(13th Corps District—Wurttemberg.)

1916.

The 204th Division was formed in Germany in June and July, 1916. Its original composition was the 407th Brigade (413th and 414th Infantry, 13th Corps District, Wurttemberg) and the 408th Brigade (415th and 416th Infantry, 12th and 19th Corps Districts, Saxony).

1. The two brigades, which had respectively been trained at the Muensingen cantonment in Wurttemberg (the 407th) and at Neuhammer (the 408th), were brought together at the end of July, 1916. The division was then sent to Belgium. It detrained at Cortemarck on July 27.

Flanders.

2. Almost immediately put in line, the 204th occupied the Dixmude-Bixschoote sector until October 1 and then the Ypres salient (southeast). At the end of 1916 the 415th and the 146th Infantry were taken from the front and transferred to the 212th Division and replaced by the 120th Reserve Infantry (Wurttemberg), coming from the 58th Division.

1917.

1. After four weeks’ rest in the region of Ghent in February, 1917, the division came back to the sector at the southeast of Ypres.

2. It was relieved on June 10, three days after the British attack against the heights of Wytschaete-Messines. The division was only partially subjected to this attack, but suffered some losses during the artillery preparation.

Alsace.

3. After having been at rest at Gheluvelt on about June 20, the 204th Division was transferred to the vicinity of Sarreberg, then on July 8 to the west of Basle, where it remained until July 20. From July 20 until August 15 it held a sector in Upper Alsace (north of the Rhone-Rhine Canal).

Flanders.

4. Again sent to Belgium, it went into line to the north of St. Julien, southeast of Poelcappelle, at the end of August. No important engagement.

CambrÉsis.

5. Relieved from the Ypres front on September 13, it took over a sector near Cambrai (Boursies-Demicourt; Sept. 24-Nov. 13).

Flanders.

6. Relieved about the middle of November, it went back to Flanders, where it alternated with the 58th Division to the north of Poelcappelle until the end of February.

RECRUITING.

The division has been entirely made up of Wurttemberg recruits since December, 1916.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Fairly good division.

1918.

1. After its relief northeast of Poelcappelle on February 28, the division rested near Lille until March 21. Elements of the division were in line at Fromelles on March 9 and others participated in a raid (the 13th) in the Boutillerie sector.

2. The division left the Lille area on March 21 and marched in stages to Douai, arriving there on the 27th. It was in support northwest of Vitry en Artois on the 29th. On the 30th it marched toward the battle front south of the Somme via Inchy-Peronne (Apr. 1), Assevillers, Rosieres, south of Moreuil.

3. It was engaged in the Braches-Sauvillers sector from April 1 to May 11. It was relieved by an extension of the front of the neighboring divisions and retired to rest and train near Chaulnes until June 5.

Battle of the Oise.

4. The division left Chaulnes about June 5 and marched in three days to the Lassigny-Noyon front. It advanced in reserve on the 9th by Gury-Mareuil-Lamotte. It was engaged south of Ribecourt near Bethancourt until the 12th. From the 13th to the 18th the division was in reserve. It was reengaged on the night of the 18th–19th and held the sector of Vignemont-Antheuil until the 1st of August, when it was relieved by the 54th Division.

Third Battle of the Somme.

5. It rested in the suburbs of Lassigny until August 8. It then marched to Damery, arriving there on the 10th and immediately entering line. In the next week the division was thrown back by Damery, Villery les Roye to Goyencourt. The division suffered heavy losses, including about 370 prisoners near Roye.

Lorraine.

6. The division was railed to Lorraine and rested near Blamont during September. Drafts amounting to about 700 men were incorporated in the division in mid-September.

7. The division left Lorraine on October 5 and detrained at Bertry on the 7th. It was engaged on October 8 east of Catelet, and in the next 10 days fell back through Cremont, Maretz, Sains, Souplet, Catillon. Its heavy losses, including 1,200 prisoners, led to its withdrawal on October 18.

8. On October 22–23 the division was reengaged southeast of Le Cateau. It held there until the breakdown of the line on November 5. Thereafter it fell back on Maubeuge, through Favril, Limont, Fontaine.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. Before the attack of August it had about 2,700 rifles. The losses in August had a depressing effect on the morale of the troops.