1917.

The 232d Division belonged to the series of divisions 231 to 242, formed in January, 1917, by drafts upon the depots (1918 class) and upon the front. It was recruited principally from the 1st and 20th Corps Districts (East Prussia).

After its formation the division was sent for training to the Arys Camp and then, on April 3, 1917, to the Eastern Front.

Courland.

1. On April 6 the 232d Division went into line in the vicinity of Illukst; it remained there until July.

Smorgoni.

2. Relieved by the 2d Division, coming from Flanders on July 7, it entrained on the 9th, was transferred by railroad to Soly on July 11, and from there went to the sector of Smorgoni-Krevo, where it suffered the Russian attack of July 22.

Galicia.

3. On July 31 the 232d Division left the Smorgoni front for Galicia. It went into line northeast of Tarnapol, west of Zbaraz. It was identified there on December 25 (fraternization with the Russians). It was during this rest period, in November and December, that the division received its first reenforcements of the 1919 class, which it later took to France.

The 232d Division was recruited from East and West Prussia, with a certain number of Alsace-Lorrainers.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Having always occupied the Eastern Front from its formation (beginning of 1917) until March, 1918, the 232d Division was of mediocre combat value (April, 1918).

In the 445th Infantry Regiment the majority of men were very young; many belonged to the 1919 class (April, 1918). (Interrogation of prisoner.)

In the 2d Company of the 1st Battalion of the 447th Infantry Regiment, one-third belonged to the 1919 class (May, 1918). (Interrogation of prisoner.)

1918.

1. The division held the sector west of Vaudesincourt until about May 10, when it went to rest in the Juniville-Neuflize area. While there the division was trained for mobile warfare.

Battle of the Aisne.

2. On May 22 the division left the region of Juniville and moved in three marches to Lor and Le Thour (north of Asfeld). On May 26 the division left Lor and advanced toward the battle front, following the 86th Division. It passed the former French first line near Juvincourt, arrived near Treslon-Bouleuse on May 29, and on the 30th was engaged to the right of the 86th Division, near Sarey, where it relieved the troops of the 7th Reserve Division.

3. After that date the division was in the sector on the west bank of the Ardre near Chambrecy. The division losses were small during the first three days of the offensive, but later it suffered seriously, especially in its unsuccessful attack on Bligny on June 4. The division was relieved on the 18th by the 123d Division.

4. It marched by stages to Asfeld and was railed to Montmedy. On the night of June 28–29 it relieved the 19th Ersatz Division in the Beaumont sector. It held the quiet sector until August 18, when it was withdrawn. On the night of August 26–27 the division entrained and traveled via Montmedy-Sedan-Charleville-Revin-Charleroi-Mons-Valenciennes-Cambrai, detraining near Etricourt and Manancourt on August 28 after a journey of 28 hours.

Bapaume.

5. The division was engaged in the Bapaume area (Le Forest, Bouchavesnes, Moislains) on August 29. It lost 1,500 prisoners before it was withdrawn on September 9.

6. It rested in the Le Cateau area until September 21, when it reenforced the battle front northwest of Hargicourt. After four days it was relieved by the 54th Division and rested near La Capelle. It had been there but 10 days when it was hurried to the Oise front by motor trucks.

7. On October 6 it was engaged at Lesdins, with the exception of the 447th Regiment, which remained at rest at Pont a Bucy and joined the division later. It continued in line until about the end of the month, when it retired from the Villers le Sec vicinity. It was considered in reserve of the German 18th Army at the time of the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as 4th class. By October its morale was very low and its combat value small. On October 25 the division had but 850 infantrymen, 300 machine gunners, and 120 trench mortar effectives. After August there were but three companies to a battalion and but two battalions to the 446th Regiment in October. Influenced by Bolshevists, elements of the division refused to go into action in October.