HISTORY.
(Third Bavarian District—Upper Palatinate, Upper and Middle Franconia.)
1916.
1. This division was formed at the beginning of October, 1916, at Caudry and vicinity, and was one of the series of divisions organized at that time from drafts of units from already existing divisions.
Aisne.
2. Went into line at the beginning of October east of Craonne, in the sector of Ville au Bois.
3. At the beginning of December it was sent to rest between Cambrai and Le Cateau.
1917.
Somme.
1. The division was sent to the Somme and sent in its regiments singly to reinforce the sectors of Saillisel and Transloy in January, 1917.
Aisne.
2. At the beginning of February the division was sent back to the region of Laon-La Malmaison. It returned to the sector of Ville au Bois, where it opposed the French offensive of April 16 and lost 2,300 captured and many casualties; the 2d and 3d Battalions of the 14th Reserve Infantry were almost all taken prisoners.
Lorraine.
3. Relieved April 20 and sent to Lorraine, where it occupied the sector of Moncel-Arracourt May 1 to the beginning of August.
Flanders.
4. August 1 it entrained at St. Avold for Flanders. Detrained at Roulers and was placed in reserve in the region Staden-Zarren from August 9 to 16. It fought August 17 north of Ypres at Bixschoote-Langemarck, suffered heavy losses, and remained in line only three days.
Woevre.
5. August 24 it took over the sector of the Apremont forest near St. Mihiel until the end of October.
Flanders.
6. Returned to Flanders and sent to rest in the vicinity of Bruges and Ostend in October and November. About November 22 it went into line in the sector of Lombartzyde and left it at the beginning of December.
Cambrai.
7. It returned almost immediately to the front south of Cambrai (Gonnelieu-Villers-Guislain) in December, then to the sector of Hargicourt in January, 1918.
RECRUITING.
Almost entirely from the Third Bavarian District-Upper Palatinate, Upper and Lower Franconia.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The division opposed a considerable resistance to the French attack of April 16, 1916, and gave proof of good qualities and defense.
1918.
1. The division was not engaged on March 21, being in reserve near Estrees from the 21st to the 24th. It was then used to clear up the ground near Bellenglise until March 27. It marched to the front by Mont St. Quentin, Vermandovillers, and Harvonnieres.
Villers Bretonneux.
2. From April 4 to 21 it was engaged near Villers Bretonneux. In the counterattack of the opening day a battalion of the 11th Bavarian Reserve Regiment ran away. For a week the division was in reserve south of Bray sur Somme. On April 27 it returned to line northeast of Villers Bretonneux, remaining until May 6.
3. It rested west of St. Quentin from May 11 to 17.
Battle of the Matz.
4. On the 19th the division entered the line on the Oise east of Noyon. After the 26th it was in front of Noyon. The division took part in the attack of June 6 on Suzay-Thiescourt-Passel. Relieved about the middle of June, the division was disbanded about June 27. Its regiments were turned into the 12th Bavarian Division.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as a second-class division. It was inferior to the other Bavarian units. Its morale was bad prior to its dissolution.