Histories of two hundred and fifty-one divisions of the German army which participated in the war (1914-1918)

by United States. War Department. General Staff

HISTORY.

(Sixth District-Silesia.).

1914.

France.

1. This division, with the 12th Reserve Division, formed the 6th Reserve Corps.

Lorraine-Meuse.

2. At the beginning of the war it belonged to the 5th Army (Prussian Crown Prince). Fought at Arrancy from August 22 to 25; crossed the Meuse the 21st of September. Fought in the region of Cierges September 2; advanced nearly to Triaucourt September 9 and retreated through the east of the Argonne near Montfaucon September 11 to 17.

3. At the end of September it established itself at the eastern edge of the Argonne (Varennes-Malancourt wood). It occupied this region until the Verdun offensive in February, 1916.

1915.

1. January to December, 1915, the division held the sector of Malancourt wood, south of Montfaucon, in Argonne. In April the 11th Reserve Infantry was transferred to form the 117th Division.

1916.

Verdun.

1. In February, 1916, when the battle of Verdun commenced, the division was still in its sector on the left bank of the Meuse.

2. In March it fought near Bethencourt. It took this village April 9. Relieved about May 15 after suffering very heavy losses (68 per cent of its infantry).

3. Sent to rest and reorganized with replacements from the 1916 class.

Somme.

4. It was at first army reserve in the region of Cambrai at the beginning of June. Then a hurry call was sent for the division June 27 and it went into the battle of the Somme.

5. July 2 to 3 it relieved some units of the 12th Division and 10th Bavarian Division on the front Hardecourt to the Somme and suffered enormous losses from July 2 to 9.

6. Received replacements July 10 and suffered again heavily between the 10th and 20th in the same region. It was withdrawn from the Somme front about July 24.

Flanders.

7. Reconstituted again with replacements from the depots of the 12th Army Corps and sent at the end of July and beginning of August to the east of Armentieres, south of the Lys, and held this sector until September 20 to 27.

Somme.

8. At the end of September the division returned to the Somme, between the Somme and Barleux. It opposed the attack of the French October 18 to 19 in the sector of Biaches.

9. The division was relieved from the Somme area at the beginning of November.

Artois.

10. Sent to Artois and went into line at the beginning of December in the sector of Lens, between Loos and Lievin.

1917.

1. About March 24 to 25, 1917, the division was withdrawn from the Artois front.

2. In line for six weeks between Cambrai and St. Quentin, in the sector Bellicourt-Bellenglise, from the end of March to May 10. Returned about May 14 to 15 to the region of Lens, where it stayed until August 20. (Attack of the Canadians on its right flank Aug. 15.)

Artois-Flanders.

3. At rest in the vicinity of St. Amand (Artois) at the end of August and beginning of September. Held the front south of Lens (sector Frenoy-Acheville) September 9. In November it was sent to Flanders near Passchendaele, where it alternated with the 12th Reserve Division until January, 1918. At rest from the middle of January and went back into line February 24 south of the forest of Houthulst.

RECRUITING.

Silesia. Drafts from other districts—for example, the fourth—to counterbalance the Polish element.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

At the present time (February, 1918) it is difficult to form a precise opinion of the fighting qualities of this division, as it has not been seriously engaged since the battle of the Somme. In the sector of Lens and Frenoy the heavy losses which it suffered from gas have no doubt caused a certain weakening of the morale. (One company of the 156th Infantry was reduced to 24 men.)

In Flanders the division held a difficult sector, but arrived at a time when active operations were coming to an end. The nature of the ground has been the main cause of its losses. (Information from the British, Feb. 9, 1918.)

1918.

Passchendaele.

1. The division remained in line south of Passchendaele until January 16, when it was relieved by the 31st Division. It then moved to the Oostroosebeke area, where it underwent a course of training in open warfare.

Ypres.

2. February 24 the division relieved the 199th Division astride the Ypres-Staden railway (northeast of Ypres).

Armentieres.

3. It was relieved about the 18th of March by the extension of front of the neighboring divisions, and one regiment was identified by prisoners as having reenforced the front south of Villers-Carbonnel (southwest of Peronne). This regiment was relieved March 26 and went to join the remainder of the division which was resting in the Turcoing area. April 9 the division reenforced the front in the Croix du Bac sector (north of the La Bassee Canal). It was withdrawn about the 16th, after losing heavily, and went to rest in the vicinity of Laventie.

4. April 28 it relieved the 81st Reserve Division southwest of Meteren. It was withdrawn about the 6th of May, going to be reconstituted in the area southeast of Bailleul.

5. It relieved the 12th Division southwest of Meteren during the night of May 18–19, remaining in line until June 7, when it was withdrawn to rest in the Courtrai area.

6. During the night of June 22–23 the division relieved the 216th Division in the Locre sector (west of Kemmel). Here it fought until a day or two before the armistice, when it seems to have been withdrawn.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 11th Reserve is rated as a second-class division. It has fought a great deal during 1918, especially since June, and has lost heavily. Its record has not been brilliant.