In December the division absorbed another lot of men from the 334th Infantry and some from the Landsturm Battalion V. 15. Its strength had since November included some young men of the class of 1919.
3. At the end of December the division was transported to France. The 3d Battalion of the 423d Regiment entrained at Novogrodek on December 31. (Itinerary: Varsovie-Leipzig-Frankfort on the Main-Thionville) and detrained at Arrancy (south of Longuyon) on January 7. The 2d Battalion of the 336th Regiment entrained on December 28 and detrained at Landres on January 3.
RECRUITING.
The division was for the most part recruited from the 5th and the 7th Corps Districts. This was but slightly changed by the incorporation of the men of the Landsturm Battalion V. 15 which consisted mostly of soldiers from Brandenburg and of the addition of those belonging to the class of 1919 which came from the 4th Corps District.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 84th Division had been on the Eastern front since 1914. Its offensive value was mediocre.
On the Russian front it began to fraternize at the end of December. The Germans were only allowed to do so in the presence of their officers. In November and about December 20 the men in the division who were over 40 years of age were transferred into Landsturm battalions or into regiments staying in Russia, and replaced by young men nearly all belonging to the class of 1919 (250 to the 84th Division in November).
1918.
Montdidier-Noyon.
1. The division was relieved by the 53d Reserve Division about May 1. It moved west and on May 25 relieved the 3d Bavarian Division in the Lassigny sector. It was taken out in early June and rested until the 9th, when it returned to attack at Courcelles. It again retired on June 20 and rested until July 2.