Part 6

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division has suffered very heavily, notwithstanding the fact that, until about the 10th of August, it had taken no part in any really important actions this year. On the 18th of September the 1st Reserve Regiment was almost wiped out, its three battalion officers being captured with their staffs. It had also suffered a great many casualties the 9th and 10th of August. It is difficult to estimate the strength of its companies, owing to the fact that it is still in an active sector, but it is probably not over 50 rifles.

In the main the recruitment is East Prussian. There have been many Alsace-Lorrainers in its ranks, but since many of these have deserted there are probably not a great many of them left. For the most part the men are between 25 and 35 years old, but there are many older men and something less than 10 per cent of the division is made up by recruits of the 1919 class. It is again to be noted that the division was not employed in any of the German offensives this year.

Its conduct was remarkable in no way during the division’s participation in the heavy fighting around Hangest, Beuvraignes, and to the north of St. Quentin. During the early part of the year, when the division was in line in Champagne, there were a great many desertions, especially among the Alsace-Lorraine element. There have also been many cases of mutiny, especially in the 59th Reserve, the worst of the three regiments. About the middle of August a batch of some 500 recruits started out from the interior for the division. To sustain the morale of the men, these recruits were told they were going to simply support the artillery. Notwithstanding this, less than 250 men remained when the draft reached its true destination—the front lines. The men are very tired of the war, but on the whole seem resigned to the necessity of doing their duty.

The 1st Reserve is rated as a third-class division.

1st Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │6 Mixed │34 Ldw. │6 Ldw. │34 Ldw. │34 Ldw. │31 Ldw. │ Ldw. │ │ │ │ │ │ │49 Ldw. │ │49 Ldw. │ │37 Ldw. │ │ │ │ │ │84 Ldw. │34 Mixed │31 Ldw. │34 Mixed │31 Ldw. │ │ │ Ldw. │ │ Ldw. │ │ │ │ │84 Ldw. │ │33 Ldw. │ │ │ │ │ │84 Ldw. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │ │90 Ldw. Cav. Rgt. │2d Sqn. 10 Drag. │ │ │ Rgt. │ │2d Sqn. 10 Drag. │ │ │ Rgt. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │ │96 F. A. Rgt. │128 Art. Command: │ │219 F. A. Rgt. │ 96 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │1 Co. 23 Pion. Btn.│(401) Eng. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │2 Co. 23 Ers. Pion.│ 1 Co. 1 Ers. Pion. │ │ Btn. │ Btn. │ │ │ 3 Co. 26 Ers. │ │ │ Pion. Btn. │ │ │ 301 T. M. Co. │ │ │ 279 Searchlight │ │ │ Section. │ │ │ 501 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │215 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │2 Ldw. Field │ │ │ Hospital. │ │ │9 Ldw. Field │ │ │ Hospital. │ │ │201 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │ │ │M. T. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Odd Units. │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │34 Ldw. │31 Ldw. │34 Ldw. │31 Ldw. │ │ │ │ │ │33 Ldw. │ │33 Ldw. │ │84 Ldw. │ │84 Ldw. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │2d Sqn. 12 Horse │3 Sqn. 12 Horse │ Jag. │ Jag. Rgt. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │ │96 F. A. Rgt. │ │782 Light Am. Col. │ │1036 Light Am. Col. │ │1047 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │401 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ │ 1 Ers. Co. 1 │ │ Pions. │ │ 2 Ldw. Co. 2 C. │ │ Dist. Pions. │ │ 301 T. M. Co. │ │ 142 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ │501 Signal Command: │ │ 501 Tel. Detch. │ │ 190 Wireless │ │ Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │215 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │ │146 Field Hospital. │ │ │ │279 Field Hospital. │ │ │ │201 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Odd Units. │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

1914–15.

Called Jacobi’s Division at the beginning of the war, and a part of the 1st Landwehr Corps, the 1st Landwehr Division fought under this corps on the eastern front. It was first called the 10th Landwehr Division, taking the name of 1st Landwehr Division in July, 1915. It comprised the 6th Mixed Landwehr Brigade (34th and 49th Landwehr Regiments) and the 34th Mixed Landwehr Brigade (31st and 84th Landwehr Regiments).

EAST PRUSSIA-POLAND.

1. First engaged in East Prussia (Angerburg, Gumbinnen, August, 1914, to January, 1915), Jacobi’s Division took part in the operations between Mariampol and Suwalki. Early in March, 1915, it was before Lomza; then in the Ossowiec region on the Bobr. It was at this time that the division became known as the 1st Landwehr Division, and the 33d Landwehr Regiment was attached to it.

2. At the beginning of August the division was in the Kalvariia region, Suwalki. It took part in the summer offensive, but remained in support, never doing any actual fighting.

COURLAND.

3. After a rest on the Little Berezina, it went to Courland, going into line in the Uxkuell region (October).

1916.

1. The division remained to the south of Riga until the end of July, 1916.

VOLHYNIA.

2. In August it went to Volhynia, where it took over the Borovno sector (on the Stokhod) and held it for more than a year, until about November, 1917. The 6th Landwehr Brigade was taken away and remained in the Mitau region (April, 1916). Since then the division has been composed of only three regiments.

1917.

VOLHYNIA.

1. Relieved in the Borovno sector toward the end of 1917, went to rest in the vicinity of Kovel. In January, 1918, the division received reinforcements from the 9th Landwehr Regiment (dissolved) and also from the 20th Landsturm Regiment. It had already had men of the 1919 class since November, 1917. Still more arrived in February, 1918, when the division was on the point of departing for Belgium.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

In theory, the 31st and 84th Landwehr Regiments were recruited in the 9th Corps District; the 33d Landwehr Regiment in the 1st Corps District. Latterly, however, widely diversified elements have been introduced—men of the 20th Landsturm Regiment (18th Corps District); from the 9th Landsturm Regiment (2d Corps District); also men from the 3d, 7th, and 17th Districts (class 1919). There is, too, a considerable number of Alsace-Lorrainers (33d Landwehr Regiment).

The 1st Landwehr is a mediocre division, composed of old men and of others that have little military value. (March, 1918.)

1918.

BELGIUM.

1. The division was then taken to the western front, and after some time spent in reserve (it was probably trained in the methods of warfare employed on the western front, although there is no evidence to establish it) it relieved the 35th Division near Merckem, March 20. It was relieved about April 19 by elements of the 83d Division.

2. April 26 it was identified in the St. Julien-Hooge sector, replacing part of the 236th Division, which side slipped to the south. In an unsuccessful attack during this time it suffered exceedingly heavy losses.

ALSACE.

3. The division was relieved by the 6th Cavalry Division during the night of July 27–28 and went to rest in the Vosges.

4. About October 3 the division relieved the 30th Bavarian Reserve Division near Aspach le Bas.

WOEVRE.

5. It was withdrawn from this sector soon afterwards to be thrown in to meet the American advance east of the Meuse, being identified west of Flabas October 16. They lost heavily, staying in until the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 1st Landwehr is rated as a third-class division. Still, although many of its younger men were sent to other divisions just before it came to the western front, it did rather well, its commanding officer having been promoted after its participation in the battle of the Lys, and the division as a whole having been lauded several times in the official communiques.

1st Bavarian Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │1 Bav. │Body Inf.│1 Bav. │1 Bav. │2 Bav. │2 Bav. │ │1 Bav. │2 Bav. │2 Bav. │ │1 Bav. │2 Bav. │2 Bav. │ │24 Bav. │ │24 Bav. │ │16 Bav. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │8 Bav. Light Cav. │ │8 Bav. Light Cav. │ │ │ (3 Sqns). ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │1 Bav. Brig.: │1 Bav. Brig.: │1 Bav. Brig.: │ │ │ │ 1 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │ 1 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │ 1 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │ 7 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │ 7 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │ 7 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│1 Bav. Eng. Btn. │1 Bav. Eng. Btn. (1│1 Bav. Eng. Btn. (1 Liaisons. │ (1st and 3d Field│ and 3 Field │ and 3 Field │ Cos.). │ Cos.): │ Cos.): │ │ 1 Bav. Pontoon │ 1 Bav. T. M. Co. │ │ Engs. │ │ │ 1 Bav. Tel. Detch.│ 1 Bav. Pontoon │ │ │ Engs. │ │ │ 1 Bav. Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │1 Bav. │2 Bav. │1 Bav. │1 Bav. │ │1 Bav. │ │2 Bav. │ │24 Bav. │ │24 Bav. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │8 Bav. Light Cav. │2 Sqn. 8 Bav. Light │ (2d and 3d Sqns).│ Cav. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │1 Bav. Art. │1 Bav. Art. │ Command: │ Command: │ 1 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │ 1 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │ │ 9 Bav. Ft. A. Btn. │ │ 123 Bav. Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 146 Bav. Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 158 Bav. Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│1 and 3 Bav. Pion. │1 Bav. Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ Cos. │ │ │ │1 Bav. T. M. Co. │ 1 Bav. Pion. Co. │ │ │1 Bav. Searchlight │ 3 Bav. Pion. Co. │ Section. │ │1 Bav. Tel. Detch. │ 1 Bav. T. M. Co. │1 Bav. Pontoon │ 1 Bav. Searchlight │ Engs. │ Section. │ │1 Bav. Signal │ │ Command: │ │ 1 Bav. Tel. Detch. │ │ 40 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │1 Bav. Ambulance │1 Bav. Ambulance Veterinary.│ Co. │ Co. │Field Hospital. │3 Bav. Field │ │ Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │4 Bav. Field │ │ Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

1914.

LORRAINE.

1. At the beginning of the war the 1st Bavarian Division, forming, with the 2d Bavarian Division, the 1st Bavarian Corps, was part of the 6th Army (Bavarian Crown Prince). It detrained at Sarrebruecken (Aug. 8–9), crossed the frontier, sacked Badonviller the 12th, and withdrew to the north of Sarrebruecken the 17th. It fought at Sarrebruecken the 20th. In liaison on the left with the Badeners of the 14th Corps, it crossed the frontier and advanced to Nossoncourt and Xaffévillers (Sept. 6) via Baccarat. September 12 the division, having been withdrawn, was reassembled at Peltre (near Metz). It then entrained at Metz the 14th and 15th, and detrained near Namur, reaching Péronne the 24th.

SOMME.

2. In the last days of September, 1914, at the time of the “race to the sea,” the two divisions of the 1st Bavarian Corps were in the 2d Army (Von Buelow), which operated on the Somme in the Péronne region. They became heavily engaged notably at Combles (Oct. 24) and at Maricourt (Dec. 17). By November 4 the 1st Bavarian Regiment had had casualties of 63 officers and 2,090 men since the beginning of the war. (Casualty list.)

1915.

ARTOIS.

1. The 1st Bavarian Division was kept in line on the Somme (Dompierre- Maricourt) until October, 1915. Its composition was changed—the Body Infantry Regiment went to the Alpine Corps, the 16th Infantry to the 10th Bavarian Division. In return, the 24th Infantry (a new formation) was received.

2. The division was taken to the region north of Arras (Neuville-Souchez sector), where it remained almost seven months (October, 1915-May, 1916).

1916.

VERDUN.

1. About May, 1916, the division was relieved to the west of Vimy and sent to the Verdun front, where it took part in the battles near Douaumont (May 23), and in those of June 1 and 8.

2. Re-formed in the Romagne-sous-les-Côtes area, it reentered line about June 22 for new attacks. During this offensive the division suffered severely. It was relieved at the beginning of July.

3. After a short rest behind the Verdun front the division reoccupied the Apremont-St. Mihiel sector, remaining there until October 11, when it was reconstituted, receiving large reinforcements (recuperates and men of the 1916 class).

SOMME.

4. Taken to the Caudry sector (near Cambrai), it was engaged on the Somme (Sailly-Saillisel, Morval) October 13 to end of November, where its losses were once again exceedingly heavy.

5. The division reappeared in the region of St. Mihiel (Bois d’Ailly- Forêt d’Apremont sector) the beginning of December, and remained there until the early days of May, 1917.

1917.

PLATEAU DE CALIFORNIE.

1. Entrained about May 7 at Vigneulles, it proceeded to the Laon region, where it was in reserve (May 8–12). The following day it took over the sector west of Hurtebise, where it participated in several attacks (May 20-June 17), losing heavily therein.

2. The division was relieved June 21 and went to rest south of Mezieres (La Francheville, etc.), where it was reconstituted.

CHAMPAGNE.

3. July 25 it went back into line on the Champagne front (sector south of Ste. Marie-a-Py); it did not take part in any important engagements there.

4. The division was withdrawn December 27.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The division was recruited in the southern part of Bavaria. The presence of contingents from the Bavarian Alps was responsible for the withdrawal of the Body Regiment to form the Alpine Corps.

Despite the losses it suffered during May and June in the Hurtebise sector, the 1st Bavarian Division may still be considered a good division. It has had time to reconstitute itself during the long calm period spent in Champagne (July 25-Dec. 27, 1917).

1918.

ARGONNE.

1. Withdrawn from line, the division was put through a course of training. It relieved the 80th Reserve Division north of Vauquois February 17.

2. It was relieved by the 80th Reserve Division about the 1st of March.

ST. QUENTIN.

3. The opening day of the March offensive the division reinforced the front south of St. Quentin. It was withdrawn the next day.

4. March 23 it came back into line north of Chauny. It was withdrawn about the 30th.

LASSIGNY.

5. April 6 it relieved the 3d Bavarian Division west of Lassigny. It was in turn relieved by the 3d Bavarian Division on the 12th.

CHAMPAGNE.

6. Having suffered a great deal in the fighting on the Somme, the division was taken to a quiet sector in Champagne, relieving the 52d Reserve Division May 1 north of Souain. About June 30 it was relieved by the 30th Division.

7. It reinforced the front near Souain July 15. It was withdrawn about the 31st.

SOISSONS.

8. The division entered line northeast of Soissons August 11.

NOYON.

9. It was relieved by the Jaeger Division about August 19, and moved to the west, taking over the Cuts sector, southeast of Noyon, August 20, and was withdrawn the 22d.

COUCY-LE-CHATEAU.

10. August 31 the division was identified at Folembray, northwest of Coucy-le-Chateau; withdrawn about September 12.

CHAMPAGNE.

11. About September 27 it took over the Manre sector, southeast of Vouziers, where it remained, fighting, until the signing of the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 1st Bavarian is rated as a first-class assault division; it was utilized as such throughout 1918. It fought well; its losses were severe.

1st Bavarian Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.