HISTORY.
(20th and 35th Landwehr Regiments: 3d Corps District—Brandenburg. 435th Landwehr: Mixed—11th and 14th Corps Districts.)
1917.
Belgium.
1. The 21st Landwehr Division was formed in April, 1917, by the addition of the 435th Regiment to the two regiments of the 11th Landwehr Brigade. This brigade, until then independent, had come to Belgium the 2d of August, 1914, had detached certain of its elements in Picardy, from the end of September to the end of November, and had fought near Ypres in November and December. From March to October, 1915, it acted as garrison at Brussels and Antwerp. At the end of December, 1915, it reappeared on the Belgian front between Dixmude and Ypres (from Steenstraat to the Ypres-Zonnebeke road).
Russia.
2. In May, 1917, the 21st Landwehr Division was identified in the vicinity of Arras. On May 16 it entrained for the Eastern Front. Itinerary: Liege-Aix la Chapelle-Paderborn-Halle-Posen-Warsaw. Detraining at Brest-Litovsk on May 21, it remained in training for 10 days, was then sent to the Niémen front, and occupied the Vichnev sector until March, 1918.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 21st Landwehr Division did work in the service of supplies in Belgium and held very calm sectors in Russia. Its offensive value seems mediocre.
On the Russian front in January, 1918, the 20th Landwehr Regiment received 600 men of the 1919 class in exchange for its men of 25 to 35 years of age sent to the Western Front. Before being brought back to France in March, 1918, the 35th Landwehr Regiment left its older men in Russia and received 900 men of 19 to 30 years of age.
1918.
1. The division held the Badonviller sector from April 29 until the armistice. The division was strong in the number of effectives, but their quality and morale was low. The division was rated as a fourth-class division.