HISTORY.
(38th Landsturm: Brandenburg and Alsace. 40th Landsturm: Prussian Saxony, Westphalia and the Rhine Province. 47th Landsturm: Hesse and Thuringia.)
1917.
Lorraine.
1. The 48th Landwehr Division appears to have been formed on the Lorraine front in September, 1917, by the grouping of three new regiments—the 38th Landsturm, the 39th Landsturm (Wurttemberg), and the 47th Landsturm—the elements of which had previously been employed behind the front or in calm sectors.
2. In September, 1917, the 48th Landwehr Division occupied the sector of Avricourt (Leintrey-Gondrexon, Embermenil).
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 48th Landwehr Division is composed of troops of mediocre value.
The average age of the men is 40 years. A certain number of young soldiers of the 1918 class are to be found in most of the units. Sent into these Landsturm divisions because of their reduced physical fitness, they left them for active or reserve units as soon as they became hardened.
There is a divisional assault company which has never shown any offensive activity (July, 1918).