(50th: 5th District—Posen. 358th: 2d District—Pomerania. 363d: 8th District—Rhine Province.)

1916.

The 214th Division was formed in Lorraine in September, 1916. Two of its regiments came from the Ersatz Divisions—the 358th, former Brigade Ersatz Battalions Nos. 1, 2, 5, and 50; from the Ersatz Guard Division; the 363d, former Brigade Ersatz Battalions Nos. 29 (Aix la Chapelle), 30 (Coblentz), and 31 (TrÈves), from the 8th Ersatz Division. These two regiments were for two years in the Haye. The 50th Infantry was taken from the 10th Division (Verdun front).

Somme.

1. Started for the Eastern Front September 10, 1916, but was stopped at Frankfort on Main and brought back to France to oppose the offensive on the Somme. Hastily engaged at Rancourt September 19–20, but lost that village. Lost heavily (600 prisoners) and was relieved October 2.

Bois le PrÊtre.

2. From October 15 to November 25 the division held the Bois le Pretre sector.

Somme.

3. At the beginning of December it again went to the Somme in the region of Bapaume (Gueudecourt).

1917.

1. The division was withdrawn from the Somme about February 6, 1917, and went to rest; obtained replacements from the 609th Infantry (Rhineland).

Champagne.

2. About February 20 the division was north of Nouroy-Moronvilliers. Its regiments were successively put in line beginning with the first part of March, then were placed all together in line April 15. April 17 and 18 the division opposed the French attacks on the Nauroy-Auberive front. Its losses were considerable (19 officers and 1046 unwounded prisoners). Losses of the 12th Company of the 50th Infantry, 129 men (document).

3. On the night of the 18th–19th the division was relieved and sent to rest southwest of Monthois and reorganized. The 5th Company of the 363d Infantry received at least 134 replacements, mostly from the 1918 class, some of them with only three months’ training.

Argonne.

4. About May 4–5 the division went back into line south of Rouvroy (Cernay en Dormois) and stayed there until July 22 or 23. No important action during this period.

Flanders.

5. During the first days of August the division was sent to Flanders via Charleville, Namur, Brussels, and Ghent. It went to the Bixschoote-Langemarck sector, where it fought until August 17 (battle of Flanders, French attack of August 16).

Cambrai.

6. After a rest on the coast it went to Douai August 23 and took over the Oppy-Gavrelle sector (September to November). November 22 it went in all haste to oppose the advance of the British army southwest of Cambrai, and fought until December 4. At that date it was sent to rest near Valenciennes.

RECRUITING.

A composite division. The 50th (5th District) and the 358th (2d District) had a pretty large proportion of Poles, and some Brandenburgers to counterbalance them. The 363d was a Rhenish regiment, as well as the field artillery of the division.

The 214th Division must be considered as a good division. However, it should be noted that in Champagne during the attack of April 17, it was more or less demoralized by the losses suffered. A large number of men are said to have fled during the preparatory artillery fire.

At Ypres in August, 1917, the 358th and 363d opposed great resistance, particularly where there were enough officers to hold the men under the artillery fire.

Of the three regiments of the division, the 50th was the worst; many Poles.

1918.

Belgium.

1. The division held the Dixmude sector until April 5, when it was relieved by the 6th Bavarian Division. It was withdrawn to Couckelaere and Ichteghem, when it entrained on the 6th and 7th and traveled via Thourout-Lichtervelde-Roulers-Coutrai to Lauwe, from where they marched to Halluin.

Lys.

2. It was engaged north of Armentieres from April 10 to 13 (Ploegsteert-Neuve Eglise). It was relieved on the 13th–14th and went to rest near Lille until May 19. On May 6 some elements of the division reenforced the Alpine Corps at Locre for a short time.

Arras.

3. On May 19–20 the division came in line east of Arras (Feuchy-Monchy le Preux) and held that quiet sector until the British attacked them on August 27. The division lost 1,171 prisoners and was relieved on the 28th.

Picardy.

4. The division rested until September 24, when it entered line southwest of Douai (Sailly Ostrevent Biache, St. Vaast) and held there until October 8. It retreated between Douai and Valenciennes as far as east of St. Awand. It withdrew from line near Conde on the 24th. A day later it was reengaged south of Valenciennes (Famars) and in line until November 5. On the first 10 days of November the division lost 750 prisoners.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. In 1918 it played a rather colorless rÔle. Its hardest fighting was in October in the Cambrai battle.