HISTORY.
(11th Corps District—Electorate of Hesse and Thuringia.)
1914.
Flanders.
1. The 51st Reserve Division (of the series of divisions created between August and October, 1914), forming the 26th Reserve Corps with the 52d Reserve Division, went into action northeast of Ypres in the middle of October. It fought on the line Cortemarck-Moorslede on the 22d, reached Langemarck on the 24th, and finally took up its position near Poelcappelle.
1915.
Ypres.
1. The division remained in the area northeast of Ypres (Poelcappelle, Langemarck, St. Julien) during the entire year of 1915, and until September, 1916. In September, 1916, it transferred the 233d Reserve Infantry Regiment to the 195th Division, a new formation, in consequence of the Russian advance in Galicia.
1916.
Somme.
1. On September 16, 1916, the 51st Reserve Division was relieved from the sector of Wieltje (north of the Ypres-Zonnebeke road) and transferred to the Somme. It went into action between Combles and Morval about December 18 and suffered very heavy losses from the British attack of the 26th.
Champagne.
2. After occupying the Lille front (Neuve Chapelle) for a few days, the division was sent to Champagne at the beginning of October.
It took over the sector of Tahure-Rouvroy (south of Ripont) in the middle of October.
1917.
Champagne.
1. The 51st Reserve Division remained on the Massiges front until the middle of May, 1917, with a short rest at the end of February.
2. It was engaged in the attacks on Maisons de Champagne in March, and suffered quite heavily.
3. In the middle of May it went into line near Nauroy and Moronvilliers (Casque-Mont Haut), where it lost heavily.
4. Withdrawn from the front about June 8, it returned, after a short rest in the vicinity of Marvaux, to the sector east of Tahure (June 22-Aug. 10).
Meuse.
5. Brought back to the right bank of the Meuse, after a rest in the vicinity of Sedan-Montmédy, the division occupied the sector of Samogneux-Hill 344, about August 22, and lost heavily (French attack of Aug. 25, German attack of Sept. 9).
Champagne.
6. It was relieved about September 12 and sent to rest behind the Champagne front.
RECRUITING.
Mixed at the time of its formation, the division is actually recruited in the 11th Corps District (Electorate of Hesse and Thuringia), and is so designated in various documents. Beginning with March 13, 1917, it has received young men of the 1918 class who have less than four months’ training (236th Reserve Infantry Regiment).
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 51st Reserve Division was good at the beginning of the war, but now appears mediocre.
Health conditions seem to be poor (August, 1917).
1918.
Champagne.
1. The 51st Reserve Division remained in the Vouziers being trained until about the 20th of January, when it relieved the 52d Division near the Butte du Mesnil. It was relieved early in March and went to the Vouziers-Rethel area, where it received some more training in open warfare.
Picardy.
2. On the 20th it entrained, and arrived at Etreux (north of Guise) the following day. From there it marched via St. Quentin-Ham-Roye-Faverolles to Montdidier, where it arrived on the 30th. The following day it reenforced the front near Ayencourt (south of Montdidier), relieving the 9th Division. It was relieved by the 2d Division during the night of the 1st-2d of May and went to rest in the Chimay area.
Aisne.
3. On the 30th of May the division, thoroughly rested and brought up to strength, reenforced the battle front near Vauxbuin (southwest of Soissons). Here it became heavily engaged and suffered severe losses, especially the first two days. It was relieved near Cutry (southwest of Soissons) on June 16, and went to rest near Oulchy le Chateau.
4. During the night of July 19–20, the division reenforced the front near Blanzy (south of Soissons). Here it became heavily engaged. It was forced back by the Allied counteroffensive, and was withdrawn from line south of Braine early in August. It went to rest near Marle.
Champagne.
5. On September 28 the division entered line near Somme-Py (north of Suippes). Here it was badly handled and had to be withdrawn on the 4th of October, when it had been driven back to St. Etienne à Py. It then rested for a day or two near Vouziers.
Oise.
6. On the 6th it entrained at Vouziers and Vrizy and arrived at La Ferté-Chevresis two days later. It was then put on trucks and moved up to the front, taking over the Bernot-Origny sector (east of St. Quentin) on the 8th. It was withdrawn about the 15th.
Champagne.
7. After having rested a fortnight between the Oise and the Aisne, the division entered line east of Rethel on the 31st, remaining in line until the signing of the armistice.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The 51st Reserve is to be considered a good second-class division. It did not distinguish itself by any brilliant fighting, but it did acquit itself in the battles of the Somme and the Aisne and during the Allied counteroffensive. It suffered exceedingly heavy losses, but these were in large measure made good by drafts of 1919 class recruits.