1914.

At mobilization the 6th Division formed, together with the 5th Division, the 3d Army Corps (Berlin).

Charleroi-Marne.

1. At the beginning of the war the 3d Army Corps belonged to the 1st Army (Von Kluck). Entered Belgium August 4 and the 11th Brigade made part of the unit which attacked LiÈge. Its reservists rejoined it there. The 12th Brigade crossed the Belgian frontier August 15; then the division, completely filled up, marched via Tongres, Louvain, and Hal. It fought the 24th at Mons and Frameries. Going via Villers-Cotterets (Sept. 1), La FertÉ-Milon, it arrived at Petit-Morin September 4. Engaged the 6th between Montceaux and Courgivaux on the left of the 5th Division. Obliged to retreat, it established itself on the right bank of the Aisne in the region of Soissons. It remained there until the end of June, 1915.

Aisne.

2. From October 30 to November 30, 1914, the division, reinforced by units of neighboring organizations, directed a successful offensive against the French troops in the region Chavonne-Soupir and threw them back on the left bank of the Aisne November 17 to 19, 1914.

1915.

1. From the end of January to July, 1915, the Aisne front was held by the division and remained quiet, the division suffering no losses. At the end of March the 35th Fusilier Regiment was transferred to 56th Division (new division).

Artois.

2. Relieved from the region of Soissons toward the end of June and sent to Artois. On July 14 it took the place of the Bavarians before Arras. Withdrawn from the front toward the beginning of August and sent to rest between Valenciennes and Cambrai.

Serbia.

3. September 23 it entrained for the Eastern Front. With the 25th Reserve Division it constituted, on the Serbo-Hungarian frontier, a new 3d Army Corps belonging to the Gallwitz Army. October 9 it crossed the Danube and remained in Serbia until the capture of Kragujewatz. During this October campaign the division suffered greatly.

France.

4. Returned to the Western Front at the beginning of December. Sent to rest and reorganized in the region Hirson-Avesnes.

1916.

1. At the end of January and the beginning of February, 1916, it was sent to the front north of Verdun (Romagne-Mangiennes area).

Verdun.

2. February 22 it was engaged with the 5th Division in the zone between the western limits of Herbebois and the eastern slopes of the Cotes de Meuse. The two divisions did not go beyond Fort Douaumont, captured by the 24th Infantry. Their violent attacks on the village February 26 to 28 were repulsed. March 2 the regiments were withdrawn from the front and filled up.

3. On March 8 new and unsuccessful attacks against the village of Douaumont and the Hardaumont defenses.

4. About March 15 the 3d Army Corps was withdrawn from the front. The 6th Division went to the region of Mulhouse to be reorganized. On April 25 the division was again engaged (south of Douaumont-Caillette Wood) and again suffered heavily. It is probable that each of its regiments were completely reorganized after each attack at Douaumont (more than 60 per cent losses).

6. At the end of May the division was relieved and sent to rest in the region of Ville au Montois.

Champagne.

7. In the middle of June it was sent to Champagne and occupied quiet sectors northeast of Prunay, then east of Auberive. It remained there till the end of September. It exchanged its 20th Infantry Regiment for the 396th Infantry Regiment, organized September 26. (See illustration.)

Somme.

8. At the beginning of October sent to the Somme and was engaged in the region of Gueudecourt and again suffered heavily, October 8 to 29.

Argonne.

9. Withdrawn from the Somme front at the end of October; went to the Argonne in the sector Fille-Morte-Boureuilles, November 30 to beginning of April, 1917.

1917.

1. At the beginning of April, 1917, the division was sent to Alsace. It stayed about two weeks in the region of Mulhouse.

Champagne.

2. About April 20 sent to Champagne and took over a sector south of Moronvilliers where it was subjected to the French attack of April 30. It had to be relieved a few days after, as it suffered great losses at Mont-Haut (50 to 75 men per company).

3. The division returned to Alsace and was reorganized behind the front in the region of Mulhouse.

Russia.

4. About July 1 sent to the Eastern Front in Galicia, where it held a sector in the Skalat region.

France.

Withdrawn from this front at the beginning of October it entrained for France, beginning the 7th, southeast of Tarnopol, and traveled via Lemberg-Cracow-Dresden-Cassel-Coblentz-Treves-Thionville-Montmedy-Charleville-Vouziers.

Aisne.

5. After staying a few days around Vouziers and Marle the division was sent on October 23, the date of the French offensive, precipitately near Laon. October 24 and 25 it took over a sector on the Ailette in the region of Lizy (Urcel sector) and was still holding it January 24, 1918, after a period of rest in Laon in November.

RECRUITING.

Same remarks as for the 5th Division.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 3d Army Corps was always considered as one of the star corps of the Prussian Army. The 6th Division was among the best in Germany.

The military qualities seem to have been considerably lessened after the losses suffered, notably before Verdun and in the Mont Haut sector. It must be noted, however, that, according to the examination of a deserter on November 2, 1917, the 396th Regiment is still considered as an excellent unit whose morale is intact.

Losses before Verdun (February to May, 1916): 20th Infantry, 2,904 men (633 killed); 24th Infantry, 2,691 (584 killed); 64th Infantry, 2,819 (603 killed); 3d Battalion of Chasseurs, 1,422 (219 killed). Total, 9,831 men (2,039 killed).

1918.

Aisne.

1. The division was relieved by the 6th Bavarian Reserve Division January 12. It, in turn, relieved the 6th Bavarian Reserve Division the 24th. February 22 it was again relieved by the 6th Bavarian Reserve Division. It rested then in the Maubeuge area, where it underwent a thorough course of training. The division then marched via Catillon, Bohain, Fresnoy le Grand, Le Verguier, Berthaucourt, Vermand, Marteville, Trefcon, Monchy Lagache.

Peronne.

2. It came into line S. E. of that city near Meharicourt, March 24, relieving the 113th Division.

Aisne.

3. It was withdrawn from line about the 10th of April, and went to the Guise area, where, with the 5th Division, it was put through another course of training. It reinforced the battle front near Juvigny, May 27. It was withdrawn from line August 4.

It moved via Anizy le Chateau, southwest of Laon, Guise, Grougis, Bohain, Bertry, Neuvilly, Solesmes, Valenciennes, Ghent, to Turkyen (northwest of Roulers). The division remained here until September 7, when it entrained at Roulers and traveled via Lille and Denain to Iwuy, remaining in reserve in the Sancourt-Proville area until the 14th, when it was moved up into support near Ribecourt.

Cambrai.

4. During the night of September 17–18 it reentered the line and counterattacked against Havrincourt (southwest of Cambrai). It was withdrawn October 1, after suffering heavy losses.

5. The division came back into line near Escadoeuvres (northeast of Cambrai), October 7. It was withdrawn on the 17th.

Valenciennes.

6. October 23 the division entered line near Escautpont (north of Valenciennes).

7. It was withdrawn a few days later, and reappeared in line south of Valenciennes on the 29th. The night of November 7–8 it was relieved by the 185th Division.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

According to an article by Prof. Wegener in the Koelnische Zeitung, March 30, the 6th Division “particularly distinguished itself” in the Somme offensive. It did very well, too, in the Aisne attack and also in the German attempts to prevent the Allied advance beginning July 18. It suffered very heavy losses—e. g., 1,550 prisoners in its two engagements on the Cambrai front during September and early October; nevertheless, it is still to be considered as one of the best German shock divisions.