9. On the 2d of October the division came back into line northeast of Rheims, near Bétheny, and went through very heavy fighting. It was still in line on November 11.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
On October 11 the following was written: “The division did fairly well in its recent encounters, the men, though lacking in enthusiasm, seeming possessed by a dogged determination to do what they conceived to be their duty. The morale, which was good, has been very much lowered by recent losses.” That this statement is erroneous seems to be proved by the fact that the German communiqués of October 22, November 1 and 2, say that the division “had shown particular merit in the recent fighting, retook their position in counterattack and repulsed hostile attacks,” “bore the brunt of the fighting * * * without showing signs of weariness,” and “again maintained their positions against heavy attacks.” Therefore, although the division suffered heavy losses, especially in the spring, it is still to be considered as second class.
51st Reserve Division.
COMPOSITION.
| 1914 | 1915 | 1916 | 1917 | 1918 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brigade. | Regiment. | Brigade. | Regiment. | Brigade. | Regiment. | Brigade. | Regiment. | Brigade. | Regiment. | |
| Infantry. | 101 Res. | 233 Res. | 101 Res. | 233 Res. | 101 Res. | 233 Res. | 102 Res. | 234 Res. | 102 Res. | 234 Res. |
| 234 Res. | 234 Res. | 235 Res. | 235 Res. | 235 Res. | ||||||
| 102 Res. | 235 Res. | 102 Res. | 235 Res. | 102 Res. | 234 Res. | 236 Res. | 236 Res. | |||
| 236 Res. | 236 Res. | 236 Res. | ||||||||
| 23 Res. Jag. Btn. | 23 Res. Jag. Btn. | 23 Res. Jag. Btn. | ||||||||
| Cavalry. | 51 Res. Cav. Detch. | 51 Res. Cav. Detch. | 51 Res. Cav. Detch. | 51 Res. Cav. Detch. | 51 Res. Cav. Detch. | |||||
| Artillery. | 51 Res. F. A. Rgt. (9 Btries.). | 51 Res. F. A. Rgt. | 51 Res. F. A. Rgt. | (?) Art. Command: | 51 Res. F. A. Rgt. | |||||
| Mobile Ers. Detch. of 26 F. A. Rgt. | 51 Res. F. A. Rgt. | 1 Abt. 11 Res. Ft. A. Rgt. | ||||||||
| 896 Light Am. Col. | ||||||||||
| 897 Light Am. Col. | ||||||||||
| 1395 Light Am. Col. | ||||||||||
| Engineers and Liaisons. | 51 Res. Pion. Co. | 51 Res. Pion. Co. | 51 Res. Pion. Co. | (351) Pion. Btn.: | 351 Pion. Btn.: | |||||
| 51 Res. Pont. Engs. | 251 T. M. Co. | 7 Co. 28 Pions. | 7 Co. 28 Pions. | |||||||
| 51 Res. Pont. Engs. | 51 Res. Pion. Co. | 51 Res. Pion. Co. | ||||||||
| 251 T. M. Co. | 33 Searchlight Section. | |||||||||
| 258 Searchlight Section. | 451 Signal Command: | |||||||||
| 451 Tel. Detch. | 451 Tel. Detch. | |||||||||
| 85 Wireless Detch. | ||||||||||
| Medical and Veterinary. | 51 Res. Ambulance Co. | 263 Vet. Hospital. | 533 Ambulance Co. | |||||||
| 533 Ambulance Co. | 87 Res. Field Hospital. | |||||||||
| 87 Res. Field Hospital. | 88 Res. Field Hospital. | |||||||||
| 90 Res. Field Hospital. | 263 Vet. Hospital. | |||||||||
| Transports. | 738 M. T. Col. | 738 M. T. Col. | ||||||||
| Odd units. | Cylist Co. | Cylist Co. | ||||||||
HISTORY.
(11th Corps District—Electorate of Hesse and Thuringia.)