Part 22
1. In February, 1916, when the battle of Verdun commenced, the division was still in its sector on the left bank of the Meuse.
2. In March it fought near Bethencourt. It took this village April 9. Relieved about May 15 after suffering very heavy losses (68 per cent of its infantry).
3. Sent to rest and reorganized with replacements from the 1916 class.
SOMME.
4. It was at first army reserve in the region of Cambrai at the beginning of June. Then a hurry call was sent for the division June 27 and it went into the battle of the Somme.
5. July 2 to 3 it relieved some units of the 12th Division and 10th Bavarian Division on the front Hardecourt to the Somme and suffered enormous losses from July 2 to 9.
6. Received replacements July 10 and suffered again heavily between the 10th and 20th in the same region. It was withdrawn from the Somme front about July 24.
FLANDERS.
7. Reconstituted again with replacements from the depots of the 12th Army Corps and sent at the end of July and beginning of August to the east of Armentieres, south of the Lys, and held this sector until September 20 to 27.
SOMME.
8. At the end of September the division returned to the Somme, between the Somme and Barleux. It opposed the attack of the French October 18 to 19 in the sector of Biaches.
9. The division was relieved from the Somme area at the beginning of November.
ARTOIS.
10. Sent to Artois and went into line at the beginning of December in the sector of Lens, between Loos and Lievin.
1917.
1. About March 24 to 25, 1917, the division was withdrawn from the Artois front.
2. In line for six weeks between Cambrai and St. Quentin, in the sector Bellicourt-Bellenglise, from the end of March to May 10. Returned about May 14 to 15 to the region of Lens, where it stayed until August 20. (Attack of the Canadians on its right flank Aug. 15.)
ARTOIS-FLANDERS.
3. At rest in the vicinity of St. Amand (Artois) at the end of August and beginning of September. Held the front south of Lens (sector Frenoy- Acheville) September 9. In November it was sent to Flanders near Passchendaele, where it alternated with the 12th Reserve Division until January, 1918. At rest from the middle of January and went back into line February 24 south of the forest of Houthulst.
RECRUITING.
Silesia. Drafts from other districts—for example, the fourth—to counterbalance the Polish element.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
At the present time (February, 1918) it is difficult to form a precise opinion of the fighting qualities of this division, as it has not been seriously engaged since the battle of the Somme. In the sector of Lens and Frenoy the heavy losses which it suffered from gas have no doubt caused a certain weakening of the morale. (One company of the 156th Infantry was reduced to 24 men.)
In Flanders the division held a difficult sector, but arrived at a time when active operations were coming to an end. The nature of the ground has been the main cause of its losses. (Information from the British, Feb. 9, 1918.)
1918.
PASSCHENDAELE.
1. The division remained in line south of Passchendaele until January 16, when it was relieved by the 31st Division. It then moved to the Oostroosebeke area, where it underwent a course of training in open warfare.
YPRES.
2. February 24 the division relieved the 199th Division astride the Ypres-Staden railway (northeast of Ypres).
ARMENTIERES.
3. It was relieved about the 18th of March by the extension of front of the neighboring divisions, and one regiment was identified by prisoners as having reenforced the front south of Villers-Carbonnel (southwest of Peronne). This regiment was relieved March 26 and went to join the remainder of the division which was resting in the Turcoing area. April 9 the division reenforced the front in the Croix du Bac sector (north of the La Bassee Canal). It was withdrawn about the 16th, after losing heavily, and went to rest in the vicinity of Laventie.
4. April 28 it relieved the 81st Reserve Division southwest of Meteren. It was withdrawn about the 6th of May, going to be reconstituted in the area southeast of Bailleul.
5. It relieved the 12th Division southwest of Meteren during the night of May 18–19, remaining in line until June 7, when it was withdrawn to rest in the Courtrai area.
6. During the night of June 22–23 the division relieved the 216th Division in the Locre sector (west of Kemmel). Here it fought until a day or two before the armistice, when it seems to have been withdrawn.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The 11th Reserve is rated as a second-class division. It has fought a great deal during 1918, especially since June, and has lost heavily. Its record has not been brilliant.
11th Landwehr Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │33 Ldw. │75 Ldw. │33 Ldw. │75 Ldw. │ │76 Ldw. │ │76 Ldw. │70 Mixed Ldw. │5 Ldw. │70 Mixed Ldw. │5 Ldw. │ │18 Ldw. │ │18 Ldw. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │92 Ldw. Cav. Rgt. │92 Ldw. Cav. Rgt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │98 F. A. Rgt. │98 F. A. Rgt. │ │910 Btry. F. A. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│ │1 and 2 Ldw. Pion. Cos. (3 C. Liaisons. │ │ Dist.). │ │311 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd Units. │ │11 Ldw. Div. Cyclist Co. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────
─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │33 Ldw. │18 Ldw. │70 Ldw. │18 Ldw. │ │75 Ldw. │ │75 Ldw. │ │76 Ldw. │ │424. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 11 Dragoon Rgt. (?). │1 Sqn. 11 Drag. Rgt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │131 Art. Command: │98 F. A. Rgt. │ 98 F. A. Rgt. │1018 Light Am. Col. │ 910 Btry. F. A. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│(411) Pion. Btn.: │4 Landst. Co. 3 C. Dist. Liaisons. │ │ Pions. │ 1 Co. 1 Pions. │359 Searchlight Section. │ 1 Ldw. Co. 3 Pions. │79 Searchlight Section. │ 311 T. M. Co. │511 Signal Command: │ 353 Searchlight Section. │ 511 Tel. Detch. │ 272 Searchlight Section. │ │ 511 Tel. Detch. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │217 Sanitary Co. │217 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │10 Ldw. Field Hospital. │105 Field Hospital. │17 Ldw. Field Hospital. │150 Field Hospital. │ │211 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd Units. │11 Ldw. Div. Cyclist Co. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │70 Ldw. Brig.: │ │ (424 Inf. & Consbruch Rgts. │ │ “1 and 2 Allenstein.”) │ │ (20 C. Dist. 1 and 2 Btns. │ │ Landst.). │ │ 1 Lotzen Landst. Btn. (20 C.│ │ Dist. Btn. No. 4). │ │ Neustadt Landst. Btn. (17 C.│ │ Dist. Landst. Btn. No. 9). │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────
HISTORY.
(18th Landwehr: Twentieth District—Eastern part of West Prussia. 75th Landwehr and 76th Landwehr: Ninth District—Schleswig—Holstein and Mecklemburg.)
1914.
EAST PRUSSIA-POLAND.
1. This division is the former Von Einem Division, which, with the Jacobi Division (former 10th Landwehr Division), formed the 1st Landwehr Corps on the Eastern Front in 1914–15. It took part in the battle of Tannenberg in August and fought near Lyck in October, 1914.
2. From November to December the 1st Landwehr Corps held the defiles of the Masurian Lakes, the 33d and 70th Landwehr Brigades being in the region of Angerburg and Loetzen.
1915.
1. In February, 1915, the 1st Landwehr Corps was identified between Mariampol and Suwalki.
2. From March to August the Von Einem Division, which became the 11th Landwehr Division, was in line before the fortress of Ossowiec.
VICHNEV.
3. The offensive against the Russians brought it to the railroad Molodetchno-Lida, near Vichnev, in September. It established its positions there and remained more than two years, from September, 1915, to the beginning of 1918.
1916.
1. Vichnev-Krevo sector.
2. Toward the end of 1916 the 424th Infantry was assigned to the 11th Landwehr Division, which had given its 5th Landwehr to the 218th Division in October.
1917.
1. Vichnev-Krevo sector.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
On the Russian front since the beginning of the war. Mediocre quality.
1918.
UKRAINE.
1. The 11th Landwehr Division, which was still in line south of Krevo in January, 1918, marched to the east in February. On April 30 it was identified in the Ukraine between Kiev and Koursk. About the middle of May it was in the Soumy region. A man of the 75th Landwehr Regiment wrote on the 16th of June: “I am still at Kiev, but I tell you one thing, it is much worse here than in the trenches, for there one has the enemy in front, while here it is just the opposite. The people are so badly disposed toward us they would eat us alive if they were able, but they can not.”
RUSSIA.
2. The middle of July the division was identified south of Moscow. During all this time men were taken from the division and sent as replacements to the Western Front.
3. Early in November elements of the division were identified along the Danube.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as fourth class.
11th Bavarian Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │21 Bav. │3 Bav. │21 Bav. │3 Bav. │ │22 Bav. │ │22 Bav. │ │13 Bav. Res. │ │13 Bav. Res. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │ │4 Sqn. 7 Bav. Light Cav. Rgt. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │21 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │21 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│19 Bav. Pion. Co. │19 Bav. Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │21 Bav. Pion. Co. │21 Bav. Pion. Co. │ │11 Bav. T. M. Co. │ │11 Bav. Pont. Engs. │ │11 Bav. Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd Units. │ │11 Bav. Cyclist Co. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────
─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │21 Bav. │3 Bav. │21 Bav. │16 Bav. │ │22 Bav. │ │3 Bav. │ │13 Bav. Res. │ │22 Bav. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 7 Bav. Light Cav. Rgt.│2 Sqn. 7 Light Cav. Rgt. │ │ (Bavarian). │2 Sqn. 7 Bav. Light Cav. Rgt.│ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │11 Bav. Art. Command: │11 Bav. Art. Command: │ 21 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │ 21 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │ │ 11 Bav. Ft. A. Btn. │ │ 124 Bav. Light Am. Col. │ │ 125 Bav. Light Am. Col. │ │ 129 Bav. Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│(11 Bav.) Pion. Btn.: │11 Bav. Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 19 Bav. Pion. Co. │ 19 Bav. Pion. Co. │ 21 Bav. Pion. Co. │ 21 Bav. Pion. Co. │ 11 Bav. T. M. Co. │ 11 Bav. T. M. Co. │ 11 Bav. Tel. Detch. │11 Bav. Searchlight Section. │ │11 Bav. Signal Command: │ │ 11 Bav. Tel. Detch. │ │ 179 Bav. Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │11 Bav. Ambulance Co. │11 Bav. Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │35 Field Hospital. │35 Bav. Field Hospital. │37 Field Hospital. │37 Bav. Field Hospital. │11 Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │691 M. T. Col. │691 Divisional M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd Units. │11 Bav. Cyclist Co. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │M. G. S. S. Detch. No. 47. │ │308 Supply Train. │ │1107 Wireless Detch. │ │286 and 287 Field Signal │ │ Sections Pigeon Loft. │ │2 Co. 29 Pions. │ │3 Co. 29 Pions. │ │1 Co. 7 Pions. │ │Pfungstadt Landst. Inf. Btn. │ │2 Munster Landst. Btn. │ │1 Co. 60 Labor Btn. │ │1 Co. 12 Labor Btn. (Bayr.). │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────
HISTORY.
(3d Bavarian: First Bavarian District.) (22d Bavarian: Second Bavarian District.) (13th Reserve Bavarian: Third Bavarian District.)
1915.
Organized in April, 1915, in Galicia, in the Carpathians.
GALICIA.
1. This division belonged to Mackensen’s army during the offensive in Galicia and took part in the capture of Przemysl May 31, 1915.
BUG.
2. Sent north, fought at Rava Ruska, and reached the Bug in the region of Cholm-Vlodava. Withdrew from the front at the end of August.
SERBIA.
3. In September and October the division took part in the campaign against Serbia with Mackensen’s army. Crossed the Danube October 8 to 11; Valley of the Morawa; region of Monastir (November).
4. Left the front November 15 and went to rest in Hungary at Weisskirchen until the beginning of February, 1916.
1916.
FRANCE.
1. From February 9 to 10, 1916, the division entrained for the Western Front. Itinerary: Temesvar-Szegedin-Baja-Marburg-Graz-Salzburg-Munich- Ingolstadt-Wurzburg-Frankfort on Main-Coblentz-Cologne-Liège-Malines. Detrained at Antwerp February 15.
2. At rest in the region of Antwerp until March 1, and on that date it entrained for Vouziers.
VERDUN.
3. Sent to the Verdun front (sector of Avocourt wood, Mar. 8), attacked March 20 and 22 and April 11 and suffered considerable losses; 75 per cent of its infantry out of action.
4. Relieved at the beginning of June and sent to rest in the region of Thionville, then sent to Cambrai.
RUSSIA.
5. June 14 it returned to Russia. Itinerary: Solesme Busigny-Maubeuge- Liège-Aix la Chapelle-Hanover-Brest Litovsk-Kovel.
KOVEL.
6. Went into action immediately and counterattacked near the Kovel-Rovno Railroad and suffered heavy losses.
ROUMANIA.
7. In October it took part in the Roumanian campaign (Valley of the Jiul).
1917.
FRANCE.
1. Withdrawn from the Braila front at the beginning of January, 1917, and again entrained for France on the 10th. Itinerary: Bucarest- Budapest-Vienna-Salzburg-Munich. Detrained the 22d at Barr (Alsace).
ALSACE.
2. In April held the sector Burnhaupt-Rhone-Rhine canal.
AISNE.
3. Sent from Mulhouse to Marle April 26 to 28, then to the south of Laon and took over the sector of Cernay May 5 to 6, where its losses were due especially to artillery fire.
4. At rest in the region of Laon June 6 to August 3.
5. Coucy sector August 3 to September 15. The division did not have any hard action here, but suffered again from bombardment.
6. September 15, at rest in the vicinity of Sedan for one month.
FLANDERS.
7. Entrained at Sedan October 15 to 17; detrained at Courtrai October 18; went into line the 22d in the sector of Passchendaele, where it suffered heavily from the British attack of the 26th. Relieved immediately after this engagement and reorganized.
8. November 2 the division went back into line south of Passchendaele, but did not have any serious actions.
9. November 10, relieved and sent to rest.
COTES DE MEUSE.
10. From November 18 to January 12, 1918, the division held the sector Chauvoncourt-Seuzey north of St. Mihiel. It took part in no infantry
## actions.
RECRUITING.
The whole of the Bavarian country.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
This division may be considered good. It took part on the Eastern and Western Fronts in a large number of battles, “Przemysl, Verdun, Argesul, Filipesci” (speech of William II), and did well everywhere (January, 1918).
1918.
LOUVRE.
1. The 11th Bavarian Division remained in the Seuzey sector, resting and being reconstituted, until relieved by the 82d Reserve Division on January 12.
2. About the middle of February it relieved the 1st Division in the Etain sector. This, too, was a very quiet sector and the division was not identified by contact. It was relieved about March 27 by the 10th Landwehr Division, and remained in rear of the Verdun front for a fortnight. It is probable that it was trained during this period, but the fact has never been definitely established.
ARMENTIERES.
3. The division was then sent to the Armentieres front, where it relieved the 214th Division in the Neuve Eglise sector (northwest of Armentieres) April 13–14. Here it took part in very heavy fighting, especially south of Mount Kemmel, and suffered heavy losses as a result. It was withdrawn on the 26th of April, and proceeded to the area northeast of Ghent, detraining at Wachtebeke on the 29th. Here it was brought up to strength and reviewed by the King of Bavaria on May 20.
SOISSONS.
4. About June 3 the division left the Ghent region; it was identified in rear of the front in the region of Soissons on June 9. A few days later it reinforced the front near Coeuvres (southwest of Soissons). It was relieved by the 14th Division on June 21.
5. After resting immediately in rear of the front, it suffered severe losses from bombardment by gas shells during this period. The division came back into line in the Courmelles sector (south of Soissons) about July 15. July 18 it lost over 2,400 in prisoners alone. It was withdrawn about July 22.
YPRES.
6. The division rested for about a month. It was reconstituted, it being found necessary to dissolve one company in each battalion. August 26 the division relieved the 49th Reserve Division east of Boesinghe (northwest of Ypres). It fought, taking part in the general retirement, until withdrawn October 2, after losing more than 500 prisoners.
GHENT.
7. The division reinforced the front near Beveren (southwest of Ghent), and had not been withdrawn up to the time the armistice was signed.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The 11th Bavarian is rated as being in the first of four classes of divisions. It fought well during 1918, but not brilliantly. Its losses were heavy, but not in comparison with other German divisions.
12th Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │34. │23. │24. │23. │24. │23. │ │62. │ │62. │ │62. │78. │63. │78. │63. │ │63. │ │157. │ │157. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │11 Horse Jag. Rgt. │ │6 Sqn. 10 Hus. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │12 Brig.: │12 Brig.: │12 Brig.: │ 21 F. A. Rgt. │ 21 F. A. Rgt. │ 21 F. A. Rgt. │ 57 F. A. Rgt. │ 57 F. A. Rgt. │ 57 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. 6:│1 Pion. Btn. No. 6: Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │ Field Co. 6 Pions.│ 2 Co. 6 Pions. │ │ 12 Pont. Engs. │ 3 Co. 6 Pions. │ │ 12 Tel. Detch. │ 12 T. M. Co. │ │ │ 12 Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │ 12 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │17 Antiaircraft │ │ │ section. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │24. │23. │24. │23. │ │62. │ │62. │ │63. │ │63. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │4 Sqn. 2 Uhlan Rgt.│4 Sqn. 2 Uhlan Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │12 Art. Command: │12 Art. Command: │ 21 F. A. Rgt. │ 21 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 68 Ft. A. Btn. │ │ 851 Light Am. Col. │ │ 887 Light Am. Col. │ │ 937 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│1 Pion. Btn. No. 6:│6 Pion. Btn. Liaisons. │ │ │ 2 Co. 6 Pions. │2 Co. 6 Pions. │ 3 Co. 6 Pions. │3 Co. 6 Pions. │ 12 T. M. Co. │12 T. M. Co. │ 6 Searchlight │100 Searchlight │ Section. │ Section. │ 10 Tel. Detch. │12 Signal Command: │ 116, 117, and 118 │ 12 Tel. Detch. │ Signal Detch. │ │ │ 182 Wireless │ │ Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │15 Ambulance Co. │15 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │51 Field Hospital. │57 Field Hospital. │57 Field Hospital. │60 Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │12 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │27 Supply Train. │545 M. T. Col. │M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │17 Antiaircraft │ │ section. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
HISTORY.
(6th Corps District—Upper Silesia.)
1914.
FRANCE.
1. The 12th Division, forming with the 11th Division the 6th Army Corps (Breslau), formed a part of the 5th Army (German Crown Prince) at the beginning of the war, took part in the battle of August 22 at Rossignol les Bulles, entered France August 24, passed the Meuse above Mouzon on August 28, and took part in the battle on September 7 at Laheycourt and Villotte near Louppy.
CHAMPAGNE.
2. After the battle of the Marne it was engaged (Sept. 21) at Berru and at Nogent l’Abbesse (east of Rheims). It remained on the Rheims front until the middle of June, 1915.
1915.
ARTOIS.
1. In April the 12th Division gave the 157th Infantry Regiment to the 117th Division, a new formation.
2. Toward the middle of June, 1915, the 6th Army Corps was relieved on the Rheims front and transferred to Artois. The 12th Division then occupied a sector to the south of Souchez, from which it was relieved toward the end of September. In the Souchez sector it took part in some very heavy engagements (1st to the 16th of July).
3. After a rather short rest period in the region of Cambrai, the division took its position in the sector which crosses the Somme (during the first half of October).
1916.
SOMME.
1. On the 1st of July, 1916, the 12th Division received the entire weight of the English attack north of the Somme (sectors Contalmaison- Hardecourt) and suffered very heavily (losses 61.5 per cent).
2. It was relieved on July 12 and reorganized in the vicinity of Cambrai.
3. About the 20th of July the 12th Division again took part in the battle of the Somme (in the sector northeast of Pozières), where it suffered heavy losses.
4. About the 9th of August it was relieved, and on the 21st went into the calm sector of Monchy aux Bois (south of Arras), which it held until October 16.
ANCRE.
5. The 12th Division then held (Oct. 25 to Nov. 19) the sector north of the Ancre (Beaumont-Hamel) and suffered heavy losses (Nov. 14).
6. It was transferred to Champagne and took over the sector of Prunay on December 12.
RUSSIA.
7. At the end of December it was relieved from this quiet sector and entrained on December 28, at Warmeriville for the Russian front by the route Aix la Chapelle-Cologne-Hanover-Luneburg-Hamburg-Stettin- Königsberg-Tilsit-Chavli-Ponieviej. It detrained southwest of Illuxt on January 2, 1917.
1917.
1. On the Russian front the 12th Division did not take part in any important battles. (Sector in the region of Dwinsk.)
FRANCE.
2. Relieved about the end of May, 1917, it returned to the Western Front. Itinerary Jelowka (May 27) -Insterburg-Posen-Leipzig-Weimar- Cologne-Saarbrucken. Detrained at Metz June 3 and reentrained on the 9th at Ars sur Moselle for Mouscron, by way of Metz-Luxemburg-Namur-Tournai, and detrained at Gheluwe.
3. It remained in reserve first on the Wytschaete-Messines front, and then (Aug. 1) relieved the 22d Reserve Division in the sector east of Klein-Zillebeke after the Franco-British attack. In this sector the division did not engage in battle but suffered greatly from artillery bombardments.
ITALY.