(12th and 19th Districts—Saxony.)

1916.

The 212th Division was organized between the 5th and 15th of September, 1916, in the region of St. Quentin. At that time it comprised the following three infantry regiments, taken from already existing divisions: The 20th from the 6th Division, the 114th from the 29th Division, and the 98th Reserve from the 10th Reserve Division. Later its infantry composition was completely changed until the division from being Prussian became entirely Saxon.

Somme.

1. From September 15 to October 3–5 the division was engaged north of the Somme (sector of ClÉry to BÉthune-PÉronne road).

2. Withdrawn from the front October 5 and sent to rest in the region of St. Quentin. Went back into line about the 25th, south of the Somme, between Genermont and Ablaincourt. Suffered heavy losses (the 3d Battalion of the 98th Reserves lost 297 prisoners).

Champagne.

3. The division left the Somme November 23–25 and went to rest (end of November to beginning of December). Then went to the Champagne front (sector of Prosnes—south of Ste. Marie a Py).

1917.

1. In January, 1917, the division was reorganized. The 98th Reserve and the 20th went to the 207th Division and the 5th Guard Division, respectively, and were replaced by the 9th JÄger Regiment (from the 199th Division) and the 415th (from the 204th Division). These were Saxon regiments and they were joined a short time after by the 416th (also from the 204th Division and Saxon), in place of the 114th, assigned to the 199th Division.

Champagne.

2. Thus composed the division continued to hold the Prosnes sector until the end of March, 1917.

Roumania.

3. Relieved about March 25, before the attacks began and sent to Roumania.

At this time the 9th Regiment of JÄgers left the division and went to the 101st Division, in Macedonia. The 415th and 416th were sent to the Russian-Roumanian front (region of Braila in July, then Focsani-Tecuciu). The division was brought up to three regiments by the assignment of the 182d (from the 216th Division), a Saxon regiment. The division suffered heavy losses, especially the 182d Infantry, on September 9.

4. In December the division was relieved from the sector west of Tecuciu. The 415th and 416th were identified southeast of Panciu December 14; the 182d, northwest of Namoloasa, on the 20th.

RECRUITING.

The division at the end of 1917 was entirely Saxon.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Remained on the Roumanian front during a part of 1917 and the beginning of 1918. Moderate fighting value.

1918.

1. The division was still in Rumania on the 15th of April.

Ukraine.

2. Toward the end of May the division was identified north of Kherson. All the younger men were sent to the Western Front, but the remainder of the division did not leave this region.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class.