5. From July 18 to 20, it went into the sector Panthéon-Épine du Chevregny (south of Pargny-Filain) and almost at once underwent the artillery preparation and the French attack of July 30 which caused it heavy losses, increased by the counterattacks which it attempted on July 31 and August 10. On July 30 the 12th Company of the 202d Reserve Infantry Regiment had only 5 noncommissioned officers and 56 men left (document). On August 10 the 201st Reserve Infantry Regiment was almost completely destroyed and left 124 men as prisoners south of La Royère.
6. The 43d Reserve Division was relieved from the Chemin des Dames on August 23 and sent to rest until the end of September in the vicinity of Laon. It was filled up and reorganized.
La Malmaison.
7. Receiving training at the beginning of October in view of an offensive which was to anticipate the expected French attack, the elements of the 43d Reserve Division were engaged, beginning with October 15, to reenforce weakened divisions at Vaudesson, La Malmaison, and Bruyeres. They underwent the attack of October 23, which caused them heavy losses (53 officers, 2,190 men, prisoners). The remnants of the division were relieved on the Ailette on October 28.
Russia.
8. The division was sent to Russia soon afterwards, where it detrained on November 11, in the vicinity of Baranovitchi, after five days’ travel. It then relieved the 201st Division, scheduled to go to France.
RECRUITING.
The 43d Reserve Division was recruited, as was the guard in which it had its origin, from the whole of the Prussian territory. The trained men (returned, wounded, and sick), who figure in the reenforcements which it received, had the same origin (Guard, 1st Reserve Guard Division, 261st and 262d Reserve Guard Ersatz Divisions, Guard Landsturm Battalions, etc.). In April, 1917, the division absorbed a part of the 613th and 614th Regiments formed from the Guard recruit depots and dissolved on March 31.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 43d Reserve Division has always been considered a very good organization (December, 1917).