HISTORY.
(Fifth District—Posen.)
1914.
France.
1. At mobilization the division, with the 9th Reserve Division, formed the 5th Reserve Corps. It was part of the 5th Army (Crown Prince of Prussia) and took part in the offensive which went around Verdun from the north. It fought at Ville en Montois August 22, in the Region of Consenvoiye-Flabas September 1, and in the vicinity of Sivry sur Meuse September 2. It remained on the right bank of the Meuse until the end of September.
Meuse.
2. About October 1 some of the units of the 10th Reserve Division were sent to the left bank (Cuisy-Forges-Gercourt).
3. At the beginning of November the division was regrouped in the region of Damvillers (right bank). Took part in the attacks toward Azannes November 10 and established itself in the sector of Consenvoye-Azannes (northeast of Orne-Bois des Caures in November and December).
1915.
1. The division held the region east of Consenvoye-Flabas-Bois des Caures-Azannes until the Verdun offensive February, 1916.
Woevre.
2. At the end of September, 1915, at the beginning of the French attack in Champagne, some units of the division (battalions of the 37th Reserves and 98th Reserves were sent as reinforcements to vicinity of Ville sur Tourbe and Massiges.)
1916.
Verdun.
1. About February 15, 1916, the division was relieved from the sector on the right bank of the Meuse and put in reserve. During the first days of the offensive it engaged only a few attack battalions. Beginning March 12 it was in line before Vaux and Fort Vaux and had very heavy losses. April 3 the 8th of the 37th Fusiliers received at least 64 replacements (recuperated men who entered the service the preceding November and recovered wounded and sick).
2. The division was relieved at the end of April and sent to rest in the region of Mulhouse from the beginning of May to June 12.
Champagne.
3. Sent to Champagne and held the sector north of Tahure, south of Somme Py, until September 20.
Somme.
4. After a few days rest it was sent to the Somme south of the St. Pierre Wood-Vaast from October 5 to 15. It suffered very heavy losses there.
5. At rest for 13 days, then entrained, and went to Dun via Hirson-Mézières-Charleville-Sedan October 23.
Mort Homme.
6. It held the sector of Mort Homme (left bank of the Meuse) from October 28 to February 8, 1917.
1917.
1. The division was at rest in the middle of February, 1917, in the region of Sedan, then of Dizy le Gros.
Aisne.
2. At the beginning of March it went into line in the region of Berry au Bac (from Hill 108 to Spigneul). It was relieved at the beginning of the French attack April 16. The French artillery preparation caused it heavy losses.
Mort Homme-Hill 304.
3. From April 24 to May 15 it was in line in its old sector—Cumierès-Mort Homme—and from the middle of May till July 19 in the adjoining sector—Hill 304-Avocourt Wood. It attacked June 28 and 29 and opposed our counterattacks of July 12 to 17, suffering heavy losses.
4. Withdrawn from the front about July 19.
5. At rest near Sedan and reorganized (replacements from the Fifth District and Eighteenth District (Frankfort on Main)).
Champagne.
6. It then took over the sector Vitry-Cernay les Reims about August 8. Remained there until about October 27.
7. November 9 it went into line north of Craonne in the region of Chermizy-Bouconville (?). Some of the units of the division were not in this sector. After a rest in the camp of Sissonne and at Poilcourt, end of October to middle of December, they went into line in the sector Miette-Aisne about December 17. About that date the division was regrouped north of Berry au Bac, where it was still in February, 1918.
RECRUITING.
Province of Posen. The differences were made up by the Sixth District mostly.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The division is considered as a “big attack” division. In April, 1917, in the region of Berry au Bac it executed a well-conducted attack on Satigneul. The offensive value of the division showed itself again during the attacks of June 28–29 of 1917 at Hill 304.
There is no lack of volunteers for dangerous missions, and the motto of the division is said to be: “Get after the enemy and beat ’em wherever you find ’em.” The commanding general of the division and the colonel commanding the 155th consider that their men are able to endure hard battles (November, 1917).
1918.
Battle of Picardy.
1. The division was relieved about March 15 and sent to reenforce the Somme front. It was engaged near Beaulieu les Fontaines on March 25–26, where it remained until April 7. Heavy casualties were reported in this offensive.
Battle of the Aisne.
2. The division rested until May 27, when it took part in the offensive at Mont Notre Dame. About June 15 it was withdrawn to Athies (Laon), where it rested fallen until July 15.
Second Battle of the Marne.
3. On July 15 the division was again engaged south of the Marne at Montvoisin and Oeuilly on the opening day. It retired from the Vesle front, to which it had fallen back, about August 5.
Vesle.
4. After resting three weeks at Asfeld the division returned to the Vesle front on August 28 near Chalon sur Vesle and was engaged until September 18.
5. On the 18th the division was directed by stages to Laon and entered the line south of Laon at Ferme-Colombe on the 22d. The division appears to have been constantly in action until November 1, and possibly until the armistice. It was successively identified at Chevrigny, Montceau le Waast (Oct. 14), southeast of Toulle (Oct. 27), south of Banogne (Nov. 1). The last identification was at Maubert-Fontaine on November 10.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as a first-class division. It fought hard in most of the offensives of the year, and when on the defensive put up a hard, steady fight for two months without relief.