(21st and 129th Regiments: 17th Corps District—Western Prussia. 400th Regiment: 8th Corps District—Rhine Province.)

1915.

The 105th Division was formed at Thorn in May, 1915. At the outset it comprised the 122d Regiment of Fusileers obtained from the 26th Division (13th Corps District), the 21st Infantry from the 35th Division, and the 129th Infantry from the 36th Division (17th Corps District).

In 1917 the 400th replaced the 122d Regiment (Wurttemberg).

Serbia.

1. In June, 1915, the 105th Division appeared on the Serbian front at the same time as the 101st and 103d Divisions.

Galicia.

2. At the end of June it was transferred to Galicia via Budapest and Stry. It participated in the offensive against the Russians on the Gnila Lipa from June 24 to July 1, on the Zlota Lipa July 20. From Galicia it went to Poland; fought at Krasnostaw at the end of July and between Wieprz and the Jaselda until August 20. At the end of August it was on the Chtchertchev-Brest-Kobryn railway front.

Serbia and Bulgaria.

3. Chosen for the Serbian campaign, it again found itself in company with the 101st and 103d Divisions and went into line on the Serbian front in October but did not stay there long. While the 122d fusileers pushed on in the south of this country, the 21st and the 129th entrained in December for Eastern Bulgaria.

1916.

Bulgaria.

1. Assigned to watch the Roumanian frontier and the coast of the Black Sea, the 21st went to Varna and the 129th from Choumla to the coast. This mission did not end until May, 1916.

Macedonia.

2. At this time the division was being re-formed in Macedonia, where the three regiments were again together at the beginning of June.

Galicia.

3. The June Russian offensive was responsible for its return to Galicia and at the end of the month it was in Bukovina. The 105th Division operated in the region of Kolomea (end of June, beginning of July) and suffered heavy losses. The 122d fusileers reported 26 officers and 1,165 men out of action. The division next fought in Galicia to the east of Stanislau in July and August (east of Tlumacz-Tysmienica), to the east of Halicz in September.

4. The division remained in the vicinity of Halicz until October.

Courland.

5. Relieved from Galicia, the division was sent to Courland, to the south of Kekkau (October).

6. On October 20 it took over the sector to the west of Jakobstadt.

1917.

Jakobstadt.

1. The 105th Division occupied the Jacobstadt front until November, 1917. In April the 400th Regiment replaced the 122d which was transferred to the 243d Division (old 8th Ersatz Division), a Wurttemberg unit. The division took Jacobstadt on September 21.

2. On November 5 the 105th Division entrained at Mitau and was transported to France. (Itinerary: Kovno-Koenigsberg-Schneidemuehl-Berlin-Cassel-Coblenz-Treves-Thionville-Sedan-Mezieres.) It detrained at Juniville (south of Rethel) on November 11 and rested in this region.

RECRUITING.

The 21st and the 129th were classified as “troops from Western Prussia” in an official document. Although the 21st was called the 4th Pomeranian, it was actually recruited for the most part in the Province of Western Prussia, which was its station in peace time. The 400th was, by reason of its replacement depot, a Rhenish unit.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 105th Division was first put into line on the French front at the beginning of January, 1918. It suffered losses in Galicia during the Summer of 1916.

Its long stay in the Courland sector had not increased its combat value.

1918.

Battle of Picardy.

1. The division was engaged west of Noyon on April 15 and remained in that area until May 17, when it was relieved by the 223d Division. Losses were very considerable in the early part of the division’s occupation of that sector.

Noyon.

2. It rested north of Noyon until May 31 when it reenforced the Aisne battle front at Nampcel, east of the Oise. Throughout June it was engaged in this sector. It attempted a local attack on Moulin sous Touvent on July 3 without success. In minor operations in June and July the division lost about 1,000 prisoners. In August it was heavily engaged and forced back on Noyon, where it was relieved by the 54th Division about September 1.

3. The division rested for about three weeks in the area south of Ferte Chevresis-Montigny sur Crecy. It was engaged at Septvaux about September 27. It fought in the retreat through Fourdrain as far as Mesbrecourt-Assis sur Serre. It held that sector until the capture of Mesbrecourt on October 22, after which it took up a position to the north. The division was in the neighborhood of Pargny wood until November 5. Thereafter it was identified at Vervins (6th), Voulpaix (7th), north of Wimy (9th).

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. As a sector holding division it saw almost constant service most of which was in the Noyon area. Its morale was greatly lowered in November.