Histories of two hundred and fifty-one divisions of the German army which participated in the war (1914-1918)United States. War Department. General Staff
History
Histories of two hundred and fifty-one divisions of the German army which participated in the war (1914-1918)
United States. War Department. General Staff
Germany. Heer -- History -- World War, 1914-1918; World War, 1914-1918 -- Germany
1917.
CHAMPAGNE.
1. On January 1, 1917, it went into line north of Prunay and remained in
this sector (quiet) until October 22–25.
2. In May the division sent some of its elements as reenforcements to
units attacked at Cornillet and at Monthaut.
FORET DE COUCY.
3. It entrained on October 26 at Chatelet and was transferred to the
area of Cerny-en-Laonnois. On the 28th it was interpolated between two
divisions (the 10th Division and the 27th Division) on the front
Bassoles-Fresnes, in the upper Coucy wood, which it occupied until the
middle of February, 1918.
RECRUITING.
The 14th Reserve Division is recruited from Westphalia. As it suffered
very little in 1917, the division probably did not receive in the course
of that year the heterogeneous replacements which were sent—perhaps
intentionally—to the other Westphalian divisions.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 14th Reserve Division did not participate in any important action in
the course of the year 1917. It was thoroughly reorganized during its
long stay in Champagne. It is composed for the most part of young men
(20 to 30 years of age) and has suffered but few losses (a slight
proportion of the 1918 class).
Its valor has not been put to any serious test since Verdun. It appears
capable of serious effort.
1918.
LAON.
1. The division was withdrawn from line in the St. Gobain region and
went to rest in the neighborhood of Laon. It was trained in open warfare
during the weeks that followed.
2. On March 16 some equipment belonging to the 53d Reserve Regiment was
found west of Laon, near Champs, but it is unlikely that the division
was in line there; it was not identified in any other way. It was
identified in line in that region, however, on the 6th of April. It was
withdrawn on May 29.
AISNE.
3. The division went immediately to the Aisne battle front, where it was
identified by prisoners in the Vierzy sector (south of Soissons) on May
31. It was withdrawn about the 10th of June and rested for a month in
the region of Fere en Tardenois.
4. On July 8 it relieved the 47th Reserve Division near Chavigny (south
of Soissons). The 47th Reserve Division relieved part of the 14th
Reserve Division on the 12th, and the 14th Reserve seems to have come
back in its entirety on the 16th. During this fighting, the division
lost more than 1,500 prisoners. It was withdrawn on July 20, and went to
rest and refit in the neighborhood of Mulhouse.
NESLE.
5. The division entrained on the 22d of August at Birnsweiler and
traveled via Saarbruecken-Trier-Herbesthal-Liége-Namur-Charleroi-Condé,
detraining at Tincourt the night of August 23–24. On the 26th it
reinforced the front near Thilloy (southwest of Nesle). It was withdrawn
on September 9, after losing some 1,300 prisoners, and went to rest in
Alsace in the neighborhood of Oltingen.
CHAMPAGNE.
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