Division. Two days later it attacked southwest of Ham in the direction
of Esmery-Hallon, suffering heavy losses. It was in reserve near Roye on
the 28th. Early in April it was resting near Laon, and later in the
month it moved to the Marle area, where it was reconstituted.
AISNE.
3. It then relieved the 3d Reserve Division in the Bouconville sector
(southeast of Laon) early in May. On the 27th other divisions attacked
through its sector, the 231st following up in reserve via Fismes and
Fère en Tardenois. It became engaged on the 30th near Beuvardes and
advanced through Verdilly to Château Thierry; relieved by the 201st
Division about the 16th of June. It refitted in the Laon region,
entrained at Sissonne, and traveled via Asfeld to Dun sur Meuse.
VERDUN.
4. About the 1st of July it relieved the Bavarian Ersatz Division in the
Avocourt sector (northwest of Verdun). It was relieved by the 37th
Division on the 7th of August.
PICARDY.
5. The division traveled via Sedan-Laon-Chauny and reenforced the front
near Appilly (east of Noyon). In the fighting that followed the division
was forced to withdraw through Lagny, Champagne, Villeselve, Artemps,
Mont d’Origny, and Hauteville. It was withdrawn about the 20th of
October.
6. After having rested about a week it came back into line west of Guise
about the 28th. Again it fell back, being identified east of Guise and
southeast of Etreux. It was still in line on the 11th of November.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division did not distinguish itself during the battle of the Somme,
but, on the other hand, it did not do badly, for soon afterwards the
division commander was granted “Pour le Mérite.” After the Aisne
offensive the brigade commander also received it. The division was
mentioned in the German official communiqués of September 4 and October
31. Its losses necessitated the reduction of the battalions to three
companies but did not lower the morale to any great extent. It should be
considered as a good second-class division.
232d Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────
Infantry. │232. │445. │232. │445.
│ │446. │ │446.
│ │447. │ │447.
─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────
Cavalry. │4 Sqn. 1 Uhlan Rgt. │4 Sqn. 1 Uhlan Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Artillery. │37 F. A. Rgt. │232 Art. Command:
│ │ 37 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ 776 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 981 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1093 Light Am. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Engineers and│(232) Pion Btn.: │232 Pion Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 355 Pion Co. │ 346 Pion. Co.
│ 356 Pion Co. │ 356 Pion. Co.
│ 419 T. M. Co. │ 419 T. M. Co.
│ 232 Tel. Detch. │ 119 Searchlight Section.
│ │232 Signal Command:
│ │ 232 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 162 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Medical and │244 Ambulance Co. │244 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│185 Field Hospital. │185 Field Hospital.
│186 Field Hospital. │186 Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │267 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Transport. │642 M. T. Col. │642 M. T. Col.
─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────
HISTORY.
(445th Infantry Regiment: 1st Corps District—East Prussia. 446th and
447th Infantry Regiments: 20th Corps District—Eastern section of West
Prussia.)
1917.
The 232d Division belonged to the series of divisions 231 to 242, formed
in January, 1917, by drafts upon the depots (1918 class) and upon the
front. It was recruited principally from the 1st and 20th Corps
Districts (East Prussia).
After its formation the division was sent for training to the Arys Camp
and then, on April 3, 1917, to the Eastern Front.
COURLAND.
1. On April 6 the 232d Division went into line in the vicinity of
Illukst; it remained there until July.
SMORGONI.
2. Relieved by the 2d Division, coming from Flanders on July 7, it
entrained on the 9th, was transferred by railroad to Soly on July 11,
and from there went to the sector of Smorgoni-Krevo, where it suffered
the Russian attack of July 22.
GALICIA.
3. On July 31 the 232d Division left the Smorgoni front for Galicia. It
went into line northeast of Tarnapol, west of Zbaraz. It was identified
there on December 25 (fraternization with the Russians). It was during
this rest period, in November and December, that the division received
its first reenforcements of the 1919 class, which it later took to
France.
RECRUITING.
The 232d Division was recruited from East and West Prussia, with a
certain number of Alsace-Lorrainers.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
Having always occupied the Eastern Front from its formation (beginning
of 1917) until March, 1918, the 232d Division was of mediocre combat
value (April, 1918).
In the 445th Infantry Regiment the majority of men were very young; many
belonged to the 1919 class (April, 1918). (Interrogation of prisoner.)
In the 2d Company of the 1st Battalion of the 447th Infantry Regiment,
one-third belonged to the 1919 class (May, 1918). (Interrogation of
prisoner.)
1918.
1. The division held the sector west of Vaudesincourt until about May
10, when it went to rest in the Juniville-Neuflize area. While there the
division was trained for mobile warfare.
BATTLE OF THE AISNE.
2. On May 22 the division left the region of Juniville and moved in
three marches to Lor and Le Thour (north of Asfeld). On May 26 the
division left Lor and advanced toward the battle front, following the
86th Division. It passed the former French first line near Juvincourt,
arrived near Treslon-Bouleuse on May 29, and on the 30th was engaged to
the right of the 86th Division, near Sarey, where it relieved the troops
of the 7th Reserve Division.
3. After that date the division was in the sector on the west bank of
the Ardre near Chambrecy. The division losses were small during the
first three days of the offensive, but later it suffered seriously,
especially in its unsuccessful attack on Bligny on June 4. The division
was relieved on the 18th by the 123d Division.
4. It marched by stages to Asfeld and was railed to Montmedy. On the
night of June 28–29 it relieved the 19th Ersatz Division in the Beaumont
sector. It held the quiet sector until August 18, when it was withdrawn.
On the night of August 26–27 the division entrained and traveled via
Montmedy-Sedan-Charleville-Revin-Charleroi-Mons-Valenciennes-Cambrai,
detraining near Etricourt and Manancourt on August 28 after a journey of
28 hours.
BAPAUME.
5. The division was engaged in the Bapaume area (Le Forest,
Bouchavesnes, Moislains) on August 29. It lost 1,500 prisoners before it
was withdrawn on September 9.
6. It rested in the Le Cateau area until September 21, when it
reenforced the battle front northwest of Hargicourt. After four days it
was relieved by the 54th Division and rested near La Capelle. It had
been there but 10 days when it was hurried to the Oise front by motor
trucks.
7. On October 6 it was engaged at Lesdins, with the exception of the
447th Regiment, which remained at rest at Pont a Bucy and joined the
division later. It continued in line until about the end of the month,
when it retired from the Villers le Sec vicinity. It was considered in
reserve of the German 18th Army at the time of the armistice.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as 4th class. By October its morale was very low
and its combat value small. On October 25 the division had but 850
infantrymen, 300 machine gunners, and 120 trench mortar effectives.
After August there were but three companies to a battalion and but two
battalions to the 446th Regiment in October. Influenced by Bolshevists,
elements of the division refused to go into action in October.
233d Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918[39]
─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────
Infantry. │243. │448. │243. │448.
│ │449. │ │449.
│ │450. │ │450.
─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────
Cavalry. │ │3 Sqn. 9 Drag. Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Artillery. │81 F. A. Rgt. │233 Art. Command:
│ │ 81 F. A. Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Engineers and│(233) Pion. Btn.: │233 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 357 Pion. Co. │ 357 Pion. Co.
│ 358 Pion. Co. │ 358 Pion. Co.
│ 420 T. M. Co. │ 420 T. M. Co.
│ 233 Tel. Detch. │ 233 Tel. Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Medical and │245 Ambulance Co. │245 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│187 Field Hospital. │187 Field Hospital.
│188 Field Hospital. │188 Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │268 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Transport. │880 M. T. Col. │643 M. T. Col.
─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────
Footnote 39:
Composition at the time of dissolution, September, 1918.
HISTORY.
(448th and 449th Infantry Regiments: 2d Corps District—Pomerania. 450th
Infantry Regiment: 17th Corps District—West Prussia.)
1917.
The 233d Division, formed at the Hammerstein Camp in January, 1917,
recruited its infantry (448th, 449th, 450th Regiments) from the 2d and
17th Corps Districts. It then contained 40 per cent of the 1918 class
and 40 per cent returned wounded.
1. After six weeks in training at Hammerstein, the 233d Division was
transferred to Beverloo, where it continued its training from the end of
February to the beginning of April.
2. About April 10 it occupied a calm sector between La Fère and
Alaincourt.
FLANDERS.
3. On May 16 it left the Oise front and went to Flanders. Sent into line
at Ypres, on both sides of the Ypres-Roulers road (May 19–20), the
division had very heavy losses in this sector toward the end of July,
during the artillery preparation which preceded the British attack of
the 31st. “In the course of the nine weeks passed in Flanders the 450th
Infantry Regiment lost 900 men, more than half of whom were killed.”
(Letter of Aug. 6.)
4. Relieved on the eve of the attack, the 233d Division was brought back
by railroad into the Guise area and sent to rest for two weeks.
5. From the middle of August until September 28 it occupied the sector
of St. Quentin (Gauchy), after having pillaged the city the same as
several other divisions.
FLANDERS.
6. On October 2 it entrained for Flanders and was sent by way of Origny,
Le Cateau, Maubeuge, Mons, Ath, Ghent, Deynze. From October 5 to 12 it
was engaged southeast of Sonnebeke and lost very heavily during the
British attacks of October 6 and 9.
LORRAINE.
7. The division was withdrawn from the Ypres front on October 12, sent
to rest for four days at Sottegem, then sent to Lorraine by way of
Brussels, Namur, Hirson, Charleville, Sedan, Metz. Detraining at
Sarreburg, it rested from the 20th to the 29th, then went into line
south of Blamont.
RECRUITING.
The 233d Division was recruited from Pomerania and West Prussia, with a
certain admixture from the neighboring Provinces (3d and 5th Corps
Districts).
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
A German official document of June 12, 1917, gives the following
appreciation of the troops of the 233d Division engaged at that moment
in the Ypres sector: “These men are too young to be able to furnish
prolonged resistance and to have great endurance in a critical
situation. Nevertheless, their conduct is generally good. One cannot say
that this organization is in a good condition; it is not suited for
trench warfare.” (Report from the 2d Battalion of the 450th Regiment.)
It is to be noticed, however, that the 233d Division was left in line
northeast of Ypres until July 29.
Since that time the division took part in numerous battles and improved.
It contained a certain number of Poles and some Alsatians.
From January 20 to February 24, 1918, it received special training for
the warfare of movement, in the vicinity of Zabern-Haguenau.
It was a fairly good division.
1918.
KEMMEL.
1. The division was railed to Flanders in the middle of April and
detrained at Zarren (southwest of Thourout). It marched toward the front
south of Ypres through Ardoye, Tourcoing. It was engaged on April 25 at
Mount Kemmel and took part in the heavy fighting there until May 3. Its
losses were heavy in this engagement.
2. The division rested near Sottegem in Belgium until May 19. It was
then transferred to Peronne. During June a regiment of the division came
into line southwest of Morlancourt for a short period and reenforced the
54th Division. The rest of the division rested at Caudry, Bretigny,
Morcourt until July 6.
THIRD BATTLE OF THE SOMME.
3. It was engaged on that date north and south of Alvert, where it was
still in line at the time of the British attack of August 22. It was
thrown back on Fricourt, La Boisselle, Bazentin le Grand, Montauban,
where it was relieved on August 30, after losing 1,422 prisoners.
4. Following the heavy losses in August the division was dissolved. The
448th Regiment was transferred to the 107th Division, replacing the
227th Reserve Regiment, dissolved. The 405th Regiment replaced the 22d
Reserve Regiment, dissolved in the 117th Division; while the men of the
449th Regiment were allotted to the 448th and 450th Regiments.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as third class.
234th Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────
Infantry. │234. │451. │234. │451.
│ │452. │ │452.
│ │453. │ │453.
─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────
Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 13 Dragoon Rgt. │1 Sqn. 13 Drag. Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Artillery. │Art. Command: │234 Art. Command:
│ 4 F. A. Rgt. │ 4 F. A. Rgt.
│ │3 Abt. 21 Ft. A. Rgt. (7
│ │ and 9 Btries.).
│ │841 Light Am. Col.
│ │847 Light Am. Col.
│ │1340 Light Am. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Engineers and│(234) Pion. Btn.: │234 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 359 Pion. Co. │ 359 Pion. Co.
│ 360 Pion. Co. │ 360 Pion. Co.
│ 429 T. M. Co. │ 201 Searchlight Section.
│ 234 Tel. Detch. │234 Signal Command:
│ │ 234 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 126 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Medical and │246 Ambulance Co. │246 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│189 Field Hospital. │189 Field Hospital.
│190 Field Hospital. │190 Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │269 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Transport. │M. T. Col. │644 M. T. Col.
─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────
HISTORY.
(451st and 452d Infantry Regiments: 3d Corps District—453d Infantry
Regiment: 4th Corps District—Prussian Saxony.)
1917.
The 234th Division was formed on January 6, 1917, at the camp of
Altengrabow. Its infantry regiments were recruited from the 3d and 4th
Corps Districts (Berlin-Magdeburg) and were composed of men of the 1918
class (50 per cent) and of returned wounded and men withdrawn from the
front (50 per cent).
ST. QUENTIN.
1. After three months’ training at Altengrabow, the 234th Division
entrained, on March 28, for the Western Front. Going by way of
Magdeburg-Aix la Chapelle-Liége-Brussels-Mons, it detrained on March
30–31 at Le Cateau, from which place it marched to the sector of Fayet,
northwest of St. Quentin (on the Hindenburg Line) on April 8.
On April 14 the division was attacked by British troops and lost heavily
(451st Infantry Regiment, 400 prisoners). This regiment again suffered
seriously in the course of violent battles with the French east of
Fayet, August 9 to 11.
YPRES.
2. About September 1 the 234th Division was relieved northwest of St.
Quentin and sent to Roulers, by way of Bohain, Le Cateau, Denain, Lille,
Courtrai, and Menin. In reserve first near Hooglede, on the Ypres front
at the time of the British attack, it counterattacked on September 20,
northeast of St. Julien. On September 23–24 it again went into reserve
and after the British attack of the 26th sent some of its elements into
action southeast of Zonnebeke on September 27.
3. Exhausted by these battles the division left the Ypres front for the
Lille area. It had lost about one-half of its effectives.
LA BASSÉE.
4. It went into line north of La Bassée Canal on October 7, remained
there six weeks, and about November 24 went to the Cambrai area.
ARTOIS.
5. On December 7 it took over the sector north of Bullecourt.
RECRUITING.
The 234th Division was recruited from Brandenburg and Prussian Saxony.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 234th Division lost very heavily at Ypres in September, 1917; these
losses had some effect upon its morale. At all events, it acquired a
certain combat experience in the course of these engagements.
The 451st Infantry Regiment seemed to be considered the best one in the
division by the German High Command.
In the 453d Infantry Regiment, September, 1917, many officers belonged
to the Reserve and to the Landwehr; some of these, during the war, were
retired for inefficiency (document).
1918.
PICARDY.
1. The 234th Division remained in the Bullecourt sector until relieved
by the 111th Division on the 8th of February, when it went to rest in
the Douai area.
2. About the end of the month it relieved the 111th Division. On the
opening of the Somme offensive on the 21st of March, although not
engaged in the initial attack, the division was severely engaged in the
fighting around Croisilles, and on the 31st some of its elements carried
out a costly and unsuccessful attack against Boisleux-St. Mare. It was
relieved about the 7th of April by the 231st Division.
3. The division rested a fortnight and then relieved the 111th Division
in the Ayette sector on the 20th. During the night of the 24th–25th of
May it was relieved by the 17th Division.
4. About June 21 it relieved the 17th Division. When the British
attacked on the 21st of August, the division was thrown back upon
Hamelincourt with heavy losses (including 1,585 prisoners). It was
withdrawn on the 24th to the Douai region.
5. On the 22d of September it reenforced the front in the Gavrelle
sector, being withdrawn a few days later.
6. On the 30th it came into line north of Cambrai in the Tilloy sector.
Withdrawn about the 15th of October.
7. On the 18th it reenforced the front near Raches (northeast of Douai).
It was relieved by the 35th Division about the 10th of November.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The 234th was rated a third-class division. In the fighting around Arras
in the spring it acquitted itself fairly well, and its commanding
general received the “Pour le Mérite.” Its conduct during the rest of
the year was mediocre.
235th Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918[40]
─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────
Infantry. │235. │454. │235. │454.
│ │455. │ │455.
│ │456. │ │456.
─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────
Cavalry. │5 Sqn. 9 Dragoon Rgt. │5 Sqn. 9 Drag. Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Artillery. │235 Art. Command: │235 Art. Command:
│ 6 F. A. Rgt. │ 6 F. A. Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Engineers and│235 Pion. Btn.: │235 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 361 Pion. Co. │ 361 Pion. Co.
│ 362 Pion. Co. │ 362 Pion. Co.
│ 435 T. M. Co. │ 435 T. M. Co.
│ 235 Tel. Detch. │ 235 Tel. Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Medical and │247 Ambulance Co. │247 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│191 Field Hospital. │191 Field Hospital.
│192 Field Hospital. │192 Field Hospital.
│ │Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Transport. │961 M. T. Col. │645 M. T. Col.
─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────
Footnote 40:
Composition at the time of dissolution, August, 1918.
HISTORY.
(454th and 455th Infantry Regiments: 5th Corps District—Posen. 456th
Infantry Regiment: 6th Corps District—Silesia.)
1917.
The 235th Division was formed in January, 1917, in the camps of the
Warta and of Neuhammer, with elements from the 5th and 6th Corps
District. Its regiments were made up mostly of men from the 1918 class
(50 per cent) and the remainder from returned sick and wounded and men
withdrawn from the front (initial strength, 230 to 235 men per company).
1. After six weeks of intensive training, the 235th Division was
concentrated at Posen and sent to the Western Front on February 20, by
way of Dresden-Aschaffenburg-Frankfort-Aix la Chappelle-Namur. It passed
a new period of training in the Sissonne Camp, and on March 15 was sent
to the St. Quentin area.
ST. QUENTIN.
2. At the beginning of April it went into line in the Itancourt sector.
Its losses were enormous, principally from the attack of April 13, which
necessitated replacements of 2,216 men during the following weeks.
3. Relieved at the beginning of July, it was sent to rest east of St.
Quentin (Fontaine Notre Dame).
YPRES.
4. On July 25 it entrained at Guise for Belgium. Concentrated in the
vicinity of Iseghem-Roulers, it went to the Ypres front on July 28–31,
east of Wieltje, received the artillery preparation and the British
attack of the 31st, which caused it very heavy losses. The 454th
Infantry Regiment had very heavy losses (4th Company was reduced to 31
men) and was filled up hastily from the resources of the large depot at
Beverloo (about 60 men per company).
5. The 235th Division was withdrawn from the front on August 1 and spent
a week at rest in Flanders.
6. In the course of August it was transferred to Laonnois, in the
vicinity of Montcornet.
AISNE.
7. About September 10 it took over the sector of Juvincourt-Corbeny,
where the French attack of November 21 again occasioned it serious
losses (400 prisoners). A prisoner of the 456th Infantry Regiment
declared that in this company not more than one-fourth of the men were
left who composed it in January.
RECRUITING.
The 235th Division was recruited from the Provinces of Posen and of
Silesia; consequently, contained a large number of Poles.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 235th Division appeared to have only mediocre offense value.
Following the battle of November 21, 1917, in the Juvincourt sector, the
commander of the 456th Infantry Regiment and the commander of the 2d
Battalion of the same regiment were relieved in disgrace.
The division received training in the warfare of movement during January
and February, 1918.
1918.
1. The division entrained at Sierentz (Alsace) April 4–5 and traveled
via Mulhausen, Strasbourg, Treves, Cologne, Lille, Brussels, and Ghent.
It detrained at St. Andre, north of Lille, on the 8th–9th and rested in
that vicinity until the 22d.
FLANDERS.
2. It entered line east of Robecq on the night of April 22–23 and
remained in that sector until May 11. During this engagement the
division lost very heavily.
3. The division entrained at Lille on the 12th and was railed via Ghent,
Brussels, Namur, Charleville, and Sedan. It detrained north of Briey on
the 14th.
WOEVRE.