HISTORY.
(Bavaria.)
1914.
Alsace.
1. The 30th Bavarian Reserve Division, constituted in August, 1914, half of Prussian and half of Bavarian troops, operated in the Vosges beginning with August 17, and entered St. Dié on the 27th.
In 1915, with the 39th Reserve Division, formed after it, it made up the Eberhardt Corps, since then the 15th Reserve Corps. These 2 divisions comprised a total of 25 battalions, reserve units, Landwehr or Ersatz, Bavarian for the most part, to which were subordinated Landsturm Battalions.
They were scattered, after the retirement of the first part of September, 1914, among the valleys of the Plaine and the Liepvrette (Ste. Marie aux Mines).
The predominance of Bavarian troops in these Divisions had the effect of causing both to be officially called Bavarian. As a matter of fact, they were afterwards almost exclusively filled by Bavarian contingents.
1915.
1. In 1915 the 30th Bavarian Reserve Division continued to occupy the same sector of the Vosges, south of the valley of the Plaine. It remained there until May, 1917. The 39th Bavarian Reserve Division was at its left, holding the lines as far as Ste. Marie aux Mines.
2. In the spring of 1915, the Brigade Ersatz Battalions of the divisions were grouped into regiments and became the 2d and 4th Bavarian Ersatz Regiments, forming the 5th Bavarian Ersatz Brigade.
3. The two Brigades of the 30th Bavarian Reserve Division took an active part in the battles of La Fontenelle in June and July, 1915.
1916.
1. Vosges sector (south of the Valley of the Plaine, Senones, Le Ban-de-Sapt).
2. In October, 1916, the 11th and 14th Bavarian Reserve Regiments went to the 1st Bavarian Landwehr Division and to the 9th Bavarian Reserve Division.
The 30th Bavarian Reserve Division received, in November, the 8th Bavarian Landwehr Regiment from the 1st Bavarian Landwehr Division, and in December the 15th Bavarian Landwehr Regiment, taken from the 39th Bavarian Division, which received the 2d Bavarian Ersatz Regiment in exchange.
1917.
Lorraine.
1. In April, 1917, the 30th Bavarian Reserve Division was relieved from the Vosges sector, which it had occupied since its formation, and sent into line on the Lorraine front (sector of the Seille).
2. At the end of October, it was transferred to Upper Alsace (north of the Rhone-Rhine Canal), where it relieved the 3d Reserve Division.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 30th Bavarian Reserve Division is a sector division, as it has occupied the front either in Lorraine or Alsace since its formation. Its offensive value is mediocre.
In the 8th Bavarian Landwehr and the 4th Bavarian Ersatz Regiments, the average age of the men is 38 years. The men of the machine gun companies are younger, according to the ordinary rule. In the 15th Bavarian Landwehr Regiment the majority of the men are more than 30 years old.
Each battalion of the 8th Bavarian Landwehr Regiment possesses an assault troop composed of young men averaging 24 years of age.
There is also a Divisional Assault Company.
1918.
Haute Alsace.
1. The division remained in line north of the Rhine-Rhone Canal until the armistice was signed.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division possesses very little fighting value. The men are, for the most part, old, and the fathers of several children. Then, too, a great many are those—untrained Landsturm—who usually, for physical defects, were not inducted into the army when their classes were called to the colors; these men complain of the hard work. Moreover, Bavarians came to believe that Prussia was “using” them. It was found necessary to establish shock detachments with each battalion, and these do all of the necessary patrolling.