HISTORY.
(249th and 250th Reserve Infantry Regiments, 14th Corps District—Grand Duchy of Baden. 251st Reserve Infantry Regiment; 11th Corps District—Electorate of Hesse.)
1915.
Russia.
1. The 75th Reserve Division, trained at the Heuberg Camp in Baden, included two regiments of the 14th Corps District and one from the 11th Corps District. The first two were formed from the six field battalions from Baden, Nos. 61 to 66; the third, from three Thuringian field battalions, Nos. 58 to 60.
2. Forming a part of the 38th Reserve Corps with the 76th Reserve Division, it was sent to the Eastern Front at the end of January, 1915.
3. On February 17 it was in the vicinity of Augustowo, after taking part in the battle of Mazurian Lakes, where it lost heavily (250th Reserve Infantry Regiment).
4. At the end of February and the beginning of March it occupied the front near Chtabin.
5. On March 9 it attacked north of Ostrolenka and marched to Ossowiec. It remained in the region north of Ostrolenka until the end of April.
6. In the summer, it took part in the march upon Vilna and advanced beyond this by way of Wileisk (Sept. 24), south of Lake Drisviaty (Oct. 6).
7. At the end of October, the 75th Reserve Division went somewhat to the south and took over the sector of Spiagla, south of Lake Narotch.
1916.
Lake Narotch.
1. The division remained in line in the vicinity of Lake Narotch until the end of July, 1916. In the spring of 1916, it received the Russian offensive in this area.
2. At the beginning of August, it was transferred to the Stokhod. We find it southwest of Sviniouki on October 1; south of Kisselin on November 9 (except the 251st Reserve Infantry Regiment sent to Galicia on Oct. 30).
Galicia.
3. At the end of November, the entire division was in Galicia, where it occupied the sector of the Narajowka (north of Halicz, Rohatyn).
1917.
Galicia.
1. The 75th Reserve Division was retained in the vicinity of Halicz, and of Brzezany until July, 1917 (in reserve from the end of March to the end of May).
Courland.
2. On July 25 the division left Galicia to go to Smorgoni, from which place it was transferred to the Riga sector (Uxkull) at the end of August. After the taking of Riga, it advanced beyond the Dvina and took up its position on the Meloupe.
France.
3. On December 1 the division entrained for France. (Itinerary: Riga-Mitau-Kovno-Marienburg-Berlin-Hanover-Cassel-Cologne-Coblentz-Trèves-Thionville-Metz-Charleville-Hirson-Vervins.) It detrained at St. Gobert and Vervins about December 7.
Aisne.
4. Sent to rest near Vervins, about December 26, the division took over the sector of Chavignon-Urcel on the 27th.
RECRUITING.
The divisions formed in 1915 were not homogeneous. The 75th Reserve Division consists of two regiments from Baden and one from the Electorate of Hesse.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
Since the 75th Reserve Division comes from Russia and has only been on the French front since the end of December 1917, it is difficult to form a judgment as to the combat value of this organization.
At the end of December elements of the division took part in maneuvers supported by tanks (at Voulpaix, west of Verdun). (Interrogation of prisoner, Feb. 20, 1918.)
At the beginning of February the 251st Reserve Infantry Regiment took part in a division maneuver in which the infantry had to fight simulated tanks. (Interrogation of prisoner, Mar. 11, 1918.)
DISCIPLINE.
It is to be noted that during the trip from Russia to France 40 men belonging to the Minenwerfer and pioneer companies, were reported missing. (Interrogation of prisoner, Jan. 31, 1918.)
1918.
Picardy.
1. The division was relieved south of Laon on March 26 and went to Laon. By way of Champignon (west of Crepy), Charmes, it marched to Chauny, where it went into line on March 30. It was engaged until about April 14, and then went to rest north of St. Gobain.
Battle of the Matz.
2. It returned to line southeast of Canny sur Matz on the night of May 16–17 and took part in the battle of Noyon in June. It was relieved about June 20 and rested until July 2. It was in line at Courcelles from that date until August 18. Prior to the French attack on August 18, the division counted about 3,000 combatants. It suffered important losses between the 8th and 18th.
3. The division rested in the Bois de Champien and Bois de Glandon until August 23 and then in the Bois du Tunnel. On the 27th it went to Ham. On the night of August 31-September 1 it relieved the 1st Reserve Division in the sector Libermont-Bois du Tunnel. It fell back across the Canal du Nord on September 3 and continued its retreat through Sommette, Dury, Bray St. Christophe until it reached a position at Happencourt on September 7. It was relieved on the 13th by the 22d Reserve Division. The attack of August and September had completely disorganized the division and greatly reduced its morale.
Le Cateau.
4. The division returned to line west of Bellenglise on September 20 and was heavily engaged for 10 days.
Woevre.
5. On November 10 the division came into line near Jametz on the American front.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as third class. Throughout 1918 its morale appears to have been low, and after the battle of Matz its effectives were greatly reduced.