The 126th Infantry Regiment, in Alsace since 1871, represents the participation of Wurttemberg in the guard of the Reichsland. Besides its maintenance by the younger recruiting classes, at the end of 1916 it took some of the best elements from the 123d, 125th, and 126th Landwehr Regiments (young Landsturm classes, then having at least 20 to 22 months of service).
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
In spite of its relatively high losses, the 39th Division did well on the Somme (October to November, 1916). During its second engagement at Verdun, the Division was much less brilliant. Its resistance was weak (December, 1916).
1918.
La Bassee.
1. During the night of February 25–26 the 39th Division was relieved by the 44th Reserve Division and went to rest near Sequedin (west of Lille), where it is presumed to have been trained in open warfare.
Picardy.
2. About the middle of March, when the Germans were concentrating their reserves on the Cambrai-St. Quentin front, the 39th Division left the Lille area for the Cambrai front. On the 21st of March, when the initial attack was delivered, the 39th Division was in reserve to the 20th Division and only came into action on the evening of that day, at Beaumetz (west of Cambrai). Encountering fighting of the severest kind, the division had to be withdrawn to reserve by the evening of the 23d.
3. The division reappeared in line on the 28th and continued to make slow progress until it reached the area south of Hebuterne (west of Bapaume). It was relieved on the 6th of April by the 26th Division and went to rest in the Cambrai area.