HISTORY.
(11th and 18th Corps District—Hesse Electoral, Hesse—Nassau, and Grand Duchy of Hesse.)
1915.
Russia.
1. The 76th Reserve Division (included in the 38th Reserve Corps with the 75th Reserve Division), formed in January, 1915, grows out of three field battalions (Feld bataillone), Nos. 55–57 of the 11th Corps District, and out of six field battalions, Nos. 67–72 of the 18th Corps District. It was sent toward Russia at the beginning of February, 1915.
2. On February 13 it was identified in the region of Gumbinnen. It was really part of the group which operated in the region of Wylkowyszki-Mariampol.
3. On March 2 it was on the Sopotzkyn-Chtabin front.
4. In March it was northeast of Prasnysz.
5. In April it was in the region of Suwalki-Augustowo.
6. In May it was north of Suwalki.
7. On June 23 the 76th Reserve Division went to the Dubissa area.
8. On June 30, region of Eydtkuhnen.
9. The summer offensive of 1915 brought it, through the region of Vilna, to Kovno (Aug. 16) and then to the south of Smorgoni (Oct. 6–10).
It was withdrawn from the front about October 15 and was at Vilna on November 1 and in the region of Mitau on December 5.
1916.
Courland.
1. Then moved toward the north, the 76th Reserve Division took up a sector on the Dvina, opposite Uxkull (Jan.-Aug., 1916).
Roumania.
2. From the 10th to the 20th of September the division was moved to the Roumanian front.
3. In October it took part in the battles in the regions of Hermannstadt and Brasso (Kronstadt).
4. At the end of October or beginning of November it occupied the vicinity of Campolung. At the end of December, to the south of Rimnicu-Sarat.
1917.
Roumania (Focsani).
1. With the stabilization of the Roumanian front, it was in line to the north and east to Focsani, where it remained from January to April, 1917.
2. In May it was in reserve. At about this time it seems to have been brought to the rear of the French front.
3. The division reappeared in Roumania, in the vicinity of Focsani, from August 6 to 14. It attacked on the 15th and suffered heavy losses.
4. Put in reserve, near Focsani, it went back into line at the beginning of October to the north of Iresti. It was still in that region at the beginning of January, 1918.
RECRUITING.
The 252d Regiment in Thuringe, 253d Regiment in Hesse-Nassau, and 254th Regiment in the Grand Duchy of Hesse. These last two regiments may be termed Rhenish regiments.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 76th Reserve Division was at all times used on the eastern front.
1918.
1. The division was moved to the Western Front in the spring after exchanging its older men for younger men from the divisions remaining in Roumania. It entrained at Focsani on March 7 and traveled by way of Hermannstadt, Budapest, Breslau, Erfurt, Fulda, to Metz, where it detrained on March 15. The 254th Reserve Regiment was in cantonments a few days at Fort Luitpold and then went to Norroy le Veneur where it remained about 12 days. It entrained on March 31 and proceeded by way of Sedan and Charleville to Hirson (Apr. 1). From there it marched via Remigny-Golancourt-Roye-Narvillers-Hangest-Plessier-Rozainvillers, where it went into cantonments for three days.
Montdidier.
2. On the night of April 12–13 the division relieved elements of the 23d Division between Malpart and La Chappelle-St. Aignan. About May 2 the division extended its front to the north and relieved a part of the 240th Division. This was a defensive sector at this time. On May 9 the French made an attack on Grivesnes Park while the 76th Reserve Division was holding it. The attack was a complete surprise and caused many casualties. Between April 10 and May 8 the losses averaged 30 to 35 men per company and the number of combatants on May 9 was about 75 per company. It was relieved in the middle of May.
Verdun.
3. The division entered line in the Verdun region to the south of Bezonvaux on June 21. It was withdrawn from the quiet sector in mid-July, and on the 29th relieved the 46th Reserve Division southwest of Soissons. Until August 2 it was not involved in the attack. It defended the flanks of the German retreat energetically until its withdrawal on September 8. A week later its regiments were used singly to support the units in line in delaying the French advance on the line Coucy le Chateau-Ferny-Sorny. The losses in the fighting were considerable, including 575 prisoners. It showed itself a good defensive division.
4. On September 25 the division came in line on the extreme left of the American line in the Argonne. On October 10 all three regiments were opposite the United States troops in Grandpre. It remained in line until November 8 before it was finally withdrawn.
The excessive use of the division gave rise to serious internal discontent. The rifle strength of the regiments was down to less than 300 by October 24, and the troops were demanding a rest. Some companies refused to enter the line in mid-October. The divisional commander was obliged to issue an appeal to the division on October 21 to hold out. The entire rifle strength of the 2d Battalion, 254th Reserve Regiment, was but 3 officers and 75 men on October 28.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as third class. As a defensive sector holding unit the division showed a power of sustained resistance that warranted a higher classification. By the end the division had been completely used up.