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

│ 1917 │ 1918

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

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

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

Infantry. │240. │469. │240. │469.

│ │470. │ │470.

│ │471. │ │471.

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

Cavalry. │8 Sqn. 13 Drag. Rgt. │3 Sqn. 13 Drag. Rgt.

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

Artillery. │Art. Command: │240 Art. Command:

│ 271 F. A. Rgt. │ 271 F. A. Rgt.

│ │ 3 Abt. 6 Res. Ft. A. Rgt.

│ │ 1092 Light Am. Col.

│ │ 1336 Light Am. Col.

│ │ 1342 Light Am. Col.

Engineers and│(240) Pion Btn.: │240 Pion Btn.:

Liaisons. │ │

│ 371 Pion Co. │ 371 Pion. Co.

│ 372 Pion Co. │ 372 Pion Co.

│ 440 T. M. Co. │ 440 T. M. Co.

│ 240 Tel. Detch. │ 203 Searchlight Section.

│ │240 Signal Command:

│ │ 240 Tel. Detch.

│ │ 127 Wireless Detch.

Medical and │252 Ambulance Co. │252 Ambulance Co.

Veterinary.│ │

│204 Field Hospital. │204 Field Hospital.

│205 Field Hospital. │205 Field Hospital.

│Vet. Hospital. │240 Vet. Hospital.

Transport. │1092 M. T. Col. │650 M. T. Col.

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

HISTORY.

(469th and 470th Infantry Regiments: 14th Corps District—Grand Duchy of

Baden. 471st Infantry Regiment: 15th Corps District—Alsace.)

1917.

The 240th Division was recruited in the depots of the 14th Corps

District (Baden). Like all the divisions of this series, the 240th

Division received a large contingent from the 1918 class at the time of

its formation.

ALSACE.

1. After a period of intensive training (Feb. 4 to Mar. 28) in the

training camps of Oberhofen and of Heuberg, the 240th Division was sent

to Mulhousen about the end of March and went into line between the

Rhone-Rhine Canal and Hirzbach (south of Altkirch) until August 20.

WOEVRE.

2. About August 25 it was sent to the Woevre in the sector of Calonne

trench, in September.

YPRES.

3. Entraining at Conflans (Oct. 5–6) it appeared in Flanders on the 9th.

It went into action between the Ypres-Staden railroad and Poelcappelle

and suffered heavy losses in the course of the British attacks of

October 9 and 12.

CAMBRAI.

4. Relieved during the night of October 13–14, it was sent to Artois. On

October 23 it took over the sector of Bullecourt (southeast of Arras).

On November 20, it lost heavily from the British attack launched north

of Bullecourt at the same time as on the Cambrai front (700 prisoners).

5. About the middle of December it was withdrawn from the front and sent

to rest in the vicinity of Douai.

RECRUITING.

The 240th Division was recruited principally from Baden, some elements

from the Rhine Districts.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 240th Division appeared to be of mediocre combat value.

1918.

LENS.

1. The division was in line in the sector Fresnoy-Oppy at the beginning

of the Somme offensive. It took no part in the attack on Vimy Ridge of

March 28, but remained in support. It was relieved in this sector on

April 8.

BATTLE OF THE LYS.

2. It moved northward and was engaged north of Bethune (Hinges-Robecq on

April 14.) In two weeks’ fighting in this sector the division lost very

heavily including many prisoners.

ARGONNE.

3. Withdrawn on April 27, the division rested at Lille a week. It

entrained about May 8 for the Argonne and detrained at St. Juvin.

Engaged at Boureuilles-Vauqunois on May 13 the division held that quiet

sector until July 10.

CHAMPAGNE.

4. The division was taken to Semide and held in reserve during the

offensive of the 15th to be used as an exploiting division. When the

attack failed the division was directed west of Reims via Machault,

Warmeriville, Brimont. It camped at Jonchery from July 21 to 23.

REIMS.

5. On the 23d the division was engaged in the Bois de Reims. After the

27th it retreated on the Montagnes de Bligny, and later toward Aubilly-

Bouleuse. On August 5 it passed into second line, and was relieved 10

days later. It rested 5 days west of Chateau Porcien and returned to

line in the Prunay sector on August 13. There it held firm until October

10.

6. After its relief it waited near Rethel until the 14th, when it was

railed to Stenay via Sedan. On October 17 it was engaged north of St.

Juvin, Champigneulle, east of the Argonne forest. It continued in line

until the end, retreating toward Mouzon.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. Its effectives were greatly

reduced and its morale low in October.

241st Division.

COMPOSITION.

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

│ 1917 │ 1918

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

Infantry. │246. │472. │246. │472.

│ │473. │ │473.

│ │474. │ │474.

Cavalry. │(?) 5 Sqn. 18 Hus. Rgt. │2 Sqn. 18 Hus. Rgt.

Artillery. │48 F. A. Rgt. │241 Art. Command:

│ │ 48 F. A. Rgt.

│ │ 102 Ft. A. Btn. (Staff, 1,

│ │ 2, and 3 Btries.).

│ │ 1055, 1061, and 1062 Light

│ │ Am. Col.

Engineers and│(241) Pion. Btn.: │241 Pion. Btn.

Liaisons. │ │

│ 373 Pion Co. │ 373 Pion. Co.

│ 374 Pion. Co. │ 374 Pion. Co.

│ (441) T. M. Co. │ 441 T. M. Co.

│ 241 Tel. Detch. │ 5 Searchlight Section.

│ │241 Signal Command:

│ │ 241 Tel. Detch.

│ │ 27 Wireless Detch.

Medical and │253 Ambulance Co. │253 Ambulance Co.

Veterinary.│ │

│206 Field Hospital. │206 Field Hospital.

│207 Field Hospital. │207 Field Hospital.

│Vet. Hospital. │274 Vet. Hospital.

Transport. │M. T. Col. │651 M. T. Col.

HISTORY.

(12th and 19th Corps Districts—Saxony.)

1917.

The 241st Division was formed at the beginning of 1917 and composed of

new regiments (type of divisions 231 and following).

The 473d and 574th Infantry Regiments were formed in the camp at

Zeithain in January, 1917, by drafts from the 1918 class and the depots

and regiments of the 19th Corps District (Saxony). The 472d Infantry

Regiment was originally in the 12th Corps District (Dresden) formed in

the same way.

RUSSIA.

1. On March 1, 1917, the 241st Division went to Brest-Litowsk. In April

it took over the sector of Postavy in the vicinity of Lake Narotch,

where it remained until the middle of June.

GALICIA.

2. Relieved by the 21st Division, it entrained on June 17 at Sventsiany,

northwest of Lake Narotch, and went to Galicia, southwest of Brzezany,

detraining on June 22. At the beginning of July, it went into line in

this region and took part in the German counteroffensive at the end of

July advancing south of Skala at the beginning of August. It took up a

position on the Zbrucz.

3. After this time the 241st Division occupied various sectors of the

Galician front (Koroskow, Husiatin).

RECRUITING.

The 241st Division was entirely Saxon.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

It was on the Eastern Front from the time of its formation until

February, 1918. “Our new regiment is a gang of headstrong kids.” (Letter

from a man of the 473d Infantry Regiment, Apr. 2, 1917.)

1918.

1. The division rested in the vicinity of Signy l’Abbaye until March 15.

It then proceeded by steps toward the St. Gobain forest (Fressancourt,

Mar. 24).

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

2. It was engaged south of the Oise (Amigny-Septvaux) from March 25–26

to April 5. Between the 6th and 9th it advanced from Septvaux and

Fresnes toward Coucy, encountering heavy losses. The division received

the thanks of the King of Saxony for its conduct in this fighting.

BATTLE OF THE AISNE.

3. The division held the sector of Coucy le Chateau until May 29. On the

29th it attacked and advanced as far as Crecy au Mont. It halted on the

line Nouvron-Vingre and held there until relieved at the end of June. In

the attack of June 5–6 toward Vic sur Aisne the division lost heavily.

On the 23d of June it received a draft of 1,500 men.

SECOND BATTLE OF THE MARNE.

4. It rested near Coucy le Chateau for about a week, and on July 10 was

engaged south of the Aisne between Ambleny and Pernaut. Then it was

struck by the Allied attack on the 18th and thrown back on Mercin. The

division lost 42 officers and 2,074 men as prisoners alone. It was

relieved at a date between July 22 and 26.

SECOND BATTLE OF PICARDY.

5. The division rested and was reconstituted at Vouplaix, Sains

Richaumont near Vervins until August 20. It was moved to La Fere (22d)

and on the 25th engaged east of Noyon (Baboeuf-Appilly) and September 4.

After that date it fell back gradually by Chauny, Fravecy, on Vendeuil,

where it was relieved about September 20.

CAMBRAI-ST. QUENTIN.

6. After 10 days’ rest the division was reengaged north of St. Quentin

(Romicourt-Montbrehain) from October 1 to 10. It lost about 1,900

prisoners in this engagement.

MEUSE-ARGONNE.

7. The division rested nearly a month at Audun la Roman after October

22. The 7th Saxon Jaeger Regiment from the dissolved 197th Division had

replaced the dissolved 472d Regiment when it appeared in line on

November 5 east of the Meuse. The last identification was at Murvaux on

November 7.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class. Its heavy losses of prisoners

indicate its poor quality.

242d Division.

COMPOSITION.

│ 1917 │ 1918

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

Infantry. │242. │127. │242. │127.

│ │475. │ │475.

│ │476. │ │476.

Cavalry. │2 Sqn. Wurtt. Res. Drag. │2 Sqn. Wurtt. Res. Drag.

│ Rgt. │ Rgt.

Artillery. │Art. Command: │242 Art. Command:

│ 281 F. A. Regt. │ 281 F. A. Regt.

│ │ 3 Abt. 13 Ft. A. Rgt. (9

│ │ and 10 Btries.).

│ │ 751 Light Am. Col.

│ │ 1091 Light Am. Col.

│ │ 1105 Light Am. Col.

Engineers and│39 Pion. Btn.: │242 Pion. Btn.:

Liaisons. │ │

│ 375 Pion. Co. │ 375 Pion. Co.

│ 376 Pion. Co. │ 376 Pion. Co.

│ 442 T. M. Co. │ 442 T. M. Co.

│ 242 Tel. Detch. │242 Signal Command:

│ │ 76 Wireless Detch.

Medical and │32 Ambulance Co. │32 Ambulance Co.

Veterinary.│ │

│208 Field Hospital. │208 Field Hospital.

│503 Field Hospital. │503 Field Hospital.

│275 Vet. Hospital. │275 Vet. Hospital.

Transport │M. T. Col. │652 M. T. Col.

Attached │ │78 M. G. S. S. Detch.

│ │14 Art. Observation

│ │ Section.

│ │221 Reconnaissance Flight.

│ │17 Balloon Sqn.

│ │243 Carrier Pigeon Loft.

│ │Elements attached, June 7,

│ │ 1918. (German document.)

HISTORY.

(13th Corps District—Wurttemberg.)

1917.

The 242d Division was formed at the end of 1916. Like all of the

divisions of the same series, the 1918 class entered largely into the

composition of the regiments (475th and 476th). These two were recruited

from the 13th Corps District (Wurttemberg). Initial effectiveness, 235

to 240 men per company.

The 127th Infantry Regiment is an active peace-time regiment taken from

the 27th Division.

1. On March 11, 1917, the 475th and 476th Infantry Regiments left the

camp of Muensingen, where they had received training since January, and

went to Lorraine. They were joined there by the 127th Infantry Regiment.

LORRAINE.

2. From March 29 to April 30 the 242d Division was in line between

Abaucourt and Bezange wood.

3. From May 4 to 15 it was employed upon defensive works north of the

Suippe.

CHAMPAGNE-CORNILLET.

4. During the night of May 15–16 it went into line south of Nauroy

(Grille-Cornillet wood), where the French attack of May 20 caused it

heavy losses (3 officers and 194 men prisoners). Several companies of

the 476th Infantry Regiment remained in the Cornillet tunnel.

5. The 242d Division was relieved during the night of May 31-June 1, and

after a few days’ rest northeast of Lavannes went into line in a calm

sector near Betheny from June 3–4 until August 6.

6. The 242d Division was at rest in the Charleville area from August 7

to 20.

MEUSE.

7. On August 20 it was transferred to the right bank of the Meuse

(Beaumont sector). It received the French attack of August 26 (7

officers and 390 men prisoners, mostly from the 475th Infantry

Regiment). It counterattacked to relieve Beaumont and remained in line

until September 10.

AISNE.

8. From the beginning of October until December 16 it held the sector of

Berry au Bac, where its only activity consisted in one raid on November

12.

RECRUITING.

The 242d Division was recruited entirely from Wurttemberg.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

In Champagne the 242d Division showed itself energetic and tenacious

(May, 1917).

It was a good division, with a high morale, and the prisoners talked

very little (December, 1917).

The 242d Division was listed as an assault division and received the

training for divisions of that category (February-March, 1918).

The 475th and 476th Infantry Regiments, however, were considered only

mediocre.

1918.

1. The division marched to its entraining point at Bergnicourt (west of

Junville) on March 22–24 and entrained for Guise. From there it marched

by night toward the Montdidier-Noyan front via Ly Fontaine, Guiscard,

Margny aux Cerises.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

2. It was engaged near Conchy les Pots, Orvillers, Sorel from March 29

to April 8, then near Boulogne la Grasse, Mortemer, from April 10 to 26.

The division’s losses were heavy.

BATTLE OF THE AISNE.

3. After its relief it was transported to Champagne, detraining near Le

Chatelet sur Retourne. There it rested three weeks. It entered in line

between Brimont and Vitry les Reims after May 20. It attacked on the

27th and advanced by Merfy (29th), Tinquex (31st), as far as the line

Betheny, Courcelles, St. Brice (June 2). It held that sector until the

1st of August, when it retreated on La Neuvillette and held the front

Betheny-Vitry road. It was relieved about September 26.

4. The division was engaged northeast of St. Pierre a Arnes from October

5 to 11. It then fell back on Rethel. On the 20th it was moved to the

area east of Vouziers and put in reserve. On October 23 it was engaged

near Chestres, and later near Ballay, Quatre-Champs until November 4.

Beginning on the 4th it retired in the direction of Sedan by Rancourt

(Nov. 8).

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. It was a fair division, although

the discipline was relaxed after September.

243d Division (formerly 8th Ersatz Division).

COMPOSITION.

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

│ 1914–15 │ 1916

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

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

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

_Infantry. │29 Mixed Ers. │29, 30, and 31│29 Mixed Ers. │363.

│ │ Brig. Ers. │ │

│ │ Btns. │ │

│ │32, 80, and 86│ │364.

│ │ Brig. Ers. │ │

│ │ Btns. │ │

│41 Mixed Ers. │41, 42, 49, │51 Mixed Ers. │365.

│ │ and (50), │ │

│ │ Brig. Ers. │ │

│ │ Btns. │ │

│51 Mixed Ers. │51 and 52 │ │51 Ers.

│ │ Brig. Ers. │ │

│ │ Btns. │ │

│ │53 and 54 │ │52 Ers.

│ │ Brig. Ers. │ │

│ │ Btns. │ │

│ │ │ (Composition in October.)

│ │ │ │51 Ers.

│ │ │ │52 Ers.

│ │ │ │365.

│ │ │ │400.

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

Cavalry. │Cav. Detchs. of the 29, 41, │8 Cav. Sqn.

│ and 51 Ers. Brigs. │

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

Artillery. │Ers. Abtls. of the 23, 27, │8 Ers. Brig.:

│ 44, 29, and 65 F. A. Rgts. │

│ │ 92 F. A. Rgt.

│ │ 65 Ers. F. A. Rgt.

│ │

Engineers and│1 Ers. Co. 16 Pions. │1 Ers. Co. 3 Pion. Btn. No.

Liaisons. │ │ 16.

│1 Ers. Co. 21 Pions. │1 Ers. Co. 21 Pions.

│ │253 Pion. Co.

│ │306 Pion. Co.

│ │162 T. M. Co.

│ │

Medical and │ │

Veterinary.│ │

│ │

Transport │ │

Attached │ │117 Labor Btn.

│ │44 Ldw. Brig. (93 Ldw. and

│ │ 382 Ldw. Rgts.).

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

│ 1917 │ 1918

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

_Infantry. │247. │122 Fus. │247. │122.

│ │ │ │

│ │478. │ │478.

│ │ │ │

│ │479. │ │479.

│ │ │ │

Cavalry. │3 Sqn. 19 Uhlan Rgt. 13 C. │3 Sqn. 19 Uhlan Rgt.

│ Dist. Ers. Cav. Detch. │

Artillery. │238 F. A. Rgt. (formerly 65 │238 F. A. Rgt.

│ Ers. F. A. Rgt.). │

│ │36 Ft. A. Btn.

│ │1151 Light Am. Col.

│ │1152 Light Am. Col.

│ │1163 Light Am. Col.

Engineers and│(243) Pion. Btn.: │243 Pion. Btn.:

Liaisons. │ │

│ 253 Pion. Co. │ 1 Res. Co. 13 Pions.

│ 306 Pion. Co. │ 2 Res. Co. 13 Pions.

│ 100 T. M. Co. │ 16 Searchlight Section.

│ 162 T. M. Co. │243 Signal Command:

│ 443 T. M. Co. │ 243 Tel. Detch.

│ 248 Searchlight Section. │ 8 Wireless Detch.

│ Tel. Detch. │

Medical and │420 Ambulance Co. │420 Ambulance Co.

Veterinary.│ │

│137 Field Hospital. │93 Res. Field Hospital.

│138 Field Hospital. │94 Res. Field Hospital.

│Vet. Hospital. │277 Vet. Hospital.

Transport │M. T. Col. │653 M. T. Col.

Attached │ │

│ │

HISTORY.

(243d Division (former 8th Ersatz Division): 18th Corps District-

Wurttemberg.)

1914–15.

The 243d Division is the former 8th Ersatz Division. The latter was

formed in August, 1914, with the help of the surplus trained men in the

depots (Reserve and Landwehr 1st Ban.) in the proportion of 1 battalion

per active brigade. In this way it comprised 13 brigade Ersatz

battalions grouped into 3 mixed brigades (29th, 41st, and 51st).

LORRAINE.

1. Detraining on August 17, 1914, at Sarrebruecken, in the rear of the

6th Army, elements of the 8th Ersatz Division went into action on the

20th. It fought at Hoéville and Serres, north of Luneville, on the 25th

and took part in the attacks upon Nancy the first part of September.

Sent to the rear of the front in the vicinity of Morhange, it was

transferred to Haye at the end of September to relieve the 14th Corps.

It stayed there for two years between Limey on the west and Le Pretre

wood on the east.

2. In August, 1915, the brigade Ersatz battalions were grouped into

regiments. The 8th Ersatz Division was then composed of the 363d, 364th,

and 365th Infantry Regiments (Prussian) and of the 51st and 52d Ersatz

Regiments (Wurttemberg). It continued to hold the lines in Haye, south

of Thiaucourt.

1916.

LE PRETRE WOOD.

1. Until the beginning of October, 1916, the 8th Ersatz Division

occupied the sector of the Pretre wood, north of Fey en Haye. In August

it lost the 364th Infantry Regiment, assigned to the 33d Reserve

Division, and on September 20 the 363d, which entered into the

composition of the 214th Division. It received a new regiment, the 400th

Infantry Regiment, formed in September by drafts upon its infantry

units.

SOMME.

2. Leaving the 400th Infantry Regiment in Haye, and composed of three

regiments (365th Infantry Regiment, 51st and 52d Ersatz Regiments), the

8th Ersatz Division went to the Somme on October 3. After a rest in the

vicinity of Le Catelet until the 10th it went into the sector east of

south of Bouchavesnes, where it did not take part in any important

action.

LORRAINE.

3. Relieved on November 18, it returned to Lorraine at Fey en Haye. It

went into line southeast of Thiaucourt November 25, where the 400th

Infantry Regiment was again assigned to the division.

1917.

1. The 8th Ersatz Division remained on the Lorraine front, southeast of

Thiaucourt, until about May 10, 1917. In February the 400th Infantry

Regiment was sent to Russia.

At the beginning of May the division underwent several changes—it gave

the 365th Infantry Regiment to the 5th Landwehr Division and received

the 122d Fusileer Regiment (Wurttemberg) from the 105th Division. The

51st and 52d Ersatz Regiments received the 478th and 479th. The 8th

Ersatz Division, already called Wurttemberg, then became the 243d

Division.

AISNE.

2. The reserve, first (behind the Rheims front), behind Brimont and

Neufchâtel, the 243d Division then occupied the front between Miette and

the Aisne (north of Berry au Bac) from May 29 to August 20.

MEUSE HILL 344.

3. Transferred to Verdun, the division went into action at Hill 344 on

September 9. The 479th Infantry Regiment lost heavily during the attack

of the 9th. The 122d Infantry Regiment took part in the attack of

October 2 and also had losses.

MEUSE (LEFT BANK).

4. About October 6 the 243d Division was relieved and sent to rest near

Stenay. On October 17 it took up its position on the left bank of the

Meuse (Bethincourt sector), where it still remained in December.

RECRUITING.

The division had become purely Wurttemberg.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The elements of the 243d Division appeared good. They were never engaged

in very active sectors, except at Hill 344 in September, 1917. At Verdun

they showed only mediocre combat value.

1918.

1. The division was relieved in the sector northwest of Verdun at the

end of January and traveled by rail to the Stenay area north of

Montfaucon, where it rested and trained until March 20. On that day it

entrained at Stenay and traveled via Sedan-Charleville-Hirson-Ors to

Bazeul. On the 22d the division marched by night via Le Cateau and

Montbrehain to Raisel, crossed the Somme at St. Christ-Briost and came

into line reenforcing the front on the night of March 25–26.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

2. It advanced in the first line of the attack through Guillancourt,

Villers aux Erables, and attacked Moreuil on the 30th. It suffered very

heavy losses, amounting to 50 per cent between March 26–30 at Estrees

and Ignancourt, and in the attack on Moreuil. Two companies of the 122d

Fusileer Regiment lost more than 207 of their fighting strength. The

division was withdrawn about April 4. On April 2 the division received a

draft of 350 to 400 men.

PICARDY.

3. The division was reengaged north and east of Villers Bretonneux,

relieving the 228th Division. On the 24th it made an unsuccessful attack

on Villers Bretonneux. On the 27th it was withdrawn to close reserve and

rested until May 13.

THIRD BATTLE OF THE SOMME.

Histories of two hundred and fifty-one divisions of the German army which participated in the war (1914-1918) · 第 77 / 78 段