HISTORY.
(369th and 370th: Seventh District—Westphalia. 371st: Eleventh District—Thuringia.)
1914.
This division was organized as early as August, 1914. It comprised the 25th, 37th, and 43d Mixed Ersatz Brigades, themselves constituted by the Brigade Ersatz Battalions of the Tenth, Seventh, and Eleventh Districts (Hanover, Oldenburg, Brunswick, Westphalia, Electoral Hesse, and Thuringia).
Lorraine.
1. Detrained August 17 and 18 near Sarrelouis and brought quickly to the rear of the 3d Bavarian Corps August 20, and crossed the frontier the 25th. September 7 it had heavy losses at the attack against Nancy (Champenoux). The 40th Brigade Ersatz Battalion lost half its forces (notebook). It continued, however, to take part in the operations in Lorraine in the region of Moncel until September 12, 1914, after which it went to rest near Chateau Salins.
Haye.
2. September 28 it entrained for Novéant and went into line on the Haye front, where it held various sectors (Loupmont, Richecourt, Apremont).
1915.
Haye.
1. During 1915 the division continued to hold the Lorraine front (Haye): Loupmont, Seicheprey, Lahayville, Mort Mare Wood.
2. At the end of July the division was reorganized. Its brigade Ersatz battalions were grouped into regiments and formed the 368th, 369th, 370th, and 371st Infantry. The companies were filled up again. The 9th company of the 370th Infantry received not less than 76 replacements in August (1915 class called up in May).
1916.
Woevre.
1. The division remained in the Flirey-Limey sector until the end of August, 1916. At that date it was relieved by the Guard Ersatz Division and sent to rest in the region of Thiaucourt.
Somme.
2. By September 5, leaving the 368th Regiment, which was transferred to the 213th Division, it entrained at Montmédy and went to the south of the Somme via Laon, Tergnier, and St. Quentin. It fought south of Berny en Santerre from September 14 to 25 and suffered considerable losses.
Champagne.
3. After a short rest in the region of St. Quentin the division was sent to Champagne. Until November 12 it held, without any particular incidents, the Ste. Marie à Py and Somme Py sector.
4. From the middle of November to the middle of December it was sent to rest in the region of Attigny.
Meuse.
5. December 28 it took over the Ornes-Bezonvaux sector.
1917.
1. Held the Verdun front (Bezonvaux) until April 19, 1917.
Champagne.
2. Between April 20 and 25 it returned to Champagne and took part in the attack south of Moronvilliers from the beginning of May to the beginning of June. From June 9 to beginning of August it was in line in the region of Regniéville-Remenauville (Haye).
Flanders.
4. After a rest behind the Lorraine front, the division entrained at Chambley August 21 for Belgium. About September 24 it was engaged before Ypres near Poelcappelle.
Galicia.
5. Withdrawn from the Belgium front about October 7 and entrained the 10th for Galicia, where it was identified south of Skala, November 17.
RECRUITING.
Westphalia and Rhine Provinces: 369th and 370th Infantry. Thuringia: 371st Infantry.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The division suffered heavy losses in Champagne in May, 1917, and at Ypres in September and October, 1917. The division has only moderate value.
1918.
Battle of the Lys.
1. The division remained in line until the attack on the Lys in April. It was engaged north of the La Bassee Canal (Givenchy, Festubert, southeast of Lacre), from April 9 to 24. The losses were heavy, including 700 prisoners. The 360th Regiment suffered the most in the fighting.
2. It was relieved on the 12th and rested in rear of the line until the 29th, when it returned to its former sector at Locre until May 3.
3. The division rested near Roubaix (Bondues, Wambrechies) until the beginning of July. According to reports, sickness was very general throughout the division at the time.
La Bassee Canal.
4. On July 14 the division entered the line south of the La Bassee Canal, coming via Lille and Seclin. It remained in this sector until October 2.
5. It moved southward to reenforce the Cambrai-St. Quentin battle front on October 7, coming into line east of Tilloy. It fell back toward Valenciennes through Escaudoevres, Iwny (Oct. 11), Verchain (Oct. 21), Maing (Oct. 24–25), Famars (Oct. 27), north of Le Quesnoy (Oct. 27). It retired to the second line about November 1, but was reengaged southeast of Antoingt on November 9.
VALUE.
The 10th Ersatz Division was rated as a third-class division. Its service in 1918 was as a sector-holding division. It appears to have been a division of average value.