Part 30
─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │21. │10 Gren. │21. │10 Gren. │ │38 Fus. │ │38 Fus. │ │51. │ │51. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │2 Sqn. 2 Uhlan Rgt.│2 Sqn. 2 Uhlan Rgt. │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │11 Art. Command: │11 Art. Command: │ 42 F. A. Rgt. │ 42 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ 131 (M) Ft. A. │ │ Btn. (Staff, and │ │ 1, 2, and 3 │ │ Btries.). │ │ 904 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1367 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 1368 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│122 Pion. Btn.: │122 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 1 Co. 6 Pions. │ 1 Co. 6 Pions. │ 5 Co. 6 Pions. │ 5 Co. 6 Pions. │ 11 T. M. Co. │ 11 T. M. Co. │ 269 Searchlight │ 187 Searchlight │ Section. │ Section. │ 11 Tel. Detch. │11 Signal Command: │ │ 11 Tel. Detch. │ │ 3 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │16 Ambulance Co. │16 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │55 Field Hospital. │59 Field Hospital. │59 Field Hospital. │61 Field Hospital. │61 Field Hospital. │11 Vet. Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │544 M. T. Col. │544 M. T. Col. │644 M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │Anti-aircraft │ │ Section. │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
HISTORY.
(Sixth District—Silesia.)
1914.
FRANCE.
1. The 11th Division belonged to the 6th Army Corps and detrained at Merzig August 10 and 11, 1914, passed through Luxemburg the 17th, and entered Belgian Luxemburg the 18th.
2. It belonged to the 5th Army (Prussian Crown Prince) and took part in the battle of August 22 at Tintigny, St. Vincent, and Belle Fontaine. It crossed the Meuse the 29th below Stenay, passed through Varennes and Ste. Menehould. September 7, at the high point of the German advance, it was near Revigny.
RHEIMS.
3. After the battle of the Marne it established itself at the western edge of the Argonne (from Binarville to Cernay en Bormois).
ARGONNE.
4. October 4 it fought at Binarville. October 21 the 22d Brigade was at Beine, east of Rheims. The 21st Brigade remained in the Argonne.
1915.
1. At the end of January, 1915, the 21st Brigade returned to the Rheims sector.
CHAMPAGNE.
In February the 22d Brigade was attached temporarily in support of the 8th Reserve Corps on the Champagne front (east).
2. About the middle of June the division went to Artois to reinforce the 6th Army in preparation for the French offensive.
SOUCHEZ.
3. At the end of June it held the sector north of Souchez, east of Neuville St. Vaast. It executed many unsuccessful attacks on Souchez and the Chateau of Carleul. It suffered considerable losses during July. September 25 and 26 it had more losses before La Folie. Relieved at the end of September and sent to rest in the region of Cambrai. The casualty lists for the 10th Grenadiers show 432 killed, 1,023 wounded, 64 missing; total, 1,519 men. The losses were hastily made good from October 5 to 14 by replacements with less than three months’ training (oldest class Landsturm 2d Band and 1915 class men who entered service in July). The 9th Company of the 10th Grenadiers received in this way at least 119 men and the 12th Company of the 38th Fusiliers about the same.
4. During the first two weeks of October the division went into line in the sector astride the Somme.
1916.
FRISE.
1. At the end of January, 1916, the division took part in the attack which ended in the taking of the village of Frise and suffered very heavy losses.
2. On May 25 it was relieved, and a short time afterwards took over the sector south of the Amiens-St. Quentin road. (At the end of June the first 1917-class soldiers arrived with older classes put back, taken from the mines and factories of Silesia.)
SOMME.
3. In this sector it opposed the French attack of July 1 and days following. It suffered heavily and lost a large number of prisoners to the French. (The 11th Grenadiers, whose battalions had fought in three different places, separated from the rest of the division, had to have at least 181 replacements to complete the 11th Company. They arrived from July 6 to 20.)
4. It was withdrawn from this sector about the end of July and sent to the region of St. Quentin to be reorganized.
5. On August 1 the division took over the trenches in the sector Andechy-Beuvraignes.
SOMME.
6. September 4 it again went in to the battle of the Somme between Deniecourt and Vermandovillers. During these two actions in the Somme it suffered 83 per cent losses.
7. Relieved October 10 and took over the sector of Prunay the 24th, which it held until December 12, then went to rest near St. Quentin. The 11th Grenadiers left the division in October and were transferred to the 101st Division in Macedonia.
1917.
1. On January 4, 1917, the division went into line in the sector of Lassigny, then on February 10 in the sector of Ablaincourt, south of the Somme.
2. About the middle of the month of March the division retreated, with the other German forces engaged in the Somme, to the Hindenburg line.
3. March 29 it was sent to the Arras front.
ARTOIS.
April 19 it opposed south of the Scarpe the first shock of the British attack. In spite of a desperate defense it was routed and lost 2,200 prisoners to the British. The 51st Infantry was reduced to 600 men (prisoners’ statements) and its 12th Company to 6 men.
4. On April 11 the division was relieved and reorganized in the region of Bruges. It received replacements especially from the 623d Infantry, which was dissolved, organized, and trained at the camp at Neuhammer.
FLANDERS.
5. At the beginning of June it was in support of the Wytschaete-Messines front when the British attacked. It then held this sector until June 26 and suffered heavy losses again (June 8 and 9).
WOEVRE.
6. After a few days’ rest it was sent to Metz and then put in line in the sector of Flirey (in Haye), end of July to September 15.
7. Relieved about the middle of September, and in October took over a sector on the Champagne front.
FLANDERS.
8. At the end of October it was sent to Flanders and went into line near Passchendeale. Withdrawn at the end of December and went to the rear of the front in the region of Maubeuge.
RECRUITING.
The division was recruited in the regions of Breslau, Glatz, and Schweidnitz from a German population. The Poles, therefore, coming from the Province of Silesia, are in the minority. The Sixth District is thickly populated and was able by itself to maintain the division even during the period of heavy losses.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
In spite of the heavy losses suffered at the Somme, Arras, and Wytschaete the division always fought well. Its value is diminished by the presence of a certain number of Poles who were generally ready to desert when they had a chance. Lieut. Col. Schwerck, commanding the 51st Infantry, received the order “Pour le Merite” after the battle of Arras. This reward, which has been given to only six other regimental commanders, seems to prove that the fighting value of the 11th Division at Arras in April, 1917, was greatly appreciated by the German High Command.
1918.
CHAMPAGNE.
1. The 11th Division rested first in the Maubeuge region, and later near Charleville and Laon for about two months. About March 1 it relieved the 51st Reserve Division in the Butte de Mesnil. Here nothing except minor trench raids was attempted. Most of the older men were exchanged for young ones. It was relieved by the 88th Division April 15.
LASSIGNY.
2. April 20 it relieved elements of the 34th and 37th Divisions south of Dives, (east of Lassigny). It was relieved by the 202d Division during the night of May 22–23. It rested then for about 10 days in the Guiscard region.
MONTDIDIER.
3. June 9 it reinforced the Montdidier-Noyon battle front south of Thiescourt (west of Noyon). It attacked the first day of the offensive as an attack division. It attacked on a front of 1,500 yards, with Compiegne as its final objective (its orders were captured), but did poorly, succeeding only in reaching Machemont—less than half way. In this engagement it suffered heavy losses. It was withdrawn the 16th and went to rest in the Guiscard region, where it received some 1,300 replacements.
4. The division relieved the 222d Division near Rubescourt (south of Montdidier) July 19. In the fighting which followed, the division lost heavily. The 10th Regiment received 300 replacements August 2; relieved about the 12th.
5. It reentered line near Varesnes the 22d and was withdrawn the 28th.
ST. QUENTIN.
6. September 8 it came back into line southwest of St. Quentin near Jussy. It was withdrawn about the 20th.
7. Four days later the division was identified north of St. Quentin in the Gricourt sector; withdrawn the 2d of October.
8. It came back into line about the 12th near Barisis (south of LaFere). The division took part in the general German retirement and was identified successively at Remies, Mesbrecourt, Léa Ferte-Chevresis, Monceau le Neuf, Le Herie la Vieville, St. Algis, and Champ Bouvier. It was still in line when the armistice was signed.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The 11th is rated as a good second-class division. It did not do well in the battle of the Oise, but everywhere else its conduct under fire was characterized by considerable tenacity. Losses were very heavy. Numerous cases of desertion, especially to the interior; a large number of replacements—returned prisoners from Russia—are said to have mutinied at Breslau.
11th Reserve Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │21 Res. │10 Res. │21 Res. │10 Res. │23. │10 Res. │ │11 Res. │ │11 Res. │ │22. │23. │22. │23. │22. │ │156. │ │156. │ │156. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │3 Res. Hus. Rgt. (3│ │4 Res. Hus. Rgt. │ Sqns.). │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │11 Res. F. A. Rgt. │11 Res. F. A. Rgt. │11 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ (6 Btries.). │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│4 Field Co. 2 Pion.│4 Field Co. 2 Pion.│4 Field Co. 2 Pion. Liaisons. │ Btn. No. 6. │ Btn. No. 6. │ Btn. No. 6. │ │11 Res. Pont. Engs.│211 T. M. Co. │ │11 Res. Tel. Detch.│11 Res. Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │11 Res. Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │95 Anti-Aircraft │ │ │ Section. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │23. │10 Res. │23. │22. │ │22. │ │156. │ │156. │ │10 Res. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 4 Res. Hus. │1 Sqn. 4 Res. Hus. │ Rgt. │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │(s) Art. Command: │11 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ 11 Res. F. A. Rgt.│1 Abt. 5 Res. Ft. │ (9 Btries.). │ A. Rgt. │ │748 Light Am. Col. │ │1242 Light Am. Col. │ │1296 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│(311) Pion. Btn.: │311 Pion Btn. Liaisons. │ │ │ 4 Co. 6 Pions. │4 Co. 6 Pions. │ 2 Res. Co. 25 │2 Res. Co. 25 │ Pion. Btn. │ Pions. │ 211 T. M. Co. │211 T. M. Co. │ 4 Heavy Field │39 Searchlight │ Searchlight │ Section. │ Section. │ │ 411 Tel. Detch. │411 Signal Command: │ │117 Wireless Detch. │ │411 Tel. Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │506 Ambulance Co. │506 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │29 Res. Field │29 Res. Field │ Hospital. │ Hospital. │32 Res. Field │32 Res. Field │ Hospital. │ Hospital. │411 Vet. Hospital. │411 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
HISTORY.
(Sixth District-Silesia.).
1914.
FRANCE.
1. This division, with the 12th Reserve Division, formed the 6th Reserve Corps.
LORRAINE-MEUSE.
2. At the beginning of the war it belonged to the 5th Army (Prussian Crown Prince). Fought at Arrancy from August 22 to 25; crossed the Meuse the 21st of September. Fought in the region of Cierges September 2; advanced nearly to Triaucourt September 9 and retreated through the east of the Argonne near Montfaucon September 11 to 17.
3. At the end of September it established itself at the eastern edge of the Argonne (Varennes-Malancourt wood). It occupied this region until the Verdun offensive in February, 1916.
1915.
1. January to December, 1915, the division held the sector of Malancourt wood, south of Montfaucon, in Argonne. In April the 11th Reserve Infantry was transferred to form the 117th Division.
1916.
VERDUN.
1. In February, 1916, when the battle of Verdun commenced, the division was still in its sector on the left bank of the Meuse.
2. In March it fought near Bethencourt. It took this village April 9. Relieved about May 15 after suffering very heavy losses (68 per cent of its infantry).
3. Sent to rest and reorganized with replacements from the 1916 class.
SOMME.
4. It was at first army reserve in the region of Cambrai at the beginning of June. Then a hurry call was sent for the division June 27 and it went into the battle of the Somme.
5. July 2 to 3 it relieved some units of the 12th Division and 10th Bavarian Division on the front Hardecourt to the Somme and suffered enormous losses from July 2 to 9.
6. Received replacements July 10 and suffered again heavily between the 10th and 20th in the same region. It was withdrawn from the Somme front about July 24.
FLANDERS.
7. Reconstituted again with replacements from the depots of the 12th Army Corps and sent at the end of July and beginning of August to the east of Armentieres, south of the Lys, and held this sector until September 20 to 27.
SOMME.
8. At the end of September the division returned to the Somme, between the Somme and Barleux. It opposed the attack of the French October 18 to 19 in the sector of Biaches.
9. The division was relieved from the Somme area at the beginning of November.
ARTOIS.
10. Sent to Artois and went into line at the beginning of December in the sector of Lens, between Loos and Lievin.
1917.
1. About March 24 to 25, 1917, the division was withdrawn from the Artois front.
2. In line for six weeks between Cambrai and St. Quentin, in the sector Bellicourt-Bellenglise, from the end of March to May 10. Returned about May 14 to 15 to the region of Lens, where it stayed until August 20. (Attack of the Canadians on its right flank Aug. 15.)
ARTOIS-FLANDERS.
3. At rest in the vicinity of St. Amand (Artois) at the end of August and beginning of September. Held the front south of Lens (sector Frenoy- Acheville) September 9. In November it was sent to Flanders near Passchendaele, where it alternated with the 12th Reserve Division until January, 1918. At rest from the middle of January and went back into line February 24 south of the forest of Houthulst.
RECRUITING.
Silesia. Drafts from other districts—for example, the fourth—to counterbalance the Polish element.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
At the present time (February, 1918) it is difficult to form a precise opinion of the fighting qualities of this division, as it has not been seriously engaged since the battle of the Somme. In the sector of Lens and Frenoy the heavy losses which it suffered from gas have no doubt caused a certain weakening of the morale. (One company of the 156th Infantry was reduced to 24 men.)
In Flanders the division held a difficult sector, but arrived at a time when active operations were coming to an end. The nature of the ground has been the main cause of its losses. (Information from the British, Feb. 9, 1918.)
1918.
PASSCHENDAELE.
1. The division remained in line south of Passchendaele until January 16, when it was relieved by the 31st Division. It then moved to the Oostroosebeke area, where it underwent a course of training in open warfare.
YPRES.
2. February 24 the division relieved the 199th Division astride the Ypres-Staden railway (northeast of Ypres).
ARMENTIERES.
3. It was relieved about the 18th of March by the extension of front of the neighboring divisions, and one regiment was identified by prisoners as having reenforced the front south of Villers-Carbonnel (southwest of Peronne). This regiment was relieved March 26 and went to join the remainder of the division which was resting in the Turcoing area. April 9 the division reenforced the front in the Croix du Bac sector (north of the La Bassee Canal). It was withdrawn about the 16th, after losing heavily, and went to rest in the vicinity of Laventie.
4. April 28 it relieved the 81st Reserve Division southwest of Meteren. It was withdrawn about the 6th of May, going to be reconstituted in the area southeast of Bailleul.
5. It relieved the 12th Division southwest of Meteren during the night of May 18–19, remaining in line until June 7, when it was withdrawn to rest in the Courtrai area.
6. During the night of June 22–23 the division relieved the 216th Division in the Locre sector (west of Kemmel). Here it fought until a day or two before the armistice, when it seems to have been withdrawn.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The 11th Reserve is rated as a second-class division. It has fought a great deal during 1918, especially since June, and has lost heavily. Its record has not been brilliant.
11th Landwehr Division.
COMPOSITION.