The 16th Bavarian Division appears to be of good combat value. It may be compared with the best Bavarian Divisions. It was very much exhausted at Ypres in 1917, but in general its morale remained high.
1918.
Battle of Picardy.
1. The division did not participate in the initial attack of March 21, but remained in reserve of the front at Rumancourt. On the 23d it marched toward the front through Vaulx Vraucourt. The division was engaged at Sapignies on March 25, and on the 27th advanced on Gomiecourt, Courcelles, and Moyenneville. The division was relieved on April 7 and rested until the 26th.
Ypres.
2. It was reengaged south of the Scarpe, south of Feuchy, until May 19, when it moved north and took over a sector at Dranoutre. The route followed was through Cambrai-Tourcoing-Bousbecque. On June 20 it went out to rest in the Lille area until the beginning of July. It returned to its former sector on July 4 and remained there until the end of July.
Battle of the Scarpe-Somme.
3. It rested in the Lille area until August 20, when it moved south and was engaged west of Bapaume (Grevillers) in a German counterattack. It was thrown back on Avesnes les Bapaume (26th), Bancourt (30th), Villers au Flos (1st), until its relief on September 5. Losses of the division were heavy in this fighting.
4. The division went into reserve in Belgium at Iseghem until the 28th. At this time the 8th Bavarian Regiment, coming from the 14th Bavarian Division, replaced the 21st Bavarian Reserve, which was disbanded.