des Chevaliers) from May 24–25 to August 8. It was withdrawn from north
of St. Mihiel on the 8th and dissolved at Conflans.
5. The 545th Regiment was drafted to the 10th Division. The 11th
Division and 82d Reserve Division received elements of the 456th
Regiment.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as third class. Its only active service in 1918
was near Armentieres, for which the division was commended by the Kaiser
in his order dissolving the division.
236th Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────
Infantry. │236. │457. │236. │457.
│ │458. │ │458.
│ │459. │ │459.
─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────
Cavalry. │4 Sqn. 13 Drag. Rgt. │4 Sqn. 13 Drag. Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Artillery. │7 F. A. Rgt. │7 F. A. Rgt.
│ │3 Abt. 16 Ft. A. Rgt. (11
│ │ and 13 Btries.)
│ │956 Light Am. Col.
│ │1337 Light Am. Col.
│ │1343 Light Am. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Engineers and│363 Pion. Btn.: │363 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 363 Pion. Co. │ 363 Pion. Co.
│ 364 Pion. Co. │ 364 Pion. Co.
│ 436 T. M. Co. │ 436 T. M. Co.
│ 236 Tel. Detch. │ 202 Searchlight Section.
│ │236 Signal Command:
│ │ 236 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 125 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Medical and │248 Ambulance Co. │248 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│193 Field Hospital. │193 Field Hospital.
│194 Field Hospital. │194 Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Transport. │M. T. Col │
─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────
HISTORY.
(457th and 458th Infantry Regiments; 7th Corps District—Westphalia.
459th Infantry; Regiment; 16th Corps District—Lorraine.)
1917.
The 236th Division was formed at the Senne Camp at the end of December,
1916 and the beginning of January, 1917. Recruited from the 7th and 16th
Corps Districts its regiments were composed of men belonging to the 1918
class (40 per cent) and of returned wounded.
CAMBRESIS.
1. The 236th Division entrained at the Senne and Paderborn Camps on
April 11 1917, and went to Cambrai by way of Dusseldorf-Aix la Chapelle-
Liége-Namur-Charleroi-Valenciennes. Detraining at Caudry on April 13, it
went into line southwest of Cambrai (Trestault-Gouzeaucourt) on the
18th. On April 24 it was attacked by British troops, lost the village of
Villers Plouich, and suffered heavily (340 prisoners).
2. On May 9 it was sent to rest in the vicinity of Cambrai.
ARTOIS.
3. It then occupied the sector of Cherisy (southeast of Arras) from June
4 to September 2, and did not go into any serious action during this
period.
FLANDERS.
4. The division left Artois at the beginning of September, was sent to
rest at Courtrai until the 17th, went to Iseghem by railroad, then
marched to Roulers. Until September 20 it remained in reserve as a
counterattacking division. Between the 20th and 26th, it was in a
violent battle east of Ypres, toward the Polygon wood and between this
wood and Zonnebeke to oppose the British advance. Before going into
line, on September 20, the 2d Battalion of the 459th Infantry Regiment,
had lost more than 200 men from artillery fire; on the 22d, the 8th
Company had only 15 men left.
5. Withdrawn from the Flanders front, during the night of September
28–29, the 236th Division was sent to rest in the vicinity of Douai.
ARTOIS.
6. On October 6 it went into line north of the Scarpe, between the Roeux
and the Gavrelle; it enlarged its sector toward the north at the
beginning of November. It was filled up by replacements taken from the
Russian front; 400 men coming from the 32d Landwehr Regiment (197th
Division) arrived in November.
RECRUITING.
The 236th Division was recruited from Westphalia and the Rhine Province.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 236th Division had serious losses while fighting at Ypres and its
morale was weakened in consequence. It may be considered a mediocre
division (February, 1918).
According to a deserter’s statement (Jan. 23, 1918), the 236th Division
was a shock division in 1917.
1918.
1. The division was engaged from March 21 to April 3. On the March Somme
offensive, first at Cherizy, later at Heninel. It was relieved south of
Arras on the night of April 3–4 and moved to Passchendaele by way of
Aubigny au Bac, Iseghem, and Meulebeke.
YPRES.
2. It entered line at Passchendaele on April 6 and held a sector in this
vicinity until June 22, when it was relieved by the 31st Division. The
division rested during July at Deynze. It again held the sector
southwest of Ypres from August 10 to September 13.
LORRAINE.
3. The division moved from Flanders by way of Tourcoing-Brussels-
Liége—Aachen-Cologne-Bonn-Bingen-Coblenz-Kreuznach to Strasburg. It did
not detrain there, but was suddenly ordered to Metz, where it arrived on
September 24 in the afternoon. It marched to Loringen, stayed one night
and marched to Mars la Tour on September 26. The next morning it marched
to Jarny and entrained there, going to Dun sur Meuse (via Longuyon and
Montmedy). From Dun it marched through Doulcon to Villers, then to
Cunel, and then forward into position.
4. The division was heavily engaged from September 29 to its retirement
on October 17. It distinguished itself particularly, fighting stubbornly
and successfully for many days in succession. It lost only 413 prisoners
but its casualties were very heavy, estimated at 3,000. On November 4
the division was reengaged south of Beaumont and continued in line until
the armistice.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as third class. Apart from the fighting on the
Meuse, the division did not do anything notable.
237th Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────
Infantry. │244. │460. │244. │460.
│ │461. │ │461.
│ │462. │ │462.
─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────
Cavalry. │4 Sqn. 13 Uhlan Rgt. │4 Sqn. 13 Uhlan Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Artillery. │83 F. A. Rgt. │83 F. A. Rgt.
│ │3 Abt. 23 Ft. A. Rgt. (7
│ │ and 9 Btries.).
│ │783 Light Am. Col.
│ │1013 Light Am. Col.
│ │1057 Light Am. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Engineers and│(237) Pion. Btn.: │237 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 365 Pion. Co. │ 365 Pion. Co.
│ 366 Pion. Co. │ 360 Pion. Co.
│ (437) T. M. Co. │ 124 Searchlight Section.
│ 237 Tel. Detch. │237 Signal Command:
│ │ 237 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 25 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Medical and │249 Ambulance Co. │249 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│195 Field Hospital. │195 Field Hospital.
│196 Field Hospital. │196 Field Hospital.
│272 Vet. Hospital. │198 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Transport. │551 M. T. Col. │
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Attached. │4 Landst. Pion. Co. (10 C. │
│ Dist.). │
─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────
HISTORY.
(8th and 21st Corps Districts—Rhine Province and Lorraine.)
1917.
The 237th Division was formed in January, 1917, at the Elsenborn Camp
(one-half men of the 1918 class; the rest, returned sick and wounded and
men taken from the front).
RUSSIA.
1. Detraining in Russia in the vicinity of Baranovitchi in March, 1917,
the 237th Division went into line south of Vichnev, on the Little
Berezina, about the beginning of April.
GALICIA.
2. Relieved on June 25, it was transferred to Galicia by way of Brest-
Litowsk. On July 7 it was sent into line in the vicinity of Konioukhi.
3. It was engaged on July 21 northwest of Zbrow, and pursued the
Russians by way of Trembowla (July 26) as far as Husiatin, where the
front became stabilized. The division continued to occupy various
sectors in this area until the end of 1917. It was identified south of
Husiatin on December 12 (fraternization).
RECRUITING.
The 237th Division was recruited principally from the Rhine District.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 237th Division occupied the Russian front from its formation until
the beginning of January, 1917.
Its combat value was mediocre.
1918.
1. On the 4th of January the division was relieved by Austrian troops
and marched by easy stages to Buckas, in the direction of Lemberg. On
March 4 it entrained between Brody and Lemberg and traveled via Lemberg-
Brest-Litowsk-Warsaw-Kalisz-Goerlitz-Leipzig-Frankfort on the Main-
Thionville-Sedan, detraining at St. Juvin on the 12th. It went into
cantonments at St. Georges.
ARGONNE.
2. During the night of the 14th–15th it relieved the 80th Reserve
Division west of Avocourt. While here it exchanged its Alsace-Lorrainers
for more trustworthy men of the 9th Landwehr Division. It was withdrawn
about the middle of May.
AISNE.
3. On the 26th and 27th the division entrained at Grandpre and St.
Juvin, went through Sedan and Charleville and detrained at Bucy les
Pierrepont (north of Sissonne) on the 27th and 28th. The division then
marched via Sissonne—the Plateau de Californie-Fismes-Dravegny-Monthiers
(northwest of Château Thierry). On the 1st of June it attacked in the
Belleau wood, as a result of which it suffered heavy losses. It was
withdrawn about the 22d.
ARGONNE.
4. The division entrained at Athies (east of Laon) and detrained near
St. Juvin on the 30th. The division remained here a few days and then
relieved the 240th Division in the Vauquois sector. While in line here
the division received more than 2,000 replacements. It was withdrawn on
August 14.
AILETTE.
5. It entrained at St. Juvin and went to St. Quentin and Ham; then it
went by truck to the Coucy wood, and then to St. Paul aux Bois (south of
Chauny). On the 21st it reenforced the 1st Bavarian and the 222d
Divisions near St. Aubin. It was withdrawn early in September, after
having fallen back upon Coucy le Château. It rested then for a fortnight
in the St. Gobain forest.
SERRE-OISE.
6. On the 25th of September it relieved the 34th Division in the Servais
sector (south of La Fère). The division remained in line until the end
of the war, falling back through Deuillet-Anguilcourt-La
Ferté—Chevresis-Villers le Sec to the La Capelle region, and suffering
very heavy losses.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The 237th was rated a fourth-class division. While it was in line in the
Argonne in the spring the men (encouraged by their officers) fraternized
with the French troops opposing them. Its morale was influenced to a
most surprising extent by the measure of success of the German forces.
The result was that while it was high in the spring it became low as
soon as the tide turned. On August 22, while the division was in line on
the Ailette, 80 men, armed and with ammunition, surrendered to 4 French
soldiers. In this engagement (about 10 days) more than 900 prisoners
were lost. While the division was in line the last time it lost over
1,000 prisoners. At the end of October the division had only about 800
rifles.
238th Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────
Infantry. │238. │463. │238. │463.
│ │464. │ │464.
│ │465. │ │465.
─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────
Cavalry. │2 Sqn. 13 Drag. Rgt. │2 Sqn. 13 Drag. Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Artillery. │238 Art. Command: │238 Art. Command:
│ 62 F. A. Rgt. │ 62 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ 53 Ft. A. Rgt. (Staff and
│ │ 1, 2, and 4 Btries.).
│ │ 944 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1211 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1233 Light Am. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Engineers and│238 Pion. Btn.: │238 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 367 Pion. Co. │ 367 Pion. Co.
│ 438 T. M. Co. │ 368 Pion. Co.
│ 238 Tel. Detch. │ 205 Searchlight Section.
│ 368 Pion. Co. │238 Signal Command:
│ │ 238 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 30 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Medical and │250 Ambulance Co. │250 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│197 Field Hospital. │197 Field Hospital.
│198 Field Hospital. │198 Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │273 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Transport. │648 M. T. Col. │648 M. T. Col.
─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────
HISTORY.
(463d Infantry Regiment: 9th Corps District—Hanseatic cities. 464th
Infantry Regiment: 9th Corps District—Schleswig—Holstein and
Mecklemburg. 465th Infantry Regiment: 10th Corps District—Hanover.)
1917.
The 238th Division was formed at the beginning of January, 1917, at the
Lockstedt Camp, near Hamburg. Its infantry regiments were recruited from
the 9th Corps District (Schleswig-Holstein, Hanseatic cities, and
Mecklemburg) and from the 10th Corps District (Hanover), and were
composed in part (50 per cent) of men of the 1918 class.
1. After a training of almost three months, the 238th Division entrained
at Lockstedt, on April 13, 1917, by way of Hamburg, Trèves, Sedan,
Namur, Cambrai; it went to Caudry and Bertry (north), where it detrained
on the 16th.
HINDENBURG LINE.
2. On April 20 it went into line in the sector of Vendhuille-Bellicourt,
which it left on May 20 to go to rest in the vicinity of Douai (until
May 28).
ARTOIS.
3. At the end of May it took over the sector of Roeux-Gavrelle, north of
the Scarpe. It remained on this part of the front until September 27 and
was not in any serious engagement. On June 6, however, the 463d Infantry
Regiment suffered heavy losses in its 3d Battalion, which the two others
hastily filled up (letter of June 10), and left 170 prisoners.
FLANDERS.
4. Sent to Flanders, the division remained at rest for a few days at
Roulers, then in reserve in the vicinity of West-Roosebeke. On October
13 it went into line southwest of Passchendaele. Having suffered heavily
from the British attack of October 30, it was hastily relieved on the
31st.
ST. QUENTIN.
5. It entrained on November 6 at Ledeghem. Detraining at Geise, it went
to Macquigny, and after a few days of rest occupied the sector south of
St. Quentin-Itancourt (Nov. 11–12).
RECRUITING.
The 238th Division was recruited the same as the 111th Division, from
Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklemburg, the Hanseatic cities, and Hanover.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 238th Division was of mediocre value, but better than the majority
of the divisions of this series.
The large proportion of young recruits in the ranks of the 238th
Division gave rise to the nickname “The Division of the First
Communicants.”
1918.
1. The division rested and underwent training in the vicinity of Origny-
St. Benoite from the 1st of February to March 19. It was brought up to
the front south of St. Quentin during the night of March 19–20.
BATTLE OF PICARDY.
2. On the 21st the division attacked at Grugies and in two days advanced
by Grand-Serancourt and across the canal near St. Simon. From the 23d to
the 29th it advanced in reserve by Libermont-Beaulieu les Fontaines-
Beuvraignes. It was reengaged on the 29th at Rollot and Boulogne la
Grasse until mid-April. The division suffered heavy casualties in the
Somme battle.
RHEIMS.
3. The division was engaged southeast of Rheims (Cernay les Rheims,
northeast of St. Leonard) from April 18 to July 20. It carried out a
local attack on Rheims on May 30 and June 1. The division did not take
part in the offensive of July 15 except by artillery activity.
4. The division rested at Boult sur Suippe from July 20 to 28. From the
end of July to August 20 it held its former sector at Cernay les Rheims.
Relieved in that sector, it marched by stages toward Brancourt-Coucy le
Chateau via Neufchatel sur Aisne, Marchais, Bruyeres (Aug. 21–28).
AISNE.
5. On August 31 the division was engaged at Leuilly-Terny. After
September 10 it fought in the vicinity of Quincy-Basse-Aulers until
October 12. On that date it retired toward Crepy and withdrew from line.
The division started for Marle to rest but was alerted on the 14th and
taken in trucks to east of Mart d’Origny. On the 15th it was again in
the first line. Two of the regiments had but two battalions and the
infantry effectives totaled 1,800. The period between the 18th and 24th
of October was relatively quiet on the divisional sector. Following
French attacks of October 25 and 26, the division fell back on a
prepared position in front of Guise. Here it held until November 5, when
it began a retreat by Audigny in the direction of La Capelle.
The last identification was at Buironfosse on November 6.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as third class. Its morale was mediocre, and its
effectives few during the latter half of 1918.
239th Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────
Infantry. │239. │466. │239. │466.
│ │467. │ │467.
│ │468. │ │468.
─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────
Cavalry. │4 Sqn. 9 Drag. Rgt. │4 Sqn. 9 Drag. Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Artillery. │Art. Command: │55 F. A. Rgt.
│ 55 F. A. Rgt. │78 Ft. A. Btn.
│ │909 Light Am. Col.
│ │1239 Light Am. Col.
│ │1293 Light Am. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Engineers and│(239) Pion. Btn.: │239 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 369 Pion. Co. │ 369 Pion. Co.
│ 370 Pion. Co. │ 370 Pion. Co.
│ 439 T. M. Co. │ 439 T. M. Co.
│ 239 Tel. Detch. │ 89 Searchlight Section.
│ │ 237 Searchlight Section.
│ │239 Signal Command:
│ │ 239 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 11 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Medical and │251 Ambulance Co. │251 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│199 Field Hospital. │199 Field Hospital.
│200 Field Hospital. │200 Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │239 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Transport. │M. T. Col. │649 M. T. Col.
─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────
HISTORY.
(466th Infantry Regiment: 11th Corps District—Electorate of Hesse. 407th
Infantry Regiment: 11th Corps District—Thuringia. 468th Infantry
Regiment: 18th Corps District—Hesse—Nassau.)
1917.
The 239th Division belonged to the series of 12 divisions (231st to
242d) formed in Germany at the beginning of 1917, a strong proportion
(50 per cent) of the 1918 class. It includes the 466th, 467th, and 468th
Infantry Regiments recruited from the 11th and 18th Corps Districts
(Electorate of Hesse, Thuringia, and Hesse-Nassua, and the Grand Duchy
of Hesse).
1. From the beginning of January, 1917, to the middle of February, the
239th Division was in the training camps Ohrdruf and of Darmstadt. It
entrained on February 17 and went to Rethel. It continued its training
for some time behind the Champagne front.
CHAMPAGNE.
2. The entire division went into line north of Souain (Somme Py) on
March 27. It remained there until May 15 without any important
engagement. One battalion of the 467th Infantry Regiment was sent to
Auberive as a reenforcement at the time of the French attack on April
16.
3. The division was at rest in the vicinity of Machault and at Asfeld
from the end of May to the beginning of June.
4. About June 10 it went into line northeast of Reims (Cernay sector),
then at the beginning of August northeast of Courcy. It occupied this
sector until October 6 without having any important battle.
FLANDERS.
5. Transferred to Flanders by way of Hirson and Courtrai, the 239th
Division went into line northeast of Poelcappelle on October 23. It lost
heavily during the British attack of November 26 and continued to hold
this sector, alternating with the 3d Naval Division.
6. Relieved about November 24, the 239th Division was sent to rest
northeast of Ghent, then to the vicinity of Lille, at the beginning of
September.
RECRUITING.
The 466th Infantry Regiment came from the Electorate of Hesse; the 467th
Regiment was called Thuringian in an official document; the 468th
Regiment came from Hesse-Nassau.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 239th was a fairly good division.
Considering the missions which have been assigned to it by the German
High Command, it seems that the 239th Division is better than most of
the divisions of this series.
1918.
1. The division trained in the Bourghelles area until March 17. On that
date the division marched toward the front via Bersee-Douai-Estrees-
Soudemont-Villers les Cagnicourt-Noreuil-Mory.
BATTLE OF PICARDY.
2. It came into line on the 26th north of Courcelles, attacking Ayette
on the 27th. It lost heavily, including numerous prisoners on April 2.
The division was relieved on April 6 and rested a week at Aubigny au
Bac. It entrained on the 11th and moved to Libercourt.
HANDES.
3. The division was engaged from April 15 to 23 east of Robecq. Elements
took part in the attack of the 18th, in which the losses were very
heavy.
LORRAINE.
4. After its relief on the 23d the division was railed to Lorraine by
Mons-Namur-Sedan-Montmedy-Metz. It rested and was reconstituted near
Dieuze from the end of April to May 13. At this time the division was
reenforced by a draft coming from the 233d Reserve Regiment of the
dissolved 195th Division.
AVRICOURT.
5. The division held the quiet Avricourt sector from May 13 to June 20.
It was relieved by the 7th Cavalry Division and railed to Champagne.
CHAMPAGNE.
6. It rested and trained in the vicinity of Rethel-Attigny. About the
10th of July it marched toward the front and on the 15th was engaged in
the Champagne offensive at Vaudesincourt. After the attack it held the
sector until the beginning of October.
7. The division was attacked at Mont sans Nom on September 26, and on
October 4 fell back on the line Betheniville-Hauvine, and later in the
direction of Rethel (Oct. 12). The division was in reserve during the
middle of October. Toward the end of the month the division was
reengaged near Rethel. Its line of retreat in the last weeks was through
Le Quesnoy, Jolimetz, Bermeries, south of Bavai, where it was identified
on November 8.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as third class. In October the division was very
tired and its morale was low. Numerous infractions of discipline
occurred. Its battalions were reduced to three companies at the
beginning of August.
240th Division.
COMPOSITION.