Das Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 31 [1. Teil - Abschnitte 1 bis 6] (German Edition)

Militär/Formationsgeschichte/Deutschland/Alte Armee/Regimenter

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There appeared as witness Major-General Francke, who, after reference to the significance of the oath, was examined as follows: My name is Franz Samuel Ludwig Francke. I n the investigation concerning the violation of international law committed against the German troops, there appeared as witness Corporal Saring, who, after reference to the significance of the oath, was examined as follows: My name is Johann Georg Saring. I am 22 years of age ; Protestant ; locksmith by trade ; corporal, 12th Company, Infantry Regiment No.

On the afternoon of Sunday the 23rd August, , I saw in Dinant the arm of a man This man was taken to Colonel Francke , whilst the other civilians were detained in the corner of a house On the same day, according to his statement, a further batch of four civilians were shot because they had attacked a sentry of Infantry Regiment No.

The company advanced with the pontoon waggons on the steep, narrow road into Dinant behind Rifle Fusilier Regiment No. In the room on the right there lay an officer—a lieutenant of Infantry Regiment No. All three civilians wore the uniform of Infantry Regiment No. In the adjoining room there lay stretched out dead a non-commissioned officer and five privates of the same regiment. I lifted up the cloth covering the lieutenant and saw that he had received a shot in the head.

7. Westpreußisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. – Wikipedia

I did not see any further injuries to the officer. One of the privates who lay beside the lieutenant had his trousers unbuttoned in front so that one could see his body. This soldier had a shot in the lower part of the body. Extending from the larynx to at least 10 cm. The blood had flowed down towards the side. I am convinced that it could only have been a wound from a cut. In the other room the trousers of one of the soldiers were unbuttoned so that one could see the body. This man had a cut or stab wound in the lower body about 3 cm.

The clothing of the remaining soldiers showed no disarrangement, they all bore shot-wounds. The scene conveyed the impression that the officer, the non-commissioned officer and the men had been attacked in their sleep by the inhabitants in that quarter. I infer this from the fact that the officer had a sofa-cushion and the others either a cloth or a knapsack under their heads. The rifles stood in a corner Horne, Alan Kramer, German Atrocities A History Of Denial, , pp. See also, IR Reichsarchiv, Weltkrieg, Volume 3, pp.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

On 24 August, the area of Dinant south of the bridge, which had not been attacked on 23 August, was systematically burned down by the Germans. The killings continued on 24 August, houses burned for days and lit up the countryside. A stench of corpses polluted the air as they decomposed in the sun. Rocroi, Rimogne, La Tremblois] http: Battle of the Meuse and tracking up to the Aisne] http: La Tremblois, Blombay, l'Echelle] http: Battle of the Aisne and tracking to over the Marne] http: Moronvilliers Department Franke of the 23th Infantry Division ] http: Mourmelon Department Arnim of the 23th Infantry Division] http: Unter erheblichen Verlusten wurde das Dorf eingenommen und gehalten.

Der Vormarsch und die Vorbereitungen zur Marneschlacht gingen weiter. Kompanie wurde abgezogen und als Vortrupp der Division nach Mourmelon gesandt In the small town Mourmelon-le-Grand [Battle: September 3, ] , the battalion fell into an ambush , and the advance came to a standstill. Under considerable losses the village was taken and held. After the support of the cavalry , the French troops were pushed back. The advance and the preparations for the Battle of the Marne went on.

On 26 September was the combat strength of the battalion only 17 officers and NCOs and men. The second Company was withdrawn and sent as a vanguard of the division after Mourmelon [Battle: September 3, ] http: Karl Ludwig d'Elsa http: Battle of the Marne] http: The 23d Division, with the 2d [XII?

Karl d'Elsa from Third Army. Fighting on the Aisne] http: Battle of Juvincourt] http: Conquest of La Ville aux Bois] http: Fig 2 and 2a: Part of the Ersatz-Bataillon depot battalion of IR in Freiberg, October — mainly returning convalescents together with depot staff seated, in pre 'colourful' uniform and a couple of older reservists. The elegant gentleman with the duelling scar seated second from left is actually a mere Unteroffizier corporal. I am researching my great-grandfather who was in the Infantry Regiment during the First World War until his injury late in His name was Albert Schreiner and I was wondering whether you had come across him in your research at all?

From his lebenslauf he was in "Mach. After recovery from his injury Kieferdurchschuss - shot in the jaw , he apparently returned to the Western Front in the summer of with Inf. He went on to become a prominent member of the KPD until fleeing Germany with his family in I have no records of his time in the military but do have a photo of him from the war attached.

I look forward to hearing if you had any further information on the regiment that might be of interest. Wenige Wochen vor Beendigung der aktiven Dienstzeit, im August wurden wir an die Westfront geschicht. Dort war ich bis im Frontdienst [p. Im August kam er an die Westfront und war bis im Frontdienst, seit als Offiziersstellvertreter. Im September verwundet, benutzte er seinen Urlaub, um sich von der Truppe zu entfernen. September heiratete er Emma Hermann Handwritten memories of his war experiences from until , Fritz Gebelein describes in this diary his experiences as a soldier of the Royal Saxon 16th infantry regiment , 12th company, rd Infantry Division, th Infantry Brigade, stationed in France Vernon [?

August 1, [war declared], February 8, ; April 24, ; May 3, ]. The division held the front from Craonne-Berry au Bac until July, In this sector the losses were very slight Saxon troops belonging at the 32nd division of the Twelfth army His remains were never found, but it is likely that he is buried in the German military cemetery of Vermandovillers. Friedrich Wilhelm Krause - 1. In March, , some of its [23d Division] were in Champagne for a short time Im August wurde er in der Schlacht an der Somme verletzt und in die Heimat entlassen.

Im Mai heiratete er Emma Frieda geb. Hinsche Max Radeberg, Dresden-N. In April, the d Infantry Regiment was taken [from the 23 Division] for the d Division a new formation The division was formed in April, , by taking three regiments th, d, and th Reserve from established divisions of the 12th Corps the 12th Reserve Corps Saxons. Infanterie-Division an, welche in der Gegend von Rethel gebildet wurde.

At its head was a newly-formed divisional staff under Generalmajor Karl Lucius, former commander of the elite 45 Infanterie-Brigade Saxon Grenadiers in 23 Infanterie—Division The rd Infantry Division was formed as a triangular division. The order of battle of the division on April 1, was as follows: APRIL 27 , In May, , the d Division occupied the region northwest of Rheims At the end of May it was transported to Lille, where it seems to have been transferred as a reserve At the end of May it was transported to Lille, where it seems to have been transferred as a reserve; in the middle of June it was in the vicinity of Arras JUNE 23 , Das Regiment wurde in der Nacht durch das I.

Fighting the Kaiser's War: It next occupied different sectors in Artois. In September it held the Souchez front ID , a unit known to have shelled the 9th East Surreys at St. Eloi in autumn On October 8 it took part in the attack on Loos This series of articles grew from material collected for two chapters, regarding a Saxon division which opposed the British 24th Division both at the Battle of Loos and subsequently at St Eloi in the Ypres Salient. After some thought, it was decided that the most immediately promising subject was the Royal Saxon rd Infantry Division Inf Div.

This article then — the first in a series of three concerning Inf Div on the Western Front in — briefly introduces the Royal Saxon Army and concisely describes the experiences of the division from its formation in April until the eve of the Anglo—French offensive on 25 Septembe r This 'triangularisation' process produced a pool of 'surplus' regiments and brigade staffs, which were used to form the new likewise 'triangular' divisions of the 'fifties' 50, 52, 54, 56 and 58 and 'hundreds' , , , —, , , , and series.

As far as artillery was concerned, the adoption, since December , of the four—gun battery instead of six as standard in the field artillery provided a pool of men and materiel for the formation of one 'hundreds' series or two 'fifties' series new regiments some highly heterogeneous for each division. No further Saxon divisions would be formed until ; the under-trained 53 Reserve-Division and incomplete 19 Ersatz-Division would not be triangularised until At its head was a newly-formed divisional staff under Generalmajor Karl Lucius, former commander of the elite 45 Infanterie-Brigade Saxon Grenadiers in 23 Infanterie—Division.

Both regiments had been copiously replenished after severe losses in which had seen IR reduced to five officers and ORs organised as two provisional companies , and had experienced no significant action since the German capture of Hurtebise and La Creute farms west of Craonne between 25 and 27 January. They too had suffered heavily; on 26 September alone their 4 Kompanie lost all of its officers, whilst on the following day the regimental commander Oberstlt Graf von Mandesloh was shot through the arm and rendered hors de combat until November.

Hundreds of replacements had arrived since October, but the arrival of more as late as 6 May suggests that RIR was still rebuilding when it joined the new division. Consequently the original differences between the two active regiments mainly young conscripts and full—time soldiers and the reserve regiment overwhelmingly reservists in their late 20s or 30s were already increasingly blurred, and would later disappear completely. Upon arrival in the concentration area, all three regiments were dismayed to be rearmed with old commission rifles in place of the trusty Mausers they had left with their old divisions.

The following week was spent in re-familiarisation and practice with the 'new' weapon; although normally serviceable, its Mannlicher—derived action would prove insufficiently robust in the appalling conditions at Souchez that autumn. Initially the division possessed only one regiment of field artillery, Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr FAR , comprising one Abteilung each from Reserve-Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr 23 and 24 XII Reservekorps ; each Abteilung consisted of three, four-gun batteries, all with the standard 7.

By Autumn this rather meagre force would gradually increase to a brigade of two regiments, including several Like the rest of the 'independent' divisions of the 'fifties' and 'hundreds' series Inf Div was also formed with organic heavy artillery ordinarily a corps asset , specifically a battery of four 15 cm howitzers. Engineering assets were limited, comprising a single field company Pionier—Kompagnie Nr and a searchlight platoon Scheinwerferzug Nr ; a second field company would be added in the Autumn. The new division first went into the line in mid-April to the left of XII Armeekorps , holding the still largely intact villages of Loivre and Courcy on the west bank of the Aisne-Marne Canal, two to three miles north of Reims.

With observation from Fort de Brimont and the adjacent Batterie de Loivre, the German artillery was dominant; according to the regimental history of RIR , 'a couple of 21 cm howitzer rounds', fired at Reims sufficed to halt any French shelling, ensuring that this remained an extremely quiet sector. Regimental histories, photos and correspondence all depict this as an idyllic period, punctuated by bathing in the canal and inter—company football tournaments.

Nevertheless, the regimental history of IR lists fourteen dead for this tour, including illness and accidents; IR lost three men dead, one officer and eight men wounded and one man with 'nervous shock'. On May this comfortable existence came to an abrupt end with designation as a 'fliegende division' and transportation to the Lille area , there to form a reserve for reinforcements and reliefs on the Flanders and Artois front s. Here too life was still quite pleasant, with opportunities to catch up with family and friends in XIX Armeekorps.

It was expected that, as part of the meagre German reserve in the West efforts then being focused in the East , Inf Div would be an object of major interest for Entente espionage. Consequently the regimental history of IR — quartered in the suburb of Hellemes — describes numerous railway embarkation exercises leading to 'day trips' for training in the countryside, also intended to keep any spies guessing.

For similar reasons there were frequent parades through the centre of Lille, with the regimental band playing and battalion flags flying. This was useful practice for the formal celebration of the King of Saxony's birthday on 25 May, and for an even grander exhibition of Saxon military pageantry on 12 June when the amiable monarch visited the city. In a contrastingly modern addition to the traditional pomp, the leading Saxon aviator Oberlt Max Immelmann gave an aerobatic display.

At this time the future ace was still flying two-seaters, and had narrowly survived being shot down behind German lines on 3 June; by the end of he would gain fame flying the Fokker Eindecker as the 'Eagle of Lille'. Barely a year later he would be shot down and killed at Sallaumines on 18 June , aged This parade also marked the end of the first period at Lille for IR The division would not be reunited until mid-July. IR and RIR were now temporarily subordinated to the Silesian Inf Div as relief for its own infantry, all 'fought out' as reinforcements in the major battle still raging on Vimy Ridge.

Consequently the Saxons now held the front where the British would overrun the luckless Silesians on 25 September. This experience would later prove invaluable to the Saxons during the Battle of Loos. They now faced the British for the first time, although evidently seeing very little of them. In the front line they found 'model' trenches as yet unaffected by any experience of major fighting:. The position was well excavated in chalky soil, the trench walls extensively faced with wood; this later proved to result in the blocking of all traffic through the trenches when under heavy bombardment.

In every platoon sector stood a basin of lime solution, in which the protective pad worn on the left shoulder was to be dipped in the event of an enemy gas attack. This rudimentary pad mask and chlorine—neutralising hyposulphite solution were still in front-line use at the Battle of Loos; despite the numerous shortcomings of their PH 'smoke helmets', the British would actually enjoy superior protection for their first gas attack. Issue of the advanced Gummimaske began in September, but was not complete on the Western Front until the winter. In June the future battlefield was still quiet.

For the first few days the Second Battle of Artois was still audibly and visibly raging on the heights further south. The only direct consequence in the Loos area was a modest increase in artillery fire when the French resumed their offensive on 16 June. After the unsuccessful attack at Aubers Ridge in May, the British gunners could ill afford to be lavish with ammunition, and little damage was inflicted. The three Saxon regiments were relieved over the successive nights of July by the Silesians and returned to Lille; the Inf Div would now be deployed at the front together for the first time in two months.

In the interim, the divisional artillery had been significantly reinforced. However, until 23 July, when the I Abteilung and 8 Batterie returned from Chauny, the division remained badly under-gunned. Over the successive nights of July , the three infantry regiments replaced fellow Saxons of 53 Reserve-Division at St Eloi, where the latter had spent the past month anxiously awaiting a British attack which never came; they now returned to their usual sectors north of the Menin Road. This brief tour was chiefly memorable for a German mine detonation on 17 July; it is unlikely that the divisional engineers were seriously involved.

The division would return to St Eloi after the Battle of Loos, when the three regiments would occupy exactly the same sub—sectors. For the rest of the summer Inf Div remained in OHL reserve in the Lille-Roubaix area , where the troops were kept busy with tactical exercises and working parties, resulting in a steady trickle of casualties, ten dead and thirty—nine wounded from IR alone. These tasks took individual units further afield than in May, with IR detached from August to work on the defences as far south as Arras.

However, there were also welcome opportunities for open-air bathing and sightseeing in the pretty Flemish towns in the rear areas. Best of all, home leave was finally granted to those who had been longest in the field — for the first time, at least in IR As noted earlier, the division suffered from a shortage of engineers, an endemic problem on the Western Front even before its formation.

Since the onset of trench warfare the services of the Pioniere had been in unprecedented and overwhelming demand, and measures taken to address this in Inf Div were typical. During the summer each infantry regiment sent a contingent from IR Upon their return each contingent formed a quasi—official regimental 'Infanterie Pionier Kompagnie', semi-skilled 'pioneers' in the British sense who worked under Pionier engineer direction.

This stop-gap system would be phased out in the first half of — by which time such formerly specialist skills as construction of field fortifications and use of hand grenades had been promulgated throughout the infantry, whilst provision of actual Pioniere and of unarmed labour units had greatly increased. On 26 August, the entire division was assembled at Lens , where it was subordinated to the Prussian IV Armeekorps from 'Prussian Saxony', mostly former Saxon territory annexed after the Napoleonic Wars. At this time IV Armeekorps held the front from Souchez in the south to Hulluch in the north, with south to north its own 8 and 7 Inf Div and the aforementioned Inf Div.

Heavily engaged against the final French push in late July, 8 Inf Div was in serious need of rest and was relieved by the Saxons during the course of August , it replaced them as OHL reserve at Douai. The resulting divisional dispositions remained unchanged until the Battle of Loos. Now their luck had run out, for the new sector would have been one of the worst on the Western Front even without the threat of an impending offensive.

Thus there was no question of voluntarily ceding any ground here, even though traffic between front and rear was suicidal by day and fraught with peril by night; the approach routes for all regimental sectors ran along the valley of the Souchez stream from Angres, clearly overlooked from the heights to the southwest.

This ran diagonal or roughly parallel to the front, so that IR in the centre and IR on the left had to pass uncomfortably close behind their neighbour's front line — often over open ground — to reach their own. The trenches had been hastily constructed in battle and maintained with extreme difficulty under constant artillery harassment, so that there was no proper system of successive defensive lines and not even one continuous line along the entire divisional frontage.

Only a proportion of the wretched dug-outs were proof against the lightest artillery fire, and many trenches lacked even the basic protection of traverses; effective wire obstacles were largely absent. The divisional front was narrow, with each regimental sector held by a single battalion; regiments operated a three-day cycle of battalion reliefs between the front line, support and rest in the Lens area. RIR on the right was in the least invidious position; as well as the safest approach route to their rear, they had the widest stretch of no man's land to their front and the 'luxury' of telephone cables that ran as far as the front line.

In the centre IR , holding the Hexenkessel 'witches' cauldron', the name of several dangerous spots on the Western Front and the Torgauer Graben, was mostly metres from the enemy, dwindling to as little as 30 metres at two places marked by incessant hand grenade exchanges. By far the worst off was IR on the western edge of the ruins of Souchez; the opposing lines were uncomfortably close and the ground especially wet, tending towards outright swamp in the south. A front-line tour here was a scarcely imaginable hour ordeal, standing in waist—high water or crouching on sandbag islands, constantly tormented by the merciless attentions of bombing parties, snipers and artillery observers.

The Saxons knew that a major offensive was imminent, and that the armies in the west would have to withstand it with minimal reserves. From mid-September the French bombardment steadily increased, while aircraft roamed largely unmolested over the German hinterland directing artillery and dropping bombs. Consequently the division worked feverishly to improve inadequate defences with vast numbers of sandbags brought up nightly from the Pionierpark at the Angres crossroads.

A major construction effort was required every night merely to rectify the damage inflicted during the day; somehow, however, a continuous front line was established, except in the swamp on the far left. The main Allied bombardment began on 20 September, increasing to overwhelming 'drum fire' on 24 September.

By this time the date of the offensive had been discovered from a deserter and, in accordance with contemporary doctrine, the front line packed with troops; probing attacks on 24 September were easily repelled. Little did the Saxons suspect that the following day would bring not only the anticipated frontal assault, but also a breakthrough further north which would threaten their rear in Lens — and pit them simultaneously against the British and French Armies No 97 May , Loos to St. Eloi — the Experience of the Saxon Infanterie—Division on the Western Front, , Part 2, 24— No 98, September, , Loos to St.

Whereas a year before [November ] ID. Early signs of 'live and let live' in the Reserve Infanterie sector where the lines were further apart soon fizzled out, and for Infanterie-Regiment who faced the Canadians no signs appeared. Eloi, only snipers and artillery continued to fight Eloi in November Organization of German Divisions 6, p. In the middle of March, , the d Division was put at rest near Bruges.

It was temporarily in line about April 9 at St. Eloi; then remained as a reserve to the armies in the vicinity of Menin and Courtrai until July Meanwhile the infantry regiments of the ID were in quarters south of Bruges in 4. Armee reserve; due to the attack their rifle companies were placed at the disposal of Reserve-Division on 3 April and returned to their previous rear area. Here they were mainly employed for several weeks in constructing new defences behind the '1B' line, and incurred significant losses from artillery fire.

On 20 May, 4.

Military units and formations started in 1914

RK would have continued use of one battalion from the division II. From 25 May a further battalion II. Ersatz-Division, facing the inundations near Woumen south of Diksmuide see map on p. AK, leading to dangerous working parties on the Menin Road. During this period the elements in reserve south of Bruges were fully occupied with tactical exercises an the training of newly arrived placements On 27 June the reassembled division was placed on alert to entrain at six hours' notice. The fateful order came on 5 July, and the division departed for Cambrai to take part in the Battle of the Somme May 8, , Page , S.

JUNE 12 , July 5, - July 22, Armee afin de tenir le front de la Somme. At this date [July 5, it was transferred to the Somme and fought near Hardecourt and Maurepas until July 22, losing more than 6, men The move was spotted by the observers in British aircraft, from which a bombardment was called down on the east side of Guillemont, pinning down two of the II Battalion companies Nr 38 et 51 The German counter-attack by the II Battalion, Infantry Regiment from the fresh rd Division and parts of Reserve Infantry Regiment 38 and Reserve Infantry Regiment 51, was pressed from Maltz Horn Farm to the north end of the wood and succeeded in reaching the wood north of the Guillemont track The left of the battalion entered the wood further north, took thirty prisoners and occupied part of the eastern edge, as German troops in the wood from I Battalion, Reserve Infantry Regiment , II Battalion, Infantry Regiment and III Battalion, Reserve Infantry Regiment 51 skirmished with patrols and received reinforcements from Guillemont.

My wifes great grandfather was a young Leutnant in the nd Infantry Regt of the Division. He was seriously wounded on the 18th July when the regt was fighting on the Somme Schrapnell in the right Shoulder The nd Infantry Regiment was not amongst the units listed in the attack. The rd Division was defending the trench line just south of Guillemont. Presumably your wife's great grandfather was hit in one of the many artillery bombardments that would have been happening all along the line From the few records I have of this unit it seems that at noon on 14 July the rd I. The division took over the line with the th IR less the I Bn.

There is a larger section from the Reichsarchivs series that relates to the heavy fighting with the IR and surrounding units who were being attacked by elements of the French army. I will get it together and post it for you this weekend From my review it appears that while the nd IR was involved in fighting around this period it was primarily under artillery fire on this date and the shrapnel wound would be quite common.

Can you provide his name? I want to see if I have the Verlustlisten for this period and regiment, thanks He was wounded in the shoulder and if I understand correctly lost the ball to the joint, leaving his arm a couple of cm's shorter then the other. He ended the war serving in the I. A year later he was serving as a Leutnant [sic: Lieutenant ] Without patent in Flanders. In July 0f the Regiment as part of the rd I. In less than 3 weeks the division was to loose almost men, wounded or missing.

On the operating table the doctors removed the ball from his shoulder joint leaving him with a left arm 2 inches shorter than his right arm. He would continue to serve winning the Iron Cross 1st class in The regimental History lists no major actions for the 18th of July although the regiment was under heavy artillery and gas bombardment. The only incident of note was a supply column carrying food to the front getting and suffering a number of losses while in a sunken road near Maurepas.

It is probable the [sic: Iron Cross, Ist Class, received in JULY 24 , JULY 25 , JULY 27 , There is a larger section from the Reichsarchivs series that relates to the heavy fighting with the IR and surrounding units who were being attacked by elements of the French army The second map is from the History of Infantry Regiment , a Saxon regiment, at that time part of 23rd Infantry Division I am fairly sure.

This action took place while piecemeal reinforcement was almost the norm, as the German army attempted to fight fires on the Somme. So, whilst the 1st and 3rd Bns IR were deployed down near Hem, the 2nd Bn was deployed forward under command of 12th Res Div, to reinforce the severely depleted RIR 51 and assist in the 9 Jul 16 counter-attack against Trones Wood , which had had to be evacuated the previous night due to the immense weight of shelling to which it was being subjected.

The actual attack seems to have been preceded by a very effective German barrage and the wood was taken relatively easily. A number of prisoners were captured. However , for all of he was in and out of hospital. It went into line in the region of Narotoch Lake about September. The nd Infantry Regiment was not transferred from the Division to the Division until October, ]. Bauch, Ernst, Ort Dresden-A. The th Division [Independent Division] was formed in Galicia in July, , by drafts upon regiments of other divisions.

Another account says that the nd went to the th Division in October ]. Two large German Armies, one commanded by General von Falkenhayn, a former Chief of Staff, the other by General Mackensen, a mighty strategist who had compelled the Russian retreat during the previous winter, were dispatched to the scene. Falkenhayn was to operate from the north, driving the Romanians back across the Carpathians, while Mackensen was to assault the Romanians from the south with the aid of Bulgarian, German and Turkish forces operating along the line of the Danube.

They hoped to crush the Romanians between them as in a vice Kommandeure Generalmajor Franz Franke 8. September bis Eastern Front - South Russia: Organization of German Divisions , p. In December , the battalion was disbanded in Lichtenberg Army Group Mackensen Romania. He was in command of a multi-national army of Bulgarians, Ottoman Turks, and Germans.

Konrad Krafft von Dellmensingen awarded on - 7 Sept. He was awarded Oakleaves on 11 Dec. Bildung der Heeresgruppe Mackensen und der Donauarmee. Bulgaria declared war on Roumania on 1 September. General von Mackensen commanded the force in Bulgaria, which consisted of three Bulgarian divisions, four brigades of cavalry, and part of a German division. He moved at once against the Roumanian forces in Dobrudja in order to create a diversion away from the Transylvanian theater, where additional forces 5 German and 2 Austrian divisions were meanwhile to be concentrated Brusilov Offensive, June 4, - September 30, From the Ancient World to the Modern Middle On the morning of October 2, , a Romanian division, planning a surprise attack on Mackensen's rear, laid a pontoon bridge across the Danube River, between Silistria and Tutrakan.

After crossing the Danube, the Romanians seized several villages, but they quickly retreated across the river when an Austrian monitor began shelling the bridge In view of the lull on the Somme, interest is now concentrated on the Balkan situation, particularly the positions in Rumania Petrograd reports that a great battle is proceeding in the Dobrudja The Infantry Regiment is not listed in the account].

In October, , the d Regiment was transferred [from the rd] to the th Division Germans begin offensive east of Brzezany General von Falkenhayn arrived in Transylvania on 18 September to take over command of the Ninth Army. He linked up with Mackensen's composite Army of the Danube in mid-November. His troops entered Bucharest on 6 December, where the defeat of Roumania was loudly proclaimed On 10 November, General von Falkenhayn, having received reinforcements of 5 infantry and 2 cavalry divisions, launched an attack against the Roumanian First Army, with the decisive effort through Szurduk and Vulcan Passes The main body of the Romanian Army meanwhile had withdrawn to positions along the Alt River which crosses the Wallachian Plain.

Mackensen's left wing had by this time moved northward and formed a junction with Falkenhayn. The united armies began a vast encircling movement around the remnant of Averescu's Romanian Army. Averescu strove desperately to rally his disorganized forces behind the Alt River, but the German-Bulgarian circle contracted with ever increasing pressure.

Falkenhayn's other forces were now pouring down from the north through the Carpathian Passes, getting in rear of the Romanians. Mackensen's Bulgarian hordes were swarming up from the south. Cut off from their capital, 90 miles away, and with both their flanks crumpling, the Romanians abandoned the Alt line and fell back to the last line of defense before Bucharest on the Arges River.

By letting Roumania become committed and involved in Transylvania before launching their attacks, they furthered the chances of success of the Mackensen attack on vital strategic areas and the Roumanian rear, as well as paving the way for Falkenhayn's proposed envelopment, by drawing forward the main enemy armies toward the northwest. He installed Krafft von Dellmensingen, already commander of the Alpine Corps, as the leader of this new German corps, a large force containing 33 battalions and 31 batteries During these two weeks of heavy fighting, Group Krafft captured more than 6, prisoners and twelve artillery pieces.

Here the Romanians resisted on the southern side of the mountain passes with nearly , soldiers.

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The Romanians withdrew the bulk of their forces south and established a concentric position northwest of Bucharest The Romanians had abandoned every major mountain pass along the Transylvanian Alps. Still, all was not perfect with the German dispositions. Von Mackensen started crossing the Danube at Sistova on 23 November A Russian communique says: In the Alt Valley the enemy energetically attacked and pressed back the Roumanians towards the south of Kalimanesht and Moldarosh Germans crossed the Danube near Zimnita A German evening communique says: A force of Mackensen's army crossed the Danube at several points Von Mackensen's force, now across the Danube, was drawing close to the important city of Bucharest; however, he was isolated and too far advanced for support from the Ninth Army Within a few days von Falkenhayn could move two cavalry divisions 6th and 7th and two to four infantry divisions th, 11th, 41st and th into this gap The three enemy Armies, Kraftt [Krafft], Kuhne and Kosch, formed now an unique Front, drawing a vast arch of circle, of which left was Curtea de Arges, the center at Slatina, and the right at Giurgiu At 29th of November, the line of the German Front advanced like an invasion wave.

The circle arch have diminished its ray. The Group was now made of three Divisions of Infantry: For the systematization of the description of the fights given in the days of 30th of November-3rd of December, the battle theatre may be separated in three Sectors The plan for the battle of Bucharest After the informations of the Great Romanian Headquarter, the enemy was advancing in to two Groups: Final Operations - November 26, - January 7, Battle of the Arges.

Schlacht am Arges http: On December 3, , was fought the battle of the Arges River, which decided the fate of Romania. For an entire day, though outnumbered three to one, the Romanians held back the hordes of Bulgarians, Turks. Germans, Austrians and Hungarians that encompassed them in on three sides. Then they gradually gave way and withdrew eastward to the Sereth-Putna line. Before retreating, they destroyed the famous oil wells at Ploechti, and the wheat fields as well.

In this ill-fated campaign of days the Romanians lost , men. Meanwhile, on December 6, , the civilian population had evacuated the capital, Bucharest, wishing to save their chief city from bombardment by Mackensen's heavy howitzers. The garrison also had withdrawn to unite with the main army on the Sereth line.

Mackensen's campaign had been wonderfully successful. Within four months after the declaration of war he had destroyed half the Romanian Army and conquered the provinces of Dobrudja and Wallachia. Early in January, , the campaign in Romania was renewed The enemy was advancing with the two Armies of his. On the left of her, in the mountainous region, has constituted a Group Kraftt [Krafft], composed of all the elements Alpine Germans and Austro-Hungarians; then followed Morgen Group, increased as number of Divisions, and at the right was Kuhne Army The attack unfolds favorable in the beginning;at In this moment, though, Morgen, which was holding the enemy Front with three Divisions, 12th,76th and th, pronounced a strong counterattack on the two wings of the Romanian Group of Attack The battle at Rimnicu Sarat has been engaged by the Germans with the totality of their forces, existing between Carpathian Mountains and Danube: At the left , the IXth Army, under the Command of General Falkenhayn , had to execute the principal mission with the mass of the 10 Divisions from Infantry of his.

She will operate in the flat region between Buzau River and Danube River, with the direction towards Braila. The battle at Rimnicu Sarat has lasted six days, from 22nd to 27th of December and it was the greatest battle in the retreat times. The Germans name her also "Weihnachtsschlacht"-Christmassbattle , because her decissive action was given in the days of Chatolic Cristmass. General Falkenhayn , of which IXth Army, will carry the weight of the battle, has set to its left wing Kraftt Group [Krafft Group], made out of the totality of its mountain troops; this one would operate against the Group of Romanian Divisions in the mountaineous region and of hills; its mission was to operate a turning of the Romanian flank in Dumitresti region.

After the victory at Rimnicu Sarat , Falkenhayn had a moment of hesitation. The hardships of the winter, which was announcing more and more threatening , the exhaustion of his troops and the resistance of the enemy showed him the continuation of the advance as a risky bussiness. The Front of the two Armies was descending thus , from Oituz mountains and of Vrancei ,along Milcov River , continuing then with Putna Valley and at the Sout of Siret until Braila region, occupied by the enemy at 4th of January. Romanian Campaign of Generalleutnant Konrad Krafft von Dellmensingen Deutsche Soldaten-Zeitung, 4, Number 25, December 20, http: W ar of Position.

A nnexation of the M ilitary Administration in Romania. Robert Paul Theodor Kosch. The German army in World War I.: Probably wounded in either Wallachia, or in western or southern Moldavia. Auerbach is the birth place for another soldier listed directly below Wilhelm Krause] Liste Sachsen Reg.

Robert Paul Theodor Kosch In May of , he received command of Ninth Army which pushed the Romanian forces back to the capital city of Bucharest, which the Germans captured in short order, sealing Romania's fate It was supported by a 48 hour heavy artillery barrage, between Focsani and the frontier in support of a rapidly worsening situation on Russian Southwest Front. Self-Determination, Occupation, and War in Ukraine, The front of the german IXth army started, considered from east to west, at Suraia on Siret river, 10 km lower than the place where Putna flows into Siret. On this opening of 60km the german front was split into two sectors:.

The terrain is flat with gorges, some of them with water some of them dry, with the west —east direction and and cut across by the road and railway Focsani —Marasesti, of which direction is north-south. General von Morgen, the commander of the Ist reserve Corps, had in this sector, without counting the divisions, 89 prusian, 12 bavarian and saxon, which were making the Ist Corps, of two more divisions: To have the troops concentrated in the attack zone itself, Divission 12th Bavarian, which previously occupied the shore of Siret, between Biliesti and Suraia, was withdraw and taken south of Padurea Neagra black forrest , between Paraipan and Biliesti.

In the place of this division was created a new one, Divission commnded by General Wehmer-made out of seven infantry battalions de Landsturm, taken from the occupation force of Muntenia. As a reserve for the IXth army there were: It took part in the attacks north of Foesani [Focsani] in August, where the d Infantry Regiment lost especially heavily.

There was heavy fighting in the Ocna Valley In the night of August the german artillery started a strong bombardment over the line Faurei-Siret and over the eastern shore of Siret river, south of Movileni. Shells of different calibers, grenades, shrapnel, machinguning, they were all falling like the rain over the Russian lines between the railway and Siret river, and also over the Romanian positions across the river. Towards morning, waves of axfixiant gass emerged from the enemy lines especially over Padurea Neagra Black Forrest , chocking the air into a dense fog.

Between the clocks 4 and 7 in the morning the bombardment reached an extreme of violence. General von Morgen had the order to execute with the Ist german Corps the breakthrough of the Russian front. He had thus aligned on the first line of the front three divisions: Behind 12th Division he sat th Division, and in the reserve he kept the th Division.

Like a restrained resort, which unstrains instantly, he then started the attack at 7: The Russians are leaving, one by one their strong positions. Till midday they lose three lines of defence, which was one in front of the other. The germans cross Putna river on the northern shore, then they cross Sovarga valley and finally Putna-Seaca valley.

The village has been evacuated by the Russians in their hasty run. In the night of that day, the german victory seemed complete. The Russian front has been broken on a length of 10km at right, along the Siret river and with 3km along the railway Focsani-Marasesti. The Russian forces were blown away, some of them crossed on the left side of the Siret shore, under the protection of the Romanian artillery, and the big chunk was running disorderly to the north, leaving their strongholds one after the other, without putting up the slightest of fights.

Mackensen renounces at the plan of crossing Siret. The front shore of the river is well fortified with Romanian troops and artillery,and this artillery is wonderfully shooting making heavy losses in the day to 12th bavarian Division. Today the german attack would have in the ribs also the 5th romanian Division, which is on the righy shore of Siret. This enterprise will be risky and exposed to a bloody failure. So the plan of crossing the SIret is renounced altogether: Morgen attacks with full power the front of the 5th romanian Division.

One column of the 89th german Division attacks this very spot. Through this breach, storms the thick of the 76th german division, to turn the Romanian position. It is a critical moment. General Razu, the commander of the 5th Romanian Division, sends two battalions of the 7th Regiment, which he kept till then in reserve, behind the 32th Regiment. All the artillery has been brought near the new front,and the troops of the three german divisions: At half past eleven, the german bombardment, ignited from cannons of all kind of calibers, especially caliber and , becomes frightening.

Our positions romanian organized in haste, during the night, by the troops tiered by marching all day, are carefully distroied. The german artillery aimings, goes over and beyond our lines to the reserves. In Jugastru valley,a company of 32 Regiment, gathered here, without trenches is completely destroyed-amongst the dead is also their commander, Captain Andreescu. The bridge over Siret, from Cosmest i, is bombed with mm shells The attack of the 8th of August was combined with the attack of the Gerock Group, on the mountaineous front of the west The attack will be commenced by the th german Division, which was kept in reserve, at Faurei; she was elongated by 89th and 76th divisions, on a line from Ivancesti, on Putna-the south of Calin forrest, in the Susita elbow.

The right flank of the german attack front was defended by the th Division along Siret, in the region Ciuslea-Radulesti, replacing thus the 12th bavarian Division which was taken out and brought back to Faureni So the action wil continue doday with power in the same direction and by the same units, as yesterday, by the th, 89th and 78th divisions, from east to west. Along Siret, in Ciuslea sector, the th and rd german divisions will maintain their resistance positions, facing east.

The main blow will be received by the 71th Russian Division, seated in front of 76th and 89th german divisions, as well as the 13th russian Division, disposed in font of the th german Division and 62nd Austrian. The germans were following consecvent their tactic program: All the gain made by the germns, with heavy losses, is now lost. At the center, in the middle of the duel of the two artilleries adversary, which does not weakens the strength, german troops attack the front The commander of the Romanian battalion takes measures for defence, by rising a wall of dead bodies in the driveway trench; the germans ar doing the same on the other side and, sheltered by this double dead bodies wall The offensive action wil be given on the whole front of 5th and 9th Divisions, with the involvement of the Russian divisions from the right.

As the Romanian command was taking measures ,the german commandment, was measuring himself for a great offensive which he has also planned for the same day. Under the impression of the success obtained yesterday on the Russian front, Mackensen was sure that he will be able to give today a major blow. This was supposed to be made out of two attacks: The concentrations of forces of this Corps was now complete. The Alpine Corps was now in position, over imposed between 62nd Austrian Division, which has gathered her front- and th German Division. Wenninger wil attack with the Alpine Corps, leaned on the right, by 1st german Corps: Morgen will attack wit 76th and 12th Bavarian Divisions - the las one taken again into front, after rest and recovery.

He will hit the Russian troops, made out from the remains of the 71st and 34th Divisions, along the driveway and railway Focsani-Marasesti-Adjud,in the right flank of the 9th Romanian Division. So ,a double offensive, both hitting the Russian troops. The day of 11th August was announced to be a bloody one, filled with high hopes, both sides. The German offensive has started in the morning in Wenninger sector. The Alpine Corps attacks fith full strength the 15th Russian Division, assaulting Poiana village, advancing all the way in to Susita valley.

At the left the Austrians have occupied the village Sirb. The German front has made in this way an important advance; he mastered Susita valley,Putna valley up to Vitanesti The Germans have concentrated against the Romanian position of Prisaca Forest the whole th Division, which has been given to dispose of a very powerful artillery of all calibers, especially a lot of heavy artillery. The bombardment have started during the previous night and continued all morning. In the afternoon it has reached an intensity almost unknown till then.

Shells of big caliber ,especially mm, explosives mines, bombards, grenades, shrapnels, are beating like stonerain over the defensive workings. The terrain being weak in this sandy field of Siret River, the works are easily destroyed. The sticks of the wire nets are pulled altogether, the trenches are undone, burring alive the defenders. Clouds of smoke, of axfixiant gas and tear gas unfolds then everything in thick veil black-redish. It is complete blackness. It is an Inferno. At 5 in the afternoon the bombardment has reached paroxysm. Their effects are crushing.

The entires of the first and the second Romanian defensive lines does not exist anymore; the strongholds of the third line are turned over as well. The phone lines, between battalions, artillery and commandments are destroyed. The soldiers in the trenches are killed by bombardment or axfixiated by gas and covered by the blowing Earth. The enemy artillery is elongating its aiming; She hits Cosmesti village, the bridge over Siret and the opposite shore, to stop any attempt of help. A cloud of axfixiant gas is waved down over the artillery of the 14th Division; all servants of a battery four cannons are out of service.

One column, in the power of almost two regiments, attacks in the connection point of 8th and 9th Romanian Regiments. The defenders are few and weak. It is the 9th day since the 5th Romanian Division is in the first line of fire, receiving blow after blow; the effectives of the Division are reduced at one third of what was in the beginning, and the man , unexchanged, are torn with exhaust at body and soul.

The strongholds workings, destroyed cannot oppose any resistance; the soldiers of the Ist Battalion of the 8yh Regiment are pushed back and the front is broken. The enemy flow is pouring more and more and the breach is widened. The Germans open in three columns: Mackensen has choose for applying the decisive blow, the Romanian portion of front between Panciu and Marasesti. The position was occupied in this sector by 13th Romanian Division and what was left from the heavy trialed 9th Division.

On the map it draws an oblique line north-west-south —east, stretched from east of Dumbrava Village, where it was connected with the 10th Division, passing then south-west of the Razoare Forest, cutting the railway Marasesti-Panciu close to the height point ,cutting the railways Focsani-Marasesti and Marasesti-Tecuci one half kilometer south of the Fabrica de Zahar sugar factory to link with the 14th Romanian Division near an arm of Siret River, one km or so further fromn the estern corner of Marasesti Village.

In this sector, Mackensen proceeded in the days of 17thth of August to a new grouping of forces of infantry and artillery. Five infantry Divisions have constituted the attack group, which command has been given to Commander von Morgen. It was ,starting from north —west towards south-east, the 13th Austro-Hungarian Division, in the right angle of the railway Marasesti-Panciu; The th German Division , in continuation, south —east of the first one; the 76th German Division , south of Marasesti; in reserve has been brought the 89th German Division and set behind th and 12th Divisions.

I n the left side of the attack group was XVIIIth German Corps; at the right Divisions th, th and rd;they will sustain with all their infantry and artillery the primer blow, which will be given by the attack group. The five Divisions of this, aimed against two Romanian Divisions were making, of course , a crushing superiority. The Marshall was sure that the day of 19th will bring him the so long waited success The battle has begun at 6th of August by attacking the front, made exclusively by Russian troops.

The Russian position of Iresti to Siret River, which constituted the fighting zone itself, was occupied by three Russian divisions The Austro Germans were opposing, on the same stretch, seven divisions. The unfolding of the battle constituted then a double manoeuvre. On one side, the Germans have stretched , step by step the fighting zone westward, until the Muncelu plateau , in constant search of points of lesser resistance, represented by the Russian sectors For the attack [August 6, ] which was to start from Focpni [Focsani] the following were placed in readiness under the command of Lt.

The attempt to cross to the E. A bridge-head on the W. The further attempts of the I. Corps, under which was placed the newly arrived 13th Rifle Div. Corps, with the th Inf. Odobeshti in a N. After stubborn engagements lasting for many days against the Rumanian II. Corps, Jresci and the heights S. On 10 August, it was the Entente's turn to attack. General Christescu and general Ragoza, the CO of the Russian 4th Army, decided to strike each with a corps of two divisions the bulge in the German line.

During the morning, the 9th Army attacked the Russian sector, but gained little ground. At hours, the allied infantry started the assault, after a long artillery preparation. The 9th Infantry Division took the first German trenches, but because of the losses it had to abandon them.

Reinforced with a regiment form the Romanian 13th Infantry Division, it resumed the attack, but again without success. The 5th Infantry Division and a regiment of the 14th Infantry Division managed to get inside the German positions, but could keep them. The 8th Dorobanti and 3rd Vanatori Regiments managed to enter the Doaga village, but were repulsed. The situation was similar in the sector of the Russian 4th Army.

However the offensive had reduced the combat potential of the German 76th, 89th and th Infantry Divisions, which had suffered the brunt of the assault. These were already exhausted after several days of failed attacks. The report of general von Eben to the Army Group CO, marshal von Mackensen, mentions the fact that the th Infantry Division had suffered many casualties because of the flank bombardment of the Romanian artillery yon the eastern bank of the Siret.

Battle of Marasesti August-September At this time the 42d and 59th Infantry Regiments, filled up in June by men borrowed from the 76th Reserve Division, then in the rear of the Roumanian front replaced the d Infantry Infantry Regiment ["It took part in the attacks north of Foesani [Focsani] in August, where the d Infantry Regiment lost especially heavily], transferred to the th Division [Independent Division] and the 21st Infantry Infantry Regiment, sent to the Macedonian front.

With this composition the th Division [Independent Division] occupied the line north of the mouth of the Buzeu. It was still there at the end of December. The th Infantry Regiment was identified on December 28 by fraternizing The th Division [Independent Division] fought and held sectors almost entirely on the Roumanian front Infanterie-Division - From Untergeordnete Einheiten - Subordinate Units.

Commander On 1 May replacing Erich von Falkenhayn. In January , the division was reorganized Later its infantry composition was completely changed until the Division from being Prussian became entirely Saxon Also in January ID was 'Saxonized' in Rumania by absorbing IB and IR Relieved about March 25 [], before the attacks [in France] began and sent to Roumania. The division was brought up to three regiments by the assignment of the d from the th Division - [An Independent Division] , a Saxon regiment.

The division suffered heavy losses, especially the d Infantry, on September 9. Battle of Marasesti July 24 - August 21, At this time the 42d and 59th Infantry Regiments, filled up in June by men borrowed from the 76th Reserve Division, then in the rear of the Roumanian front replaced the d Infantry Infantry Regiment, transferred to the th Division [Independent Division] and the 21st Infantry Infantry Regiment, sent to the Macedonian front. There were now about twenty Austro-German aviation units, with aircraft, serving on the Romanian Front -. From what I can gather it remained in Macedonia for the rest of Egon von Neindorff trat nach seiner Kadettenausbildung am Bei diesem wurde er am 9.

Im Ersten Weltkrieg wurde er nicht nur verwundet. Heinrichs-Orden und beiden Eisernen Kreuzen noch viele andere Auszeichnungen verliehen The Regiment was formed in October on the Italian front. The regimental staff was the staff of the Ulanen Regiment Nr. As the war continued so did the need for specialised assault troops.

Like their colleagues in the German army on the Western front, the Austro-Hungarians improvised assault or Sturmbataillone which at their inception were constituted with varying strengths and organisation. Initially subordinated to armies and corps, by the wars end, every division possessed an assault battalion.

8th Ersatz Division (German Empire)

A further eight so-called South-West battalions consisting of politically unreliable Italian speaking natives of the Trentino were formed but for obvious reasons were only employed on the Eastern front. The mountainous conditions of the Tyrolean front and parts of the Isonzo created the need for specialised mountain capable bodies of troops. In addition to regiments with two and three battalions some had with a favourable replacement situation up to eight field battalions, of which the greater part were separated from the parent regiment and were employed with other regiments often in other parts of the front or separate theatres altogether.

It was from a number of these battalions that at the end of the common army infantry regiments Nr. Of these the regiment Nr. The employment of units of this quality was limited. Notwithstanding the above , this regiment along with IR. Meanwhile the Austro-Hungarians followed the German example by reducing the number of infantry battalions within the division and in addition the independent battalions of a regiment were to disappear.

Each infantry regiment had from then on just three field battalions. In this manner, the k. From this point onwards, all k. The newly raised regiments were formed from existing battalions as follows: Of the assault battalions which had been formed from one company each of the four regiments within the division, the following belonged to the k.

Finally assault battalions Nr. The number 23 did not exist because the A further section of the k. It was comprised of the following infantry battalions: The following formations remained as independent battalions: Just for a short period three "Reserve-Infanterie-Regimenter" had been formed out of surplus March battalions from regiments with a particularly good replacement situation and were numbered Nr.

Additionally a Landsturm bicycle battalion was formed. By three bicycle battalions were in existence: Lastly the following infantry formations were in existence at periods during the war in some cases only for just a short period: Apart from their regimental numbers the regiments were also known by the name of their respective garrison headquarters, for example K. Unlike the common army, March formations were not generally formed within the Landwehr. The two newly reformed regiments Nr.

Two of the Landwehr Infantry regiments Nr.

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