RECRUITING.
Mixed at the beginning (Saxon and Wurttemberg), like the 54th Reserve Division, the division became homogeneous by exchanging its Wurttemberg troops for Saxon units.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
When the 58th Division was on the Russian front, a division school was formed in the month of June, 1917, with the purpose of teaching men the method of attack.
The division school was dissolved a few days before the departure for Russia. As soon as they arrived on the Western Front it was made an assault detachment of the division.
On the Flanders front the 58th Division did not show any high combat value. Rather frequent cases of abandoning the front line have been proved (October, 1917).
1918.
Ypres.
1. About April 3 the division extended its left flank and relieved the 38th Division. At that time the division was holding two divisional sectors. About May 19, it was relieved by the 49th Reserve Division and moved to the Locre sector where it relieved the 31st Division a day later. This sector was held by the division until the night of June 13–14 when it was relieved by the 52d Reserve Division.
2. It rested in the Courtrai area until July 7 when it returned to line west of Dranoutre in relief of the 121st Division. The 52d Reserve Division again relieved it on August 9.