3. On November 5 the division is identified in the region of Libau; on January 20, the 257th Regiment at Mitau; and to the northwest of the Novo-Alexandrovsk-Dvinsk railway, the 255th Regiment on February 10. On March 1 the 332d Regiment of Infantry was to leave “in order to advance in the East” (letter).
RECRUITING.
Principally Westphalia for the 255th Regiment; Rhenish provinces for the 257th and 332d Regiments. Numerous recruits from Lorraine and Alsace. Poles in the 332d Regiment, which received the Ersatz Battalion of the 19th Infantry at the time it was formed.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 77th Reserve Division did not leave the Russian front. One of its present regiments, the 332d, is a former regiment of the Posen garrison, of which two of the three battalions were Rhenish Landsturm battalions. Successive replacements gave this regiment the appearance of an ordinary regiment. In January, 1918, the older and sickly men were released.
1918.
1. The division left Russia about April 1 and traveled via Magdebourg-Hildesheim-Cologne-Gerolstein-Gouvy-Bastogne-Lebramont-Sedan-Liart-Rozay-Montcornet, detraining in the vicinity of Laon on April 4. It marched by stages toward Villers-Carbonnel-Athies, where it rested and trained from April 11 to 19. On April 20 it entered the line north of Hangard and was engaged until the end of the month.
Somme.
2. It returned to line east of Villers-Bretonneux on May 18 and held that sector until July 4.