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.

1914–1917.

Belgium.

1. At the beginning of the war the Field Army contained only one naval division. This division entered Belgium on September 4, 1914, detrained at Brussels, and on September 6 took up its position to the left of the corps which was besieging Antwerp. After the taking of the city on October 10 the division marched along the coast, arrived at a point between Ostend and Bruges on October 23, and on November 2 relieved the 4th Ersatz Division on the front of Nieuport-St. Georges.

2. On November 24, 1914, the Naval Corps was formed by adding a 2d Naval Division to the 1st.

3. After this time the Naval Corps occupied the sea front and the sector of the coast in occupied Flanders. The staffs of the 1st and 2d Naval Divisions were permanently in command of this sector—the sea front (from Raversyde to the frontier of Zeeland as far as Maldegem was assigned to the 1st Naval Division; the front on land from the North Sea to Schoorbakke, 4 kilometers southeast Nieuport, to the 2d Naval Division). The six regiments of Marine Fusileers alternated between the two sectors, and consequently changed from one division to the other.

4. In April, 1917, the three naval infantry regiments were withdrawn from the 1st and 2d Naval Divisions to organize a new Division, the 3d Naval Division. These regiments had already formed a provisional division, from the end of September, 1916, to January, 1917, when they were engaged on the Somme. After fighting east of Ypres (August to November, 1917), the 3d Naval Division came into line at Nieuport (Lombartzyde) to the right of the 2d Naval Division in December.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The Marine or Sailor Fusileers, recruited at the beginning of the war from among the seamen or the population of the ports, had only a mediocre combat value at the time.

Since 1917, in consequence of reinforcements taken from the land army, and also in consequence of reducing the age of the effectives, the regiments of Naval Fusileers seem to be of better quality.

From a recruiting standpoint, they may be compared with the active divisions of the German Army.

1918.

1. The division was out of line in 1918 until May 1. From that date until November 4 it held the extreme right of the German line.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class. Until the last month of the war its front was quiet.