HISTORY.
(12th and 19th Corps Districts—Saxony.)
1914.
Vosges.
1. The 19th Ersatz Division (Saxon) detrained on August 18, 1914, before Strassburg. In action in the Vosges on the 20th, it went up the valley of the Bruche and fought on the Meurthe below St. Die, at St. Michel, and advanced to La Salle (Sept. 6).
Lorraine.
2. Having suffered in these engagements, the division was withdrawn. On September 19 it was in the Blamont area, where it was reenforced by the 5th Bavarian Landwehr Brigade. It occupied the sector of Blamont-Ember-Menil-Parroy.
1915.
Lorraine.
1. In 1915, and until October, 1916, it guarded the same front in Lorraine (from the canal of the Marne to the Rhine as far as the Cirey area).
2. About the month of April the 100th Landwehr was reattached to the division, the battalions of which were grouped in July into 4 Ersatz Regiments (Nos. 23, 32, 24, 40).
1916.
Lorraine.
1. During its stay in Lorraine the 19th Ersatz Division was not engaged in any serious fighting. The 23d Ersatz alone took part in the affair of Thiaville, February 28, 1916.
Cotes de Meuse.
2. Relieved in the area of Badonviller-Leintrey, at the beginning of October, 1916, the 19th Ersatz Division was reduced to three regiments (23d, 32d, 24th Ersatz) and sent to the Briey area (Oct. 8) and from there to Verdun (sector of Watronville-Damloup).
1917.
Cotes de Meuse.
1. The 19th Ersatz Division remained in the same sector of the Cotes de Meuse for almost all of the year 1917. It lost very slightly.
2. Withdrawn from the sector Moranville-Watronville about November, the division was sent to rest in the Longwy area.
Bezonvaux.
3. About December 8, it was assembled and sent to Spincourt where, on December 11, it went into line north of Bezonvaux.
RECRUITING.
The 19th Ersatz Division is recruited from the Kingdom of Saxony.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 19th Ersatz Division remained in Lorraine for a long time; it did not take part in any serious battles. After October, 1916, it only occupied quiet sectors on the Cotes de Meuse.
It can not be considered as an attack division.
1918.
1. The division occupied the quiet Beaumont sector until June 30, when it was put at rest near Longuyon until July 11. During this time the division was given training to fit it for a war of movement. On July 16 it was moved to the Rheims front. Entrained at Montmedy on the 12th, the division reached Nouvion Porcien the next day, and went by stages to Bermericourt (northeast of Rheims), where it rested in reserve. On the 17th it moved to the vicinity of Rozoy.
Battle of the Aisne and Marne.
2. From July 20 to 31 the division was engaged in severe fighting at Plessier-Huleu and Grand Rozoy.
3. It rested near Marle until the 21st of August undergoing reconstruction. It entrained on that date at Voyenne and reached La Fere the next day, from where it marched to Barisis and Folembray.
Battle of the Ailette.
4. The division entered the line in the Quierzy-Manicamp-Champs area on August 23. It sustained a French attack on the 28th, losing nearly 500 prisoners. The division was withdrawn on September 3.
5. The division was moved by train from Voyenne to Haboudange via Marle, Montcornet, Sedan, Montmedy, Longuyon, Audun le Roman, Thionville, Metz, and Benestroff. It marched to Hampont to the Huhnerwald Camp, where it rested until September 15.
Lorraine.
6. It entered line at Arracourt on the 15th and occupied that quiet sector until the end of hostilities.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as third class. In 1918 it saw but two weeks’ service on an active front.