12th Division (German Empire)
Encyclopedia
The 12th Division was a unit of the Prussia
n/German
Army
. It was formed in Neiße (now Nysa, Poland
) on September 5, 1818. The division was subordinated in peacetime to the VI Army Corps (VI. Armeekorps). The division was disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I. The division was recruited primarily in the Province of Silesia
, mainly in the region of Upper Silesia
.
in 1866, including the Battle of Königgrätz
. In the Franco-Prussian War
of 1870-71, the division fought in several battles and engagements, including the Siege of Paris
.
In World War I
, the division served initially on the Western Front
. It spent most of this period in various parts of the trenches and suffered heavily in the 1916 Battle of the Somme. At the end of December 1916, it was sent to the Eastern Front
, where it did not participate in any major actions. The division returned to the Western Front in May-June 1917. At the end of September 1917, it was sent to the Italian Front
, where it fought in the Battle of Caporetto
. After returning to the Western Front, the division saw action in the German Spring Offensive
of 1918, including the Battle of the Lys, and the subsequent Allied counteroffensives, including the 1918 Battle of Cambrai
.
, most divisional cavalry, including brigade headquarters, was withdrawn to form cavalry divisions or split up among divisions as reconnaissance units. Divisions received engineer companies and other support units from their higher headquarters. The 12th Division was again renamed the 12th Infantry Division. Its initial wartime organization was as follows:
- one infantry brigade with three infantry regiments rather than two infantry brigades of two regiments (a "square division
"). An artillery commander replaced the artillery brigade headquarters, the cavalry was further reduced, the engineer contingent was increased, and a divisional signals command was created. The 12th Infantry Division's order of battle in 1918 was as follows:
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n/German
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
Army
German Army (German Empire)
The German Army was the name given the combined land forces of the German Empire, also known as the National Army , Imperial Army or Imperial German Army. The term "Deutsches Heer" is also used for the modern German Army, the land component of the German Bundeswehr...
. It was formed in Neiße (now Nysa, Poland
Nysa, Poland
Nysa is a town in southwestern Poland on the Nysa Kłodzka river with 47,545 inhabitants , situated in the Opole Voivodeship. It is the capital of Nysa County. It comprises the urban portion of the surrounding Gmina Nysa, a mixed urban-rural commune with a total population of 60,123 inhabitants...
) on September 5, 1818. The division was subordinated in peacetime to the VI Army Corps (VI. Armeekorps). The division was disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I. The division was recruited primarily in the Province of Silesia
Province of Silesia
The Province of Silesia was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1815 to 1919.-Geography:The territory comprised the bulk of the former Bohemian crown land of Silesia and the County of Kladsko, which King Frederick the Great had conquered from the Austrian Habsburg Monarchy in the 18th...
, mainly in the region of Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia is the southeastern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia. Since the 9th century, Upper Silesia has been part of Greater Moravia, the Duchy of Bohemia, the Piast Kingdom of Poland, again of the Lands of the Bohemian Crown and the Holy Roman Empire, as well as of...
.
Combat chronicle
The 12th Division fought in the Austro-Prussian WarAustro-Prussian War
The Austro-Prussian War was a war fought in 1866 between the German Confederation under the leadership of the Austrian Empire and its German allies on one side and the Kingdom of Prussia with its German allies and Italy on the...
in 1866, including the Battle of Königgrätz
Battle of Königgrätz
The Battle of Königgrätz , also known as the Battle of Sadowa, Sadová, or Hradec Králové, was the decisive battle of the Austro-Prussian War, in which the Kingdom of Prussia defeated the Austrian Empire...
. In the Franco-Prussian War
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
of 1870-71, the division fought in several battles and engagements, including the Siege of Paris
Siege of Paris
The Siege of Paris, lasting from September 19, 1870 – January 28, 1871, and the consequent capture of the city by Prussian forces led to French defeat in the Franco-Prussian War and the establishment of the German Empire as well as the Paris Commune....
.
In World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the division served initially on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
. It spent most of this period in various parts of the trenches and suffered heavily in the 1916 Battle of the Somme. At the end of December 1916, it was sent to the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War I)
The Eastern Front was a theatre of war during World War I in Central and, primarily, Eastern Europe. The term is in contrast to the Western Front. Despite the geographical separation, the events in the two theatres strongly influenced each other...
, where it did not participate in any major actions. The division returned to the Western Front in May-June 1917. At the end of September 1917, it was sent to the Italian Front
Italian Campaign (World War I)
The Italian campaign refers to a series of battles fought between the armies of Austria-Hungary and Italy, along with their allies, in northern Italy between 1915 and 1918. Italy hoped that by joining the countries of the Triple Entente against the Central Powers it would gain Cisalpine Tyrol , the...
, where it fought in the Battle of Caporetto
Battle of Caporetto
The Battle of Caporetto , took place from 24 October to 19 November 1917, near the town of Kobarid , on the Austro-Italian front of World War I...
. After returning to the Western Front, the division saw action in the German Spring Offensive
Spring Offensive
The 1918 Spring Offensive or Kaiserschlacht , also known as the Ludendorff Offensive, was a series of German attacks along the Western Front during World War I, beginning on 21 March 1918, which marked the deepest advances by either side since 1914...
of 1918, including the Battle of the Lys, and the subsequent Allied counteroffensives, including the 1918 Battle of Cambrai
Battle of Cambrai (1918)
The Battle of Cambrai was a battle between troops of the British First, Third and Fourth Armies and German Empire forces during the Hundred Days Offensive of the First World War. The battle took place in and around the French city of Cambrai, between 8 and 10 October 1918...
.
Order of battle in the Franco-Prussian War
During wartime, the 12th Division, like other regular German divisions, was redesignated an infantry division. The organization of the 12th Infantry Division in 1870 at the beginning of the Franco-Prussian War was as follows:- 23. Infanterie-Brigade
- Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 22
- Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 62
- 24. Infanterie-Brigade
- Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 23
- Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 63
- Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 15
Pre-World War I organization
German divisions underwent various organizational changes after the Franco-Prussian War. The organization of the 12th Division in 1914, shortly before the outbreak of World War I, was as follows:- 23. Infanterie-Brigade
- Infanterie-Regiment Keith (1. Oberschlesisches) Nr. 22
- 3. Schesisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 156
- 24. Infanterie-Brigade
- Infanterie-Regiment von Winterfeldt (2. Oberschlesisches) Nr. 23
- 3. Oberschesisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 62
- 78. Infanterie-Brigade
- 4. Oberschesisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 63
- 4. Schesisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 157
- 12. Kavallerie-Brigade
- Husaren-Regiment von Schill (1. Schesisches) Nr. 4
- Husaren-Regiment Graf Goetzen (2. Schesisches) Nr. 6
- 44. Kavallerie-Brigade
- Ulanen-Regiment von Katzler (Schlesisches) Nr. 2
- Jäger-Regiment zu Pferde Nr. 11
- 12. Feldartillerie-Brigade:
- Feldartillerie-Regiment von Clausewitz (1. Oberschlesisches) Nr. 21
- 2. Oberschlesisches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 57
Order of battle on mobilization
On mobilization in August 1914 at the beginning of World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, most divisional cavalry, including brigade headquarters, was withdrawn to form cavalry divisions or split up among divisions as reconnaissance units. Divisions received engineer companies and other support units from their higher headquarters. The 12th Division was again renamed the 12th Infantry Division. Its initial wartime organization was as follows:
- 24. Infanterie-Brigade:
- Infanterie-Regiment von Winterfeldt (2. Oberschlesisches) Nr. 23
- 3. Oberschlesisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 62
- 78.Infanterie-Brigade:
- 4. Oberschlesisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr.63
- 4. Schlesisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 157
- Ulanen-Regiment von Katzler (Schlesisches) Nr. 2
- 12. Feldartillerie-Brigade:
- Feldartillerie-Regiment von Clausewitz (1. Oberschlesisches) Nr. 21
- 2. Oberschlesisches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 57
- 2. Kompanie/Schlesisches Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 6
- 3. Kompanie/Schlesisches Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 6
Late World War I organization
Divisions underwent many changes during the war, with regiments moving from division to division, and some being destroyed and rebuilt. During the war, most divisions became triangularTriangular division
A triangular division is a designation given to the way divisions are organized. In a triangular organization, the division's main body is composed of three regimental maneuver elements. These regiments may be controlled by a brigade headquarters or directly subordinated to the division commander...
- one infantry brigade with three infantry regiments rather than two infantry brigades of two regiments (a "square division
Square division
A square division is a designation given to the way military divisions are organized. In a square organization, the division's main body is composed of four regimental elements. Since a regiment could be split into separate battalions for tactical purposes, the natural division within a division...
"). An artillery commander replaced the artillery brigade headquarters, the cavalry was further reduced, the engineer contingent was increased, and a divisional signals command was created. The 12th Infantry Division's order of battle in 1918 was as follows:
- 24. Infanterie-Brigade:
- Infanterie-Regiment von Winterfeldt (2. Oberschlesisches) Nr. 23
- 3. Oberschlesisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 62
- 4. Oberschlesisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr.63
- Maschinengewehr-Scharfschützen-Abteilung Nr. 20
- 4.Eskadron/Ulanen-Regiment von Katzler (Schlesisches) Nr. 2
- Artillerie-Kommandeur 12:
- Feldartillerie-Regiment von Clausewitz (1. Oberschlesisches) Nr. 21
- Fußartillerie-Bataillon Nr. 88
- Schlesisches Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 6
- Divisions-Nachrichten-Kommandeur 12