(149th: 2d District—Pomerania. 368th and 74th Reserves: 10th District—Hanover.)

1916.

The 213th Division was formed near Spincourt, northeast of Verdun, at the beginning of September, 1916. Its three infantry regiments came from already existing divisions, the 149th from the 4th Division, the 74th Reserves from the 19th Reserve Division, and the 368th (former Brigade Ersatz Battalions 37 (Osnabrueck), 38 (Hanover), 39 (Hildesheim), from the 10th Ersatz Division.)

Somme.

1. Although apparently destined for the Roumanian front, the division was sent in all haste to the Somme on September 14. It fought beginning the 18th east of Combles and suffered heavily.

Aisne.

2. Withdrawn from the front at the end of September and moved to Bohain by stages and from there was transported on October 1 to Coucy le Chateau. On the same day it took over the Nouvron-Vingre sector north of Vic sur Aisne. It remained there until the end of October, and after a short rest went back into line in the same region (Moulin sous Touvent-Autreches) at the beginning of November.

1917.

1. About January 4, 1917, the division was relieved from the Aisne front and sent for a rest and training to the camp at Sissonne (region of Lappion). Maneuvers with a view to open warfare.

Oise.

2. After three weeks training it entrained at St. Erme on January 22; detrained the same day at Apilly, near Chauny, and went into line between the Oise and Quennevieres (Bailly-Pracy le Val).

3. On March 17 it retired north of the Ailette in the direction of Chauny and went in reserve in the region of Laon.

Aisne.

4. An emergency call was sent for it at Sissonne April 16 and it was brought to St. Erme and engaged beginning April 16–17 east of Craonne (north of Ville aux Bois). Counterattacked violently in the region of Juvincourt, but suffered considerable losses, which necessitated its retreat, on April 21–22.

5. Sent to rest near Amifontaine and reorganized (replacements especially from the 617th Regiment (Stettin and vicinity), which was dissolved) April 26 it was reengaged south of Corbeny and again suffered heavily from the French attack of May 8 and from its counteroffensive of the 10th.

6. Left the Craonne front May 29 and went to rest by the Meuse (Spincourt).

Hill 304.

7. At the end of July, after two months’ rest, went into line east of Hill 304. Only the 149th was engaged during the French attack of August 20, and it suffered heavy losses.

Champagne.

8. Relieved August 25 and sent to Champagne (5 weeks’ rest near Asfeld), then went into line before Brimont on October 5.

RECRUITING.

Two of the regiments, the 74th Reserves and the 368th were from Hanover. The 149th which as a rule was recruited in the second district (Pomerania), was as a matter of fact very mixed, like the other regiments of this district.

A good division. However, the 149th, in line east of Hill 304, offered no resistance to the French attack of August 20, 1917. The two other regiments gave no assistance.

Relatively small proportion of 1918 class men in August, 1917.

During its stay in the rear (January, 1918) the division was trained for open warfare. (Examination of prisoners, March, 1918.)

1918.

Battle of the Aisne.

1. The division continued to hold the quiet Brimont Courcy sector until May 10, when it was relieved by the 242d Division. It rested near Asfeld until the 24th, when it returned to the Brimont sector on the night of the 24th–25th, and attacked on the 27th. It advanced through Loivre, Merfy, and Guex until the line stabilized west of Reims (Vrigny-Ormes-Champigny). It held that sector until September 27.

2. It was moved in motor trucks on the 27th to south of Arnes, and the next day was engaged near Ste. Marie a Py. The division was engaged without pause until the armistice. In the first week of October it was pushed back to Ste. Etienne a Arnes, losing 560 prisoners. From then it retreated to east of Machault, between Vouziers and Attigny and later to the region northeast of Attigny (Le Chesne-Louvergny). It was last identified at Louvergny on November 6.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. Its morale remained fairly high, and the division did well in the Ardennes in September-October.