6. After a day’s rest, the division was put back into line on the 8th near Mezieres; it had not been withdrawn when the armistice was signed.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The 50th is rated as a first-class division. It distinguished itself in the fighting during 1918. After the Somme offensive, it was praised by Prof. Wegener in the Koelnische Zeitung. Immediately after the battle of the Aisne Maj. Fritsch, in command of the 158th Regiment, was awarded Pour le Mérite. After the Allied counteroffensive, Lieut. Gen. V. Engelhuhten, the division commander, was decorated and made governor of Riga, and the commander of the 53d Regiment was also decorated. The 58th Regiment was mentioned as having particularly distinguished itself in the fighting near Banogne in the German communique of October 30. Losses suffered throughout the year were enormous, but the High Command did all in its power to make these good. There are no desertions of record since July 1, 1917. The morale was very good, everything being taken into consideration.
50th Reserve Division.
COMPOSITION.
| 1914 | 1915 | 1916 | 1917 | 1918 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brigade. | Regiment. | Brigade. | Regiment. | Brigade. | Regiment. | Brigade. | Regiment. | Brigade. | Regiment. | |
| Infantry. | 99 Res. | 229 Res. | 99 Res. | 229 Res. | 99 Res. | 229 Res. | 99 Res. | 229 Res. | 99 Res. | 229 Res. |
| 230 Res. | 230 Res. | 230 Res. | 230 Res. | 230 Res. | ||||||
| 100 Res. | 231 Res. | 100 Res. | 231 Res. | 231 Res. | 231 Res. | 231 Res. | ||||
| 232 Res. | 232 Res. | |||||||||
| 22 Res. Jag. Btn. | 22 Res. Jag. Btn. | |||||||||
| Cavalry. | 50 Res. Cav. Detch. | 50 Res. Cav. Detch. | 50 Res. Cav. Detch. | 50 Res. Cav. Detch. | 50 Res. Cav. Detch. | |||||
| Artillery. | 50 Res. F. A. Rgt. (9 Btries.). | 50 Res. F. A. Rgt. | 50 Res. F. A. Rgt. | (z) Art. Command: | 68 Art. Command: | |||||
| 50 Res. F. A. Rgt. | 50 Res. F. A. Rgt. | |||||||||
| 81 Ft. A. Btn. (Staff, 1, 2, and 3 Btries.). | ||||||||||
| 705 Light Am. Col. | ||||||||||
| 902 Light Am. Col. | ||||||||||
| 923 Light Am. Col. | ||||||||||
| Engineers and Liaisons. | 50 Res. Pion. Co. | 50 Res. Pion. Co. | 50 Res. Pion. Co. | (350) Pion. Btn.: | 350 Pion. Btn.: | |||||
| 50 Res. Pont. Engs. | 250 T. M. Co. | 50 Res. Pion. Co. | 2 Res. Co. 19 Pions. | |||||||
| 50 Res. Pont. Engs. | 2 Res. Co. 19 Pion. Btn. | 50 Res. Pion. Co. | ||||||||
| 250 T. M. Co. | 250 T. M. Co. | |||||||||
| 325 Searchlight Section. | 30 Searchlight Section. | |||||||||
| 450 Tel. Detch. | 450 Signal Command: | |||||||||
| 450 Tel. Detch. | ||||||||||
| 60 Wireless Detch. | ||||||||||
| Medical and Veterinary. | 50 Res. Ambulance Co. | 532 Ambulance Co. | 532 Ambulance Co. | |||||||
| Field Hospital. | 21 Res. Field Hospital. | |||||||||
| Vet. Hospital. | 84 Res. Field Hospital. | |||||||||
| 450 Vet. Hospital. | ||||||||||
| Transports. | M. T. Col. | 737 M. T. Col. | ||||||||
HISTORY.
(10th Corps District—Hanover and Brunswick.)
1914.
1. The 50th Reserve Division (belonging to the 1st series of divisions created between August and October, 1914), formed a part of the 25th Reserve Corps with the 49th Reserve Division. It received its training, at the time of its formation, in the Alten-Grabow Camp in the 4th Corps District.