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- 2nd German Army (formerly III Army Inspectorate) during the Great War -


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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment

2nd German Army (formerly III Army Inspectorate)



 German Army - ORBAT  2nd Army was commanded by Generaloberst Karl von Bülow.

Guards Corps (General der Infanterie Karl von Plettenberg)

  • 1st Guards Infantry Division
  • 2nd Guards Infantry Division

VII Corps (General der Kavallerie Karl von Einem)

  • 13th Infantry Division
  • 14th Infantry Division

X Corps (General der Infanterie Otto von Emmich)

  • 19th Infantry Division
  • 20th Infantry Division

Guards Reserve Corps (General der Artillerie Max von Gallwitz)

  • 3rd Guards Infantry Division
  • 1st Guards Reserve Division

VII Reserve Corps (General der Infanterie Hans von Zwehl)

  • 13th Reserve Division
  • 14th Reserve Division

X Reserve Corps (General der Infanterie Günther Graf von Kirchbach)

  • 2nd Guards Reserve Division
  • 19th Reserve Division

Army Troops

  • 25th Mixed Landwehr Brigade
  • 29th Mixed Landwehr Brigade
  • 4 Mortar Battalions
  • 10-cm Gun Battalion
  • 2 Heavy Coastal Mortar Batteries
  • 2 Pionier Regiments



 Corps structure  German Guards Corps part of 2nd Army

Divisions

  • 1st Guards Division
  • 2nd Guards Division


 Corps structure  7th German Army Corps part of 2nd Army

Divisions

  • 13th Infantry Division
  • 14th Infantry Division


 Corps structure  10th German Army Corps part of 2nd Army

Divisions

  • 19th Infantry Division
  • 20th Infantry Division


 Corps structure  7th German Army Reserve Corps part of 2nd Army

Divisions

  • 13th Reserve Infantry Division
  • 14th Reserve Infantry Division


 Corps structure  German Guards Reserve Army Corps part of 2nd Army

Divisions

  • 3rd Guards Infantry Division
  • 1st Guards Reserve Infantry Division


 Corps structure  10th German Army Reserve Corps part of 2nd Army

Divisions

  • 2nd Guards Reserve Division
  • 19th Reserve Infantry Division


 Corps structure  2nd German Cavalry Corps - preceding 1st and 2nd Armies (General der Kavallerie Georg von der Marwitz)

Divisions

Each Cavalry Division consisted of 3 Brigades, each of 2 Cavalry Regiments (24 squadrons in total), 3 horse artillery batteries (of 4 guns each) and an MG detachment (with 6 Machine Guns).

  • 2nd Cavalry Division
  • 4th Cavalry Division
  • 9th Cavalry Division


 Divisional Structure 1914  1st Guards Reserve Division part of 2nd German Army

Divisional Order of Battle 1914

Infantry

  • 1st Guards Reserve Brigade
    • 1st Guards Reserve Regiment
    • 2nd Guards Reserve Regiment
  • 15th Reserve Brigade
    • 64th Reserve Regiment
    • 93rd Reserve Regiment
  • Guards Reserve Snipers Battalion

Cavalry

Guards Reserve Dragoons - 3 Squadrons

Artillery

  • 1st Guards Reserve Field Artillery Regiment
  • 3rd Guards Reserve Field Artillery Regiment



 Divisional Structure 1915  1st Guards Reserve Division part of 2nd German Army

Divisional Order of Battle 1915

Infantry

  • 1st Guards Reserve Brigade
    • 1st Guards Reserve Regiment
    • 2nd Guards Reserve Regiment
  • 15th Reserve Brigade
    • 64th Reserve Regiment
    • 93rd Reserve Regiment
  • Guards Reserve Snipers Battalion

Cavalry

Guards Reserve Dragoons Regiment

Artillery

  • 1st Guards Reserve Field Artillery Regiment
  • 3rd Guards Reserve Field Artillery Regiment

Engineers and Liaison

    1st Engineers Battalion
    • 2nd Field Company
    • 3rd Field Company
    • 28th Pioneer Company
    • 1st Guards Reserve Pontoon Engineers
    • 1st Guards Reserve Telephone Detachment



     Divisional Structure 1916  1st Guards Reserve Division part of 2nd German Army

    Divisional Order of Battle 1916

    Infantry

    • 1st Guards Reserve Brigade
      • 1st Guards Reserve Regiment
      • 2nd Guards Reserve Regiment
      • 64th Reserve Regiment

    Cavalry

    Guards Reserve Dragoons Regiment 3 Squadrons

    Artillery

    • 1st Guards Reserve Field Artillery Regiment
    • 3rd Guards Reserve Field Artillery Regiment

    Engineers and Liaison

      1st Engineers Battalion
      • 2nd Field Company
      • 3rd Field Company
      • 28th Pioneer Company
      • 1st Guards Reserve Pontoon Engineers
      • 1st Guards Reserve Telephone Detachment
      • 5th Guards Trench Mortar Company



       Divisional Structure 1917  1st Guards Reserve Division part of 2nd German Army

      Divisional Order of Battle 1917

      Infantry

      • 1st Guards Reserve Brigade
        • 1st Guards Reserve Regiment
        • 2nd Guards Reserve Regiment
        • 64th Reserve Regiment

      Cavalry

      Guards Reserve Dragoons Regiment 1st Squadron

      Artillery

      • 7th Guards Artillery Command
      • 1st Guards Reserve Field Artillery Regiment (9 Batteries)

      Engineers and Liaison

        1st Engineers Battalion
        • 2nd Field Company
        • 3rd Field Company
        • 28th Pioneer Company
        • 401 Guards Telephone Detachment
        • 5th Guards Trench Mortar Company

        Medical and Veterinary

        • 266 Ambulance Company
        • 395 Field Hospital
        • Veterinary Hospital

        Transport

        701 Motor Transport Column



         Divisional Structure 1918  Jäger Division part of 54th Corps z.b.V - German Second Army.

        Divisional Order of Battle on formation in 1917.

        Stab 5th Ersatz Infantry Brigade

        • Stab 4th Dragoon Regiment - von Bredow (1st Schlesisches)
        • Guards Reserve Jäger Battalion
        • Guards Reserve Schützen Battalion

        • Stab 2nd Uhlen Regiment - von Katzler (Schlesisches)
        • 1st Reserve Jäger Battalion
        • 2nd Pomeranian Jäger Battalion (Fürst Bismarck)

        • Stab 8th Royal Bavarian Chevalliers Regiment
        • 8th Reserve Jäger Battalion
        • Wurttemberg Mountain Battalion
        • Brandenberg Jäger Battalion

        Notes

        Stab refers to a Headquarters or Command to which units can be attached.

        In the Corps title - z.b.V (zur besonderen Verwendung) translates to "For Special Use"

         Divisional Structure 1918  Jäger Division part of 54th Corps z.b.V - German Second Army.

        Divisional Order of Battle 1918

        5th Ersatz Infantry Brigade

        • Jäger-Regiment Nr. 11
          • The Regiment was formed in October 1917 on the Italian front.
          • The regimental staff was the staff of the Dragoner Nr. 4
          • Garde Reserve Jäger Bataillon,
          • Garde Reserve Schützen Bataillon,
          • Jäger Bataillon Nr. 1
          • The Regiment was part of the Deutsche Jäger Division, the commander was Oberstleutnant Freiherr von Bettendorf
        • Jäger-Regiment Nr. 12
          • The Regiment was formed in October 1917 on the Italian front.
          • The regimental staff was the staff of the Ulanen Regiment Nr. 2
          • Jäger-Bataillon Nr. 2,
          • Reserve Jäger Bataillon Nr. 1,
          • Jäger Bataillon Nr. 12 (from 1.12.1917)
          • The Regiment was part of the Deutsche Jäger Division, the commander was Oberstleutnant von Pappritz of the Ulanen Regiment Nr. 2
        • Jäger-Regiment Nr. 13
          • The Regiment was formed in October 1917 on the Italian front.
          • The regimental staff was the staff of the 8. Bayerische Chevauleger-Regiment
          • Reserve Jäger Bataillon Nr. 8,
          • Reserve Jäger Bataillon Nr. 20,
          • Reserve Jäger Bataillon Nr. 21
          • The Regiment was part of the Deutsche Jäger Division, the commander was Oberstleutnant von Bibra of the 8, Bayerische Chevauleger-Regiment
        • 1st Squadron 10th Dragoon Regiment - King Albert of Saxony (east Prussian)

          224th Artillery Command

          • 24th Holstein Field Artillery Regiment
          • 4th Bavarian Foot Artillery Regiment

          422 Pioneer Battalion

          901 Communications Command

          Divisional Commanders

          • Oberst Georg von Wodtke - 14th Sep to 23rd Nov. 1917
          • Generalmajor Johannes von Dassel - 24th Nov 1917 to 14th Dec 1918.



           Corps structure  51st German Army Corps (zbV)part of 2nd German Army

          zbV (zur besonderen Vervendung) [for special use]

          Divisions

          • 2nd Cyclist Brigade
          • 243rd Division
          • 121st Division
          • 54th Division
          • 1st Guards Reserve Division
          • 22nd Reserve Division

          Army Troops

          17th Reserve Division



           Corps structure  54th German Army Corps (zbV) part of 2nd German Army

          zbV (zur besonderen Vervendung) [for special use]

          Divisions

          • 21st Reserve Division
          • 22nd Division
          • 4th Division
          • 113th Division
          • 239th Division
          • 12th Reserve Division
          • Jäger Division
          • 185th Division



           Divisional Structure 1915  1st Bavarian Division part of 1st Bavarian Corps and 2nd German Army.

          Divisional structure 1915

          Infantry

          • 1st Bavarian Brigade
            • 1st Bavarian Regiment
          • 2nd Bavarian Brigade
            • 2nd Bavarian Regiment
            • 24th Bavarian Regiment

          Cavalry

          8th Bavarian Light Cavalry

          Artillery

          • 1st Bavarian Artillery Brigade
          • 1st Bavarian Field Artillery Regiment
          • 7th Bavarian Field Artillery Regiment

          Engineers and Liaison

          • 1st Bavarian Engineers Battalion - 1st Field Company
          • 1st Bavarian Engineers Battalion - 3rd Field Company
          • 1st Bavarian Pontoon Engineers
          • 1st Bavarian Telephone Detachment



           Divisional Structure 1916  1st Bavarian Division part of 1st Bavarian Corps and 2nd German Army.

          Divisional structure 1916

          Infantry

          • 2nd Bavarian Brigade
            • 1st Bavarian Regiment
            • 2nd Bavarian Regiment
            • 24th Bavarian Regiment

          Cavalry

          8th Bavarian Light Cavalry - 3 Squadrons

          Artillery

          • 1st Bavarian Artillery Brigade
          • 1st Bavarian Field Artillery Regiment
          • 7th Bavarian Field Artillery Regiment

          Engineers and Liaison

          • 1st Bavarian Engineers Battalion - 1st Field Company
          • 1st Bavarian Engineers Battalion - 3rd Field Company
          • 1st Bavarian Trench Mortar Company
          • 1st Bavarian Pontoon Engineers
          • 1st Bavarian Telephone Detachment



           Divisional Structure 1917  1st Bavarian Division part of 1st Bavarian Corps and 2nd German Army.

          Divisional structure 1917

          Infantry

          • 2nd Bavarian Brigade
            • 1st Bavarian Regiment
            • 2nd Bavarian Regiment
            • 24th Bavarian Regiment

          Cavalry

          • 8th Bavarian Light Cavalry - 2nd Squadron
          • 8th Bavarian Light Cavalry - 3rd Squadron

          Artillery

          • 1st Bavarian Artillery Command
          • 1st Bavarian Field Artillery Regiment

          Engineers and Liaison

          • 1st Bavarian Pioneers Company
          • 3rd Bavarian Pioneers Company
          • 1st Bavarian Trench Mortar Company
          • 1st Bavarian Pontoon Engineers
          • 1st Bavarian Telephone Detachment
          • 1st Bavarian Searchlight Section

          Medical and Veterinary

          • 1st Bavarian Ambulance Company
          • Field Hospital
          • Veterinary Hospital

          Transport

          Motor Transport Column



           Divisional Structure 1918  1st Bavarian Division part of 1st Bavarian Corps and 2nd German Army.

          Divisional structure 1918

          Infantry

          • 2nd Bavarian Brigade
            • 1st Bavarian Regiment
            • 2nd Bavarian Regiment
            • 24th Bavarian Regiment

          Cavalry

          • 8th Bavarian Light Cavalry - 2nd Squadron

          Artillery

          • 1st Bavarian Artillery Command
          • 1st Bavarian Field Artillery Regiment
          • 9th Bavarian Foot Artillery Regiment
          • 123rd Bavarian Light Ammunition Column
          • 146th Bavarian Light Ammunition Column
          • 158th Bavarian Light Ammunition Column

          Engineers and Liaison

          • 1st Bavarian Pioneers Battalion
          • 1st Bavarian Pioneers Company
          • 3rd Bavarian Pioneers Company
          • 1st Bavarian Trench Mortar Company
          • 1st Bavarian Signal Command
          • 1st Bavarian Telephone Detachment
          • 40th Wireless Detachment
          • 1st Bavarian Searchlight Section

          Medical and Veterinary

          • 1st Bavarian Ambulance Company
          • 3rd Bavarian Field Hospital
          • 4th Bavarian Field Hospital

          Transport

          Motor Transport Column



           Divisional Structure 1914  2nd German Guard Division part of Guard Corps and 2nd German Army

          Divisional Structure in 1914

          Infantry

          • 3rd Guard Brigade
            • 1st Grenardier Regiment
            • 2nd Grenardier Regiment
          • 4th Guard Brigade
            • 3rd Grenardier Regiment
            • 4th Grenardier Regiment
          • 5th Guard Brigade
            • 5th Grenardier Regiment
            • 5th Foot Regiment

          Artillery

          • 2nd Guard Artillery Brigade
          • 2nd Guard Field Artillery Regiment
          • 4th Guard Field Artillery Regiment


           Divisional Structure 1915  2nd German Guard Division part of Guard Corps and 2nd German Army

          Divisional Structure in 1915

          Infantry

          • 3rd Guard Brigade
            • 1st Grenardier Regiment
            • 2nd Grenardier Regiment
          • 4th Guard Brigade
            • 3rd Grenardier Regiment
            • 4th Grenardier Regiment

          Cavalry

          • 4th Guards Brigade
          • Body Guard Hussar Regiment
          • 2nd Guard Uhlan Regiment

          Artillery

          • 2nd Guard Artillery Brigade
          • 2nd Guard Field Artillery Regiment
          • 4th Guard Field Artillery Regiment

          Engineers and Liaison

          • 1st Guard Engineers Battalion
          • Field Company Guard Pioneer Battalion
          • 2nd Guard Pontoon Engineers
          • 2nd Guard Telephone Detachment



           Divisional Structure 1916  2nd German Guard Division part of Guard Corps and 2nd German Army

          Divisional Structure in 1916

          Infantry

          • 3rd Guard Brigade
            • 1st Grenardier Regiment
            • 2nd Grenardier Regiment
          • 4th Guard Brigade
            • 3rd Grenardier Regiment
            • 4th Grenardier Regiment

          Cavalry

          • Cavalry Regiment Schlotheim
          • 2nd Squadron, 2nd Guard Uhlan Regiment
          • 5th Squadron, 2nd Guard Uhlan Regiment
          • 1st Squadron, 9th Dragoon Regiment
          • Ersatz Squadron, 2nd Uhlan Regiment
          • Ersatz Squadron, 1st Horse Jäger Regiment

          Artillery

          • 2nd Guard Artillery Brigade
          • 2nd Guard Field Artillery Regiment
          • 4th Guard Field Artillery Regiment

          Engineers and Liaison

          • 1st Guard Engineers Battalion
          • 2nd Company Guard Pioneer Battalion
          • 1st Company 28th Pioneer Battalion
          • 281st Pioneer Company
          • 2nd Guard Pontoon Engineers
          • 2nd Guard Telephone Detachment
          • 2nd Guard Trench Mortar Company



           Divisional Structure 1917  2nd German Guard Division part of Guard Corps and 2nd German Army

          Divisional Structure in 1917

          Infantry

          • 3rd Guard Brigade
            • 1st Grenardier Regiment
            • 2nd Grenardier Regiment
            • 4th Grenardier Regiment

          Cavalry

          • 1st Squadron, 9th Dragoon Regiment

          Artillery

          • 2nd Guard Artillery Command
          • 2nd Guard Field Artillery Regiment

          Engineers and Liaison

          • 102nd Engineers Battalion
          • 2nd Company Guard Pioneer Battalion
          • 3rd Company Guard Pioneer Battalion
          • 278th Searchlight Section
          • 281st Searchlight Section
          • 298th Searchlight Section
          • 2nd Guard Pontoon Engineers
          • 2nd Guard Telephone Detachment
          • 2nd Guard Trench Mortar Company

          Medical and Veterinary

          • 2nd Ambulance Company
          • 2nd Field Hospital
          • 3rd Field Hospital
          • 2nd Guard Veterinary Hospital

          Attached Units

          • 2nd Machine Gun Sharpshooter Detachment
          • 1st Abteilung 43 Reserve Field Artillery Regiment
          • 3rd Abteilung 43 Reserve Field Artillery Regiment
          • 1st Abteilung 16th Foot Artillery Regiment
          • 2nd Abteilung 11th Reserve Foot Artillery Regiment
          • 10th Battery 13th Reserve Foot Artillery Regiment
          • 190th Foot Battery
          • 9th Battery 12th Reserve Foot Artillery Regiment with Transport
          • 1st Battery 57th Landwehr Foot Artillery Regiment
          • 3rd Company 87th Labour Battalion
          • 1133rd Wireless Detachment (from 27th Division)
          • 289th Pigeon Loft
          • 3rd Balloon Section
          • 327th Ammunition Train
          • 191st Motor Transport Column
          • 216th Motor Transport Column
          • 853rd Motor Transport Column
          • 865th Motor Transport Column
          • 188th Depot Supply Train



           Divisional Structure 1918  2nd German Guard Division part of Guard Corps and 2nd German Army

          Divisional Structure in 1918

          Infantry

          • 3rd Guard Brigade
            • 1st Grenardier Regiment
            • 2nd Grenardier Regiment
            • 4th Grenardier Regiment

          Cavalry

          • 1st Squadron, Body Guard Hussar Regiment

          Artillery

          • 2nd Guard Artillery Command
          • 2nd Guard Field Artillery Regiment
          • 3rd Abteilung, 3rd Foot Artillery Regiment (Staff,10,11 and 12 Batteries)
          • 535th Foot Artillery Battery
          • 965th Light Ammunition Column
          • 1385th Light Ammunition Column
          • 1386th Light Ammunition Column

          Engineers and Liaison

          • 102nd Pioneer Battalion
          • 2nd Company Guard Pioneer Battalion
          • 3rd Company Guard Pioneer Battalion
          • 211th Searchlight Section
          • 2nd Guard Signal Command
          • 2nd Guard Telephone Detachment
          • 73rd Wireless Detachment

          Medical and Veterinary

          • 2nd Ambulance Company
          • 2nd Field Hospital
          • 3rd Field Hospital
          • 2nd Guard Veterinary Hospital



           Divisional History  2nd Guards Reserve Division part of 10th German Army Reserve Corps and German 2nd Army

          Divisional History

          The 2nd Guards Reserve Division (2. Garde-Reserve-Division) was a reserve infantry division of the Imperial German Army in World War I. Despite its name, it was not a reserve formation of the Prussian Guards like the 1st Guards Reserve Division. Instead, other than the 55th Reserve Infantry Regiment, which was raised by the 4th Guards Grenadiers, it was primarily made up of non-Guards reservists from Westphalia and Hanover. It was formed on mobilization in August 1914 as part of X Reserve Corps and dissolved in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after the Armistice.

          The division spent the entire war on the Western Front. It fought in the First Battle of the Marne in 1914, the Battle of the Somme in 1916, the Battles of Arras and Battle of Passchendaele in 1917, and occupied various parts of the front throughout the war. It participated in the 1918 German Spring Offensive. It was rated by Allied intelligence as a second class division.

           Divisional Structure 1914  2nd Guards Reserve Division part of 10th German Army Reserve Corps and German 2nd Army

          Divisional Structure in 1914

          On mobilization in August 1914, reserve infantry regiments from Westphalia and Hannover, as well as smaller German states adjoining these Prussian provinces, were called up and formed the core of the 2nd Guards Reserve Division. They were joined by artillery, cavalry, and engineer units also from various parts of Germany. The 2nd Guards Reserve Division's initial wartime organization was as follows:

          Infantry

          • 26th Reserve Infantry Brigade
            • 15th Westfälisches Reserve Infantry Regiment
            • 55th Westfälisches Reserve Infantry Regiment
          • 38th Reserve Infantry Brigade
            • 77th Hannoversches Reserve Infantry Regiment
            • 91st Hannoversches Reserve Infantry Regiment
            • 10th Hannoversches Reserve Jäger Battalion

          Cavalry

          2nd Reserve Uhlan Regiment

          Artillery

          20th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment

          Engineers and Liaison

          10th Battalion 4th Hannoversches Pioneers

            Divisional Structure 1918

           Divisional Structure 1916  3rd German Guards Division part of Guards Reserve Corps and 2nd German Army

          Divisional Structure in 1916

          Infantry

          • 6th Guard Brigade
            • Guard Fusiliers
            • Landwehr Regiment
            • 9th Grenadier Regiment

          Cavalry

          Guard Reserve Uhlan Regiment

          Artillery

          • 5th Guard Field Artillery Regiment
          • 6th Guard Field Artillery Regiment
          • (formed of the Juterbog Instruction Regiment)

          Engineers and Liaisons

          • Pioneer Company
          • 3rd Guard Trench Mortar Company
          • 3rd Guard Pontoon Engineers
          • 3rd Guard Telephone Detachment

          Attached

          75th Anti-Aircraft Section



           Divisional Structure 1914  3rd German Guards Division part of Guards Reserve Corps and 2nd German Army

          Divisional Structure in 1914: Organised in August 1914 with elements taken from 1st and 2nd Guard Divisions.

          Infantry

          • 5th Guard Brigade
            • 5th Foot Regiment
            • 5th Grenadier Regiment
          • 6th Guard Brigade
            • Guard Fusiliers
            • Landwehr Regiment

          Cavalry

          Guard Reserve Uhlan Regiment

          Artillery

          • 5th Guard Field Artillery Regiment
          • 6th Guard Field Artillery Regiment
          • (formed of the Juterbog Instruction Regiment)



           Divisional Structure 1915  3rd German Guards Division part of Guards Reserve Corps and 2nd German Army

          Divisional Structure in 1915

          Infantry

          • 5th Guard Brigade
            • 5th Foot Regiment
            • 5th Grenadier Regiment
          • 6th Guard Brigade
            • Guard Fusiliers
            • Landwehr Regiment

          Cavalry

          Guard Reserve Uhlan Regiment

          Artillery

          • 5th Guard Field Artillery Regiment
          • 6th Guard Field Artillery Regiment
          • (formed of the Juterbog Instruction Regiment)

          Engineers and Liaisons

          • Pioneer Company
          • 3rd Guard Pontoon Engineers
          • 3rd Guard Telephone Detachment



           Divisional Structure 1917  3rd German Guards Division part of Guards Reserve Corps and 2nd German Army

          Divisional Structure in 1917

          Infantry

          • 6th Guard Brigade
            • Guard Fusiliers
            • Landwehr Regiment
            • 9th Grenadier Regiment

          Cavalry

          • 3rd Squadron Guard Reserve Uhlan Regiment
          • 1st Squadron 2nd Guard Dragoon Regiment

          Artillery

          • Artillery Command
          • 5th Guard Field Artillery Regiment

          Engineers and Liaisons

          • 104th Pioneer Battalion
          • 1st Company, 28th Pioneers
          • 274th Pioneer Company
          • 3rd Guard Trench Mortar Company
          • 280th Searchlight Section
          • 3rd Guard Telephone Detachment
          • 55th Telephone Detachment

          Medical and Veterinary

          • 7th Ambulance Company
          • 265th Ambulance Company
          • 393rd Ambulance Company
          • 35th Field Hospital
          • 3rd Guards Veterinary Hospital

          Transport

          Motor Transport Column

          Attached

          75th Anti-Aircraft Section



            Divisional Structure 1918

          1st August 1914 Actions during 1914  2nd German Guard Division part of Guard Corps and 2nd German Army

          1914.

          France. Entrained August 9 to 11 (notebooks). Detrained at Beutgenbach (12 kilos east of Malmedy). Entered Belgium August 14. Crossed the Meuse at Huy August 18. Crossed the Sambre at Auvelais (Aug. 22) on the right of the 1st Guard Division. Fought at Falisolle and Aisemont the 23rd; at Mettet the 24th. Fought on the 29th at Haution and Vallee-aux-Bleds; on the 30th at St. Pierre (west of Vervins), on the left of the 1st Guard Division. From there via Lugny, Boncourt, La Malmaison, Ville-aux-Bois, Sarcy, Epernay, Avize, Vertus; fought after September 6 at Ecury-le-Repos and Normee.

          Retreated on the 9th at Vertus; 10th at Tauxieres; 11th at Thuizy. Was before Reims until September 30. In Artois in October (Bucquoy, Ivlonchy-aux-Bois, Adinfer), near the 1st Guard Division. Split up in November like the latter; sent one of its brigades, the 4th, in the region of Ypres (Gheluvelt) and remained there until the end of December.

          1st August 1914  Actions during 1914

          5th August 1914 Early actions 1914  1st Guards Reserve Division part of 2nd German Army

          Belgium 1914.

          At the beginning of the war the 1st Guard Reserve Division together with the 3rd Guard Division forming the Guard Reserve Corps, swept into Belgium as part of the 2nd Army under von Buelow.

          On the 16th of August it crossed the Meuse at Ardenne and pushed on as far as Namur by the 20th August. On the 29th the two divisions (Guard Reserve Corps) were brought back to Aix-la-Chapelle and left for East Prussia.

          1st September 1914 Poland.

          At the beginning of October the Guard Reserve Corps, attached to the Southern Army Group, took part in the invasion of the southern part of Poland. It fought at Opatow (4th Oct) and suffered severe losses at Lodz while retreating from the Russian armies.

          During the winter of 1914-15 it fought on the Bzura.

          24th September 1914 Race to the sea  1st Bavarian Division part of 1st Bavarian Corps and 2nd German Army.

          Somme 1914.

          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 2nd Army (Von Buelow), which operated on the Somme in the Peronne region. They became heavily engaged notably at Combles (Oct. 24th) and at Maricourt (Dec. 17th). By the 4th November, the 1st Bavarian Regiment had had casualties of 63 officers and 2,090 men since the beginning of the war.

          1st January 1915 1915 actions  1st Bavarian Division part of 1st Bavarian Corps and 2nd German Army.

          1915.

          Artois. 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 and the 10th Infantry to the 10th Bavarian Division. In return, the 24th Infantry (a new formation) was received.

          The division was taken to the region north of Arras (Neuville-Souchez sector), where it remained for almost seven months (October 1915 - May 1916).

          1st January 1915  Actions during 1915

          1st January 1915  Actions during 1915

          1st February 1915  Further moves

          1st January 1916  reorganisation and relocation

          1st January 1916 1916 Actions  1st Bavarian Division part of 1st Bavarian Corps and 2nd German Army.

          1916.

          Verdun.

          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 1st and 8th. Re-formed in the Romagne sous les Cotes area, it re-entered line about June 22nd for new attacks. During this offensive the division suffered severely. It was relieved at the beginning of July. After a short rest behind the Verdun front the division reoccupied the Apremout - St. Mihiel sector, remaining there until October 11th, when it was reconstituted, receiving large reinforcements (recuperates and men of the 1916 class).

          Somme.

          Taken to the Caudry sector (near Cambrai), it was engaged on the Somme (Sailly-Saillisel, Morval) from October 13th to the end of November, where its losses were once again exceedingly heavy. The division reappeared in the region of St. Mihiel (Bois d'Ailly - Foret d'Apremont sector) at the beginning of December, and remained there until the early days of May, 1917.

          1st April 1916  Actions during 1916

          1st August 1916  Actions during 1916

          1st January 1917 1917 Actions  1st Bavarian Division part of 1st Bavarian Corps and 2nd German Army.

          1917.

          Plateau du Californie.

          Entrained about May 7th at Vigneulles, it proceeded to the Laon region, where it was in reserve (May 8-12th). The following day it took over the sector west of Hurtebise, where it participated in several attacks (May 20th - June 17th), losing heavily therein. The division was relieved June 21st and went to rest south of Mezieres (La Francheville, etc.), where it was reconstituted.

          Champagne.

          On July 25th it went back into the line on the Champagne front. (sector south of Ste. Marie a Py). It did not take part in any important engagements there. The division was withdrawn on the 27th December 1917.

          Allied Intelligence Value Estimate

          The division was recruited in the southern part of Bavaria. The presence of contingents from the Bavarian Alps was responsible for the withdrawal of the Body Regiment to form the Alpine Corps. Despite the losses it suffered during May and June in the Hurtebise sector, the 1st Bavarian Division may still be considered a good division. It has had time to reconstitute itself during the long calm period spent in Champagne (July 25th to Dec. 27,1917).

          1st January 1917  Actions during 1917

          1st January 1917  Actions during 1917

          1st March 1917  Ongoing actions

          1st June 1917  Rest

          15th September 1917  Formation and moves

          1st January 1918  Relief and relocation

          1st January 1918 1918 Actions  1st Bavarian Division part of 1st Bavarian Corps and 2nd German Army.

          1918.

          Argonne.

          Withdrawn from the line, the Division was put through a course of training. It relieved the 80th Reserve Division north of Vauquois on February 17th. It was relieved by the 80th Reserve Division about the 1st of March.

          St. Quentin.

          On the opening day of the March offensive the division reinforced the front south of St. Quentin. It was withdrawn the next day. On March 23rd it came back into line north of Chauny. It was withdrawn about the 30th.

          Lassigny.

          On April 6th, it relieved the 3rd Bavarian Division west of Lassigny. It was in turn relieved by the 3rd Bavarian Division on the 12th.

          Champagne.

          Having suffered a great deal in the fighting on the Somme, the division was taken to a quiet sector in Champagne, relieving the 52nd Reserve Division on May 1st, north of Souain. About June 30th, it was relieved by the 30th Division. It reinforced the front near Souain on July 15th. It was withdrawn about the 31st.

          Soissons.

          The division entered the line northeast of Soissons on August 11th.

          Noyon.

          It was relieved by the Jaeger Division about August 19th and moved to the west, taking over the Cuts sector, southeast of Noyon on August 20th and was withdrawn on the 22nd.

          Coucy le Chateau.

          On the 31st August the division was identified at Folembray, northwest of Coucy-le-Chateau and was withdrawn about September 12th.

          Champagne.

          On about the 27th September it took of over the Maure sector, southeast of Vouziers, where it remained, fighting, until the signing of the armistice.

          Allied Intelligence 1918 Value Estimate.

          The 1st Bavarian is rated as a first-class assault division and it was utilized as such throughout 1918. It fought well and its losses were severe.

          1st January 1918  Actions during 1918

          1st January 1918  Actions during 1918

          1st January 1918  Actions during 1918

          23rd January 1918  Last year of WW1

          29th March 1918  On the Move

          9th June 1918  Ongoing actions

          9th Oct 1918 Final Actions in 1918  Jäger Division part of 54th Corps z.b.V German Second Army. are engaged in fighting in and around the Hermannstellung from 9th to 21st of October.

          After the Armistice (1100 on the 11th November 1918) the Division began the clearance of occupied areas and the march home to Berlin where it was disbanded on the 18th December 1918.

          If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.



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2nd German Army (formerly III Army Inspectorate)

during the Great War 1914-1918.

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