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

1918.

1. The division was relieved in the Avrocourt wood sector by the Bavarian Ersatz Division on the night of April 5–6 and went into rest billets at Villers near Montmedy. On the 16th it entrained at a station near Montmedy and traveled via Carignan-Sedan-Charleville-Givet-Dinant-Namur-Charleroi-Ath-Melle-Ghent-Deyuze to Thielt, where it detrained at 1 a. m. on April 19. After 10 days’ rest at Coolscamp the division marched to Getsberg, and was to have gone into line in the Dixmude sector on April 22, but was suddenly entrained and moved via Roulers to Beythem. From there it marched to the Ledeghem area and rested until April 24, when it marched into line northwest of Wytschaete via Menin-Wervecq and Comines.

Ypres.

2. The division was engaged in the attack on Voormezeele on April 25. After three days’ heavy fighting it was relieved by the 49th Reserve Division. After a few days in the second line the division came back and relieved the 49th Reserve Division. It remained in line until May 11. From the 11th to the 28th the division rested out of line. It was again engaged on May 28 southwest of Merris. It was relieved about June 12.

Merris.

3. The division went to rest in the area east of Bruges and later northwest of Ghent. It returned to its former sector west of Merris on July 9, relieving the 4th Bavarian Division. It held the sector until July 27 when its heavy losses at Meteren caused its relief by the 4th Division. Between the 27th and August 18 the division rested in the Douai area.

Ypres-Belgium.

4. In line the 18th–19th, it relieved the 35th Division in the sector east of Merckem. Here the division continued until September 29, when it was withdrawn from the line north of Staden after the loss of 1,500 prisoners and severe casualties. It rested two weeks, and on October 14 returned to the battle front at Cortemarck. It fought until the 20th, when it retired for 10 days’ rest in rear of the line. On the 30th it was reengaged near Deynze. The German communique of November 1 and 2 mentioned the 57th and 13th Reserve Regiments for their good work. The division was in line until the armistice. It was last identified at Nazareth on November 3.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 13th Reserve Division was rated as a first-class division. In 1918 it was almost wholly engaged in Belgium, taking a prominent part in the Armentiers offensive in April, and in the defense in October.