2. Subsequently it was transferred to the Cambrai region. Between the evening of March 20 and 5 a. m. on the 21st, it marched nearly 20 miles, when it came into line near Villers-Guislain (south of Cambrai). It was immediately heavily engaged and suffered severe losses. The 6th Company of the 124th Regiment had lost 84 men by the time it had reached Fins. A draft of 30 men was received at Guinchy. Withdrawn the 23d.
3. On April 4 it relieved the 54th Reserve Division near Aveluy (north of Albert). Fighting on the 5th, the 6th Company of the 124th Regiment lost 50 per cent of its effectives. All three regiments suffered heavy losses. One battalion of the 120th Regiment was practically annihilated. It was relieved by the 3d Naval Division on the 24th and went to rest south of Tournai.
4. The division left on July 24 and marched via Landas-Marchiennes-Neuville sur l’Escaut (south of Denain, rest)-St. Vaast (east of Cambrai, rest)-Fins-Nurlu (rest)-Peronne, into line in the Morlancourt sector (south of Albert), where it relieved the 107th Division about the 3d of August. In the heavy fighting that ensued it was forced back through Bray and Suzanne. It was withdrawn the 28th after leaving more than 1,400 prisoners in the hands of the British. It went to rest in the vicinity of Briastre (south of Solesmes), and while here received as a draft the dissolved 248th Reserve Regiment (54th Division disbanded).
Meuse.
5. The division now became army and corps reserve. On September 6 it entrained and traveled to Spincourt, arriving on the 10th. It then marched to Camp Priester (near Loison), where it remained 14 days as army reserve. About the 26th it entered line near Flabas (north of Verdun). Five days later it was withdrawn and went back to the camp and remained eight days.
6. Then it went to the Jaeger Lager near Billy (south of Longuyon). About the 11th of October it entered line near Douaumont (north of Verdun). On the 29th it was relieved and marched to the Jaeger Lager, and then by truck via Stenay to a farm about 10 kilometers away.
7. On November 1 it reenforced the front near Tailly (southwest of Stenay); it was still in line on the 11th.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The 27th has always been considered one of the very best German divisions, and its conduct in the fighting during 1918 confirms its rating as a first-class shock unit. It suffered severely, especially in the spring, but not a great deal later on. Its moves toward the end of the war seem to indicate that it was to form part of the reserve with which the Germans hoped to regain the initiative.