HISTORY.
(3d Bavarian Corps District.)
1917.
The 16th Bavarian Division was formed at the end of January, 1917, by taking three infantry regiments from existing Bavarian divisions—the 6th Bavarian Division furnished the 11th Bavarian Infantry Regiment; the 5th Bavarian Division the 14th Bavarian Infantry Regiment; the 6th Bavarian Reserve Division the 21st Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment. The 3d Field Artillery Regiment came from the 6th Bavarian Division.
Artois.
1. On February 12, 1917, the 16th Bavarian Division replaced the 6th Bavarian Reserve Division south of Lens, opposite Souchez. It suffered serious losses there in February and March (raids by Canadian troops). After a period of rest, in March, in the Douai area, the division returned opposite Souchez and suffered in the British attack of April 9, which forced it back beyond Vimy Ridge. It was relieved on April 11, very much exhausted.
Flanders-Messines.
2. Toward the end of April the 16th Bavarian Division took over the calm sector of Armentieres (East), south of the Lys (Deulemont-Frelinghien). At the beginning of June, on account of the menace of the British attack on the Messines front, the division was transferred north of the Lys. During the battle which started on June 9 it was not engaged as a whole; it sent some of its elements southeast of Messines to reenforce the 4th Bavarian Division.
3. The 16th Bavarian Division left the Lys sector, beginning of September, to go into reserve near Dadizeele, east of Ypres.
4. On September 20 it came up to replace the Bavarian Ersatz Division, which was very much exhausted by the British attack. It counterattacked north of the Lys. Its losses were such that it was relieved the next day.
5. After a period of rest at Bruges, the 16th Bavarian Division occupied the coast sector (Lombartzyde) from October 25 to November 22.
Cambresis.
6. Transferred to the Cambrai front, it went into line on December 3 (Bullecourt-Queant) and launched a local attack on the 12th.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 16th Bavarian Division appears to be of good combat value. It may be compared with the best Bavarian Divisions. It was very much exhausted at Ypres in 1917, but in general its morale remained high.
1918.
Battle of Picardy.
1. The division did not participate in the initial attack of March 21, but remained in reserve of the front at Rumancourt. On the 23d it marched toward the front through Vaulx Vraucourt. The division was engaged at Sapignies on March 25, and on the 27th advanced on Gomiecourt, Courcelles, and Moyenneville. The division was relieved on April 7 and rested until the 26th.
Ypres.
2. It was reengaged south of the Scarpe, south of Feuchy, until May 19, when it moved north and took over a sector at Dranoutre. The route followed was through Cambrai-Tourcoing-Bousbecque. On June 20 it went out to rest in the Lille area until the beginning of July. It returned to its former sector on July 4 and remained there until the end of July.
Battle of the Scarpe-Somme.
3. It rested in the Lille area until August 20, when it moved south and was engaged west of Bapaume (Grevillers) in a German counterattack. It was thrown back on Avesnes les Bapaume (26th), Bancourt (30th), Villers au Flos (1st), until its relief on September 5. Losses of the division were heavy in this fighting.
4. The division went into reserve in Belgium at Iseghem until the 28th. At this time the 8th Bavarian Regiment, coming from the 14th Bavarian Division, replaced the 21st Bavarian Reserve, which was disbanded.
Battle of Dixmude.
5. It was engaged north of Ypres and west of Roulers (Westroosebeke) from September 28 to October 5, with very heavy losses. The division was out of line for 10 days and then came back on the 15th southwest of Thourout. The Belgium advance forced it back southeast of Bruges (Oct. 18–19). On the 28th the division was relieved, but was obliged to return to line on November 3 and fought until the armistice.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as second class. It was engaged largely in holding defensive but active sectors on the British front in 1918.