HISTORY.
(First District—Eastern Prussia.)
1915.
The present 10th Landwehr Division (the old 10th Landwehr Division took the name of the 1st Landwehr Division) was built around the 9th Landwehr Brigade (Brandenburg), which was brought to Koenigsburg as early as August 14, 1914, to constitute its war garrison. It found at Koenigsburg some of the mobile depot battalions of the regiments of the 1st Army Corps, from which came the three Koenigsburg Ersatz infantry regiments, which became, respectively, the 376th, 377th, and 378th Infantry. The present 372d Infantry is the former Ersatz infantry regiment of the 10th Landwehr Division.
Poland.
1. These troops, at first fighting in eastern Prussia, took part in the campaign in Poland with the 1st Landwehr Corps, beginning with the first part of 1915.
2. About the end of July, 1915, the division took part in the offensive against the Russians, forced the passage of the Narew, and advanced east of Vilna to the region of Vileiki in September.
Lake Narotch.
3. After the front was stabilized it established itself between Spiagla and Lake Svir, south of Lake Narotch.
1916.
1. The division remained in line near Lake Svir until July, 1916.
Volhynia.
2. About July 27 the units of the division were relieved from the front of Lake Narotch and sent to Volhynia to the Von Linsingen Army. The 9th Landwehr Brigade became independent and did not follow the division, which was reduced to three regiments. These were engaged on the banks of the Stokhod at the end of July at Lokatchi and Kachovka and remained in line in the region of Kisselin and Sviniouki until the beginning of 1918.
1917.
Volhynia.
1. January to December, 1917, in the Kisselin-Sviniouki sector.
2. In November, 1917, the three regiments of the division furnished 60 men per company for the Western Front, picked from the strongest, and received in exchange older men. In October, 16 men per company had already been transferred to the 14th Division following the latter’s losses on the Aisne.
RECRUITING.
The division is sufficiently homogeneous, the regiments as a rule coming from eastern Prussia. However, the necessity of filling up the ranks before being sent to France brought it a number of men from other Provinces.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
In spite of its drafts, which are good, and the large number of officers, many of whom are in the active army, the division remained on the Eastern Front until March, 1918. Up to the present time it has received no training with a view to warfare on the Western Front, and must be considered for the time being as of mediocre value (April, 1918). The men of more than 35 years of age were left in Russia as abrüstungs kommando (cleaning up and salvage).
1918.
Second Battle of the Marne.
1. On June 3 the division entrained in the Woevre and traveled via Conflans-Sedan-Mezieres-Laon to Malmaison, where it detrained on June 4. It marched to the front via Fismes, Fere en Tardenois, and Fresnes. It came into line on the Marne near Mont St. Pere about June 10. Here it was in line until July 15, when it dropped back to permit an attacking division to pass through. In the retreat the division again came into line a few days later and was heavily engaged on the defense until about August 1.
2. Heavy losses, including 300 prisoners on July 23, led to the dissolution of the division. Its effectives were turned into other fresh divisions. The 372d, 377th, and 378th went to the 37th Division, 36th Division, and 201st Division in the order named.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as a fourth-class division.