Part 72
50th Reserve Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │99 Res. │229 Res. │99 Res. │229 Res. │99 Res. │229 Res. │ │230 Res. │ │230 Res. │ │230 Res. │100 Res. │231 Res. │100 Res. │231 Res. │ │231 Res. │ │232 Res. │ │232 Res. │ │ │ 22 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 22 Res. Jag. Btn. │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │50 Res. Cav. Detch.│50 Res. Cav. Detch.│50 Res. Cav. Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │50 Res. F. A. Rgt. │50 Res. F. A. Rgt. │50 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ (9 Btries.). │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│50 Res. Pion. Co. │50 Res. Pion. Co. │50 Res. Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │50 Res. Pont. Engs.│250 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │50 Res. Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │50 Res. Ambulance │ Veterinary.│ │ Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │99 Res. │229 Res. │99 Res. │229 Res. │ │230 Res. │ │230 Res. │ │231 Res. │ │231 Res. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │50 Res. Cav. Detch.│50 Res. Cav. Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │(z) Art. Command: │68 Art. Command: │ │ │ 50 Res. F. A. Rgt.│ 50 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ │ 81 Ft. A. Btn. │ │ (Staff, 1, 2, and │ │ 3 Btries.). │ │ 705 Light Am. Col. │ │ 902 Light Am. Col. │ │ 923 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│(350) Pion. Btn.: │350 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 50 Res. Pion. Co. │ 2 Res. Co. 19 │ │ Pions. │ 2 Res. Co. 19 │ 50 Res. Pion. Co. │ Pion. Btn. │ │ 250 T. M. Co. │ 250 T. M. Co. │ 325 Searchlight │ 30 Searchlight │ Section. │ Section. │ 450 Tel. Detch. │450 Signal Command: │ │ 450 Tel. Detch. │ │ 60 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │532 Ambulance Co. │532 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │Field Hospital. │21 Res. Field │ │ Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │84 Res. Field │ │ Hospital. │ │450 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │737 M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
HISTORY.
(10th Corps District—Hanover and Brunswick.)
1914.
1. The 50th Reserve Division (belonging to the 1st series of divisions created between August and October, 1914), formed a part of the 25th Reserve Corps with the 49th Reserve Division. It received its training, at the time of its formation, in the Alten-Grabow Camp in the 4th Corps District.
POLAND.
2. In the middle of October the 50th Reserve Division and the 49th Reserve Division belonged to the 8th Army (Von Hindenburg) and took part in the second German offensive in Poland (battles between the Vistula and the Warta in October, Lodz in November, on the Bzura-Rawka front in December).
Since November the 25th Reserve Corps has belonged to the 9th Army.
1915.
1. Engaged in the operations along the Bzura (region of Bolimow) during the winter and spring of 1915, the 50th Reserve Division took part in the summer offensive of Von Hindenburg and pursued the Russians to the vicinity of Baranovitchi. In June it transferred the 232d Reserve Infantry Regiment to the 107th Division, a new formation.
2. In September the 25th Reserve Corps was dissolved—the 49th Reserve Division remained in Russia, the 50th Reserved Division was transferred to the Western Front. The division entrained at Kovno on October 7. (Itinerary: Koenigsberg-Marienburg-Stettin-Hamburg-Bremen-Osnabrueck- Muenster-Aix la Chapelle-Namur-Givet.) It detrained at Rethel October 13–14.
FRANCE-CHAMPAGNE.
3. On October 16 the 50th Reserve Division was sent to Champagne. It cooperated in the gas attack of October 27 in the vicinity of Rheims and remained in line until December 19.
ARTOIS.
4. Entraining at Witry les Rheims for Douai on December 21, it took over the sector Roclincourt, east of Neuville-St. Vaast.
1916.
1. Having lost heavily at Neuville-St. Vaast, the 50th Reserve Division was withdrawn from this sector in March, 1916, and south of Armentières (Grenier wood), from April to September. It rested in this calm sector.
SOMME.
2. About December 16 the division was relieved and went into action on the Somme (Martinpuich-Flers), from September 20 to 28. It suffered very heavily there.
3. From October 6 to November 11 it occupied the sector south of the canal of La Bassée (northeast of Vermelles).
4. The division returned to the Somme, on both banks of the Ancre (near Miraumont, Grandcourt), about November 20, and remained in this active sector until December 22.
5. At the end of December it went to rest in the vicinity of Valenciennes.
1917.
1. In January, 1917, the elements of the 50th Reserve Division were in reserve at Achiet le Petit.
SOMME.
2. At the end of January the 50th Reserve Division came back into line north of the Ancre (Beaumont-Hamel); it lost heavily there (200 prisoners) on February 11.
3. Withdrawn from the Somme front at the beginning of March, it went into line east of Transloy (south of Bapaume) on March 13. It withdrew to the Hindenburg Line, near Metz en Couture (southwest of Cambrai), and remained there from the end of March to April 18.
ARTOIS.
4. After a rest in the vicinity of Douai until the middle of May, the division took over the sector of Oppy-Gavrelle, northeast of Arras, where it did not take part in any important action (May 18 to June 10).
FLANDERS.
5. Transferred to the Ypres front about June 11, in anticipation of the British attack, it was kept in reserve in the vicinity of Roulers until July 24.
6. On July 31 the 50th Reserve Division went into action in St. Julien and suffered heavy losses while fighting for the possession of the village (Aug. 1–2).
7. Relieved on August 10 it was sent to rest in the vicinity of Mons and went back into line on September 20, was engaged on the 26th in the vicinity of Gheluvelt, and left the Ypres front on October 3, after serious losses—the 1st Company of the 231st Reserve Infantry Regiment was reduced to 15 men after September 21, the 6th Company to 28. (British Summary of Information, Oct. 24.)
LILLE.
8. At the end of October it took over a sector in the vicinity of Lille (Fromelles) (until the middle of December).
CAMBRAI.
9. It then occupied the lines before Cambrai south of Marcoing and Masnières (Dec. 21-Jan. 31, 1918).
RECRUITING.
At the beginning the 50th Reserve Division was composed of drafts from Silesia and Prussian Saxony, but after the end of 1915 it received most of its replacements from the 10th Corps District. The 229th Reserve Infantry Regiment is from Brunswick; the two others from Hanover. In certain documents we find the division designated as “troops from lower Saxony.”
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 50th Reserve Division took part in a great number of battles.
Its morale was shaken by the heavy losses which it suffered; it has improved very much.
The division fought comparatively well at Ypres.
1918.
1. The 50th Reserve Division was withdrawn from line south of Marcoing on the 31st of January, the neighboring divisions extending their fronts, and went to the area east of Cambrai, where it received training in open warfare.
PICARDY.
2. On the 13th of March the division marched from Cagnoncles via Carnières and Cattenières to Esnes, and on the 17th proceeded to Villers Outreaux. On the 20th it came into line southwest of Cambrai and took part in the attack of the 21st. The division suffered very heavy losses and was relieved by the 9th Reserve Division on the 22d, going to rest at Liéramont (northeast of Peronne).
3. On the 23d the division followed up the advance behind the 9th Reserve Division via St. Pierre-Vaast wood (24th), Rancourt-Combles (25th), Montauban (26th), Fricourt (27th), and on the following day went into line southwest of Albert, carrying out an unsuccessful attack. In another attack against the ridge west of Dernancourt on April 5 the division was beaten back with heavy losses. It was relieved on the 9th and went to rest at Maricourt.
4. During the night of April 17–18 it relieved the 18th Division near Morlancourt (south of Albert). It was relieved by the 199th Division early in May and went to rest and refit in the Solesmes area.
5. On the 24th of May it traveled by rail to Montauban (south of Albert), marched via Maricourt to Carnoy the following day, and came into line during the night of May 27th–28th south of Albert. It was relieved by the 54th Reserve Division on June 28 and went to rest near Cambrai.
SOISSONS.
6. On the 19th of July the division entrained at Le Cateau and traveled via St. Quentin to Chauny, where it was loaded on trucks and sent to the Forêt de Pinon. On the 28th it relieved the 20th Division near Buzancy (south of Soissons). Here it was gradually forced to retire toward the northeast, was finally withdrawn to the north of Braine about the 20th of August, and went to the region between Laval and Laon.
7. The presence of elements of the 231st Reserve Regiment was reported the 4th of September west of Vauxaillon, and on the 6th to the south of Neuville sous Margival, the rest of the regiment being in the Urcel- Laval region.
8. On September 14 the whole division went back into line east of Soissons near the Mennejean Farm. This was surrounded by the French on the 15th. The following day Sancy fell to them, too. The same day the plateau to the east and northeast of the Mennejean Farm was captured. On the 18th the division lost still more ground and prisoners; it was withdrawn on the 21st and went to rest near St. Pierre a Arnes (south of Machault).
RHEIMS.
9. On the 2d of October the division came back into line northeast of Rheims, near Bétheny, and went through very heavy fighting. It was still in line on November 11.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
On October 11 the following was written: “The division did fairly well in its recent encounters, the men, though lacking in enthusiasm, seeming possessed by a dogged determination to do what they conceived to be their duty. The morale, which was good, has been very much lowered by recent losses.” That this statement is erroneous seems to be proved by the fact that the German communiqués of October 22, November 1 and 2, say that the division “had shown particular merit in the recent fighting, retook their position in counterattack and repulsed hostile attacks,” “bore the brunt of the fighting * * * without showing signs of weariness,” and “again maintained their positions against heavy attacks.” Therefore, although the division suffered heavy losses, especially in the spring, it is still to be considered as second class.
51st Reserve Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │101 Res. │233 Res. │101 Res. │233 Res. │101 Res. │233 Res. │ │234 Res. │ │234 Res. │ │235 Res. │102 Res. │235 Res. │102 Res. │235 Res. │102 Res. │234 Res. │ │236 Res. │ │236 Res. │ │236 Res. │ 23 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 23 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 23 Res. Jag. Btn. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Cavalry. │51 Res. Cav. Detch.│51 Res. Cav. Detch.│51 Res. Cav. Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │51 Res. F. A. Rgt. │51 Res. F. A. Rgt. │51 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ (9 Btries.). │ │ │ │Mobile Ers. Detch. │ │ │ of 26 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│51 Res. Pion. Co. │51 Res. Pion. Co. │51 Res. Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │51 Res. Pont. Engs.│251 T. M. Co. │ │ │51 Res. Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │51 Res. Ambulance │ Veterinary.│ │ Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Odd units. │ │ │Cylist Co. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │102 Res. │234 Res. │102 Res. │234 Res. │ │235 Res. │ │235 Res. │ │236 Res. │ │236 Res. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │51 Res. Cav. Detch.│51 Res. Cav. Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │(?) Art. Command: │51 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ 51 Res. F. A. Rgt.│ 1 Abt. 11 Res. Ft. │ │ A. Rgt. │ │ 896 Light Am. Col. │ │ 897 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1395 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│(351) Pion. Btn.: │351 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 7 Co. 28 Pions. │ 7 Co. 28 Pions. │ 51 Res. Pion. Co. │ 51 Res. Pion. Co. │ 251 T. M. Co. │ 33 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ 258 Searchlight │451 Signal Command: │ Section. │ │ 451 Tel. Detch. │ 451 Tel. Detch. │ │ 85 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │263 Vet. Hospital. │533 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │533 Ambulance Co. │87 Res. Field │ │ Hospital. │87 Res. Field │88 Res. Field │ Hospital. │ Hospital. │90 Res. Field │263 Vet. Hospital. │ Hospital. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │738 M. T. Col. │738 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Odd units. │Cylist Co. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
HISTORY.
(11th Corps District—Electorate of Hesse and Thuringia.)
1914.
FLANDERS.
1. The 51st Reserve Division (of the series of divisions created between August and October, 1914), forming the 26th Reserve Corps with the 52d Reserve Division, went into action northeast of Ypres in the middle of October. It fought on the line Cortemarck-Moorslede on the 22d, reached Langemarck on the 24th, and finally took up its position near Poelcappelle.
1915.
YPRES.
1. The division remained in the area northeast of Ypres (Poelcappelle, Langemarck, St. Julien) during the entire year of 1915, and until September, 1916. In September, 1916, it transferred the 233d Reserve Infantry Regiment to the 195th Division, a new formation, in consequence of the Russian advance in Galicia.
1916.
SOMME.
1. On September 16, 1916, the 51st Reserve Division was relieved from the sector of Wieltje (north of the Ypres-Zonnebeke road) and transferred to the Somme. It went into action between Combles and Morval about December 18 and suffered very heavy losses from the British attack of the 26th.
CHAMPAGNE.
2. After occupying the Lille front (Neuve Chapelle) for a few days, the division was sent to Champagne at the beginning of October.
It took over the sector of Tahure-Rouvroy (south of Ripont) in the middle of October.
1917.
CHAMPAGNE.
1. The 51st Reserve Division remained on the Massiges front until the middle of May, 1917, with a short rest at the end of February.
2. It was engaged in the attacks on Maisons de Champagne in March, and suffered quite heavily.
3. In the middle of May it went into line near Nauroy and Moronvilliers (Casque-Mont Haut), where it lost heavily.
4. Withdrawn from the front about June 8, it returned, after a short rest in the vicinity of Marvaux, to the sector east of Tahure (June 22- Aug. 10).
MEUSE.
5. Brought back to the right bank of the Meuse, after a rest in the vicinity of Sedan-Montmédy, the division occupied the sector of Samogneux-Hill 344, about August 22, and lost heavily (French attack of Aug. 25, German attack of Sept. 9).
CHAMPAGNE.
6. It was relieved about September 12 and sent to rest behind the Champagne front.
RECRUITING.
Mixed at the time of its formation, the division is actually recruited in the 11th Corps District (Electorate of Hesse and Thuringia), and is so designated in various documents. Beginning with March 13, 1917, it has received young men of the 1918 class who have less than four months’ training (236th Reserve Infantry Regiment).
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 51st Reserve Division was good at the beginning of the war, but now appears mediocre.
Health conditions seem to be poor (August, 1917).
1918.
CHAMPAGNE.
1. The 51st Reserve Division remained in the Vouziers being trained until about the 20th of January, when it relieved the 52d Division near the Butte du Mesnil. It was relieved early in March and went to the Vouziers-Rethel area, where it received some more training in open warfare.
PICARDY.
2. On the 20th it entrained, and arrived at Etreux (north of Guise) the following day. From there it marched via St. Quentin-Ham-Roye-Faverolles to Montdidier, where it arrived on the 30th. The following day it reenforced the front near Ayencourt (south of Montdidier), relieving the 9th Division. It was relieved by the 2d Division during the night of the 1st-2d of May and went to rest in the Chimay area.
AISNE.
3. On the 30th of May the division, thoroughly rested and brought up to strength, reenforced the battle front near Vauxbuin (southwest of Soissons). Here it became heavily engaged and suffered severe losses, especially the first two days. It was relieved near Cutry (southwest of Soissons) on June 16, and went to rest near Oulchy le Chateau.
4. During the night of July 19–20, the division reenforced the front near Blanzy (south of Soissons). Here it became heavily engaged. It was forced back by the Allied counteroffensive, and was withdrawn from line south of Braine early in August. It went to rest near Marle.
CHAMPAGNE.
5. On September 28 the division entered line near Somme-Py (north of Suippes). Here it was badly handled and had to be withdrawn on the 4th of October, when it had been driven back to St. Etienne à Py. It then rested for a day or two near Vouziers.
OISE.
6. On the 6th it entrained at Vouziers and Vrizy and arrived at La Ferté-Chevresis two days later. It was then put on trucks and moved up to the front, taking over the Bernot-Origny sector (east of St. Quentin) on the 8th. It was withdrawn about the 15th.
CHAMPAGNE.
7. After having rested a fortnight between the Oise and the Aisne, the division entered line east of Rethel on the 31st, remaining in line until the signing of the armistice.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.