Histories of two hundred and fifty-one divisions of the German army which participated in the war (1914-1918)

by United States. War Department. General Staff

HISTORY.

(12th and 19th Corps District—Saxony.)

1914.

The 47th Landwehr Division came from the 47th Landwehr Brigade (104th and 106th Landwehr Regiments) which was independent at first under the command of Lieut. Gen. Mueller, and was made a division in the autumn of 1915.

Champagne.

1. Detraining at Bourcy (northeast of Bastogne) on August 18, 1914, the 47th Landwehr Brigade arrived on the Champagne front immediately after the battle of the Marne.

2. On September 14, 1914, the brigade was in line in the vicinity of Moronvilliers. It remained in Champagne until the beginning of 1917.

1915.

Champagne.

1. About the month of May, 1915, it left the sector Prosne Moronvilliers for the north of Rheims, from Loivre to the Rheims-Witry road.

2. Reenforced by the 113th Infantry Regiment, later by the 29th Reserve Infantry Regiment, it formed the Mueller Division in October.

3. At the end of September one battalion of the 104th Landwehr Regiment was sent as a reenforcement into action south of Ste. Marie à Py to help out the 133d Reserve Infantry Regiment during the French offensive.

1916.

Champagne.

1. The 47th Landwehr Brigade continued to occupy the Rheims sector (Courcy-Betheny) during 1916.

2. In the month of July it was made a division (47th Landwehr Division) and received a 3d Regiment, the 391st Infantry Regiment (Saxon).

1917.

Oise La Fère.

1. Withdrawn from the Rheims front about February 23, 1917, the 47th Landwehr Division was sent into line west of La Fère during the retirement of the German Army to the Hindenburg Line (Quessy-Travecy, Mar. 23). It remained in the sector at La Fère until May 16.

Russia.

2. In the middle of May the division was transferred to the Eastern Front, where it occupied the sector Goroditche-Tsirin. It exchanged with the 219th Division, the 391st Infantry Regiment for the 100th Landwehr Grenadier Regiment.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 47th Landwehr Division is a mediocre division. Its retention on the Russian front is a sufficient indication of its value.

1918.

Ukraine.

1. In February the 47th Landwehr Division left the Tsirin region and took part in the advance into the Ukraine. On the 27th of April it was between Gomel and Briansk; on the 5th of June, in the Kiev region. It was identified in the same region several times subsequently, the last date of identification being September 30.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class.