4. With this composition the 216th Division occupied the line north of the mouth of the Buzeu. It was still there at the end of December. The 354th Infantry Regiment was identified on December 28 by fraternizing.
RECRUITING.
The 42d Infantry Regiment, Pomeranian, and the 59th Infantry Regiment, from Posen, also contained contingents from the 2d, 5th and 20th Corps Districts, and since 1915 have contained a large number of Alsace-Lorrainers. The 354 Infantry Regiment, formed from mobile depot battalions of the former Breslau Garrison, replaced its 3d Battalion (Saxon) by Prussians, and consisted almost entirely of drafts from Silesia.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 216th Division fought and held sectors almost entirely on the Roumanian front.
1918.
1. On the 1st of April the division started for the Western Front. It traveled via Bucharest-Budapest-Prague-Dresden-Leipsig-Erfurt-Frankfort-Thionville-Luxemburg-Namur-Mons-Valenciennes, and detrained at Orchies and Somain from April 12 to 20.
Kemme.
2. It entered line at Kemme on May 9 and with the exception of the first week in June held that sector until June 18.
3. The division rested and underwent training north of Courtrai (Oostroosebeke-Marialoop) until July 23. It was then railed to Laon and marched toward the front south of Fismes through Urcel, Brenelle, Bozoches, Mont St. Martin. It was in reserve northeast of Cierges on July 28–29.