19th Division (German Empire)
Encyclopedia
The 19th Division was a unit of the Prussia
n/German
Army
. It was formed on October 11, 1866 and was headquartered in Hannover. The division was subordinated in peacetime to the X Army Corps (X. Armeekorps). The division was disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I
.
, the division was a mixed unit, with Hannoverian, Oldenburg and Westphalian elements. It was subsequently reorganized so that it was recruited primarily from the former Kingdom of Hannover, which had become the Prussian Province of Hanover
after 1866, along with Oldenburg
, a grand duchy mostly surrounded by the Prussian province. Among the division's units were several which perpetuated the traditions of the King's German Legion
, a British Army unit of the Napoleonic Wars.
and Gravelotte
, and then in the Siege of Metz
. It then fought in the Loire Campaign, including the battles of Beaune-la-Rolande
, Beaugency-Cravant, and Le Mans
.
In World War I in 1914, the 19th Infantry Division participated in the Liège
and the subsequent Allied Great Retreat
, including the First Battle of the Marne
and the First Battle of the Aisne
. It was sent to the Eastern Front
in 1915 and again in 1916, seeing action in the Gorlice-Tarnów Offensive
and the Russian Brusilov Offensive
. It returned to the Western Front and after a period in the trenches saw action in the German 1918 Spring Offensive
and the subsequent Allied counteroffensives, including the Hundred Days Offensive
. The division was rated a first class division and regarded as one of the best German divisions by Allied intelligence.
, most divisional cavalry, including brigade headquarters, was withdrawn to form cavalry divisions or split up among divisions as reconnaissance units.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 19th Division was again renamed the 19th Infantry Division and 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 19th Infantry Division's order of battle on March 8, 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 on October 11, 1866 and was headquartered in Hannover. The division was subordinated in peacetime to the X Army Corps (X. Armeekorps). The division was disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after 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...
.
Recruitment
During the Franco-Prussian WarFranco-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...
, the division was a mixed unit, with Hannoverian, Oldenburg and Westphalian elements. It was subsequently reorganized so that it was recruited primarily from the former Kingdom of Hannover, which had become the Prussian Province of Hanover
Province of Hanover
The Province of Hanover was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia and the Free State of Prussia from 1868 to 1946.During the Austro-Prussian War, the Kingdom of Hanover had attempted to maintain a neutral position, along with some other member states of the German Confederation...
after 1866, along with Oldenburg
Oldenburg
Oldenburg is an independent city in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated in the western part of the state between the cities of Bremen and Groningen, Netherlands, at the Hunte river. It has a population of 160,279 which makes it the fourth biggest city in Lower Saxony after Hanover, Braunschweig...
, a grand duchy mostly surrounded by the Prussian province. Among the division's units were several which perpetuated the traditions of the King's German Legion
King's German Legion
The King's German Legion was a British Army unit of expatriate German personnel, 1803–16. The Legion achieved the distinction of being the only German force to fight without interruption against the French during the Napoleonic Wars....
, a British Army unit of the Napoleonic Wars.
Combat chronicle
During the Franco-Prussian War, the 19th Infantry Division fought in the battles of Mars-la-TourBattle of Mars-La-Tour
The Battle of Mars-La-Tour was fought on 16 August 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War near the town of Mars-La-Tour in northeast France. Two Prussian corps encountered the entire French Army of the Rhine in a meeting engagement, and with the surprise entailed, successfully forced the Army of the...
and Gravelotte
Battle of Gravelotte
The Battle of Gravelotte was a battle of the Franco-Prussian War named after Gravelotte, a village in Lorraine between Metz and the former French–German frontier.-Terrain and armies:...
, and then in the Siege of Metz
Siege of Metz
The Siege of Metz lasting from 19 August – 27 October 1870 was fought during the Franco-Prussian War and ended in a decisive Prussian victory.-History:...
. It then fought in the Loire Campaign, including the battles of Beaune-la-Rolande
Battle of Beaune-la-Rolande
The Battle of Beaune-la-Rolande on 28 November 1870 was a battle of the Franco-Prussian War, won by Prussia. In an attempt to relieve the Siege of Paris, French General Crouzat's XX Corps launched an attack against three Prussian brigades resting in Beaune-la-Rolande...
, Beaugency-Cravant, and Le Mans
Battle of Le Mans
The Battle of Le Mans was a Prussian victory during the Franco-Prussian War which ended French resistance in western France.-Background:After the victory at the Battle of Orleans , Prince Friedrich Karl of Prussia marched his army further to the west towards Le Mans. Antoine Chanzy had under his...
.
In World War I in 1914, the 19th Infantry Division participated in the Liège
Battle of Liège
The Battle of Liège was the opening engagement of the German invasion of Belgium, and the first battle of World War I. The attack on the city began on 5 August 1914 and lasted until the 16th when the last Belgian fort finally surrendered...
and the subsequent Allied Great Retreat
Great Retreat
The Great Retreat, also known as the Retreat from Mons, is the name given to the long, fighting retreat by Allied forces to the River Marne, on the Western Front early in World War I, after their holding action against the Imperial German Armies at the Battle of Mons on 23 August 1914...
, including the First Battle of the Marne
First Battle of the Marne
The Battle of the Marne was a First World War battle fought between 5 and 12 September 1914. It resulted in an Allied victory against the German Army under Chief of Staff Helmuth von Moltke the Younger. The battle effectively ended the month long German offensive that opened the war and had...
and the First Battle of the Aisne
First Battle of the Aisne
The First Battle of the Aisne was the Allied follow-up offensive against the right wing of the German First Army & Second Army as they retreated after the First Battle of the Marne earlier in September 1914...
. 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...
in 1915 and again in 1916, seeing action in the Gorlice-Tarnów Offensive
Gorlice-Tarnów Offensive
The Gorlice–Tarnów Offensive during World War I started as a minor German offensive to relieve Russian pressure on the Austro-Hungarians to their south on the Eastern Front, but resulted in the total collapse of the Russian lines and their retreat far into Russia...
and the Russian Brusilov Offensive
Brusilov Offensive
The Brusilov Offensive , also known as the June Advance, was the Russian Empire's greatest feat of arms during World War I, and among the most lethal battles in world history. Prof. Graydon A. Tunstall of the University of South Florida called the Brusilov Offensive of 1916 the worst crisis of...
. It returned to the Western Front and after a period in the trenches saw action in the German 1918 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...
and the subsequent Allied counteroffensives, including the Hundred Days Offensive
Hundred Days Offensive
The Hundred Days Offensive was the final period of the First World War, during which the Allies launched a series of offensives against the Central Powers on the Western Front from 8 August to 11 November 1918, beginning with the Battle of Amiens. The offensive forced the German armies to retreat...
. The division was rated a first class division and regarded as one of the best German divisions by Allied intelligence.
Order of battle in the Franco-Prussian War
During wartime, the 19th Division, like other regular German divisions, was redesignated an infantry division. The organization of the 19th Infantry Division in 1870 at the beginning of the Franco-Prussian War was as follows:- 37. Infanterie-Brigade
- Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 78
- Oldenburgisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 91
- 38.Infanterie-Brigade
- Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 16
- Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 57
- Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 9
Pre-World War I organization
German divisions underwent various organizational changes after the Franco-Prussian War. As noted above, the 19th Division was reorganized to become primarily a Hannover/Oldenburg unit. The organization of the 19th Division in 1914, shortly before the outbreak of World War I, was as follows:- 37. Infanterie-Brigade
- Infanterie-Regiment Herzog Friedrich Wilhelm von Braunschweig (Ostfriesisches) Nr. 78
- Oldenburgisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 91
- 38.Infanterie-Brigade
- Füsilier-Regiment Generalfeldmarschall Prinz Albrecht von Preußen (Hannoversches) Nr. 73
- 1. Hannoversches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 741. Hannoversches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 741. Hannoversches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 74 was an active infantry regiment in the Prussian Army and German Imperial Army .-Legacy:...
- 19. Kavallerie-Brigade
- Oldenburgisches Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 19
- Königs-Ulanen-Regiment (1. Hannoversches) Nr. 13
- 19. Feldartillerie-Brigade
- 2. Hannoversches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 26
- Ostfriesisches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 62
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 19th Division was again renamed the 19th Infantry Division and its initial wartime organization was as follows:
- 37. Infanterie-Brigade
- Infanterie-Regiment Herzog Friedrich Wilhelm von Braunschweig (Ostfriesisches) Nr. 78
- Oldenburgisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 91
- 38.Infanterie-Brigade
- Füsilier Regiment Generalfeldmarschall Prinz Albrecht von Preußen (Hannoversches) Nr. 73
- 1. Hannoversches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 74
- 3. Eskadron/Braunschweigisches Husaren-Regiment Nr. 17
- 19. Feldartillerie-Brigade
- 2. Hannoversches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 26
- Ostfriesisches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 62
- 1.Kompanie/Hannoversches Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 10
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 19th Infantry Division's order of battle on March 8, 1918 was as follows:
- 37. Infanterie-Brigade
- 1. Hannoversches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 74
- Infanterie-Regiment Herzog Friedrich Wilhelm von Braunschweig (Ostfriesisches) Nr. 78
- Oldenburgisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 91
- Maschinengewehr-Scharfschützen-Abteilung Nr. 30
- 3.Eskadron/Braunschweigisches Husaren-Regiment Nr. 17
- Artillerie-Kommandeur 19
- 2. Hannoversches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 26
- Fußartillerie-Bataillon Nr. 93
- Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 127
- Divisions-Nachrichten-Kommandeur 19