HISTORY.
(Fifth District—Posen.)
1914.
The division was part of the 5th Reserve Corps with the 10th Reserve Division.
Meuse-Woevre.
1. At the beginning of the war it belonged to the 5th German Army (Imperial Crown Prince). Concentrated in the region of Sarrebruck and crossed the southern part of Belgian Luxemburg; fought August 22 near Ville en Montois and September 1 in the region of Consenvoye-Flabas, and was kept east of the Meuse near Sivry September 2. Toward the end of September and the beginning of October the division sent a few units to the left bank of the Meuse (Forges-Malancourt-Chattancourt). The division established itself in Woevre during the last two weeks of October and at the beginning of November in the region Etraye-Wavrille-Romagne, where it did some fighting at Maucourt November 10.
Flanders.
2. About November 13 the division was sent from the region of Verdun to Flanders. Some units of the division fought near Poelcappelle and south of Bixschoote in support of the 3d Reserve Corps. It suffered very heavy losses.
3. Again sent to Woevre during the month of December.
1915.
Woevre.
1. In January, 1915, the division held the region Gincrey-Etrain-Warcq. It remained in this section during the whole of 1915 and until the end of February, 1916. In April it transferred its 7th Reserve Infantry to form the 121st Division.
1916.
Verdun.
1. A few days before the Verdun offensive (end of February, 1916,) the regiments of the division were relieved. The 6th Reserve and the 19th Reserve organized with their best units one attack battalion each. These battalions took part with the 15th Army Corps in the violent action at the beginning and suffered heavy losses.
2. March 7 its units were reorganized behind the front and the division advanced through Maucourt-Ornes and established itself north of Vaux. March 9 and 10 the three regiments of the division attacked successfully the village and fort of Vaux. They were repulsed nearly everywhere with very heavy losses.
3. About March 12 the division was relieved from before Vaux and sent to rest in the region of Senon-Amel.
4. Went back into line about March 20 south of Damploup. It did not attack any more, but bombardments caused it heavy losses.
5. Relieved about the end of April and sent to rest in the vicinity of Saverne (Alsace) until June 12.
Champagne.
6. About June 20 it went into line in Champagne (sector of Souain-Tahure) but did not take part in any important action.
Somme.
7. Withdrawn from the front about September 20 or 25 and sent to the Somme. Engaged between the eastern limit of Bouchavesnes and the main Péronne road until October 18. It had a few losses.
8. After a period of rest, probably in the vicinity of Vouziers, it was again sent to the Somme, first behind the front southeast of Bapaume December 1, then about December 17 in line in the sector of Bouchavenes-Bois de St. Pierre-Vaast until February, 1917.
1917.
1. In February, 1917, the division held on the Somme the sector north of the Ancre—south of Achiet le Petit.
2. Withdrawn from the front about March 10 and sent to rest in the region of Cambrai, and was established on a new front about March 20 west of Catelet near Gouzeaucourt, Villers Guislain.
Artois.
3. About April 15 it was relieved and went into line south of the Scarpe, northeast of Monchy le Preaux, from the beginning of May till the beginning of June.
Flanders.
4. It was again at the front east of Armentieres from the middle of June till about July 10, then after a rest in the vicinity of Ghent it was in line on the Ypres road at Menin, east of Klein-Zillebeke, from August 10 to September 25, and fought especially on the 20th, on which date it suffered heavily. The 11th Company of the 6th Reserve Infantry was reduced to 20 men, and the 12th to 27. The 19th Reserve Infantry had the same losses. The 3d Company of the 395th Infantry lost half of its men. (Summary of information Sept. 21 and Oct. 24, 1917.)
Cambrai.
5. Reorganized in the region of Cambrai and from that time on held various sectors of this front. It fought November 23 to 30 at Banteux, Masnières, and in December south of Marcoing. In January, 1918, it was at La Vacquerie and was relieved there February 21.
RECRUITING.
The Province of Posen, with a few units from other districts, for example the ninth, to reduce the proportion of Poles.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The division fought well in many battles at the end of 1917, especially east of Ypres and before Cambrai.
1918.
Battle of Picardy.
1. The division reinforced the front southwest of Cambrai on March 22 and advanced by Montauban-Maricourt to west of Albert. It was relieved about the 1st of April. After losing heavily in the offensive it was withdrawn.
Lens.
2. It came into line in the quiet sector near Lens about April 10, relieving the 12th Reserve Division. On the 23d it shifted its sector south to Avion. The 12th Reserve Division returned from the Lys front to relieve it on about April 29.
3. The division moved north and entered the battle line in the Festubert sector on April 29. It continued in this sector until September 27, effecting only local reliefs. It reentered at once at Marcoing on September 29. A month later it arrived at Ath from line and went into line on November 2 at Hermes. The last identification was at Ellezelle on November 10.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as a second-class division. During 1918 its length of stay on the British front was remarkable. Nothing is known of its morale or losses.