HISTORY.

1916.

Carpathian Mountains.

1. The 200th Division, composed of three regiments of Jaegers, was formed in July, 1916, in Galicia with the 3rd Jaeger Regiment (4 battalions equipped with skis) coming from the Alpine Corps, with the 4th Jaegers (11th Battalion of Jaegers), 5th and 6th Battalions of Reserve Jaegers, and with the 5th Jaegers (17th, 18th, and 23d Battalions of Reserve Jaegers).

Bukovina.

The 200th Division, together with the 1st Division, formed the Carpathian Corps. The division took part in the counteroffensive in the Carpathians against the Russians and beginning in September 1, 1916, occupied a sector to the north of Mont Tomnatik (Bukovina.)

1917.

Bukovina.

1. The 200th Division stayed in the same part of the Carpathians (south of Mt. PneviÉ-Mt. Tomnatik) until July, 1917. At this time it took part in the offensive waged in Bukovina and took a position north of the Sereth. It was kept here until September.

2. At the end of September the 200th Division was entrained for Italy. Its itinerary to Vienna was Kolomea-Lemberg-Cracaw.

Italy.

3. Detraining in the vicinity of Laibach, it went toward the Italian frontier, where it took about 15 days’ rest. On October 22 it drew near the Italian frontier and on the 24th was engaged in the offensive on the Isonzo and advanced by way of Cividale and Udine, where it fought the Italian rear guards (Oct. 28–30). It reached Codroipo about November 3 and Quero on the Piave the 23d.

Mont Tomba.

4. After a short period of rest it was again sent to the Mont Tomba region in December.

RECRUITING.

The 200th Division had recruits from the various mountainous districts of the empire—Upper Silesia, Harz, Black Forest, etc.—which gave it a certain character in spite of the different sources of its recruiting.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Composed of young and vigorous men with high morale, the 200th was one of the best divisions in the German Army (1918).

1918.

France.

1. After having suffered heavy losses, the 200th Division was withdrawn about the 1st of January, and went to rest for about a month southeast of Bellune. Early in February, it entrained at Santa Lucia and traveled via Rosenheim-Munich-Ulm-Freiburg-Colmar. It detrained at Bening and went to rest and to be trained for about three weeks in the vicinity of St. Avold.

Montdidier.

2. The division entrained near Marsal (southwest of Dieuze) on the 26th of March and, traveling via Thionville-Luxemburg-Namur, detrained at Cambrai two days later. It rested in the caserne here until the 31st, when it marched to Peronne, where it remained in the English barracks the 2d and 3d of April, when it marched via Guillaucourt to Moreuil (northwest of Montdidier). During the night of the 7th–8th it relieved the 14th Division west of Moreuil. It was relieved on May 14 by the 192d Division. It was reported near Quesnoy the end of May and in the Le Cateau region early in June. Men of one of its regiments were reported as having been seen near Fere en Tardenois on the 3d of June. Again, parts of the division were reported near Caudry and Chateau Thierry during June.

Marne.

3. On the 15th of July the division attacked west of Dormans. It crossed the Marne at Sailly, and was identified at Chapelle Monthod on the following day. In this fighting, the division suffered very heavy losses. The colonel and all the battalion commanders of the 3rd Jaeger Regiment were lost. It was withdrawn from line on the 21st.

4. During the night of the 26th–27th it came back into line near Roncheres (north of Dormans), its mission being to cover the retreat between Sergy and the Meuniere wood. It was withdrawn about the 3d of August and went to the Sedan area, where it rested for a fortnight.

5. During the night of the 22d–23d the division relieved the 22d Reserve Division northwest of Souain. In the heavy fighting that followed the division lost heavily. It was driven back to St. Etienne À Arnes, where it was relieved by the 195th Division on the 6th of October.

Wassigny.

6. The division then moved by easy stages, with frequent halts, via Rozoy-Montcornet-Origny-Escautpont-Le Nouvion-Beaurepaire-Barzy. During the night of October 22–23 it relieved the 5th Reserve Division near Oisy (east of Wassigny). It had not been withdrawn on the 11th of November.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 200th was rated as a second-class division. Composed of Jaeger units, which are good fighters, it distinguished itself in the East and in Italy, and did well in the heavy fighting it was called upon to do on the Western Front, though not brilliantly. It was one of the best of the second-class divisions.