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- 6th German Army (formerly IV Army Inspectorate) during the Great War -


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

6th German Army (formerly IV Army Inspectorate)



 German Army - ORBAT  6th Army was commanded by Generaloberst Rupprecht, Crown Prince of Bavaria.

XXI Corps (General der Infanterie Fritz von Below)

  • 31st Infantry Division
  • 42nd Infantry Division

I Bavarian Corps (General der Infanterie Oskar Ritter und Edler v. Xylander)

  • 1st Bavarian Infantry Division
  • 2nd Bavarian Infantry Division

II Bavarian Corps (General der Infanterie Karl Ritter von Martini)

  • 3rd Bavarian Infantry Division
  • 4th Bavarian Infantry Division

III Bavarian Corps (General der Kavallerie Ludwig Freiherr von Gebsattel)

  • 5th Bavarian Infantry Division
  • 6th Bavarian Infantry Division

I Bavarian Reserve Corps (General der Infanterie Karl Ritter von Fasbender)

  • 1st Bavarian Reserve Division
  • 5th Bavarian Reserve Division

Army Troops

  • Guards Ersatz Division
  • 4th Ersatz Division
  • 8th Ersatz Division
  • 10th Ersatz Division
  • 3 Mortar Battalions
  • Heavy Coastal Mortar Battery
  • Heavy Coastal Gun Battery
  • 2 Pionier Regiments



 Corps Structure  1st Bavarian Army Corps part of 6th Army Group.

Divisions

  • 1st Bavarian Infantry Division
  • 2nd Bavarian Infantry Division


 Corps structure  2nd Bavarian Army Corps part of 6th Army

Divisions

  • 3rd Bavarian Infantry Division
  • 4th Bavarian Infantry Division

     Corps structure  3rd Bavarian Army Corps part of 6th Army

    Divisions

    • 5th Bavarian Infantry Division
    • 6th Bavarian Infantry Division


     Corps structure  1st Bavarian Reserve Army Corps part of 6th Army

    Divisions

    • 1st Bavarian Reserve Infantry Division
    • 5th Bavarian Reserve Infantry Division


     Corps structure  21st Army Corps part of 6th Army

    Divisions

    • 31st Infantry Division
    • 42nd Infantry Division


     Corps structure  3rd German Cavalry Corps - preceding 6th Army(General der Kavallerie Rudolf Ritter von Frommel)

    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).

    • 7th Cavalry Division
    • 8th Cavalry Division
    • Bavarian Cavalry Division



     Divisional Structure 1918  Bavarian Cavalry Division part of 3rd Cavalry Corps - preceding 6th Army.

    Order of Battle 1918

    Cavalry 1918

    • 1st Bavarian Cavalry Brigade
      • 1st Heavy Reiter Regiment
    • 4th Bavarian Cavalry Brigade
      • 1st Bavarian Uhlan Regiment
      • 2nd Bavarian Uhlan Regiment
    • 5th Bavarian Cavalry Brigade
      • 1st Bavarian Light Cavalry Regiment
      • 6th Bavarian Light Cavalry Regiment

    Artillery

    5th Bavarian Horse Artillery Abteil.

    Engineering and Liaison

    • Pioneer Detachment
    • 1st Bavarian Machine Gun Battery
    • 300 Bavarian Trench Mortar Company

    Attached: Glanz Landsturm Infantry Battalion (VI/9)

    Divisional History 1918

    The units of this division were used on police duty in the Ukraine and in Roumania in the spring of 1918.

    A part of the division was serving in the Crimea in the early summer. It continued in that general area through the year.

    Allied Intelligent Estimate 1918.

    The division was rated as fourth class.

     Divisional Structure 1914  Guard Ersatz Division part of German 6th Army

    The Guard Ersatz Division (Garde-Ersatz-Division) was a division of the Imperial German Army during World War I. Ersatz is German for replacement. The division was formed from companies of the replacement battalions (Ersatz-Bataillone) of the regiments of Prussian Guards and several other Prussian regiments. The division was formed on mobilization of the German Army in August 1914.

    • The Guard Ersatz Division fought in the opening phases of the war in the Battle of the Frontiers and then participated in the Race to the Sea.
    • In 1916, the division fought in the Battle of Verdun.
    • In 1917, the division participated in the Second Battle of the Aisne.
    • In July 1917, the division was sent to the Eastern Front, where it fought in the Baltic region. It returned to the Western Front in September 1917 near Verdun and remained on the Western Front until the Armistice.

    Divisional Order of Battle 1914

    Infantry and Support

    • 1st Mixed Guard Ersatz Brigade
      • Guard Brigade Ersatz Battalion number 1
      • Guard Brigade Ersatz Battalion number 2
      • Guard Brigade Ersatz Battalion number 3
      • Guard Brigade Ersatz Battalion number 4
      • Guard Brigade Ersatz Battalion number 5
      • Guard Brigade Ersatz Battalion number 6
      • Guard Cavalry Ersatz Abteilung Berlin
      • 1st Guard Field Artillery Ersatz Abteilung
      • 2nd Guard Field Artillery Ersatz Abteilung
      • 1st Ersatz Company Guard Pioneer Battalion
    • 5th Mixed Guard Ersatz Brigade
      • Guard Brigade Ersatz Battalion number 5
      • Guard Brigade Ersatz Battalion number 6
      • Guard Brigade Ersatz Battalion number 7
      • Guard Brigade Ersatz Battalion number 8
      • Cavalry Ersatz Abteilung Pasewalk - 2 Army Corps
      • Forward Pomeranian Field Artillery Ersatz Abteilung 38
      • Rear Pomeranian Field Artillery Ersatz Abteilung 53
      • 1st Ersatz Company Guard Pioneer Battalion 2


     Divisional Structure 1918  Guard Ersatz Division part of German 6th Army

    Divisional Order of Battle - 8th March 1918

    Guard Ersatz Brigade

    • 6th Guard Regiment
    • 7th Guard Regiment
    • 399th Infantry Regiment
    • Machine Gun Abteilung 29
    • 5th Squadron 2nd Guard Uhlan Regiment
    • Guard Artillery Command 6
    • 7th Guard Field Artillery Regiment
    • 89th Foot Artillery Battalion
    • 501 Stab Pioneer Battalion
    • 301 Guard Pioneer Company
    • 302 Guard Pioneer Company
    • 7th Guard Trench Company
    • 551 Guard Division Communications Command



     Corps structure  55th German Army Corps (zbV) part of 6th German Army

    zbV (zur besonderen Vervendung) [for special use]

    Divisions

    • 38th Division
    • 12th Bavarian Division
    • 5th Bavarian Division
    • 4th Ersatz Division (two-thirds)
    • 9th Reserve Division



     Corps structure  40th German Army Reserve Corps part of 6th German Army

    Divisions

    • 16th Division
    • 8th Division



     Divisional Structure 1914  1st Bavarian Division part of 1st Bavarian Corps and 6th German Army.

    Divisional structure 1914

    Infantry

    • 1st Bavarian Brigade
      • Body Infantry Regiment
      • 1st Bavarian Regiment
    • 2nd Bavarian Brigade
      • 2nd Bavarian Regiment
      • 16th 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



     Divisional Structure 1914  1st Bavarian Reserve Division part of 1st Bavarian Reserve Corps and 6th German Army

    Divisional Structure in 1914

    Infantry

    • 1st Bavarian Reserve Brigade
      • 1st Bavarian Reserve Regiment
      • 2nd Bavarian Reserve Regiment
    • 2nd Bavarian Reserve Brigade
      • 3rd Bavarian Reserve Regiment
      • 12th Bavarian Reserve Regiment

    Cavalry

    1st Bavarian Reserve Cavalry Regiment

    Artillery

    1st Bavarian Reserve Field Artillery Regiment



     Divisional Structure 1915  1st Bavarian Reserve Division part of 1st Bavarian Reserve Corps and 6th German Army

    Divisional Structure in 1915

    Infantry

    • 1st Bavarian Reserve Brigade
      • 1st Bavarian Reserve Regiment
      • 2nd Bavarian Reserve Regiment
    • 2nd Bavarian Reserve Brigade
      • 3rd Bavarian Reserve Regiment
      • 12th Bavarian Reserve Regiment

    Cavalry

    1st Bavarian Reserve Cavalry Regiment

    Artillery

    1st Bavarian Reserve Field Artillery Regiment

    Engineers and Liaison

    • 1st Bavarian Reserve Engineering Battalion
    • 1st Bavarian Reserve Telephone Detachment
    • 1st Bavarian Reserve Pontoon Engineers



     Divisional Structure 1916  1st Bavarian Reserve Division part of 1st Bavarian Reserve Corps and 6th German Army

    Divisional Structure in 1916

    Infantry

    • 1st Bavarian Reserve Brigade
      • 1st Bavarian Reserve Regiment
      • 2nd Bavarian Reserve Regiment
      • 3rd Bavarian Reserve Regiment

    Cavalry

    1st Bavarian Reserve Cavalry Regiment

    Artillery

    1st Bavarian Reserve Field Artillery Regiment

    Engineers and Liaison

    • 2nd Bavarian Reserve Pioneer Company
    • 4th Bavarian Reserve Pioneer Company
    • 201st Bavarian Trench Mortar Company
    • 1st Bavarian Reserve Telephone Detachment
    • 1st Bavarian Reserve Pontoon Engineers



     Divisional Structure 1917  1st Bavarian Reserve Division part of 1st Bavarian Reserve Corps and 6th German Army

    Divisional Structure in 1917

    Infantry

    • 1st Bavarian Reserve Brigade
      • 1st Bavarian Reserve Regiment
      • 2nd Bavarian Reserve Regiment
      • 3rd Bavarian Reserve Regiment

    Cavalry

    3rd Squadron, 3rd Bavarian Light Cavalry Regiment

    Artillery

    • 13th Bavarian Artillery Command
    • 1st Bavarian Reserve Field Artillery Regiment

    Engineers and Liaison

    • 17th Bavarian Engineering Battalion
    • 1st Bavarian Reserve Pioneer Company
    • 3rd Bavarian Reserve Pioneer Company
    • 17th Bavarian Reserve Pioneer Company
    • 201st Bavarian Trench Mortar Company
    • 401st Bavarian Telephone Detachment
    • 1st Bavarian Reserve Searchlight Section

    Medical and Veterinary

    • 15th Bavarian Ambulance Company
    • 45th Bavarian Field Hospital
    • 48th Bavarian Field Hospital
    • 49th Bavarian Field Hospital
    • Veterinary Hospital

    Transport

    750th Motor Transport Column



     Divisional Structure 1918  1st Bavarian Reserve Division part of 1st Bavarian Reserve Corps and 6th German Army

    Divisional Structure in 1918

    Infantry

    • 1st Bavarian Reserve Brigade
      • 1st Bavarian Reserve Regiment
      • 2nd Bavarian Reserve Regiment
      • 3rd Bavarian Reserve Regiment

    Cavalry

    3rd Squadron, 3rd Bavarian Light Cavalry Regiment

    Artillery

    • 13th Bavarian Artillery Command
    • 1st Bavarian Reserve Field Artillery Regiment
    • 1st Abteilung, 1st Bavarian Foot Artillery Regiment (Staff, 1,2 and 4 Batteries)
    • 101st Bavarian Light Ammunition Column
    • 145th Bavarian Light Ammunition Column
    • 147th Bavarian Light Ammunition Column

    Engineers and Liaison

    • 17th Bavarian Pioneer Battalion
    • 1st Bavarian Reserve Pioneer Company
    • 17th Bavarian Reserve Pioneer Company
    • 201st Bavarian Trench Mortar Company
    • 18th Bavarian Reserve Searchlight Section
    • 401st Bavarian Signals Command
    • 401st Bavarian Telephone Detachment
    • 106th Bavarian Wireless Detachment

    Medical and Veterinary

    • 15th Bavarian Ambulance Company
    • 45th Bavarian Field Hospital
    • 48th Bavarian Field Hospital

    Transport

    750th Motor Transport Column



     Divisional Structure 1914  1st Bavarian Landwehr Division part of 1st Bavarian Corps and 6th German Army

    Divisional Structure in 1914

    Infantry

    • 13th Bavarian Landwehr Infantry Brigade
      • 8th Royal Bavarian Landwehr Infantry Regiment
      • 10th Royal Bavarian Landwehr Infantry Regiment
    • 14th Bavarian Landwehr Infantry Brigade
      • 15th Royal Bavarian Landwehr Infantry Regiment
      • 122nd Royal Wurttemberg Landwehr Infantry Regiment
    • 60th Landwehr Infantry Brigade
      • 60th Landwehr Infantry Regiment
      • 71st Thuringen Landwehr Infantry Regiment

    Cavalry

    • Cavalry Ersatz Abteilung -2nd Guards Uhlan Regiment
    • 1st Landwehr Squadron - 2nd Bavarian Army Corps

    Artillery

    • 2nd Ersatz Abteilung 22nd Westphalian Field Artillery Regiment
    • 1st Ersatz Abteilung 84th Strassburg Field Artillery Regiment
    • Landau Battery Royal Bavarian Landsturm

    Engineers and Liaison

    1st Landwehr Pioneer Company - Bavarian Army Corps



     Divisional Structure 1918  1st Bavarian Landwehr Division part of 1st Bavarian Corps and 6th German Army

    Divisional Structure in 1918

    Infantry

    • 5th Bavarian Landwehr Infantry Brigade
      • 4th Royal Bavarian Landwehr Infantry Regiment
      • 6th Royal Bavarian Landwehr Infantry Regiment
      • 7th Royal Bavarian Landwehr Infantry Regiment
      • 6th Machinegun Sharpshooter Abteilung

    Cavalry

    3rd Squadron - 8th Royal Bavarian Chevalliers Regiment

    Artillery

    • 22nd Royal Bavarian Artillery Command
    • 1st Royal Bavarian Landwehr Field Artillery Regiment

    Engineers and Liaison

    • 24th Royal Bavarian Pioneer Battalion
    • 1st Royal Bavarian Landwehr Pioneer Company
    • 18th Royal Bavarian Reserve Pioneer Company
    • 301st Royal Bavarian Trench Mortar Company
    • 501st Royal Bavarian Communications Command



     Divisional Structure 1915  2nd Bavarian Division part of 1st Bavarian Corps and German 6th Army

    Divisional structure in 1915.

    Infantry

    • 3rd Bavarian Brigade
      • 3rd Bavarian Regiment
      • 20th Bavarian Regiment
    • 4th Bavarian Brigade
      • 12th Bavarian Regiment
      • 15th Bavarian Regiment

    Cavalry

    4th Bavarian Light Cavalry Regiment

    Artillery

    • 2nd Bavarian Artillery Brigade
    • 4th Bavarian Field Artillery Regiment
    • 9th Bavarian Field Artillery Regiment

    Engineers and Liaison

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



     Divisional Structure 1916  2nd Bavarian Division part of 1st Bavarian Corps and German 6th Army

    Divisional structure in 1916.

    Infantry

    • 4th Bavarian Brigade
      • 12th Bavarian Regiment
      • 15th Bavarian Regiment
      • 20th Bavarian Regiment

    Cavalry

    3 Squadrons, 4th Bavarian Light Cavalry Regiment

    Artillery

    • 2nd Bavarian Artillery Brigade
    • 2nd Bavarian Field Artillery Regiment
    • 9th Bavarian Field Artillery Regiment

    Engineers and Liaison

    • 2nd Field Company, 1st Bavarian Pioneer Battalion
    • 4th Field Company, 1st Bavarian Pioneer Battalion
    • 2nd Reserve Company, 19th Pioneers
    • 2nd Bavarian Trench Mortar Company
    • 2nd Bavarian Pontoon Engineers
    • 2nd Bavarian Telephone Detachment



     Divisional Structure 1917  2nd Bavarian Division part of 1st Bavarian Corps and German 6th Army

    Divisional structure in 1917.

    Infantry

    • 4th Bavarian Brigade
      • 12th Bavarian Regiment
      • 15th Bavarian Regiment
      • 20th Bavarian Regiment

    Cavalry

    2 and 3 Squadrons, 8th Bavarian Light Cavalry Regiment

    Artillery

    • 2nd Bavarian Artillery Command
    • 9th Bavarian Field Artillery Regiment

    Engineers and Liaison

    • 2nd Field Company, 1st Bavarian Pioneer Battalion
    • 4th Field Company, 1st Bavarian Pioneer Battalion
    • 2nd Bavarian Trench Mortar Company
    • 2nd Bavarian Telephone Detachment

    Medical and Veterinary

    • 2nd Bavarian Ambulance Company
    • 6th Bavarian Field Hospital
    • Veterinary Hospital

    Transport

    682 Motor Transport Column



     Divisional Structure 1918  2nd Bavarian Division part of 1st Bavarian Corps and German 6th Army

    Divisional structure in 1918.

    Infantry

    • 4th Bavarian Brigade
      • 12th Bavarian Regiment
      • 15th Bavarian Regiment
      • 20th Bavarian Regiment

    Cavalry

    3 Squadrons, 8th Bavarian Light Cavalry Regiment

    Artillery

    • 2nd Bavarian Artillery Command
    • 9th Bavarian Field Artillery Regiment
    • 1st Abteilung, 3rd Bavarian Reserve Foot Artillery Regiment
    • 151 Bavarian Light Ammunition Column
    • 153 Bavarian Light Ammunition Column
    • 160 Bavarian Light Ammunition Column

    Engineers and Liaison

    • 7th Bavarian Pioneer Battalion
      • 2nd Bavarian Pioneer Company
      • 4th Bavarian Pioneer Company
      • 2nd Bavarian Trench Mortar Company

    2nd Bavarian Signal Command

    • 2nd Bavarian Telephone Detachment
    • 107th Wireless Detachment

    Medical and Veterinary

    • 2nd Bavarian Ambulance Company
    • 6th Bavarian Field Hospital
    • 8th Bavarian Field Hospital

    Transport

    682 Motor Transport Column



    1st August 1914 Early actions 1914  1st Bavarian Division part of 1st Bavarian Corps and 6th German Army.

    1914.

    Lorraine.

    At the beginning of the war the 1st Bavarian Division, forming, with the 2nd 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 on the 12th and withdrew to the north of Sarrebruecken on the 17th. It fought at Sarrebruecken on the 20th. In liaison on the left with the Badeners of the 14th Corps, it crossed the frontier and advanced to Nossoncourt and Xaffevillers (Sept. 6th) via Baccarat. On September 12th, the division, having been withdrawn, was reassembled at Peltre (near Metz). It then entrained at Metz on the 14th and 15th, and detrained near Namur, reaching Peronne on the 24th.

    1st August 1914 Early actions 1914  1st Bavarian Reserve Division part of 1st Bavarian Reserve Corps and 6th German Army

    1914 Lorraine.

    The Bavarian Reserve Division(1st Bavarian Reserve Corps, with the 5th Bavarian Reserve Division) was at the beginning of the war part of the 6th Army (Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria), and detrained in Lorraine August 13-14. After having helped to check the French offensive in Lorraine, participated in the battle of August 20, entered Luneville, and after having fought at Einville, early in September, it went to rest in the vicinity of the Paris-Avricourt railroad, and later marched to Metz by stages.

    Arras.

    On September 27-28 the division entrained at Metz and was carried to Cambrai. Entering the line between Douai and Arras, it fought at Izel, Gavrelle, Rouvroy (Oct.2-3). On the 5th its right wing was at Souchez, the whole 1st Bavarian Reserve Corps being then in line north of Arras. October 23 the two divisions of the corps attacked violently along the Carency-Roclincourt front; they remained in the line until June, 1915, the lst Bavarian Division being between Roclincourt and Ecurie.

    1st August 1914 Actions during 1914  1st Bavarian Landwehr Division part of 1st Bavarian Corps and 6th German Army

    Lorraine 1914.

    The origin of the 1st Bavarian Landwehr Division dates from the stabilization of the Lorraine front after the check of the Germans before Grand-Couronne in September, 1914. At the beginning of the war the different elements which were to enter into the composition of the division were employed in Lorraine in rear of the combatant troops. The 71st Landwehr Regiment came from the war garrison of Strasburg. These elements grouped in three brigades forming the 1st Bavarian Landwehr Division, were brought up to the front early in September and put into line in the Chateau-Salins sector (from Jallaucourt to the Rhine-Marne Canal).

    1st August 1914 Actions during 1914  2nd Bavarian Division part of 1st Bavarian Corps and German 6th Army

    Divisional Actions during 1914

    (First Bavarian District-Southwest of Bavaria, Bavarian Swabia.) 1914 Lorraine.

    At the beginning of August the 2nd Bavarian Division which, with the 1st Bavarian Division, formed the 1st Bavarian Corps, was a part of the army of the Crown Prince of Bavaria (6th Army). The 3rd Brigade, covering troops, detrained at Reding near Saarburg, on the 3rd of August. On the 9th the division was at its full strength. It proceeded to the frontier, reached Badonviller and retired as far as Gosselming (west of Saarburg) by the 17th of August, gave battle there on the 20th, and recrossed the frontier. It advanced as far as Xaffevillers (Sep 7th), whence it retired to Itlorhange (Sep 10th). On September 15 the division entrained at Metz. It detrained near Namur, gained Peronne by stages, and was engaged at Foucaucourt by the 24th.

    Somme.

    Together with the 1st Bavarian Corps it was attached to the 2nd Army (Von Billow), operating on the Somme in the district of Peronne. It took part in the fiercely contested battles which took place there but a short time after the stabilization of the front and suffered serious losses. At the beginning of the campaign, October 30, the 12th Infantry had 50 officers and 1,910 men who were unable to take part in action.

    The division was maintained in this district up to the month of October, 1914, first to the south of the Somme, later, at the beginning of November, 1914, between Dompierre and Maricourt.

    1st January 1915  Actions during 1915

    1st April 1915 Actions 1915 to 1916  2nd Bavarian Division part of 1st Bavarian Corps and German 6th Army

    1915 Artois.

    In April 1915, the division was reduced to three regiments through the cession of the 3rd Infantry to the 11th Bavarian Division. Between the l0th and 15th of October 1915, the 2nd Bavarian Division was placed on the Artois front in the Neuville-Souchez sector.

    About the 20th of December it was in the line at Bailleul-Sire-Berthoult between the western part of the Lille road and the Arras road. It remained there until the beginning of May 1916.

    1916 Verdun.

    At this date it was relieved and transported to Verdun. It participated in the violent battles which took place there in May and June in the vicinity of Douaumont and suffered serious losses (50 per cent of its personnel). It was reconstituted in June in the district of Merke-Romagne-sur-les-Cotes (reinforcement of from 50 to 100 men per company), and went back to the line near Thiaumont. It suffered serious losses in the attack of June 23 (the companies of the 12th Bavarian Regiment were reduced to about 40 men).

    Lorraine.

    The 2nd Bavarian Division was withdrawn from this zone of combat about the 15th of July and was sent to the Apremont-St. Mihiel sector, where it was reconstituted. It received numerous reinforcements(convalescents and class of 16 men). During this period, which extends up to October 15th, it did not take part in any serious operation.

    Somme.

    At the end of October it was transported to the Somme (Sailly-Saillisel sector), where it was again put to a severe test. After staying a month in the Somme district it reoccupied the lines in the St. Mihiel sector at the beginning of December.

    1st January 1916 Actions in 1916  1st Bavarian Reserve Division part of 1st Bavarian Reserve Corps and 6th German Army

    1916.

    The division remained in line east of Arras, straddling the Scarpe until August 1916. From May to August, it comprised the 12th Bavarian Reserve Regiment, instead of the 3rd Bavarian Reserve Regiment, loaned temporarily by the 5th Bavarian Reserve Division.

    Somme.

    Withdrawn on August 8th, it went to the Somme. It was engaged on the 12th in the Clery sector, and was relieved as early as the 15th by the 1st Guard Division after having suffered heavily. The second fortnight in August the division was at rest near Cambrai. The end of that month and early in September, some elements of the division were engaged near Clery and Martinpuich in order to facilitate reliefs.

    Aisne.

    About the middle of September the 1st Bavarian Reserve Corps was withdrawn from the region of the Somme and sent to the Aisne, where the 1st Bavarian Reserve Division occupied a sector to the west of Craonne until the beginning of December. Brought back north of the Somme, it sent some elements into line in the Beaumont-Hamel sector (north of the Ancre, December 1916 - January 1917).

    1st January 1916  Actions during 1916

    29th of February 1916  A New Area

    1st May 1915 Actions during 1915  1st Bavarian Reserve Division part of 1st Bavarian Reserve Corps and 6th German Army

    1915.

    Neuville - St. Vaast.

    In May, 1915, the 1st Bavarian Reserve Division was engaged at Neuville-St. Vaast, when it was reinforced by two battalions of the 99th Reserve Infantry Regiment. The 2nd Bavarian Reserve Regiment suffered casualties of 14 officers and 1,413 men.

    Le Labyrinthe.

    In June the division fought at the Labyrinth. It continued to hold the sector north of the Scarpe, but moved toward the south in December, the front of the 1st Bavarian Reserve Corps extending as far as Blaireville.

    1st January 1917 Actions in 1917 and 1918  1st Bavarian Reserve Division part of 1st Bavarian Reserve Corps and 6th German Army

    1917.

    Artois.

    After sometime at rest, the division went back into line February 27 to the north of Arras (Roclincourt-Neuville-St. Vaast). On April 9th, it received the full shock of the British attack, lost the villages of Thelus and Bailleul together with 1,500 prisoners.

    Regrettably the pages for the remainder of 1917 and 1918 are missing from our main source.

    Summary

    The 1st Bavarian Reserve Division (1. Bayerische Reserve-Division) was a unit of the Royal Bavarian Army, part of the German Army, in World War I. The division was formed on mobilization of the German Army in August 1914 as part of I Royal Bavarian Reserve Corps. The division was disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I. The division was raised and recruited in Bavaria. As a reserve division, it included a large number of recalled reservists and war volunteers.

    The 1st Bavarian Reserve Division fought in the opening phases of the war in the Battle of the Frontiers. It then participated in the Race to the Sea, including the Battle of Arras in October 1914. It remained in the trench lines in Flanders until 1916, when it entered the Battle of the Somme in August 1916. In late 1917, it participated in the Battle of Passchendaele. In 1918, the division fought in the Battle of the Lys. The division ended the war still fighting in the Lys region.

    Allied intelligence rated the division as a good division in 1917, but third class in 1918.

    1st January 1917  Actions during 1917

    1st May 1917 Actions during 1917  2nd Bavarian Division part of 1st Bavarian Corps and German 6th Army

    Divisional Actions during 1917

    1917. Californie Plateau.

    The 2nd Bavarian Division was withdrawn from the St. Mihiel sector between the 2nd and 5th of May 1917 and entrained at Mars-la-Tour on the 6th, whence it was transported via Conflans to Montcornet, where, during the night of the 8th, it gained the sector situated to the east of Hurtebise.

    From the 9th onward the 2nd Bavarian Division engaged some of its elements on the salient northeast of Californie Plateau (May 9th and 10th).

    The division occupied this sector up to the end of May and participated in serious engagements notably those of the 13th and 22nd of May to the northwest of the plateau. It was put to a very severe test. (The 9th Company of the 20th Battalion was reduced to 45 men.)

    Argonne.

    The 2nd Bavarian Division was relieved at the beginning of June and sent to rest for 15 days at Camp Sissonne. Later it was transported to the Argonne, where it occupied the Grande Courte-Chausse sector. During this rest it received two reinforcements of 700 to 800 men on the 28th June and 300 men in July.

    At the end of August it changed sectors and went into the line toward Bois d'Avocourt (Bois de Cheppy).

    Meuse.

    The division was withdrawn from this sector at the end of October and remained in repose in the vicinity of Stenay up to the middle of November, whence it was directed to the sector west of the Bois-le-Chaume. The 12th Bavarian Regiment, which had been sent in reserve to the southeast of Altkirch about the 10th of November to ward off an expected French attack in Alsace, rejoined the division on the 6th December.

    The 2nd Bavarian Division remained in this sector (southeast of Beaumont) up to January 1918 and then went to rest in the district of Longwy.

    Allied Intelligence 1917 Value Estimate.

    The 2nd Bavarian Division participated on the 9th and 10th of May 1917 in violent but unsuccessful counterattacks on the salient northeast of the Californie Plateau. It appears that the Bavarians were always placed in the most dangerous positions and that they were sacrificed by the Prussians. In spite of this condition the 2nd Bavarian Division still showed itself as a good division (July, 1917).

    8th September 1917  Return to Western Front

    28th Aug 1917  Move

    1st January 1918  Ongoing actions

    1st January 1918  Actions during 1918

    1st January 1918 Actions during 1918  2nd Bavarian Division part of 1st Bavarian Corps and German 6th Army

    Divisional Actions during 1918.

    1918 Meuse.

    The division remained in line north of the Bois des Fosses until relieved by the 19th Reserve Division on January 14th. It went then to the Longwy region, where it was put through a stiff course of training in open warfare.

    Amiens.

    On the 23rd March it entrained at Audun-le-Roman, and traveled via Longwy-Sedan-Charleville-Hirson-Anor-Avesnes-Le Cateau-Bertry-Caudry to Cambrai, where it detrained March 24-25. At first the division marched in the direction of Bapaumes, but was diverted in a southerly direction on the way and passed through Le Transloy-Sailly-Saillisel-Peronne-Villers-Carbonnel-Estrees-Foucaucourt and billeted at Beaucourt-en-Santerre on the night of March 30-31. On April 2nd it attacked at Morisel and two days later to the southwest of Morisel. It fought then until the 15th, when it side-slipped to the north, relieving the 54th Division, its place being taken by the 15th Division. It was relieved about May 4th by the 21st Division.

    It moved to the area southeast of Ghent, and there was reconstituted and trained. On June 2nd, it relieved the 14th Bavarian Division in the Morisel sector. It was relieved in the middle of the month by the extension of fronts of the neighboring divisions.

    Champagne.

    It rested in the rear of the front in Champagne for about a month and then entered line in the Navarin sector (north of Souain), being identified by prisoners on the 15th July. It was withdrawn on the 20th July.

    Vesle.

    On the 4th August the division relieved the 22nd Division at Jonchery (on the Vesle, east of Fismes). It remained in line, taking part in the general retirement, until the armistice.

    Allied Intelligence 1918 Value Estimate.

    The 2nd Bavarian is one of the very best German shock divisions. It was called upon to do a great deal of heavy fighting, and always acquitted itself well. It suffered severe losses in consequence, but these were made good as long as the German High Command had replacements at its disposal.

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  • Want to know more about 6th German Army (formerly IV Army Inspectorate)?


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    Those known to have served on

    6th German Army (formerly IV Army Inspectorate)

    during the Great War 1914-1918.

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      Records of 6th German Army (formerly IV Army Inspectorate) from other sources.


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