HISTORY.
(243d Division (former 8th Ersatz Division): 18th Corps District-Wurttemberg.)
1914–15.
The 243d Division is the former 8th Ersatz Division. The latter was formed in August, 1914, with the help of the surplus trained men in the depots (Reserve and Landwehr 1st Ban.) in the proportion of 1 battalion per active brigade. In this way it comprised 13 brigade Ersatz battalions grouped into 3 mixed brigades (29th, 41st, and 51st).
Lorraine.
1. Detraining on August 17, 1914, at Sarrebruecken, in the rear of the 6th Army, elements of the 8th Ersatz Division went into action on the 20th. It fought at Hoéville and Serres, north of Luneville, on the 25th and took part in the attacks upon Nancy the first part of September. Sent to the rear of the front in the vicinity of Morhange, it was transferred to Haye at the end of September to relieve the 14th Corps. It stayed there for two years between Limey on the west and Le Pretre wood on the east.
2. In August, 1915, the brigade Ersatz battalions were grouped into regiments. The 8th Ersatz Division was then composed of the 363d, 364th, and 365th Infantry Regiments (Prussian) and of the 51st and 52d Ersatz Regiments (Wurttemberg). It continued to hold the lines in Haye, south of Thiaucourt.
1916.
Le Pretre Wood.
1. Until the beginning of October, 1916, the 8th Ersatz Division occupied the sector of the Pretre wood, north of Fey en Haye. In August it lost the 364th Infantry Regiment, assigned to the 33d Reserve Division, and on September 20 the 363d, which entered into the composition of the 214th Division. It received a new regiment, the 400th Infantry Regiment, formed in September by drafts upon its infantry units.
Somme.
2. Leaving the 400th Infantry Regiment in Haye, and composed of three regiments (365th Infantry Regiment, 51st and 52d Ersatz Regiments), the 8th Ersatz Division went to the Somme on October 3. After a rest in the vicinity of Le Catelet until the 10th it went into the sector east of south of Bouchavesnes, where it did not take part in any important action.
Lorraine.
3. Relieved on November 18, it returned to Lorraine at Fey en Haye. It went into line southeast of Thiaucourt November 25, where the 400th Infantry Regiment was again assigned to the division.
1917.
1. The 8th Ersatz Division remained on the Lorraine front, southeast of Thiaucourt, until about May 10, 1917. In February the 400th Infantry Regiment was sent to Russia.
At the beginning of May the division underwent several changes—it gave the 365th Infantry Regiment to the 5th Landwehr Division and received the 122d Fusileer Regiment (Wurttemberg) from the 105th Division. The 51st and 52d Ersatz Regiments received the 478th and 479th. The 8th Ersatz Division, already called Wurttemberg, then became the 243d Division.
Aisne.
2. The reserve, first (behind the Rheims front), behind Brimont and Neufchâtel, the 243d Division then occupied the front between Miette and the Aisne (north of Berry au Bac) from May 29 to August 20.
Meuse Hill 344.
3. Transferred to Verdun, the division went into action at Hill 344 on September 9. The 479th Infantry Regiment lost heavily during the attack of the 9th. The 122d Infantry Regiment took part in the attack of October 2 and also had losses.
Meuse (Left Bank).
4. About October 6 the 243d Division was relieved and sent to rest near Stenay. On October 17 it took up its position on the left bank of the Meuse (Bethincourt sector), where it still remained in December.
RECRUITING.
The division had become purely Wurttemberg.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The elements of the 243d Division appeared good. They were never engaged in very active sectors, except at Hill 344 in September, 1917. At Verdun they showed only mediocre combat value.
1918.
1. The division was relieved in the sector northwest of Verdun at the end of January and traveled by rail to the Stenay area north of Montfaucon, where it rested and trained until March 20. On that day it entrained at Stenay and traveled via Sedan-Charleville-Hirson-Ors to Bazeul. On the 22d the division marched by night via Le Cateau and Montbrehain to Raisel, crossed the Somme at St. Christ-Briost and came into line reenforcing the front on the night of March 25–26.
Battle of Picardy.
2. It advanced in the first line of the attack through Guillancourt, Villers aux Erables, and attacked Moreuil on the 30th. It suffered very heavy losses, amounting to 50 per cent between March 26–30 at Estrees and Ignancourt, and in the attack on Moreuil. Two companies of the 122d Fusileer Regiment lost more than 207 of their fighting strength. The division was withdrawn about April 4. On April 2 the division received a draft of 350 to 400 men.
Picardy.
3. The division was reengaged north and east of Villers Bretonneux, relieving the 228th Division. On the 24th it made an unsuccessful attack on Villers Bretonneux. On the 27th it was withdrawn to close reserve and rested until May 13.
Third Battle of the Somme.
4. Between May 13 and July 7 the division was in line near Albert. It rested until August 10, when it was engaged east of Morlancourt, north of the Somme. It was forced back by Chuignolles, Proyart, Fouconcourt, Fay, Dompierre until its relief on August 29. Four hundred prisoners were lost in that engagement. It was again in line between September 2 and 9 east of Bouchavesnes.
5. The division rested in upper Alsace during September. It returned to Coutrai on October 6 and was engaged south and east of Le Cateau (St. Benin, Bazeul, Catillon and later east of Landrecies), mid-October to 1st of November. On November 6 it was again engaged south of Aulnoye and retreated east of Maubeuge, where it was last identified on November 9.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as third class. It was largely used on active fronts and did creditably.