1915.

The 84th Division with the 83d Division formed the Posen Corps and was engaged on the Eastern Front from the beginning of the war. (See 83d Division.) It was organized in June, 1915.

Russia.

1. After having fought in Poland to the north of Pilica (February to June, 1915) the elements of the 84th Division operated in the region of Bleudow.

2. The 84th Division took part in the offensive against the Russians. It advanced through the region of Bug (Aug. 17), through the southeast of Bielsk (end of August) north of Slonim (September, battle from the 13th to the 18th), up to the south of Novogrodek (Sept. 22). The front having become stationary, the division took a position in the vicinity of Deliatitchi (north of the Niemen). In December it gave up the 333d Regiment of Infantry to the 89th Division, then recently organized.

1916.

Russia.

1. The 84th Division stayed in the sector in the vicinity of the Niemen (Liubtcha, Deliatitchi) during the entire year 1916.

2. From July to October the 334th and 335th Regiments were detached as reenforcements between Goroditche and Baranovitchi to meet the Russian offensive.

1917.

1. In 1917 the division still occupied the same sectors along the Niemen (Deliatitchi, Negnevitchi) until its departure for the Western Front (December).

2. About the month of June the 334th Infantry was transferred to the 94th Division and replaced by the 423d Infantry, to which the former transferred some of its men.

In December the division absorbed another lot of men from the 334th Infantry and some from the Landsturm Battalion V. 15. Its strength had since November included some young men of the class of 1919.

3. At the end of December the division was transported to France. The 3d Battalion of the 423d Regiment entrained at Novogrodek on December 31. (Itinerary: Varsovie-Leipzig-Frankfort on the Main-Thionville) and detrained at Arrancy (south of Longuyon) on January 7. The 2d Battalion of the 336th Regiment entrained on December 28 and detrained at Landres on January 3.

RECRUITING.

The division was for the most part recruited from the 5th and the 7th Corps Districts. This was but slightly changed by the incorporation of the men of the Landsturm Battalion V. 15 which consisted mostly of soldiers from Brandenburg and of the addition of those belonging to the class of 1919 which came from the 4th Corps District.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 84th Division had been on the Eastern front since 1914. Its offensive value was mediocre.

On the Russian front it began to fraternize at the end of December. The Germans were only allowed to do so in the presence of their officers. In November and about December 20 the men in the division who were over 40 years of age were transferred into Landsturm battalions or into regiments staying in Russia, and replaced by young men nearly all belonging to the class of 1919 (250 to the 84th Division in November).

Montdidier-Noyon.

1. The division was relieved by the 53d Reserve Division about May 1. It moved west and on May 25 relieved the 3d Bavarian Division in the Lassigny sector. It was taken out in early June and rested until the 9th, when it returned to attack at Courcelles. It again retired on June 20 and rested until July 2.

Lassigny.

2. On that date it was in line southeast of Belloy, where it was engaged until mid-July. It rested near Antheuil until August 12, when it reenforced the battle front south of Thiescourt. Then it was engaged until about August 22.

Oise.

3. One regiment—the 423d—entered line on the Oise on August 22 and by September 4 all the division was in line near Quierzy. It was withdrawn on September 15.

4. On September 30 the division entered line at Trouquoy and south of Sequehart. In the fighting in the first week of October the elements of the division were badly mixed with other divisions. They were taken out about October 9 and re-formed.

5. It was reengaged on October 27 in the vicinity of Sissonne and fought until the armistice. The last identification was east of Bucy les Pierrepont on November 6.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class. It was a very mediocre unit, composed largely of Landsturm elements and of young recruits. It was decimated by the fighting in the fall and its morale became very bad. A contributing factor was a draft of 300 prisoners returned from Russia.