(16th Corps District—Lorraine.)

1914.

At the beginning of the war the 33d Division, with the 34th Division, formed the 16th Army Corps (Metz). Reservists began arriving on July 29 (Soldbuecher).

1. At the outbreak of hostilities the 33d Division was a part of the 5th Army (German Crown Prince). It invaded France by way of Audun le Roman, went around by the north of Verdun, crossed the Meuse at Givry on September 1 and advanced as far as Rambluzin and Heippes (20 kilometers south of Verdun).

Argonne.

2. After the battle of the Marne it took up its position in the Argonne. Its advance had been costly. On September 24 the new commander of the 98th Infantry Regiment found it reduced 13 officers and 982 men (document).

1915.

Argonne.

1. The 33d Division remained without interruption in the Argonne from September, 1914, to about the middle of August, 1916.

1916.

Verdun.

1. About August 10, 1916, the division was relieved from the Argonne and, after a short rest behind the front, was sent into the line at Verdun, east of Fleury.

2. In this sector, the division lost rather heavily. It remained there until the middle of September, at which time it took its place in the sector Vauquois, giving the 144th Infantry Regiment to the 223d Division, a new formation.

Argonne.

3. During this latter period, which extended up to the middle of December, the division was reorganized and absorbed the 4th Battalion, suppressed, on October 31, in the 27th Landwehr Regiment. At the same time, the 4th Battalions which the regiments of the division possessed, were broken up.

Somme.

4. Transferred to the Somme about December 15, it there occupied the sector east of Beaumont-Hamel and did not leave it until February 8, 1917. During these two months, its losses were rather serious.

1917.

Argonne.

1. Sent to rest in the Sedan area, the 33d Division went back into its old sector Vauquois at the end of February, 1917. No important event marks its stay in the Argonne after that time.

Champagne.

2. On May 3, it was relieved and transferred to Champagne. It marched as far as Pont Faverger and went into line at Cornillet and Mont Blond. It took part in the battle on this front and suffered some losses (172 prisoners from the 130th Infantry Regiment on May 20).

Argonne.

3. Withdrawn from this region at the end of May, it was again sent to the Argonne (Boureuilles-Vauquois), about June 7.

Champagne.

4. At the end of September it came out of the Argonne, and about October 4 went to the area of Tahure, where it remained in line until February, 1918.

Not being able to utilize the regional system of recruiting from annexed Lorraine, the 33d Division is composed almost entirely of Westphalians from the 7th Corps District.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 16th Army Corps, of which the 33d Division is a part, has always had the reputation of being one of the best corps of the German Army.

Although the 33d Division lost very heavily during the offensive of April and May, 1917, it still appeared strong (October, 1917).

1918.

1. The division was relieved on January 4 by the 28th Reserve Division and went to rest and train in the area northwest of Sedan. On March 14 it was railed to the vicinity of Rozoy sur Serre and rested a week north of Montcornet. From there the division proceeded by night marches via Montcornet-Crecy sur Serre-Monceau le Neuf-Ribemont-Mezieres-Moy-ly Fontaine-Gibercourt-Montescourt-Jussy-Flavy le Martel, where it arrived on March 23. On the following night the division was billeted in Villeselve and came into line astride the Ham-Noyon road on March 24.

Battle of Picardy.

2. On the 25th the division fought its way through Noyon and on the following days was engaged in heavy fighting about Suzoy and Mont Renaud, which it failed to capture in spite of heavy sacrifices. It was withdrawn on April 15.

3. The division rested from April 15 to May 24 in the vicinity of Dercy, Mortiers, Pierrepont, and Barenton sur Serre undergoing reconstitution. It marched to the Aisne front by Coucy les Eppes, Bruyeres, and Chamouille.

Battle of the Aisne.

4. The division was engaged on May 27 in the front line of the attack and advanced by Pancy, Courtecon, Verneuil, Pont-Arcy, Dhuizel, Courcelles, Jouaignes (20th), Oulchy la Ville, south of Neuilly St. Front, Dammard. In this last region losses were heavy on June 2. It was relieved by the 78th Reserve Division on June 3.

Second Battle of the Marne.

5. The division rested south of Soissons from June 7 to July 11, when it marched to the Marne front by Braisne, Fere en Tardenois, Foret de Ris. It was in reserve on the 15th on the north of the Marne, west of Dormans. On the 17th–18th it fell back on Beuvardes and Grisolles and was engaged the next day southeast of Neuilly St. Front. In the heavy fighting of the following days the division was thrown back south of Oulchy le Chateau toward Fere en Tardenois (July 21–23). The division withdrew until the Vesle was reached when it was relieved about July 31.

Verdun.

6. The division entrained southeast of Montcornet on August 6 and was moved to Avocourt via Sedan-Charleville-Montmedy. It rested southeast of Stenay until August 15. Replacements were received from the dissolved 33d Reserve Division in August. On August 21, the division entered line near Ornes (north of Verdun) where it remained until the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as first class. It was used as an assault division in the Somme and Aisne offensives of 1918. It was disorganized by its losses in the Marne retreat and never recovered its offensive value.