COMPOSITION.

1916.

The 211th Division was organized September 15, 1916, at Tournai.

The 27th Infantry came from the 27th Division (4th Army Corps), the 75th Reserve from the 17th Reserve Division (9th Army Corps), the 103d Reserve (which was replaced by the 390th in January, 1917) came from the 23d Reserve Division (Saxon). These three regiments fought in July to August, 1916, in the battle of the Somme before being assigned to the 211th Division.

1. About September 20, its organization being completed, the division was sent north of the front of the Somme, to put up defensive works in the region of Nurlu-Manancourt.

Somme.

2. October 14 it went into line at the St. Pierre-Vaast wood, from where it was relieved November 6.

Soissons.

3. It then took over the sector north and west of Soissons (Nov. 20).

1917.

1. In January, 1917, the 103d Reserve was transferred to the 58th Division (Saxon) and replaced by the 390th, recruited in the Rhineland and Hessa, coming from the 16th Reserve Division, which had been formed from drafted companies as well as from elements of the 21st and 25th Divisions and 25th Landwehr Brigade.

Aisne.

2. The division, thus composed, held the Soissons sector until about March 20. On this date it retired through Terny, Margival, to Vauxaillon, where it established its lines and opposed the French attack of April 16.

Laffaux.

3. Temporarily withdrawn from the front on April 20, the division went to the north of Laffaux, south of Vauxaillon, from May 10 to 25. During these two periods on the Aisne front the division suffered heavy losses (especially the 27th, which had already received men from the 1918 class, among other reenforcements, at the end of April). It was reorganized partly from the dissolution of the 625th Infantry (Hessian).

Forest of St. Gobain.

4. June 25 the division held the forest of St. Gobain (sector of Bassoles-Aulers). At the end of July it took over the sector of Cerny-Malval Farm.

5. At the end of December it went to rest and train at Gizy (west of Liesse) and vicinity for four weeks.

RECRUITING.

The three infantry regiments came from three different Prussian Provinces-Prussian Saxony (27th Infantry), Schleswig-Holstein and Hanse towns (75th Reserve), Hesse-Nassau, 390th Infantry. The reenforcements from the Russian front in 1917 also gave a certain number of Hanoverians from the 411th Infantry.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The division had many losses on the Aisne in April to May, 1917, and was completed by reenforcements containing a strong proportion of the 1918 class. These young soldiers, according to prisoners’ statements, showed only mediocre military qualities (counterattacks at Laffaux).

During the four weeks which it spent in the vicinity of Liesse the division took part in several training exercises (breaking through maneuvers on an 8-kilometer front with simulated enemy tanks). (Interrogation of prisoners, Mar. 7, 1918.)

1918.

Battle of Picardy.

1. The division was relieved the 8th of March in the Chamouille area and went to rest and train near Laon until the 19th. It marched toward the jumping off point east of La Fere by Crepy en Laonnois, arriving there on the 20th. It followed up the attack at La Fere, crossing the Oise near Travecy, until the 22d, when it was engaged west of Travecy. It advanced through Farguiers-Quessy-Liez-Chauny-Quierzy-Varesnes, suffering heavy losses, until the line stabilized near the Aisne Canal at Manicamp and Champs. It held this sector until May 27.

Oise.

2. When the French retired on the front, following the German advance to the Marne, the division advanced as far as Moulin sous Touvent-Nampcel (May 27–31). It held that sector until the beginning of July. It withstood a French attack on July 3, lost 666 prisoners, and was at once relieved by the 15th Division.

Soissons.

3. The division rested until mid-July southeast of Soissons. It was brought back on the 20th at Mercin-Vauxbuin to oppose the Allied counterthrust and was in line until August 3.

4. After its withdrawal the division was taken to the neighborhood of Charleville and dissolved. The 390th Regiment and 75th Reserve Regiment were broken up and sent as drafts to the 42d Division and the 87th Division. The 27th Regiment replaced the dissolved 32d Reserve Regiment in the 113th Division.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. It was in line almost without interruption from February to August, 1918. When the effective strength had reached a minimum the division was dissolved.