Composed at the beginning of equal contingents from the 9th and 10th Corps Districts (Schleswig-Holstein, Hanseatic cities, and Mecklenburg; Hanover, Brunswick, Oldenburg), the division, since its reduction to three regiments, is filled up from the Hanseatic cities and the Grand Duchies of Mecklenburg. It has ceased, therefore, to be Prussian, a thing which has a certain practical interest in its designation in communiques, etc., and has not been able to develop any regional sentiment or cohesion. It is to be noted that the reinforcements of 1917 have been rather mixed (Poles, men from the 2d, 3d, and 5th Corps Districts), partly because of their being taken from the Russian front, and, during its recent stay in Lorraine, from the neighboring depot of the 99th Infantry Regiment.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 46th Reserve Division may be considered a good division.
The attack of July 8, 1917, was carried out energetically. The assault troops attacked with “extraordinary fury.”
The division fought bravely at Verdun in August, 1917.
Weakened by battles and by an epidemic of dysentery (October-November), it was sent to Lorraine for rest and reorganization.
The division received intensive training and it would seem that in spite of new, untrained recruits it will quickly regain its value.
1918.
Noyon.
1. The division was relieved about April 25 in Lorraine and transferred to the Montdidier area, where it was at rest until June 10. On that day it reenforced the Montdidier-Noyon battle front northeast of Gournay. In the course of the attacks the division suffered considerable losses. About July 2 it was relieved. It rested in rear of the Noyon front.