1. Early in the year the division was still in Russia. It was identified near Kiev on the 12th of March and in the Kharkov region in April. Early in May the division had advanced to the Sea of Azov. Early in September, all unmarried men less than 35 years of age (Alsace-Lorrainers included) were sent to the Western Front, which probably explains the many reports of the division having been sent to France. In all probability the division never left the Ukraine.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as fourth class.
216th Division.
COMPOSITION.
| 1916 | 1917 | 1918 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brigade. | Regiment. | Brigade. | Regiment. | Brigade. | Regiment. | |
| Infantry. | 182. | 177. | 42. | (?) | 42. | |
| 354. | 354. | 354. | ||||
| 21 Res. | 59. | 59. | ||||
| Cavalry. | 205 Cav. Sqn. | |||||
| Artillery. | 54 F. A. Rgt. | 54 F. A. Rgt. | 216 Art. Command: | |||
| 54 F. A. Rgt. | ||||||
| 3 Abt. 10 Ft. A. Rgt. (Staff, and 9 and 11 Btries.) | ||||||
| 762 Light Am. Col. | ||||||
| Engineers and Liaisons. | 2 Gd. Ldw. Pions. | (216) Pion. Btn.: | 217 Pion. Btn.: | |||
| 2 Ldw. Co. Gd. Pions. | 247 Pion. Co. | |||||
| 216 Tel. Detch. | 2 Ldw. Co. Gd. C. Dist. Pions. | |||||
| 78 Searchlight Section. | ||||||
| 216 Signal Command: | ||||||
| 216 Tel. Detch. | ||||||
| 167 Wireless Detch. | ||||||
| Medical and Veterinary. | 260 Ambulance Co. | 260 Ambulance Co. | ||||
| 53 Field Hospital. | 324 Field Hospital. | |||||
| 324 Field Hospital. | 332 Field Hospital. | |||||
| Vet. Hospital. | 257 Vet. Hospital. | |||||
| Transport. | M. T. Col. | |||||
HISTORY.
(42d Infantry Regiment; 2d Corps District—Pomerania. 59th Infantry Regiment; 20th Corps District—Eastern part of West Prussia. 354th Infantry Regiment; 6th Corps District—Silesia.)
1916.
The 216th Division was formed in Galicia in July, 1916, by drafts upon regiments of other divisions. At the time of formation it comprised the 182d Infantry Regiment, from the 123d Division (Saxon), the 354th Infantry Regiment from the 38th Division and the 21st Reserve Infantry Regiment from the 217th Division.