HISTORY.
(Upper and Middle Franconia—Bavaria.)
1914.
Lorraine.
1. At the beginning of the war the division was a part of the 3d Bavarian Army Corps, with the 6th Bavarian Division, and was part of the 6th Army (Crown Prince Ruprecht of Bavaria). Detrained between Boulay and Courcelles from August 9 to 11, it fought August 20 on the right of the 2d Bavarian Corps at Oron, Lusy, Fremery. Crossed the frontier on the 22d and advanced to Sanon, fighting on the 25th at Serres and Hoéville, and on September 2 at Einville Wood. During the days following it formed the left of the troops attacking Nancy by way of Champenoux.
Woevre.
2. After its failure the division was assembled at Metz on September 13 and 14. The 19th it was at Mars-la-Tour. From there going through La Haye it reached the Cotes de Meuse. The 7th Infantry took Nonsard the 20th and Heudicourt the 21st. Marching on the left of the 6th Bavarian Division, which went up the hill, the 5th Bavarian Division, walking along the summit, established itself in the forest of Apremont at the beginning of September 25 and held it during the whole of 1915, and, except for the months of October and November, 1915, during the summer of 1916. Its losses were quite high during the first two months of the campaign. On October 14 the 1st Company of the 14th Infantry had only 1 officer and 41 men (notebooks).
1915.
Champagne.
1. October 6, 1915, the division was sent to Champagne, via Audun le Roman-Longuyon-Sedan, to relieve the 16th Reserve Division which had been crushed by the French attack of September 25. It was engaged south of Tahure (La Courtine) beginning October 13.
Woevre.
2. At the beginning of December it returned to its old sector east of St. Mihiel.
1916.
Artois.
1. In July, 1916, the division was withdrawn from the St. Mihiel salient and sent to Artois. It held the Lens-Vimy sector until the end of August, 1916.
Somme.
2. September 7 to 8 it was engaged in the Somme (Delville Wood-Ginchy). It suffered heavy losses in the fights around Ginchy and during the British attack of September 15 (Flers, Gueudecourt).
Artois.
3. Relieved September 20, it went back into line after a few days of rest in the sector Neuve-Chapelle, south of the Armentieres road.
1917.
Artois.
1. The division remained on the front south of Armentieres during the whole winter 1916 to 1917. In February it was reduced to three regiments on the transfer of the 14th Infantry to the 16th Bavarian Division, newly organized.
2. It left the lines at the end of April, but at the beginning of May went to the sector north of Arras, where it fought heavily at Fresnoy on May 7 and southeast of Gavrelle on June 28.
Belgium.
3. Withdrawn from the Oppy-Gavrelle front July 1 and sent to rest near the Belgian-Dutch front. It went through a period of training at the Brasschaet camp in July.
Flanders.
4. About August 6 it entrained and went to Gits, via Lokeren, Ghent, Thielt, and Pitthen. From there it went to Roulers. On August 10 held the sector south of St. Julien, east of Ypres, where it suffered heavy losses in the fighting of August 15 and days following. Relieved August 24.
5. After a period of rest the division went back into line September 8 in the quiet sector of Deulemont (south of the Lys) and held it until the end of February, 1918.
RECRUITING.
Upper and Middle Franconia (3d Bavarian District).
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
Although not among the best Bavarian divisions, it was a good combat unit. In 1917 it did well at Arras and on the Ypres front where it suffered heavy losses (information from the British, February, 1918).
1918.
1. About February 13 the division was relieved, moved to Tourcoing (Feb. 14), and trained in that area until March 17, when it marched to Roubaix. It entrained and moved to Fressies (5 miles north of Cambrai), rested until the 19th, and moved to the front.
Battle of Picardy.
2. It was engaged east of Cambrai (Vaux-Vrancourt) on March 22. Retiring to second line about April 4, it rested near Sapignies until about April 11, when it was identified southeast of Boyelles. It was relieved by the 111th Division on May 6.
3. The division trained in the Somain area until May 22, when it was moved by trucks via Cantin and Palluel to Ecourt. A day later it marched to Bullecourt and relieved the 221st Division on night of May 24–25. Lieut. Gen. v. Endres, the division commander, was promoted to the command of the 1st Bavarian Corps about this time. The division was relieved in the Boyelles sector on July 15 by the 21st Reserve Division.
Battle of the Somme.
4. After resting behind the Arras Front the division entered the line near Lihons on August 10. After suffering heavy losses it withdrew from the battle front south of Peronne on September 24 and retired to the Le Cateau region.
5. It rested for a week and returned to the battle at Rumilly on the night of September 30-October 1. About October 12, after heavy losses, it was withdrawn and rested near Valenciennes.
6. On October 25 it was again put in line at Rameguies-Chin. It was last identified at Mourcourt on November 9.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The 5th Bavarian Division was a first-class division. In 1918, it was almost constantly engaged in the most active sectors on the British front.