(7th Corps District—Westphalia.)

1915.

The 50th Division (one of the new divisions in the 50 to 58 series) was formed in March, 1915, by taking three regiments from the three divisions of the 7th Corps and 7th Reserve Corps (the 13th Division giving the 158th Infantry, the 14th Division the 53d, and the 14th Reserve Division the 39th Fusileer Division), all Westphalian Regiments.

1. At the end of March, 1915, the 158th and 53d Infantry Regiments were identified at Hirson (Aisne), while the 39th Fusileer Regiment was still between Perthes and Tahure. In April the division was concentrated and was identified in Champagne, May 14 (area south of Somme-Py).

Champagne.

2. From June to October it occupied the sector of Tahure (north of Perthes and Mesnil les Hurlus). It there underwent the French offensive of the end of September, which caused it very heavy losses—infantry, 130 officers and 7,849 men casualties; the 100th Company of Pioneers lost 5 officers and 135 men.

3. Sent to rest and reorganized in the vicinity of Vouziers and of Juniville (end of October to the end of November), it reappeared on November 7 north of Prosnes (east of Reims).

1916.

Champagne.

1. In April, 1916, the division left the sector of Prosnes-Prunay, for the front northeast of Verdun (Ornes).

Verdun-Vaux.

2. Going into action, at the beginning of May, north of Vaux, it took part in the attacks launched upon the line Caillette wood-Damloup (June 1 to June 3), which ended in the capture of the fort of Vaux by the 158th Infantry Regiment on June 4.

3. Very much exhausted by these battles, the division was sent to rest and reorganized in the vicinity of Étain in June and July.

4. In July elements of the division occupied the calm sectors of the WoËvre.

5. At the end of July the 50th Division went back into line at Verdun, south of the fort of Vaux. It launched an attack on August 1 (La LaufÉe), underwent the French offensives of August 8 and October 24, suffering heavy losses, and held this sector until November.

Argonne.

6. Sent to the Argonne, it took over the sector of Vauquois.

1917.

1. Withdrawn from the Argonne on February 15, 1917, the division remained at rest in the area of Saulces-Champenoise until the end of March, then in the camp at Sissonne, then at Thenailles, near Vervins (beginning of April).

Aisne.

2. Concentrated on April 8, it went into action on the 15th at Juvincourt and there underwent the French attack of April 15. After heavy losses it was relieved between April 29-April 27 and went for reorganization to Nizy le Comte, near the Sissonne Camp.

Chemin des Dames.

3. About May 10, the division went back into line east of Allment on the Chemin des Dames.

4. It was sent to rest in July in the vicinity of Mons en Laonnois, Coucy les Eppes, Parfondru.

5. At the beginning of August, it came back to the Chemin des Dames (vicinity of Ailles), where, on October 15, the 9th Company of the 158th Infantry Regiment was reduced to 50 men, including officers (letter). Following the French offensive upon La Malmaison, the 50th Division retired on November 1, to the north of the Ailette toward Neuville (outside of Chamouille) and was still occupying this sector in December.

RECRUITING.

Upon its formation the division was composed of Westphalian troops. The recruiting is still almost exclusively Westphalian.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Since the battle of Vaux in June, 1916, the division likes to consider itself a shock division.

Its prolonged stay on the Ailette front (August to December) seems to mean that it had to be put at rest for a fairly long time before being engaged in an active sector.

It must be regarded as a good division, capable of putting up a vigorous defense (December).

1918.

1. The 50th Division was withdrawn from line near Ailles (west of Craonne) on January 9, the neighboring divisions extending their fronts, and moved by easy stages to the Chimay area, where it arrived on the 14th. It remained here for a month during which time it was thoroughly trained in open warfare and brought up to strength. It then moved to the La Capelle-Fontenelle area for rest and further training.

St. Quentin.

2. The middle of March the division moved up to the front, and on the 21st attacked in the front line southwest of St. Quentin; it captured Holnon during the day, Etreillers on the 22d, Hangest en Santerre on the 29th, and reached Moreuil on the 30th. It was withdrawn about April 1, after having suffered severely heavy losses, and went to rest, refit, and train in the Lassigny region.

Aisne.

3. On May 27, the division attacked near Craonne, reached Pontavert toward noon and crossed the Aisne. The following day it crossed the Vesle west of Breuil sur Vesle and continued to the south, where a French counterattack was repelled. On the 30th it reached Goussancourt, and then the Marne east of Dormans. After having suffered severe losses, it was relieved by the 28th Reserve Division during the night of June 12–13, and went to rest in the Laon region.

Rheims.

4. On the 19th of July the division was thrown into line just southwest of Rheims to meet the Allies’ tightening at the bases of the Chateau-Thierry salient. It was withdrawn early in August.

5. About the 30th of September it came back into line northwest of Rheims, near Prouilly and Cormicy. It remained here, and was driven back—fighting stubbornly—passing near Brimont, Guignicourt, and Banogne, where it was withdrawn on the 7th of November.

Meuse.

6. After a day’s rest, the division was put back into line on the 8th near Mezieres; it had not been withdrawn when the armistice was signed.

The 50th is rated as a first-class division. It distinguished itself in the fighting during 1918. After the Somme offensive, it was praised by Prof. Wegener in the Koelnische Zeitung. Immediately after the battle of the Aisne Maj. Fritsch, in command of the 158th Regiment, was awarded Pour le MÉrite. After the Allied counteroffensive, Lieut. Gen. V. Engelhuhten, the division commander, was decorated and made governor of Riga, and the commander of the 53d Regiment was also decorated. The 58th Regiment was mentioned as having particularly distinguished itself in the fighting near Banogne in the German communique of October 30. Losses suffered throughout the year were enormous, but the High Command did all in its power to make these good. There are no desertions of record since July 1, 1917. The morale was very good, everything being taken into consideration.