HISTORY.
(47th Landwehr Regiment: 5th Corps district.—Posen.) (57th Landwehr Regiment: 7th Corps district.—Westphalia.) (72d Landwehr Regiment: 4th Corps district.—Prussian Saxony.)
1914–15.
Russia.
1. The 18th Landwehr Division is the former Bredow Division.
Poland.
2. After being engaged in September, 1914, in the battle of the Mazurian Lakes, the Bredow Division fought in the Polish campaign: Battle of Warsaw (Oct. 9–19, 1914); battles on the Rawka (Oct. 22–28); near Czenstochow (Nov. 10-Dec. 15); between Pilica and Nidi, in the mountainous region of Kielce (December, 1914, to July, 1915).
3. In the middle of July, 1915, the division was in action near Sienno and before Ivangorod (breaking of the Russian front), crossed the Vistula (end of July), was in action between the Vistula and the Bug (Aug. 8–18), and advanced in action as far as Slonim and the Upper Chtchara (September). The front becoming stabilized in this area, the Bredow Division took up its position southeast of Novo-Grudok (near Goroditche in October and November). At the end of November it went into the sector southeast of Liakhovitchi (south of Baranovitchi). The number 18 appears to be given to the Bredow Division in December.
1916.
Baranovitchi.
1. The 18th Landwehr Division remained on the front south of Baranovitchi (Liakhovitchi) for more than two years (November, 1915, to the beginning of 1918). From July 2 to July 9, 1916, it withstood the Russian attacks in this area.
2. In June, 1916, two regiments of the division, the 57th Landwehr and the 133d Landwehr, were transferred to Volhynia (north of Lutsk), assigned to the Rusche Division and were in action against the offensive of Broussilov. The 57th Landwehr Regiment rejoined the 18th Landwehr Division near Baranovitchi in August. The 133d Landwehr Regiment was provisionally a part of the 92d Division.
1917.
1. The division held the sector Baranovitchi-Liakhovitchi.
2. In October 900 men from the 18th Landwehr Division, chosen from among the youngest, were entrained for the western front. In April a number had been taken from the 72d Landwehr Regiment for the 5th Reserve Division. In November the 47th Landwehr Regiment furnished men to the 15th Division. As the 18th Landwehr Division had received no replacements since the end of July, the trench strength of the 72d Landwehr Regiment had fallen, at the end of October, to 50–60 men per company (Russian interrogation).
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The division has been on the Russian front since the beginning of the war. Combat value appears to be mediocre.
1918.
1. In February, 1918, the 18th Landwehr Division advanced into the interior of Russia. The 72d Landwehr Regiment was identified between Mohilev and Gomel on February 2. In May the 57th Landwehr Regiment held the very long front from north of Kopys to south of Chklov.
2. In the middle of June the division was in the Orcha region. It was again identified in the region of Mohilev on the 22d of September.
3. There were rumors during October that the division had come to the Woevre, but since the division was never actually identified it is not believed that it left Russia.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as fourth class.