HISTORY.
(3d Bavarian: First Bavarian District.) (22d Bavarian: Second Bavarian District.) (13th Reserve Bavarian: Third Bavarian District.)
1915.
Organized in April, 1915, in Galicia, in the Carpathians.
Galicia.
1. This division belonged to Mackensen’s army during the offensive in Galicia and took part in the capture of Przemysl May 31, 1915.
Bug.
2. Sent north, fought at Rava Ruska, and reached the Bug in the region of Cholm-Vlodava. Withdrew from the front at the end of August.
Serbia.
3. In September and October the division took part in the campaign against Serbia with Mackensen’s army. Crossed the Danube October 8 to 11; Valley of the Morawa; region of Monastir (November).
4. Left the front November 15 and went to rest in Hungary at Weisskirchen until the beginning of February, 1916.
1916.
France.
1. From February 9 to 10, 1916, the division entrained for the Western Front. Itinerary: Temesvar-Szegedin-Baja-Marburg-Graz-Salzburg-Munich-Ingolstadt-Wurzburg-Frankfort on Main-Coblentz-Cologne-Liège-Malines. Detrained at Antwerp February 15.
2. At rest in the region of Antwerp until March 1, and on that date it entrained for Vouziers.
Verdun.
3. Sent to the Verdun front (sector of Avocourt wood, Mar. 8), attacked March 20 and 22 and April 11 and suffered considerable losses; 75 per cent of its infantry out of action.
4. Relieved at the beginning of June and sent to rest in the region of Thionville, then sent to Cambrai.
Russia.
5. June 14 it returned to Russia. Itinerary: Solesme Busigny-Maubeuge-Liège-Aix la Chapelle-Hanover-Brest Litovsk-Kovel.
Kovel.
6. Went into action immediately and counterattacked near the Kovel-Rovno Railroad and suffered heavy losses.
Roumania.
7. In October it took part in the Roumanian campaign (Valley of the Jiul).
1917.
France.
1. Withdrawn from the Braila front at the beginning of January, 1917, and again entrained for France on the 10th. Itinerary: Bucarest-Budapest-Vienna-Salzburg-Munich. Detrained the 22d at Barr (Alsace).
Alsace.
2. In April held the sector Burnhaupt-Rhone-Rhine canal.
Aisne.
3. Sent from Mulhouse to Marle April 26 to 28, then to the south of Laon and took over the sector of Cernay May 5 to 6, where its losses were due especially to artillery fire.
4. At rest in the region of Laon June 6 to August 3.
5. Coucy sector August 3 to September 15. The division did not have any hard action here, but suffered again from bombardment.
6. September 15, at rest in the vicinity of Sedan for one month.
Flanders.
7. Entrained at Sedan October 15 to 17; detrained at Courtrai October 18; went into line the 22d in the sector of Passchendaele, where it suffered heavily from the British attack of the 26th. Relieved immediately after this engagement and reorganized.
8. November 2 the division went back into line south of Passchendaele, but did not have any serious actions.
9. November 10, relieved and sent to rest.
Cotes de Meuse.
10. From November 18 to January 12, 1918, the division held the sector Chauvoncourt-Seuzey north of St. Mihiel. It took part in no infantry actions.
RECRUITING.
The whole of the Bavarian country.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
This division may be considered good. It took part on the Eastern and Western Fronts in a large number of battles, “Przemysl, Verdun, Argesul, Filipesci” (speech of William II), and did well everywhere (January, 1918).
1918.
Louvre.
1. The 11th Bavarian Division remained in the Seuzey sector, resting and being reconstituted, until relieved by the 82d Reserve Division on January 12.
2. About the middle of February it relieved the 1st Division in the Etain sector. This, too, was a very quiet sector and the division was not identified by contact. It was relieved about March 27 by the 10th Landwehr Division, and remained in rear of the Verdun front for a fortnight. It is probable that it was trained during this period, but the fact has never been definitely established.
Armentieres.
3. The division was then sent to the Armentieres front, where it relieved the 214th Division in the Neuve Eglise sector (northwest of Armentieres) April 13–14. Here it took part in very heavy fighting, especially south of Mount Kemmel, and suffered heavy losses as a result. It was withdrawn on the 26th of April, and proceeded to the area northeast of Ghent, detraining at Wachtebeke on the 29th. Here it was brought up to strength and reviewed by the King of Bavaria on May 20.
Soissons.
4. About June 3 the division left the Ghent region; it was identified in rear of the front in the region of Soissons on June 9. A few days later it reinforced the front near Coeuvres (southwest of Soissons). It was relieved by the 14th Division on June 21.
5. After resting immediately in rear of the front, it suffered severe losses from bombardment by gas shells during this period. The division came back into line in the Courmelles sector (south of Soissons) about July 15. July 18 it lost over 2,400 in prisoners alone. It was withdrawn about July 22.
Ypres.
6. The division rested for about a month. It was reconstituted, it being found necessary to dissolve one company in each battalion. August 26 the division relieved the 49th Reserve Division east of Boesinghe (northwest of Ypres). It fought, taking part in the general retirement, until withdrawn October 2, after losing more than 500 prisoners.
Ghent.
7. The division reinforced the front near Beveren (southwest of Ghent), and had not been withdrawn up to the time the armistice was signed.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The 11th Bavarian is rated as being in the first of four classes of divisions. It fought well during 1918, but not brilliantly. Its losses were heavy, but not in comparison with other German divisions.