Part 25
8th. Bavarian Reserve Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │15 Bav. Res. │18 Bav. Res. │15 Bav. Res. │18 Bav. Res. │ │19 Bav. Res. │ │19 Bav. Res. │16 Bav. Res. │22 Bav. Res. │16 Bav. Res. │22 Bav. Res. │ │23 Bav. Res. │ │23 Bav. Res. │ │ │ Wurtt. Mountain Btn. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼───────────────────────────── Cavalry. │8 Bav. Res. Cav. Detch. │8 Bav. Res. Cav. Detch. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │8 Bav. Res. F. A. Rgt. │8 Bav. Res. F. A. Rgt. │9 Bav. Res. F. A. Rgt. │9 Bav. Res. F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│9 Bav. Res. Pion. Co. │8 Bav. Res. Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │ │9 Bav. Res. Pion. Co. │ │208 Bav. T. M. Co. │ │8 Bav. Res. Pont. Engs. │ │8 Bav. Res. Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │8 Bav. Res. Cyclist Co. │ │ │ │81 Anti-Aircraft Section. │ │ │ │6 Bav. Labor Btn. │ │64 Labor Btn. │ │69 Labor Btn. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────
─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │15 Bav. Res. │18 Bav. Res. │15 Bav. Res. │19 Bav. Res. │ │19 Bav. Res. │ │22 Bav. Res. │16 Bav. Res. │22 Bav. Res. │ │23 Bav. Res. │ │23 Bav. Res. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │8 Bav. Res. Cav. Detch. │8 Bav. Res. Cav. Detch. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │8 Bav. Art. Command: │8 Bav. Art. Command: │ 8 Bav. Res. F. A. Rgt. │ 9 Bav. Res. F. A. Rgt. │ 9 Bav. Res. F. A. Rgt. │ 19 Bav. Ft. A. Btn. │ │ 105 Bav. Light Am. Col. │ │ 171 Bav. Light Am. Col. │ │ 172 Bav. Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│(20 Bav.) Pion. Btn.: │20 Bav. Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 5 Bav. Res. Pion. Co. │ 8 Bav. Res. Pion. Co. │ 8 Bav. Res. Pion. Co. │ 9 Bav. Res. Pion. Co. │ 9 Bav. Res. Pion. Co. │ 20 Bav. Searchlight Section. │ 208 Bav. T. M. Co. │ 208 Bav. T. M. Col. │ 3 Bav. Res. Searchlight │408 Bav. Signal Command: │ Section. │ │ 803 Tel. Detch. │ 408 Bav. Tel. Detch. │ │ 99 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │18 Bav. Ambulance Co. │18 Bav. Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │30 Bav. Ambulance Co. │65 Bav. Field Hospital. │55 Bav. Field Hospital. │57 Bav. Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │ │753 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │8 Bav. Res. Cyclist Co. │1 Landst. Inf. Btn. 10 C. │ │ Dist. │ │1, 2, and 3 Abtls. 24 Res. F. │ │ A. Rgt. │ │69 Ldw. Ft. A. Btn. │ │14, 33, and 34 Mortar Btries. │ │52 Searchlight Section. │ │94 Pion. Btn. │ │66 Balloon Sqn. │ │115 Observation Section. │ │2 Sound Ranging Section. │ │286 Reconnaisance Flight. │ │ Elements attached in │ │ October, 1918. ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────
HISTORY.
(19th Bavarian Reserve: First Bavarian District. 22d Bavarian Reserve: Second Bavarian District. 23d Bavarian Reserve: Third Bavarian District.)
1915.
ALSACE.
1. The division was organized in January, 1915 (second series of new reserve divisions) and was identified on the front for the first time at the beginning of February, 1915, in the valley of the Lauch and at Hartmannswillerkopf. It fought at the end of February in the region of Munster-Metzeral-Sultzeren. On the 24th it took part in the attack of Reichackerkopf and lost heavily.
2. Since that time and until May the division remained in the same sector of Alsace.
GALICIA.
3. Relieved at the end of May and sent to Galicia, where it became part of the 11th Army and cooperated in the capture of Przemsl June 3.
ALSACE.
4. Returned to the Western Front at the beginning of July and went to rest in the region of Schelestadt (Alsace); then went into line again about July 14 in the valley of the Fecht (Reichackerkopf-Metzeral). It repulsed an attack of the French July 20 at Reichackerkopf.
1916.
ALSACE.
1. The division remained in Alsace, sector of Metzeral-Sondernach, for a year from July, 1915, to July, 1916. During this period it did not take part in any action.
SOMME.
2. About July 10, 1916, it entrained at Mulhouse, Colmar, and Pfaffenheim, south of Colmar, and went to the Somme, south of Péronne, and was in reserve until July 20. July 21 and 22 it was engaged between Maurepas and Guillemont (the 23d Bavarian Reserve was detached and went to the east of Estrees).
3. Relieved August 15 after suffering heavy losses during the attacks of July 30 and August 12. Reorganized in the region of St. Quentin, then went back into line for a short time west of Roye at the beginning of September.
4. Withdrawn from the region of Roye in the middle of September and sent to the Roumanian front October 13 to 23, via Mons-Maubeuge-Namur- Liége—Aix-la-Chapelle-Cologne-Cassel-Halle-Leipzig-Prague-Brunn- Budapest-Arad.
1917.
ROUMANIA.
5. Took part in the operations on the frontier of Transylvania in the region of the Oltu in October to November and in the valley of the Trotus in December.
GALICIA.
2. In July it left Roumania and went to Galicia. At the end of July it was in the region of Nowitza. August 27 it fought at Bojan. In September it was at Czernowitz and went to rest near Radautz in Bukowina beginning September 6. After being reviewed by the Emperor September 27 it was filled up again (men of the 1918 class with less than four months’ training were sent to the 22d Reserve Infantry) and sent to the Western Front.
BELGIUM.
3. It entrained October 15 at Kolomea. Itinerary: Stanislau-Lemberg- Cracow-Leipzig-Northeim-Paderborn-Aix la Chapelle-Liege-Louvain-Malines- Brussels-Bruges, and detrained at Thourout October 23.
4. October 26 the division took over the Aschhoop sector near Dixmude.
RECRUITING.
It seems to come from all over Bavaria.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The division had no serious fighting from August, 1916, on. Its losses on the Eastern Front were few. It was trained especially for mountain warfare, and they carried on this sort of warfare for a long time in Alsace, Galicia, and Roumania.
1918.
1. On January 24 the division was relieved at Dixmude and sent to Ghent for rest. From there it was transferred to Courtrai.
BELGIUM.
2. It relieved the 7th Division in the Becelaere sector on February 4, a quiet part at that time, and remained until March 7, when it was in turn relieved by the 7th Division.
BATTLE OF THE LYS.
3. It rested at Ostend until the Lys battle began, when it returned to attack on April 9 in the Estaires sector, which was defended by Portuguese. It advanced toward Calonne sur Lys, where it was withdrawn about April 14. The losses were 50 per cent of the effectives in this fighting.
WOEVRE.
4. Upon relief the division entrained on April 20 at Roubaix and moved to Conflans. On May 11 it relieved the 78th Reserve Division north of Seicheprey. It was in line in this sector until June 27. A draft of 300 men were received late in June.
CHAMPAGNE.
5. The division rested at Conflans until July 4. It was then moved to Wassigny (north of Rethel) on the 5th. It marched toward the front by Herpy and St. Remy July 8 to 14. It was in reserve on July 15 east of Reims, in support of the 15th Bavarian Division. The division was not actively engaged in this offensive.
6. Withdrawn from Champagne, the division marched toward the front south of the Vesle by Warnerville, Soivre, and Jonchery, Vendeuil.
VESLE.
7. It was engaged west of Reims (St. Euphraise, Vrigny) between July 22 and August 8.
8. About August 22 the division arrived in the area northeast of Ath from the Aisne front to refit and train.
ARDENNES.
9. It was engaged west of La Pompelle on September 20, retreating to the Suippe, south of Bazancourt, about October 1, then toward Chateau Porcien and Faizy. It was relieved about October 15.
10. It rested for 10 days at Son and St. Fergeux, receiving 150 to 200 men per regiment as drafts.
11. On the 25th the division returned to line in the Chateau Porcien sector. It retired in November by Son, Chappes, Dommely, and La Romagn, where it was last identified on November 7.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as a first-class division, though it was considered as a shade under the class of the best divisions. It fought hard on the Lys, losing but 1 prisoner. It was not used later as an attack division. The morale was good.
8th. Cavalry Division.
COMPOSITION.[7]
───────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────────────────────── │ 1918 ───────────────────────┼───────────────────────┬─────────────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ───────────────────────┼───────────────────────┼─────────────────────── Cavalry. │39 Cav. │Guard Reiter. │ │17 Uhlan. │40 Cav. │Karabinier. │ │21 Uhlan. │38 Cav. │2 Jager. │ │6 Jag. ───────────────────────┼───────────────────────┴─────────────────────── Artillery. │12 Horse Art. Det. ───────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────── Engineers and Liaisons.│Pion. Detch. │8 M. G. Btry. │260 Searchlight Section. ───────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────── Medical and Veterinary.│54 Field Hospital. ───────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────── Attached. │44 Cav. Brig.: │11 Horse Jag. Rgt. │9 Res. Uhlan Schutzen Rgt. │87 Cav. Schutzen Rgt. │89 Cav. Schutzen Rgt. │7 Landst. Inf. Rgt. ───────────────────────┴───────────────────────────────────────────────
Footnote 7:
At the time of its dissolution, April, 1918.
HISTORY.
1918.
The division continued on the Eastern Front, employed in small police detachments, until about April 1, when it was dissolved.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as a fourth-class division.
9th Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │17. │19. │17. │19. │18. │7 Gren. │ │58. │ │58. │ │19. │18. │7 Gren. │18. │7 Gren. │ │154. │ │154. │ │154. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │1 Uhlan Regt. │ │1 and 2 Sqns., 1 │ │ │ Uhlan Regt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │9 Brig.: │9 Brig.: │9 Brig.: │ 5 F. A. Rgt. │ 5 F. A. Rgt. │ 5 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ 41 F. A. Rgt. │ 41 F. A. Rgt. │ 41 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. │1 Pion. Btn. No. 5: Liaisons. │ │ 55: │ │ │ Field Co. 5 Pions.│ 1 Co. 5 Pions. │ │ 9 Pont. Engs. │ 9 Pont. Engs. │ │ 9 Tel. Detch. │ 9 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ 9 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │37 Searchlight │ │ │ Section. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │18. │7 Gren. │18. │7. │ │19. │ │19. │ │154. │ │154. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │2 Sqn. 1 Horse Jag.│2 Sqn. 1 Horse Jag. │ Rgt. │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │9 Art. Command: │9 Art. Command: │ 5 F. A. Rgt. │ 5 F. A. Rgt. │ │ (except 4 Abt.) │ │ 2 Abt. 6 Res. Ft. │ │ A. Rgt. (5, 6, │ │ and 12 Btries.). │ │ 907 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1175 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 1201 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│120 Pion. Btn.: │120 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 1 Co. 5 Pions. │ 5 Co. 5 Pions. │ 5 Co. 5 Pions. │ 1 Co. 5 Pions. │ 9 T. M. Co. │ 9 T. M. Co. │ 304 Searchlight │ 194 Searchlight │ Section. │ Section. │ 9 Tel. Detch. │9 Signal Command: │ │ 9 Tel. Detch. │ │ 53 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │14 Ambulance Co. │14 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │45 Field Hospital. │48 Field Hospital. │48 Field Hospital. │52 Field Hospital. │52 Field Hospital. │9 Vet. Hospital. │9 Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │542 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │37 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
HISTORY.
(Fifth District—Lower Silesia.)
1914.
COTES DE MEUSE.
1. The 9th Division with the 10th Division, formed the 5th Army Corps (Posen), and at the beginning of the war was part of the 5th Army (German Crown Prince). Detrained August 9 to 10 in annexed Lorraine, near Bouzonville, and fought August 22 at Virton. After a number of marches and countermarches in Woevre, it established itself during the first days of September with the 10th Division in a sector of Cotes de Meuse (Calonne trench). It remained there about two years from September, 1914, to September, 1916, with rest billets in the villages of the Woevre at the foot of the hills (Thillot, Woël, Hannonville, etc.).
1915.
LES EPARGES.
1. In the spring of 1915 it took part in the battles of Les Eparges where it suffered heavily. In March it transferred its 58th Infantry to the 119th Division, newly formed, which was operating in Galicia beginning with April.
1916.
VERDUN.
1. At the beginning of September, 1916, the division was withdrawn from the sector of Calonne trench and relieved the 14th Bavarian Division in the woods of Vaux Chapitre (Verdun). In this last sector it suffered huge losses. October 24, 1916, it lost 700 men captured.
2. Relieved at the beginning of November and reorganized with men of all ages from depots of the Fifth District.
3. November 4 it entrained behind Douaumont; was sent to the Aisne and put in the line November 8 in the sector of Nouvron, where it remained until the middle of February, 1917.
1917.
COTES DE MEUSE.
1. Entrained at Laon during the last two weeks of February, 1917, and sent to Vigneulles, via Charleville-Conflans-Chambley; and again went into the sector of Calonne trench between February 18 and the end of April.
CALIFORNIE PLATEAU.
2. Relieved at the end of April and sent from Mars la Tour-Vigneulles (via Conflans-Sedan-Liart) to the region of Rozoy sur Serre. After a few days’ rest in the vicinity of Sissonne it was engaged beginning May 6 in the attacks on the plateaus of Vauclerc and Californie, where some of its regiments suffered heavy losses, especially on the Winterberg.
3. Beginning May 18 the division did not attack any more but merely held the sector (Californie-Chevreux les Courtines). However, our attack of May 22 to 24 caused it heavy losses.
4. At the end of May the 9th Division was replaced by the 41st Division. It received reinforcements. (The 19th Infantry received 200 men June 14. About May 25, 60 men of the 1918 class were sent to the 6th Company of this regiment.) From May 13 to June 13 the 10th Company of the 154th Infantry received 68 men at least, most of them of the 1918 class.
5. About June 17–18 the division appeared in the sector of Juvincourt, where it attacked on the night of August 4–5 without success. Relieved about September 8 without having losses in this last sector.
CHEMIN DES DAMES.
6. During September it was sent to rest in the region of Pierrepont- Missy-Liesse. Engaged in the sector of Bovettes-Pargny-Filain from October 23 to 27 and withdrawn from this front at the beginning of November after some of its regiments had suffered heavy losses during the battle of October 23 to 25.
7. About the middle of November the division went to the sector of Chevregny, after a rest of about two weeks in the region of Laon, during which it was filled up again. It held this sector until the beginning of December. December 8 it was in the vicinity of Laon. January 11, 1918, some of the units were at Liesse.
RECRUITING.
The division (Fifth District) was recruited in Lower Silesia, where the German population is much more numerous than the Polish population. Although it received men from the Second and Third Districts in 1913 and men from the Seventh District in 1916, it could without great difficulty get all its men from its original territory. Its replacements come almost entirely from Lower Silesia, and in emergency from Silesia. It is more homogeneous than the 10th Division, where the Polish elements have to be balanced off by Germans.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.