(359th Infantry: 3d District—Brandenberg. 394th Infantry: 9th District—Schleswig—Holstein. 4th Reserve Ersatz: 10th District—Hanover.)

1916.

The 206th Division was organized in Belgium at the beginning of 1916. It was composed of three infantry regiments—the 359th (9th, 10th, and 120th Brigade Ersatz Battalions), the 394th, composed of men taken from the 17th Reserve Division, and the 4th Reserve Ersatz (36th, 37th, and 38th Reserve Brigade Ersatz Battalions).

Somme.

1. After holding for some time in September the sector of Dixmude (359th), the division was sent to the Somme in October, where it was engaged at four different times (region of PÉronne, La Maisonnette, and vicinity of Marchelepot) and suffered heavy losses.

Alsace.

2. Relieved November 25 and entrained near St. Quentin for Alsace. Took over the sector of Ban de Sapt until the beginning of January, 1917.

1917.

Lorraine.

1. Sent to rest in the region of Chateau Salins and went into line about the middle of February, 1917, between the forest of Bezange and Leintrey. Remained there until April 20.

Chemin des Dames.

2. Sent to the Laonnois, where it was stationed near Mont Cornet from April 22 to 30, then at Laon from April 30 to May 4. Then went to the Chemin des Dames (Laffaux, west of the Oise-Aisne Canal). Relieved June 10, after suffering very heavy losses.

Lorraine.

3. After a month’s rest in Lorraine at Blamont-Sarrebourg, the division was in reserve about the middle of July in the region of Romagne-Montfaucon.

Hill 304.

4. At the end of July it took over the sector of Hill 304-Pommerieux, where its losses were very heavy during the French attack of August 20 (1,074 prisoners). Relieved in haste two days after this attack and sent to rest behind the Reims front until the middle of September, and received about 1,000 replacements taken from the Russian front.

Reims.

5. The division then held the Berru-Cernay sector, where it did not take part in any important operations (middle of September to Nov. 24).

St. Quentin.

6. About November 28 sent to the St. Quentin front (Pontruet sector).

RECRUITING.

“Regiments from Hanover, Schleswig-Holstein, and Brandenburg,” according to a German communique which designated in this fashion the 4th Reserve Ersatz, the 394th Infantry, and the 359th Infantry.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The division attacked energetically May 24, 1917, at the PanthÉon, and June 6 at La Royere. Composed of men from the active army, the reserve and the Ersatz. It is a good division. Its three regiments gave proof of good fighting qualities during the many local attacks at the Chemin des Dames.

It should, however, be noted that in front of Verdun the division did not offer any resistance to the French attack of August 20, 1917. As early as August 14 two regiments of this division had already had 100 deserters.

The sanitary conditions of this division were bad at this period (many cases of dysentery).

1918.

1. The 206th Division was withdrawn from line in the sector northwest of St. Quentin early in February, and went to rest in the region of Fresnoy le Grand. After a short stay here it moved to the Fourmies area, where it received intensive training in open warfare.

Picardy.

2. On March 16 the division began marching toward the front via Wassigny-Fresnoy le Grand-Fonsommes-Fontaine Uterte. On the 20th it rested in the Hindenburg Third Line. On the 22d it started out again via Lesdins-Fayet, crossed the old front lines northwest of St. Quentin, and spent the night in the former British lines in the Holnon wood. The following day it marched to Martigny, where it spent the night in tents. On the 24th it crossed the canal; the 4th Reserve Regiment encamped at Voyennes; the 394th Regiment marched to Bethencourt and attacked along the canal without suffering heavy losses. On the 26th, the 394th proceeded by Damery and Andechy without being engaged; the 359th was engaged at GuÉrbigny, and the 4th Ersatz reached the former German trenches near Roye. During the night of the 27th–28th the division entered Montdidier. The 28th, the 4th Ersatz was engaged at Mesnil-St. Georges, leaving many prisoners in the hands of the French. On the 30th the division attacked at Fontaine sous Montdidier. It was relieved during the night of the 12th–13th of April by the 6th Bavarian Reserve Division and went to rest in the region of Gruny, Sept-Fours and Languevoisin. Here it was reconstituted.

3. During the night of the 14th–15th it relieved the 45th Reserve Division near Assainvillers (southeast of Montdidier). It was relieved by the 222d Division on May 9, and was sent to the Nesles, where it was identified on the 26th. Three days later it received 700 replacements from its depot. It was also trained during the period spent here. Toward the end of May it came to the vicinity of Baboeuf (east of Noyon); eight days later it was near Bussy; then on June 8 in the Boulogne area.

Oise.

4. On the 11th of June it came into line reenforcing the 19th Division near Belloy (southeast of Montdidier). It was still in line at the time of the attack of August 8, during the course of which it was forced back with heavy losses as far as Boulogne le Grasse. It was withdrawn near here on the 15th.

5. After a brief rest it came back into line on the 22d near Pontoise (southeast of Noyon). It was withdrawn on the 30th.

6. On the 6th of September it came back into line near Fresnes (south of Peronne). It was relieved by the 105th Division on the 20th.

Cambrai.

7. On the 3d of October it relieved the 3d Naval Division, north of Rumilly (south of Cambrai). From the 8th until the division was withdrawn (about the 11th) it was heavily engaged and severely punished, losing some 1,200 prisoners; it was forced back to CarniÈres (east of Cambrai).

8. The division rested and refitted for a fortnight and then reenforced the front on November 1 near Villers-Pol (southeast of Valenciennes). It continued in line but was made to fall back; prisoners were captured on the 11th at Hyon (south of Mons).

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 206th was rated a second-class division. The division commander was decorated after the battle of the Somme. On the other hand, the brigade commander issued an order (Oct. 6) to remedy straggling in the division. On the whole, however, the division did well, though not brilliantly.