Part 46

FLANDERS.

6. Arriving at Roulers on September 27, it immediately went into action in an attacking sector, north of Zonnebeke, without having any rest, on October 4.

ARTOIS.

7. Relieved almost immediately, it was put into line on October 17 in the Queant sector, where it still was at the beginning of February, 1918.

RECRUITING.

It is recruited from the Province of Hanover in the Duchy of Brunswick.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

It had very heavy losses on May 5, 1917 (many killed, 700 prisoners), which, joined to the preceding losses, lessened the value of the 20th Division very much.

It is to be noted that two weeks before the attack of May 5 the units of the division defended themselves obstinately.

1918.

CAMBRAI.

1. The division was relieved by the 119th Division about the middle of January; it, in turn, relieved the 119th Division during the first week in February. It was relieved by the 195th Division on February 16, and marched to Aubigny au Bac; it reached Basaecles (southeast of Tournai) the 18th. Here it was given a month’s course of training in open warfare.

2. On March 14 the division marched to Peruwelz and then via St. Amand- Lourches-Bouchain, arriving at Pronville, where it entered line on the 20th. It advanced through Noreuil, Bapaume, Grevillers, Irles, and Miraumont. During this fighting the division suffered severely, its casualties amounting to 50 per cent of its effectives; very few officers left. It did not advance with the rest of the line during the night of the 24–25th, its place being taken by the 24th Division. It followed in support of the line, however, and relieved the 24th Division east of Colincamps on the 29th. A document captured on the 28th shows that the strength of the 3d Battalion of the 77th Regiment (excluding the machine gun company) was reduced to 214 men. Another battalion was reduced to 80 men and 1 officer.

WOEVRE.

3. The division was withdrawn early in April, and was sent to the Mars la Tour region, where it rested and was reconstituted. About the 20th it relieved the 82d Reserve Division in the Seuzey-Lamorville-Spada sector (north of St. Mihiel); relieved toward the end of the month, it went to the Arlon area, where it received large drafts (in large part of the 1919 class), and where it was put through a long and thorough course of training. Toward the end of June it was transported to the Sedan area, from which it marched (about July 15) toward Soissons.

SOISSONS.

4. On the 21st of July the division reinforced the front near Villemontoire (south of Soissons). Here heavy losses were again suffered. It was relieved by the 50th Reserve Division on the 29th and went to rest in the Chimay area, where it received a draft from the disbanded 260th Reserve Regiment (78th Reserve Division).

ARRAS.

5. On the night of the 27–28th of August the division moved up into the Drocourt-Queant line, south of Drocourt, and during the following days went into line in the Oppy sector (northeast of Arras), where a British attack was expected. The division was withdrawn again during the night of September 1–2.

6. On the 3d of September it came into line near Ecourt St. Quentin (south of Arleux), and covered the withdrawal across the Canal du Nord. It was withdrawn on the 10th.

CAMBRAI.

7. On the 12th it counterattacked in the Havrincourt sector (southwest of Cambrai). During the subsequent fighting the division suffered heavy losses. It was withdrawn on the 1st of October.

8. After a few days’ rest it relieved the 21st Division in the Montbrehain sector (southeast of Cambrai), where it fought until the 13th, when it was relieved and went to the vicinity of Montmedy, where it rested for about three weeks. Losses, 70 per cent.

MEUSE.

9. The division was expected to enter line west of the Meuse, but the orders were changed suddenly, and it entered line to the east of it near Reville on November 5. It remained in line until the 11th, not being heavily engaged, however, all the prisoners captured subsequently stating that they were members of rear-guard detachments.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 20th is rated as a first-class division. It fought well throughout the year and suffered enormous losses. Besides the replacements already noted, the division received a large draft from its recruit depot in September (about 50 men per company); September 28, the 92d Regiment received 93 men; October 30, the companies received 30 men apiece from the 27th Reserve Regiment (197th Division, dissolved); the companies had a combat strength of 80 to 100 men.

20th Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918[14] ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │ │384 Ldw. │9 Ers. │384 Ldw. │9 Ers. │386 Ldw. │ │386 Ldw. │ │386 Ldw. │ │ │ │387 Ldw. │ │387 Ldw. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │ │3 Sqn. 4 Res. Hus. │3 Sqn. 4 Res. Hus. │ │ Rgt. │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │ │Art Command: │282 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ (Staff and 2 │ │ │ Abt.). │ │ 282 F. A. Rgt. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │420 Pion. Btn.: │1 Ldw. Co. 9 C. Liaisons. │ │ │ Dist. Pions. │ │ 1 Ldw. Co. 9 │520 Signal Command: │ │ Pions. │ │ │ 3 Ers. Co. 24 │ 520 Tel. Detch. │ │ Pions. │ │ │ 320 T. M. Co. │ │ │ 520 (Wurtt.) Tel. │ │ │ Detch. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │227 Ambulance Co. │227 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │88 Field Hospital. │520 Vet. Hospital. │ │183 Field Hospital.│ │ │Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │ │M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

Footnote 14:

The units below are those grouped under the divisional postal sector (660). Other units belonging to the 20th Landwehr Division, but operating under other divisions, are listed as attached to such division.

HISTORY.

(384th Landwehr Regiment: 4th Corps District-Prussian Saxony. 386th Landwehr Regiment: 9th Corps District-Mecklenburg. 387th Landwehr Regiment: (?).)

1916.

BELGIUM.

1. The 20th Landwehr Division dates from September 29, 1916. It was formed at Roulers from the 384th, 386th, and 387th Landwehr Regiments. These regiments, formed at this time, respectively, at Menin, Renaix, and Cooescant, were formed two-thirds of men from the Landsturm battalions assigned to the Service of Supplies in Belgium, and one-third of returned wounded.

DIXMUDE.

2. At the beginning of October, 1916, the 20th Landwehr Division relieved the 206th Division in the sector Dixmude-Schoorbakke. It was retained there until the middle of November, 1917.

1917.

CAMBRAI.

1. Sent into line southwest of Cambrai (Nov. 1917), the division suffered heavily in the British offensive of November 20, when it lost 2,773 men as prisoners. It was relieved the day after this action.

RUSSIA.

2. Between November 28 and December 5, the 20th Landwehr Division was transferred to the Eastern Front.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The division is of mediocre value.

1918.

PINSK-UKRAINE.

1. After having held the sector south of Pinsk from December, 1917, to February, 1918, the 20th Landwehr Division went into the Ukraine in March. The 384th Landwehr Regiment was in the region west of Gomel on April 23; the division was at Jitomir in May. The division was still in Ukraine on the 16th of October.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

21st Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │41. │87. │41. │87. │42. │80 Fus. │ │88. │ │88. │ │81. │42. │80 Fus. │42. │80 Fus. │ │87. │ │81. │ │81. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │6 Uhlan Regt. │ │6 Uhlan Regt. (3 │ │ │ Sqns.). ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │21 Brig.: │21 Brig.: │21 Brig.: │ 27 F. A. Rgt. │ 27 F. A. Rgt. │ 27 F. A. Rgt. │ 63 F. A. Rgt. │ 63 F. A. Rgt. │ 63 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. │1 Pion. Btn. No. Liaisons. │ │ 21: │ 21: │ │ Field Co. 21 │ 1 Co. 21 Pions. │ │ Pions. │ │ │ 21 Pont. Engs. │ 5 Co. 21 Pions. │ │ 21 Tel. Detch. │ 21 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ 21 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ 21 Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │42. │80 Fus. │42. │80. │ │81. │ │81. │ │87. │ │87. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │(?) 5 Sqn. 6 │2 Sqn. 6 Drag. Rgt. │ Dragoon Rgt. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │21 Art. Command: │21 Art. Command: │ 27 F. A. Rgt. │ 27 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 2 Abt. 14 Ft. A. │ │ Rgt. (5, 6, and 7 │ │ Btries.). │ │ 731 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1101 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 1131 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│(1/21 or 134) Pion.│21 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ Btn.: │ │ 1 Co. 21 Pions. │ 1 Co. 21 Pions. │ │ │ 5 Co. 21 Pions. │ 5 Co. 21 Pions. │ 21 T. M. Co. │ 18 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ 21 Searchlight │ 21 T. M. Co. │ Section. │ │ 21 Tel. Detch. │21 Signal Command: │ │ 21 Tel. Detch. │ │ 41 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │46 Ambulance Co. │46 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │36 Field Hospital. │154 Field Hospital. │21 Vet. Hospital. │303 Field Hospital. │ │21 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │554 M. T. Col. │554 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │54 M. G. S. S. │ │ Detch. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(18th Corps District—Hesse—Nassau, Hesse—Hombourg, Frankfort.)

1914.

The 21st Division belonged organically with the 25th Division of the 18th Army Corps District (Frankfort on the Main).

ARDENNES.

1. In August, 1914, it formed a part of the 4th Army (Duke of Wurttemberg). Entering Luxemburg on August 10, Belgium August 12, it fought on the 20th at Neuf Chateau, on the 22d at Bertrix and Orgeo, on the 24th at Matton, and crossed the Meuse on the 28th.

MARNE.

2. In September it took part in the battle of the Marne between Vitry and Sermaize (Etrepy, Pargny sur Saulx). From there it retired in the direction of Rheims, being in action northwest of the city from September 15 to 20.

3. In October it was reassigned with the 18th Army Corps to the 2d Army, which at this time formed the right flank of the German Army (vicinity of Roye).

1915.

SOMME.

1. It was retained with its army corps for a year in the vicinity of Roye (until Oct. 15, 1915). In March, the 25th Division transferred the 88th Infantry Regiment for the formation of the 56th Division.

2. On October 15, 1915, it was withdrawn from the front and sent for a long rest near St. Quentin.

1916.

The 80th Fusiliers took part in the attack at Frise on January 29, 1916. A few days afterwards the 21st Division was transferred north of Verdun.

VERDUN.

1. From February 27 to March 16 it was engaged at Verdun (Caures wood, Louvemont, Douaumont).

2. From March 17 to April 9 it was reorganized (imperial review on Apr. 1, at Marville).

3. From April 10 to 25 it again attacked at Verdun. One may judge of the losses by the replacements destined to make them good: From February 27 to May 10 the 1st Company of the 80th Fusiliers received at least 205 men; the 5th Company of the 81st Infantry Regiment at least 306 (Soldbuecher). The total losses of the 21st Division from March 15 to May 19, 1916, amounted to 8,549 officers and privates for the infantry alone. (Official List of Casualties.)

4. About May 15 the 21st Division occupied the sector west of Craonne, where it was relieved in September. Two battalions of the 87th Infantry Regiment were sent in haste to Fricourt at the time of the Somme offensive (July 2).

SOMME.

5. Between September 12 and 15 the 21st Division was transferred to the Somme (sectors of Clery-Bouchavesnes), where it suffered heavily.

6. At the beginning of October it was withdrawn from the Somme front and sent to the Cotes de Meuse in the Apremont area, which it occupied until November 10.

7. At the end of November it again went into action on the Somme (sector of Gomiecourt wood of Kratz) and remained there until February 10, when it went to rest near Chaumont Porcien.

1917.

AISNE.

1. On February 26, 1917, the 21st Division was taken to the front south of Berry au Bac, between the Godat and Loivre.

2. The three regiments of the division were on line on April 16 and underwent our attack, which caused them very heavy losses (2,319 prisoners).

RUSSIA.

3. Relieved, about April 19, the 21st Division rested for a few days in the Neufchatel area and then entrained for the Eastern Front (about May 9). On the 16th it detrained at Vilna. After reorganization, it took over a sector, on June 14, in the neighborhood of Postavy (north of Lake Narotch), which it occupied until the end of September. There was no important operation during this period.

FRANCE.

4. On September 25 it was again transferred to France. Itinerary: Vilna- Posen-Leipzig-Frankfort on the Main-Saarebruecken-Luxemburg-Sedan.

5. Arriving from Russia on October 1, it went into line about the 28th, in the sector northeast of Rheims. After a rest in January, it returned there in February, 1918.

RECRUITING.

The 21st Division is recruited in Hesse-Nassau, Hesse-Homburg, and Frankfort. They have borrowed very few from other districts, except from the 8th (Rhine Province), its neighbor.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 21st Division showed itself, in the course of our attack of April 16, 1916, as a good division, which put up a serious resistance.

The 81st Infantry Regiment, however, was criticised for its conduct on April 4. (Order of the 42d Brigade, of Apr. 9.) (See Appendix to the British Summary of Information of May 12, 1917.)

On the Russian front, according to the statement of a deserter (Nov. 7, 1917), the attempts at fraternization and exchange of the Russians were badly received by order of the German commanders.

1918.

1. The division held the Clonay-La Pompelle sector until April 23. A local operation was attempted on March 1, with the demolition of Fort La Pompelle as the objective.

2. When relieved on April 23, the division rested several days at Warmeriville before being transported to St. Quentin. From there it marched by stages to Rosieres en Santerre (May 1) and later to the Avre front.

PICARDY.

3. It relieved the 2d Bavarian Division, on May 3–4 in the sector south of Thennes and held that sector for five weeks. On June 12, the division moved into second line, and reappeared in line west of Castel-Bois Senecat in mid-June. During local operations, June 26 and July 2, the division lost a number of prisoners. It was relieved about the end of July.

BATTLE OF THE SOMME.

The division returned to line on August 13 to oppose the British drive on the Somme. It was engaged north of Lihons (13th) and east of Proyart. Toward the end of August it was forced to retreat through Cappy, Frise, Clery, and Le Mont St. Quentin, until its relief on September 1. Twelve hundred prisoners were lost during the fighting.

LA CHATEAU.

5. On September 9, the division was reengaged northwest of Jeancourt for four days, again losing heavily in prisoners. From the 13th to the 30th the division rested in the vicinity of St. Quentin, close to the front. It was put back in line at Bellicourt on the 30th and remained in until October 7.

6. The division rested in the Charleroi area and later at Ghent. It was brought back to the front by stages and reengaged east of Deynze (Petegem-Ouest de Nazareth) on October 31. In the closing days, the division was identified south of Heurne (Nov. 5), Gelsen (8th), Wendle (8th), south of Ghent (10th).

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as first class. In 1918 it was used entirely on the defensive. At the end the regiments had been reduced to two battalions of three companies. Morale was very low in the fall. Between August 14 and the middle of October the division lost 2,473 prisoners on the Somme battle front.

21st Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.