The 406th recruits in Brandenburg, Schleswig-Holstein, and, to a lesser extent, Hanover and the Hanseatic cities; furnished the recruits for the 409th and the 410th. The changes effected in the personnel during the last part of the stay on the Russian front left these units fairly heterogeneous.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The offensive value of the 203d Division in February, 1918, was only mediocre. Before leaving for the Western Front the 405th, which was to have remained in (hardly glorious) Russia, changed all its young men for the older men in the other two regiments. The 203d was said to have played a part in the Riga offensive. Gen. von Luettwitz commanding the division, was said to have been relieved of his command a short time thereafter.
1918.
Battle of Reims.
The division continued to hold the sector east of Reims (near Beine) until the German offensive of July 15. It attacked west of Prunay and penetrated as far as the Vesle. In front of Beaumont it lost very heavily. After the failure of the attack the division held the sector from Prunay to east of Les Marquises until August 30, when it was relieved by the 9th Division.
Champagne.
2. It rested near Laon until October 1, when it was reengaged in Champagne between Orfeuil and Marvaux. In 8 days of severe fighting it lost very heavily and was obliged to retire from line.
3. The division was in army reserve until October 15, after which it was engaged southeast of Vouziers near Olizy and Falaise. On November 1 it was opposite the American front and took part in the final retreat of the Meuse at Mohon.