HISTORY.
(83d Landwehr: Eleventh District—Thuringia and Electoral Hesse. 116th Landwehr and 118th Landwehr: Eighteenth District—Grand Duchy of Hesse.)
1915.
Argonne.
1. This division was organized in the Argonne at the beginning of 1915 from infantry units in sector in that region and in Champagne. The 43d Landwehr Brigade detrained at Boulay (Lorraine) August 20, 1914, and fought in the Woevre the 24th. The 49th Landwehr Brigade was sent to Luxemburg August 20, followed the Eighteenth Reserve Corps, and took part with it in the battle of the Marne. In October the two brigades were in the Argonne.
2. From the time of its organization did not leave the Argonne. From the beginning of 1915 it held the sector at or near the Aisne (north of Ville sur Tourbe and north of Vienne le Chateau).
1916.
Argonne.
1. Sector north of Vienne le Chateau, from the region of Rouvroy to the ravine of Fontaine aux Charmes.
1917.
Argonne.
1. Sector north of Vienne le Chateau.
RECRUITING.
83d Landwehr: Electorate Hesse and Thuringia. 116th and 118th Landwehr: Grand Duchy of Hesse and Rhenish country. The document of July 11, 1917, calls the two regiments in question “Rhenish.”
At the end of 1917 and during the first months of 1918 the division exchanged a large number of men with the divisions stationed near it, which modified its regional composition to a certain degree.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
Sector division. (1918.)
The division had one storm company in July, 1917, and each regiment had a “Stosstrupp.”
1918.
The division continued to hold the sector in the Argonne Woods until the American attack on September 26. It was engaged on the opening days and withdrew on the 28th. The shattered elements were re-formed and reentered at once on the extreme right flank of the 4th French Army in the vicinity of the Aisne. The last identification was at Villers sur le Mont on November 10.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as a fourth-class division. On the defensive it showed some fighting ability.