HISTORY.
(Second Bavarian District—Bavaria and Lower Franconia.)
1914.
1. At mobilization the 4th Bavarian Division, with the 3d Bavarian Division, formed the 2d Bavarian Army Corps. It transferred its 8th Brigade (Metz Garrison) to the 33d Reserve Division and replaced it by the 5th Bavarian Reserve Brigade, organized in the Palatinate. The other brigade, the 7th, detrained, commencing August 3, between Morhange and Remilly. The reserve brigade detrained August 10 at St. Avold. Assembled the 18th in the rear of the Metz-Strasbourg Railroad and with the 2d Bavarian Army Corps constituted the 6th Army (Crown Prince Ruprecht of Bavaria).
Lorraine.
2. On August 20 it fought west of Morhange. Then it captured the fort of Manonviller (with the 22d Bavarian of the 3d Bavarian Division) and advanced to Mortagne, south of Luniville. September 11 it was withdrawn to the rear.
Somme.
3. September 18 the division entrained at Metz for Namur, from where it went to the north of Peronne (Sept. 25). It then became part of the 2d Army and fought from September 26 to the middle of October in the region north of the Somme (Fricout, Mametz, Montauban).
Flanders.
4. During the third and fourth weeks of October (beginning the 23d) it went to Flanders (6th Army) south of Ypres. It held the sector of Wytschaete from November 14 to October 15 and was on the defensive. November 9 the 5th Infantry was reduced to less than 800 men (notebooks).
1915.
In March, 1915, the 8th Reserve Infantry was transferred from this division to the 10th Bavarian Division.
Artois.
1. September 26, 1915, some of its units fought on the Loos-Hulluch front at the time of the British attack. In the counter attack, during which these troops retook ditch No. 8, they suffered severe losses.
In November the whole division was in the region of Loos south of Hulluch, where it stayed until August 16. In this sector it carried on mine warfare. About the end of April, 1916, it lost 1,100 men while attempting a gas attack.
1916.
Somme.
1. Toward the end of August, 1916, the division was sent to the Somme.
2. It was engaged between Martinpuich and Longueval, where it fought violent battles for the Bois Haut (Aug. 25–28 to Sept. 15). Its total losses were 5,361 men, or 60 per cent of its effectives.
Flanders.
3. Again sent to Flanders and held the sector northeast of Armentieres (east of the Bois de Ploegsteert) from October 16 to June 17.
1917.
1. In June, 1917, while still in line in front of Bois de Ploegsteert, it was in part subjected to the British attack against Messines ridge, and suffered especially from the artillery preparations. It lost 200 prisoners.
2. Relieved from the Belgian front about June 16 and sent to rest in the region of Audenarde until July 7.
3. Beginning July 9, it was engaged southeast of Armentieres (between the Lys and Wez-Macquart) July and August.
4. Withdrawn from the Armentieres sector in the middle of September and went into line northeast of Ypres, between Zonnebeke and Passchendaele, from September 26 to October 27. Suffered heavy losses (30 per cent of its forces).
Lorraine.
5. October 11 entrained at Pitthem and went to Conflans the 13th from where it went into line in the region of Thiaucourt (Limey sector). It was there still in February, 1918.
RECRUITING.
Lower Franconia and Bavarian Palatinate.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 4th Bavarian Division went through some very severe offensive and defensive fights and came through them with honors.
The prisoners examined gave proof of vigor and tenacity if not of intelligence. As soon as it is filled up again this division shall again take its place on the most effective fronts (December, 1917).
It is to be noted that February, 1918, it is not yet completely filled up and does not seem to be in shape for an offensive.
1918.
1. The division remained in the quiet Thiaucourt sector until late March when it was relieved by the 40th Division. On April 14 it entrained at Nancieulles and traveled via Audun le Romain-Longuyon-Sedan-Charleville-Hirson-Avesnes-Denain-Orchies to Rouchin. It marched to Armentieres, arriving on April 16, and proceeded to reserve near Bailleul on the following day.
Kemmel.
2. On the 23d of April the division came into line northeast of Dranoutre, suffered heavy losses about here, and was relieved about May 1.
3. The division rested until June 11 in the north of France. During this time it was reviewed by the King of Bavaria and Prince Franz. The division commander was decorated.
Flanders.
4. It returned to line near Merris about June 11. It continued in line, suffering heavy losses until July 10.
5. The division rested out of line until August 17.
6. It was reengaged on August 17 east of Bucquoy, coming from Lille via Cambrai Velu Beugny. It was withdrawn from the battle north of Bapaume on August 25, after losing 1,600 prisoners.
7. The division rested near Tourcoing until late in September.
8. On September 29 the division was identified in line in Champagne, north of Maure. Its composition had been changed by the disbandment of the 5th Bavarian Reserve Regiment and the substitution of the 4th Bavarian Regiment from the dissolved 14th Bavarian Division. The division continued on this front, with short periods in the second line, until November 4. It was identified north of Marvaux (October 4), near Monthois (October 11), between Namdy and Falaise (October 19). The division was considered in reserve 3d Army between November 4 and the armistice.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was of the first quality. It saw heavy fighting and showed itself very aggressive in attack and tenacious in defense. The extensive replacements which have been necessary did not improve the morale, but due to the high quality and spirit of the organization, it was always to be considered as a first-class division.