COMPOSITION.

1916.

The 201st is one of a series of divisions (numbered 201–204) created at the beginning of July, 1916, at the time of the Russian offensive conducted by Broussilov.

The 201st Division was formed out of recruits obtained from depots in the 5th, 17th and 20th Corps Districts. The Allenstein (401st) Regiment and the Danzig (402d) Regiment came from the Arys cantonment. The Glogau (403d) Regiment and the Posen (404th) came from the Warthe cantonment. Men taken from the front, convalescents from depots and a majority of young men from the class of 1917 made up the initial strength, which was 230 to 240 men per company.

Russia.

1. As soon as formed the division occupied a sector on the Russian front (north of Baranovitchi) and stayed there from the beginning of July, 1916, to the beginning of December, 1917. During this period it only took part in two local actions (November, 1916, and November, 1917).

1917.

1. The 404th Infantry was taken away from this division in the beginning of 1917 and was joined to the divisions in the neighborhood (the 18th Landwehr Division and later the 4th Landwehr Division).

Russia-France.

2. At the end of November, 1917, the 201st Division was relieved, reassembled at Baranovitchi, and entrained for the Western Front. (Itinerary: Baranovitchi-Brest-Litowsk-Warsaw-Chemnitz-Nuerenberg-Heilbronn-Rastatt-Sarreguemines.)

Lorraine.

3. Beginning on December 15, elements of the 201st Division were put in line on the right bank of the Moselle opposite the Xon (northeast of Pont a Mousson).

RECRUITING.

The eastern Provinces of the Empire.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 201st Division was composed to the extent of at least one-half of young and vigorous men. It had not been exhausted physically and had in no way lost its morale. Fraternization did not lessen its morale, but rather raised it on account of their belief that war could be terminated on the Western Front by an easy victory after peace was concluded with Russia.

Since its return from Russia its regiments had undergone an intensive training in trench and open warfare (February, 1918).

1918.

Woevre.

1. The division held the Apremont sector (southeast of St. Mihiel) until the end of May, when it was withdrawn. It rested and trained in the Woevre (Sponville) until June 9. It entrained at Mars la Tour and moved to Laon via Sedan and Liart. From there it marched to the Marne front through Vailly-Lannoy-Brecy.

Battle of the Marne.

2. It was in line on the Chateau Thierry-Vaux sector from June 15 to the end of July. In the attacks of late July the division was hit hard. It was thrown back on Bezu-St. Germain, Beuvardes, Pere en Tardenois and relieved about July 30.

3. The division was moved to the Argonne in early August and about the 10th entered the Vacquois sector, which it held until the end of the month.

Battle of the Somme.

4. It returned to the Somme area and on the night of September 6–7 relieved the 6th Cavalry Division northeast of Fins. Until the 28th it was engaged at Fins, Hendicourt, Gouzeaucourt, Villers, and Guislan. Losses were very heavy, including 2,200 prisoners.

Cambresis.

5. After a week’s rest, the division reentered line south of Cambrai on October 5 and fought in this region until the 15th. Here it lost another 650 prisoners.

6. As a result of these extraordinary losses the division was dissolved at Maubeuge on October 22.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. Its losses were unusually heavy in prisoners whenever it was engaged in an active front. When it was dissolved its effectives numbered less than 1,000 rifles.