HISTORY.
(Bavaria.)
1916.
It was formed about the middle of the summer of 1916. It was assembled in July, 1916, at Grafenwoehr Camp (Bavaria), and remained until the end of July in the Valley of the Fecht, and then entrained for the Roumanian front in October.
Roumania.
1. Composed of the 26th, 27th, and 28th Bavarian Regiments, the division took part in the Roumanian campaign and fought in the region of Campolung (October-November, 1916).
2. In December it took part in the operations north of the road Buzeu-Rimnicu-Sarat.
1917.
Focsani.
1. Beginning with January, 1917, the 12th Bavarian Division remained in line north of Focsani.
2. In August it took part in the attacks launched against the Roumanians north of Focsani (from Batinesci to the Sereth) and suffered very heavy losses.
Panciu.
3. Sent to rest after these engagements, it came back into line at the end of September, south of Panciu (Marasesti District).
4. In December it was in reserve in the Focsani District.
RECRUITING.
The division is recruited from the whole of Bavaria.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
It was on the Roumanian front from October, 1916. Its combat value is mediocre.
1918.
1. The division entrained at Ploesci on April 30 and traveled via Bucharest-Craiova-Budapest-Dresden-Frankfurt on the Main-Mainz-Mezieres to a station between Mezieres and Rethel, where it detrained after a journey of nine days. It rested near Vieil St. Remy (20 kilometers southeast of Mezieres), until May 24, when it marched toward the Aisne by Chateau Porcien, Asfeld, Avaux, and Neufchatel.
Battle of the Aisne.
2. The division crossed the old line near Berry au Bac on May 28 and followed the advance through Roucy, Montigny sur Vesle and Lagery. It was engaged on the 30th near Ville en Tardenois, with the Marne between Damery and Cumieres as its final objective. In that sector it stayed until July 13–14. Losses were heavy about the end of May and the 1st of June.
3. It was in reserve in the same sector on the 15th behind the 22d Division, on the 17th it attacked and until the end of July took part in the struggle for Epernay, toward which the division got as far as the Bois Courton.
4. Upon its relief on July 26 the division marched to the Ligny en Cambresis area in stages. There it rested until August 29, when it entrained at Solesmes and traveled via Valenciennes-Condes-Ath-Ghent to Roubaix. After two days’ rest it reentrained and was railed via Courtrai to Isegheim, relieving the 6th Cavalry Division east of Ypres on the night of August 31-September 1.
Flanders.
5. In this sector the division sustained an attack by the British on September 28. It was thrown back on Moorslede with a loss of 3,000 prisoners. The division was relieved on October 1.
6. The division rested at Roubaix until October 17, when it returned to line southeast of Herseaux. It continued in this region until the armistice. The last identification was at Cordes.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as a third-class division. Its morale appears to have been low in the summer and fall of 1918.