2. Sent into the reserve of the army at the end of March in the vicinity of Marle St. Gobert, the division was concentrated on April 15 in the vicinity of Monampteuil-Filain (Apr. 20). On the 21st, on both banks of the Oise-Aisne Canal, it relieved the remnants of the division decimated by the French offensive of April 16 and at La Malmaison received the new attack of May 5. Very much exhausted (1,670 prisoners), it was replaced at once (night of May 5–6) and transferred to the Woëvre first and then to the Côtes de Meuse northeast of St. Mihiel, where the division took over the sector of Chevaliers after being reorganized. It was withdrawn October 25.
Flanders.
3. On November 10 it went into line in Flanders, north of Passchendaele.
Artois.
Relieved at the end of the month, it was sent to the sector of Neuve Chapelle. It was still there March 19, 1918.
RECRUITING.
The 44th Reserve Division was mixed at the time of its formation (one regiment from Hanover), but has since become purely Brandenburg by its reduction to three regiments. However, this does not prevent the occasional introduction of extraneous elements—for example, in July, 1916 (urgent call for available reserve at Beverloo). The 1917 class then made its appearance on July 12, 1916 (in the 208th Reserve Infantry Regiment); the 1918 class on April 13, 1917 (in the 205th Reserve Infantry Regiment).
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 44th Reserve Division has been designated an assault division.
The 44th Reserve Division has not shown any great military value in the course of the battles which it went into north of the Aisne. Certain elements, however, fought well. One must note that the combat effectives of the division were very much reduced by the artillery preparation before the attack of May 5, 1917.