(12th and 19th Corps Districts—Saxony.)

1915.

The 192d Brigade (became the 192d Division in June, 1916) was formed out of regiments created by selection of men from various units. It was formed at the beginning of June, 1915, with the 192d Infantry (Saxon), formed out of elements taken from the 32d Division, the 193d (Westphalian, 7th Corps District), detached after its creation to the 13th Reserve Division, and with the 25th Bavarian Regiment, formerly belonging to the 4th Bavarian Division, the regiments of which had contributed to the formation of this last regiment.

1. Until the month of September, 1915, the three regiments of the brigade occupied different sectors on the Western Front—the 192d near Charency in August, the 193d on the Aisne (region of Chamouille), and the 25th Bavarian near Warneton (Flanders) in July.

Champagne.

2. At the end of September the elements of the 192d Brigade were brought together in the rear of the Champagne front. Engaged as a reenforcement against the French offensive (Sept. 27 to the beginning of October) near the Souain-Somme Py road, it suffered heavy losses (50 officers and 3,594 men out of action, according to official lists). The brigade stayed in the Souain sector until the end of November.

3. In December it was at rest in the region of Bignicourt-Machault.

1916.

Champagne.

1. At the beginning of January, 1916, the 192d Brigade again took a sector in Champagne (until Jan. 26).

2. From the end of January to the beginning of March it was at rest in the vicinity of Montcornet.

3. From the 4th to the 18th of March the regiments were engaged in making defensive works in the region of Laon.

Verdun-Bois d’Avocourt.

4. On March 18 the brigade was brought near Vouziers and Stenay, then assembled in the rear of the Verdun front on the left bank of the Meuse (Mar. 22). On the 23d it relieved the 11th Bavarian Division, sorely tried by the attacks on Malancourt and the Bois d’Avocourt. It took part itself in the battles which effected the capture of that wood and suffered heavy losses. From April 13 to May 10 the 11th Company of the 192d Infantry received at least 125 replacements and the 12th Company 116 replacements.

5. The 192d Brigade stayed in the Malancourt-Avocourt wood sector until the end of August, holding it alternately with the 11th Bavarian Division. During this period (May-August) it only took part in local engagements.

6. In June it was changed into a division, its composition remaining unchanged except for the expansion of its field artillery.

Fleury-Douaumont.

7. On August 22 the new division was relieved and transferred to the right bank of the Meuse (Charency-Longuyon). On the 28th it was engaged in the Fleury-Douaumont sector. Its regiments were sorely tried by the French attacks of September 3 and 9.

8. Relieved from the front at the end of September and beginning of October the division was entirely reorganized. The 193d Infantry went to the 222d Division (being organized) and was replaced by the 418th, newly formed; the 25th Bavarian went to the 14th Bavarian Division and was replaced by the 245th Reserve Regiment of the 54th Reserve Division.

9. About the end of October the 418th Regiment, which had been put in line in the Moranville sector (CÔtes de Meuse), replaced the 183d Infantry in the 183d Division, the last-named regiment going to the 192d Division, which was now entirely Saxon.

Bezonvaux.

The 192d Division, having thus acquired its present organization, took a position to the east of Bezonvaux in December.

1917.

Verdun-Bezonvaux.

1. It occupied this sector until December, 1917, and during this long period remained entirely passive.

Hill 344.

2. Relieved from this calm sector about December 10, 1917, it immediately went into line north of Hill 344, where it still was in January, 1918.

RECRUITING.

The division was entirely Saxon after the end of 1916.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 192d Division stayed more than a year in a very calm sector (east of Bezonvaux, December 1916, to December, 1917).

In January, 1918, the division might be considered as rested, but its combat value at that time seemed rather mediocre. In the various actions in which it took part on the Verdun front it did not distinguish itself.

1918.

Oise.

1. The division held the sector on the Verdun front until the middle of April, when it was relieved, and on May 19 it relieved the 200th Division southeast of Rouvrel. It was still in line when the Allies attacked on August 8. About August 11 the division was withdrawn.

St. Mihiel.

2. The division marched to Origny via Rosieres-Athies-St. Quentin. It left there August 25 and went by train to Chambley via Ribemont-Crecy-Mortiers-Marle-Charleville-Sedan-Montmedy-Longuyon-Metz, arriving on August 26. On the 20th the division entered line in the tip of the St. Mihiel salient.

3. The division extracted itself from the salient and was relieved about September 22, when the line had stabilized. It was moved west and again came into line at Bezonvaux.

Meuse-Argonne.

4. From October 8 until about October 22 the division held the Bezonvaux sector. It was then shifted northward to the area south of Etrayes, where it remained until the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. It did well at St. Mihiel, but in its other sectors its conduct was mediocre.