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
1. At the beginning of the war the 1st Bavarian Division, forming, with
the 2d Bavarian Division, the 1st Bavarian Corps, was part of the 6th
Army (Bavarian Crown Prince). It detrained at Sarrebruecken (Aug. 8–9),
crossed the frontier, sacked Badonviller the 12th, and withdrew to the
north of Sarrebruecken the 17th. It fought at Sarrebruecken the 20th. In
liaison on the left with the Badeners of the 14th Corps, it crossed the
frontier and advanced to Nossoncourt and Xaffévillers (Sept. 6) via
Baccarat. September 12 the division, having been withdrawn, was
reassembled at Peltre (near Metz). It then entrained at Metz the 14th
and 15th, and detrained near Namur, reaching Péronne the 24th.
SOMME.
2. In the last days of September, 1914, at the time of the “race to the
sea,” the two divisions of the 1st Bavarian Corps were in the 2d Army
(Von Buelow), which operated on the Somme in the Péronne region. They
became heavily engaged notably at Combles (Oct. 24) and at Maricourt
(Dec. 17). By November 4 the 1st Bavarian Regiment had had casualties of
63 officers and 2,090 men since the beginning of the war. (Casualty
list.)
1915.
ARTOIS.
1. The 1st Bavarian Division was kept in line on the Somme (Dompierre-
Maricourt) until October, 1915. Its composition was changed—the Body
Infantry Regiment went to the Alpine Corps, the 16th Infantry to the
10th Bavarian Division. In return, the 24th Infantry (a new formation)
was received.
2. The division was taken to the region north of Arras (Neuville-Souchez
sector), where it remained almost seven months (October, 1915-May,
1916).
1916.
VERDUN.
1. About May, 1916, the division was relieved to the west of Vimy and
sent to the Verdun front, where it took part in the battles near
Douaumont (May 23), and in those of June 1 and 8.
2. Re-formed in the Romagne-sous-les-Côtes area, it reentered line about
June 22 for new attacks. During this offensive the division suffered
severely. It was relieved at the beginning of July.
3. After a short rest behind the Verdun front the division reoccupied
the Apremont-St. Mihiel sector, remaining there until October 11, when
it was reconstituted, receiving large reinforcements (recuperates and
men of the 1916 class).
SOMME.
4. Taken to the Caudry sector (near Cambrai), it was engaged on the
Somme (Sailly-Saillisel, Morval) October 13 to end of November, where
its losses were once again exceedingly heavy.
5. The division reappeared in the region of St. Mihiel (Bois d’Ailly-
Forêt d’Apremont sector) the beginning of December, and remained there
until the early days of May, 1917.
1917.
PLATEAU DE CALIFORNIE.
1. Entrained about May 7 at Vigneulles, it proceeded to the Laon region,
where it was in reserve (May 8–12). The following day it took over the
sector west of Hurtebise, where it participated in several attacks (May
20-June 17), losing heavily therein.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account