The 52d Division (of the even 50 to 58 series) was formed in March, 1915, by taking the 169th and 170th Infantry Regiments from the 29th Division (14th Army Corps, Baden), and the 66th Landwehr Regiment from the 7th Division (4th Army Corps). On April 6, 1917, the last-named regiment was replaced by the 111th Infantry Regiment (the 4th Regiment of the 28th Division, also from Baden).

Artois.

1. In April, 1915, the 52d Division was in line south of Arras (Monchy aux Bois, Hebuterne). It occupied this sector until September, 1916.

1916.

Somme.

1. During the Franco-English offensive on the Somme the 52d Division bore to the south and held the sector Hebuterne, Beaumont-Hamel, north of Thiepval (September-November, 1916).

2. On November 26 the division was withdrawn from the front and sent to rest in the vicinity of Bouchain (December).

1917.

Alsace.

1. On January 13, 1917, the 52d Division was sent to Alsace (northwest of Bale).

2. About the middle of January it took over the sector of Altkirch (Carspach-Hirtzbach), which it held until the end of March.

3. After a few days at rest (at the beginning of April) in the Grand Duchy of Baden south of Muellheim, it entrained on April 16 north of Bale and was transferred to the Aisne, already including men of the 1918 class in its ranks.

Aisne.

4. On April 21 it went into line south of Juvincourt. It occupied this sector until July 10, with a period of rest from June 1 to 15.

Californie Plateau.

5. About July 24 it went back into line on the Californie Plateau, where it launched an attack on September 14.

6. Sent into rest in the vicinity of Sissonne about the end of September, it appeared in the vicinity of Pinon about the middle of October, where it went into action and lost heavily on the 23d.

Champagne.

7. After a rest in the vicinity of Chimay (beginning of November), it went into line on the Champagne front (Butte du Mesnil-Maisons de Champagne); it remained there until December 15.

8. From December 15 until January, 1918, it was at rest in the vicinity of Vouziers.

RECRUITING.

Since April, 1917, the 52d Division has been almost purely Badensian. Besides the Badensians, who form almost all of the drafts, we find men from the neighboring districts of the Empire (Rhine Province, Hesse-Nassau).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

In general the morale of the 52d Division has appeared rather high. In the sector of Juvincourt (April to July, 1917) the troops of the division showed nerve and dash in the course of the local operations in which they took part.

The division had few losses until the month of September.

However, it lost heavily on October 23 (the battle of La Malmaison), especially the 170th Infantry Regiment.

Champagne.

1. The 52d Division, which had been resting near Vouziers since December 15, relieved the 52d Reserve Division near Tahure (northeast of Suippes) on the 10th of January. During the time the division held this sector the elements not actually in the front line were being trained in open warfare. Early in March it was relieved by the 52d Reserve Division and went to the Vouziers area, where it received still more intensive training in the war of movement.

Picardy.

2. The division entrained near Vouziers on the 22d of March, and detrained on the following day near Bohain. On the 24th it left and marched via Fresnoy le Grand-Holnon wood (26th)-Bethenicourt (27th)-Etalon-Liancourt-Fosse to Fresnoy les Roye. It relieved the 28th Division near Hangest en Santerre (northwest of Montdidier) on the 28th. It was relieved by the 76th Reserve Division on the 14th of April and went to rest in the Sedan area.

Aisne.

3. Here it was thoroughly reconstituted. It entrained on the 22d of May, arriving at La Malmaison (southeast of Laon) the same day. On the 26th it went into line near Juvincourt (east of Craonne), and took part in the initial attack on the following day. It crossed the Aisne between Pontavert and Gernicourt; proceeding via Bouvancourt and Guyancourt, it crossed the Vesle at Jonquery on the 28th, reached Faverolles on the 29th, Olizy on the 31st, and the Marne, in the region of Verneuil, on June 2. The division was at first ordered to cross the same day, but the order was subsequently rescinded. It was withdrawn, after having suffered severely, about the 10th, and was reported to be at rest in the Sedan area on the 15th. On the 20th it was reported in reserve in the Tournai region.

Lens.

4. During the night of July 12–13 it relieved the 119th Division in the Avion sector (south of Lens). It was relieved about the 5th of August by the extension of fronts of flanking divisions.

Armentieres.

5. During the night of the 6th–7th it relieved the 207th Division near Vieux Berquin (southwest of Bailleul), the 207th Division taking over the sector just vacated by the 52d Division. On the 17th it was withdrawn, the neighboring divisions extending their fronts.

Bapaume.

6. Five days later it reenforced the battle front near Miraumont (west of Bapaume). It was withdrawn about the 4th of September, after having lost over 1,300 prisoners, and went to rest in the Courtrai area. Here the battalions were reduced to three companies, the strength of which was further made up by drafts of the 29th Ersatz Regiment (223d Division disbanded).

Argonne.

7. On September 28 the division reenforced the front near Exermont (southeast of Grandpre). In the heavy fighting that followed the division was driven back to Landres et St. Georges, where it was withdrawn about the 14th of October after having suffered heavy losses (almost 600 in prisoners alone).

8. During the night of October 31-November 1 the division, which had received large numbers of replacements during its two weeks’ rest, relieved the 41st Division east of Busancy (north of Grandpre). It was still in line on the 11th.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 52d is rated as one of the best German divisions. It was in a great deal of heavy fighting during 1918 (as in preceding years) and acquitted itself most creditably.