th from the 29th
Division, and the 98th Reserve from the 10th Reserve Division. Later its
infantry composition was completely changed until the division from
being Prussian became entirely Saxon.
SOMME.
1. From September 15 to October 3–5 the division was engaged north of
the Somme (sector of Cléry to Béthune-Péronne road).
2. Withdrawn from the front October 5 and sent to rest in the region of
St. Quentin. Went back into line about the 25th, south of the Somme,
between Genermont and Ablaincourt. Suffered heavy losses (the 3d
Battalion of the 98th Reserves lost 297 prisoners).
CHAMPAGNE.
3. The division left the Somme November 23–25 and went to rest (end of
November to beginning of December). Then went to the Champagne front
(sector of Prosnes—south of Ste. Marie a Py).
1917.
1. In January, 1917, the division was reorganized. The 98th Reserve and
the 20th went to the 207th Division and the 5th Guard Division,
respectively, and were replaced by the 9th Jäger Regiment (from the
199th Division) and the 415th (from the 204th Division). These were
Saxon regiments and they were joined a short time after by the 416th
(also from the 204th Division and Saxon), in place of the 114th,
assigned to the 199th Division.
CHAMPAGNE.
2. Thus composed the division continued to hold the Prosnes sector until
the end of March, 1917.
ROUMANIA.
3. Relieved about March 25, before the attacks began and sent to
Roumania.
At this time the 9th Regiment of Jägers left the division and went to
the 101st Division, in Macedonia. The 415th and 416th were sent to the
Russian-Roumanian front (region of Braila in July, then Focsani-
Tecuciu). The division was brought up to three regiments by the
assignment of the 182d (from the 216th Division), a Saxon regiment. The
division suffered heavy losses, especially the 182d Infantry, on
September 9.
4. In December the division was relieved from the sector west of
Tecuciu. The 415th and 416th were identified southeast of Panciu
December 14; the 182d, northwest of Namoloasa, on the 20th.
RECRUITING.
The division at the end of 1917 was entirely Saxon.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
Remained on the Roumanian front during a part of 1917 and the beginning
of 1918. Moderate fighting value.
1918.
1. The division was still in Rumania on the 15th of April.
UKRAINE.
2. Toward the end of May the division was identified north of Kherson.
All the younger men were sent to the Western Front, but the remainder of
the division did not leave this region.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as fourth class.
213th Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │37 Res. │149. │37 Res. │149. │37 Res. │149.
│ │368. │ │368. │ │368.
│ │74 Res. │ │74 Res. │ │74 Res.
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │2 Sqn. 5 Res. Hus. │2 Sqn. 5 Res. Hus. │2 Sqn. 5 Res. Hus.
│ Rgt. │ Rgt. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │272 F. A. Rgt. │213 Art. Command: │213 Art. Command:
│ │ 272 F. A. Rgt. │ 272 Field Art.
│ │ │ Rgt.
│ │ │ 79 Foot Art. Btn.
│ │ │733, 1104, and 1127
│ │ │ Light Mun. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│284 Pion. Co. │(213) Pion. Btn.: │213 Pion Btn.
Liaisons. │ │ │
│423 T. M. Co. │ 2 Res. Co. 28 │ 2 Res. Co. Pion.
│ │ Pions. │ Btn. No. 18.
│ │ 284 Pion Co. │ 284 Pion Co.
│ │ 378 T. M. Co. │ 423 T. M. Co.
│ │ 423 T. M. Co. │ 118 Searchlight
│ │ │ Section.
│ │ Tel. Detch. │ 234 Searchlight
│ │ │ Section.
│ │ │313 Div. Signal
│ │ │ Command.
│ │ │ 213 Tel. Detch.
│ │ │ 26 Div. Wireless
│ │ │ Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │220 Ambulance Co. │220 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │68 (*) Field │168 and 169 Field
│ │ Hospital. │ Hospitals.
│ │168 Field │313 Vet. Hospital.
│ │ Hospital. │
│ │169 Field │
│ │ Hospital. │
│ │Vet. Hospital. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │ │179 M. T. Col. │623 M. T. Col.
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
HISTORY.
(149th: 2d District—Pomerania. 368th and 74th Reserves: 10th
District—Hanover.)
1916.
The 213th Division was formed near Spincourt, northeast of Verdun, at
the beginning of September, 1916. Its three infantry regiments came from
already existing divisions, the 149th from the 4th Division, the 74th
Reserves from the 19th Reserve Division, and the 368th (former Brigade
Ersatz Battalions 37 (Osnabrueck), 38 (Hanover), 39 (Hildesheim), from
the 10th Ersatz Division.)
SOMME.
1. Although apparently destined for the Roumanian front, the division
was sent in all haste to the Somme on September 14. It fought beginning
the 18th east of Combles and suffered heavily.
AISNE.
2. Withdrawn from the front at the end of September and moved to Bohain
by stages and from there was transported on October 1 to Coucy le
Chateau. On the same day it took over the Nouvron-Vingre sector north of
Vic sur Aisne. It remained there until the end of October, and after a
short rest went back into line in the same region (Moulin sous Touvent-
Autreches) at the beginning of November.
1917.
1. About January 4, 1917, the division was relieved from the Aisne front
and sent for a rest and training to the camp at Sissonne (region of
Lappion). Maneuvers with a view to open warfare.
OISE.
2. After three weeks training it entrained at St. Erme on January 22;
detrained the same day at Apilly, near Chauny, and went into line
between the Oise and Quennevieres (Bailly-Pracy le Val).
3. On March 17 it retired north of the Ailette in the direction of
Chauny and went in reserve in the region of Laon.
AISNE.
4. An emergency call was sent for it at Sissonne April 16 and it was
brought to St. Erme and engaged beginning April 16–17 east of Craonne
(north of Ville aux Bois). Counterattacked violently in the region of
Juvincourt, but suffered considerable losses, which necessitated its
retreat, on April 21–22.
5. Sent to rest near Amifontaine and reorganized (replacements
especially from the 617th Regiment (Stettin and vicinity), which was
dissolved) April 26 it was reengaged south of Corbeny and again suffered
heavily from the French attack of May 8 and from its counteroffensive of
the 10th.
6. Left the Craonne front May 29 and went to rest by the Meuse
(Spincourt).
HILL 304.
7. At the end of July, after two months’ rest, went into line east of
Hill 304. Only the 149th was engaged during the French attack of August
20, and it suffered heavy losses.
CHAMPAGNE.
8. Relieved August 25 and sent to Champagne (5 weeks’ rest near Asfeld),
then went into line before Brimont on October 5.
RECRUITING.
Two of the regiments, the 74th Reserves and the 368th were from Hanover.
The 149th which as a rule was recruited in the second district
(Pomerania), was as a matter of fact very mixed, like the other
regiments of this district.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
A good division. However, the 149th, in line east of Hill 304, offered
no resistance to the French attack of August 20, 1917. The two other
regiments gave no assistance.
Relatively small proportion of 1918 class men in August, 1917.
During its stay in the rear (January, 1918) the division was trained for
open warfare. (Examination of prisoners, March, 1918.)
1918.
BATTLE OF THE AISNE.
1. The division continued to hold the quiet Brimont Courcy sector until
May 10, when it was relieved by the 242d Division. It rested near Asfeld
until the 24th, when it returned to the Brimont sector on the night of
the 24th–25th, and attacked on the 27th. It advanced through Loivre,
Merfy, and Guex until the line stabilized west of Reims (Vrigny-Ormes-
Champigny). It held that sector until September 27.
2. It was moved in motor trucks on the 27th to south of Arnes, and the
next day was engaged near Ste. Marie a Py. The division was engaged
without pause until the armistice. In the first week of October it was
pushed back to Ste. Etienne a Arnes, losing 560 prisoners. From then it
retreated to east of Machault, between Vouziers and Attigny and later to
the region northeast of Attigny (Le Chesne-Louvergny). It was last
identified at Louvergny on November 6.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as third class. Its morale remained fairly high,
and the division did well in the Ardennes in September-October.
214th Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │ │50. │214. │50. │214. │50.
│ │358. │ │358. │ │358.
│ │363. │ │363. │ │363.
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │ │ (z) │1 Sqn. 16 Hus. Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │ │(z) Art. Command: │214 Art. Command.
│ │ 44 F. A. Rgt. │44 Field Art. Rgt.
│ │ │1 Abt. 15 Foot Art.
│ │ │ Rgt. (Btries. 1
│ │ │ to 3).
│ │ │922, 1246, and 1300
│ │ │ Light Mun. Cols.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │(214) Pion. Btn.: │214 Pion. Btn.
Liaisons. │ │ │
│ │ 2 Res. Co. 23 │2 Res. Co. Pion.
│ │ Pions. │ Btn. No. 23.
│ │ 341 Pion. Co. │341 Pion. Co.
│ │ 424 T. M. Co. │47 Searchlight
│ │ │ Section.
│ │ 214 Tel. Detch. │214 Div. Signal
│ │ │ Command.
│ │ │214 Tel. Detch.
│ │ │112 Div. Wireless
│ │ │ Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │224 Ambulance Co. │224 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │25 Field Hospital. │25 and 274 Field
│ │ │ Hospitals.
│ │274 Field Hospital.│314 Vet. Hospital.
│ │Vet. Hospital. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │ │M. T. Col. │624 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │ │22, 59, and 20 M.
│ │ │ G. Sec. Abt.
│ │ │4 Btry. 18 Foot
│ │ │ Art. Regt.
│ │ │150 Saxon Balloon
│ │ │ Detch.
│ │ │268 Aviation Detch.
│ │ │ (Oct. 29, 1918.)
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
HISTORY.
(50th: 5th District—Posen. 358th: 2d District—Pomerania. 363d: 8th
District—Rhine Province.)
1916.
The 214th Division was formed in Lorraine in September, 1916. Two of its
regiments came from the Ersatz Divisions—the 358th, former Brigade
Ersatz Battalions Nos. 1, 2, 5, and 50; from the Ersatz Guard Division;
the 363d, former Brigade Ersatz Battalions Nos. 29 (Aix la Chapelle), 30
(Coblentz), and 31 (Trèves), from the 8th Ersatz Division. These two
regiments were for two years in the Haye. The 50th Infantry was taken
from the 10th Division (Verdun front).
SOMME.
1. Started for the Eastern Front September 10, 1916, but was stopped at
Frankfort on Main and brought back to France to oppose the offensive on
the Somme. Hastily engaged at Rancourt September 19–20, but lost that
village. Lost heavily (600 prisoners) and was relieved October 2.
BOIS LE PRÊTRE.
2. From October 15 to November 25 the division held the Bois le Pretre
sector.
SOMME.
3. At the beginning of December it again went to the Somme in the region
of Bapaume (Gueudecourt).
1917.
1. The division was withdrawn from the Somme about February 6, 1917, and
went to rest; obtained replacements from the 609th Infantry (Rhineland).
CHAMPAGNE.
2. About February 20 the division was north of Nouroy-Moronvilliers. Its
regiments were successively put in line beginning with the first part of
March, then were placed all together in line April 15. April 17 and 18
the division opposed the French attacks on the Nauroy-Auberive front.
Its losses were considerable (19 officers and 1046 unwounded prisoners).
Losses of the 12th Company of the 50th Infantry, 129 men (document).
3. On the night of the 18th–19th the division was relieved and sent to
rest southwest of Monthois and reorganized. The 5th Company of the 363d
Infantry received at least 134 replacements, mostly from the 1918 class,
some of them with only three months’ training.
ARGONNE.
4. About May 4–5 the division went back into line south of Rouvroy
(Cernay en Dormois) and stayed there until July 22 or 23. No important
action during this period.
FLANDERS.
5. During the first days of August the division was sent to Flanders via
Charleville, Namur, Brussels, and Ghent. It went to the Bixschoote-
Langemarck sector, where it fought until August 17 (battle of Flanders,
French attack of August 16).
CAMBRAI.
6. After a rest on the coast it went to Douai August 23 and took over
the Oppy-Gavrelle sector (September to November). November 22 it went in
all haste to oppose the advance of the British army southwest of
Cambrai, and fought until December 4. At that date it was sent to rest
near Valenciennes.
RECRUITING.
A composite division. The 50th (5th District) and the 358th (2d
District) had a pretty large proportion of Poles, and some
Brandenburgers to counterbalance them. The 363d was a Rhenish regiment,
as well as the field artillery of the division.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 214th Division must be considered as a good division. However, it
should be noted that in Champagne during the attack of April 17, it was
more or less demoralized by the losses suffered. A large number of men
are said to have fled during the preparatory artillery fire.
At Ypres in August, 1917, the 358th and 363d opposed great resistance,
particularly where there were enough officers to hold the men under the
artillery fire.
Of the three regiments of the division, the 50th was the worst; many
Poles.
1918.
BELGIUM.
1. The division held the Dixmude sector until April 5, when it was
relieved by the 6th Bavarian Division. It was withdrawn to Couckelaere
and Ichteghem, when it entrained on the 6th and 7th and traveled via
Thourout-Lichtervelde-Roulers-Coutrai to Lauwe, from where they marched
to Halluin.
LYS.
2. It was engaged north of Armentieres from April 10 to 13 (Ploegsteert-
Neuve Eglise). It was relieved on the 13th–14th and went to rest near
Lille until May 19. On May 6 some elements of the division reenforced
the Alpine Corps at Locre for a short time.
ARRAS.
3. On May 19–20 the division came in line east of Arras (Feuchy-Monchy
le Preux) and held that quiet sector until the British attacked them on
August 27. The division lost 1,171 prisoners and was relieved on the
28th.
PICARDY.
4. The division rested until September 24, when it entered line
southwest of Douai (Sailly Ostrevent Biache, St. Vaast) and held there
until October 8. It retreated between Douai and Valenciennes as far as
east of St. Awand. It withdrew from line near Conde on the 24th. A day
later it was reengaged south of Valenciennes (Famars) and in line until
November 5. On the first 10 days of November the division lost 750
prisoners.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as second class. In 1918 it played a rather
colorless rôle. Its hardest fighting was in October in the Cambrai
battle.
215th Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │61 Res. │60 Res. │61 Res. │71 Ldw. │61 Res. │224 Res.
│ │2 Res. │ │224 Res. │ │2 Res.
│ │ Ers. │ │ │ │ Ers.
│ │40 Ers. │ │2 Res. │ │
│ │ (Saxon).│ │ Ers. │ │
│61 Res. │71 Ldw. │ │ │ │
│ │2 Res. │ │ │ │
│ │ Ers. │ │ │ │
│ │40 Ers. │ │ │ │
│ │ (Saxon).│ │ │ │
│ │244 Res. │ │ │ │
│ │ (Saxon).│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┬┴─────────┴────────┬┴─────────┴────────
Cavalry. │3 Sqn. 8 Res. Hus. │3 Sqn. 8 Res. Hus. │
│ Rgt. │ Rgt. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │274 F. A. Rgt. │274 F. A. Rgt. │274 Field Art. Rgt.
│ │ │1413 Light Mun.
│ │ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │(215) Pion. Btn.: │6 Co. Pion. Btn.
Liaisons. │ │ │ No. 29.
│ │ 249 Pion. Co. │115 Searchlight
│ │ │ Section.
│ │ 6 Co. 29 Pions. │215 Div. Signal
│ │ │ Command.
│ │ 425 T. M. Co. │215 Tel. Detch.
│ │ Tel. Detch. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │221 Ambulance Co. │221 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │166 Field Hospital.│315 Vet. Hospital.
│ │174 Field Hospital.│
│ │Vet. Hospital. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │ │M. T. Col. │625 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │21 Res. Jag. Btn. │
│ │ (Until fall of │
│ │ 1917.) │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
HISTORY.
(224th Reserve Infantry Regiment: 18th Corps District—Hesse—Nassau. 2d
Reserve Ersatz and 71st Landwehr Regiments: 11th Corps
District—Thuringia and Prussian Saxony.)
1916.
CHAMPAGNE.
1. The 215th Division, formed about September, 1916, and comprising at
this time the 40th Ersatz Regiment, taken from the 19th Ersatz Division;
the 2d Reserve Ersatz, from the 1st Reserve Ersatz Brigade; the 60th
Reserve, from the 13th Landwehr Division, was identified for the first
time on September 29, 1916, on the Champagne front, east of Auberive. It
occupied the sector of Prosnes, south of Ste. Marie a Py, until the end
of November.
2. Relieved in Champagne, the 215th Division was transferred to the
Eastern Front, leaving the 60th Reserve Regiment in France as a part of
the 221st Division and taking with it the 71st Landwehr Regiment from
the 13th Landwehr Division.
RUSSIA.
3. Arriving in Russia at the beginning of December, the 215th Division
formed a part of the 22d Reserve Corps (Army of the Bug) and was
reenforced by the addition of the 244th Reserve Infantry Regiment from
the 53d Reserve Division.
1917.
VOLHYNIA.
1. At the beginning of 1917 the composition of the 215th Division was
again changed—the 244th Reserve Infantry Regiment went over to the 119th
Division and was replaced by the 224th Reserve Infantry Regiment from
the 48th Reserve Division.
2. During the year 1917 the 215th Division occupied, in Volhynia, the
sector situated east of Gorokhov (northwest of Berestiecko).
3. Its composition was once more modified—the 40th Ersatz Regiment was
transferred to a newly formed Saxon division, the 96th.
RECRUITING.
The 215th Division was fairly homogeneous. It was mostly recruited from
the 11th and to some extent from the 18th Corps Districts (Thuringia,
the Electorate of Hesse, and Hesse-Nassau).
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The division had been in Russia since December, 1916, and was only
mediocre.
1918.
UKRAINE.
1. Early in the year the division was still in Russia. It was identified
near Kiev on the 12th of March and in the Kharkov region in April. Early
in May the division had advanced to the Sea of Azov. Early in September,
all unmarried men less than 35 years of age (Alsace-Lorrainers included)
were sent to the Western Front, which probably explains the many reports
of the division having been sent to France. In all probability the
division never left the Ukraine.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as fourth class.
216th Division.
COMPOSITION.