29th Division (German Empire)
Encyclopedia
The 29th Division was a unit of the Prussia
n/German
Army
, almost entirely made up of troops from the Grand Duchy of Baden
. It was formed in Karlsruhe
on July 1, 1871. The division was subordinated in peacetime to the XIV Army Corps
(XIV. Armeekorps). The 29th Division was disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I
.
The division, along with the other division of the XIV Army Corps, the 28th Division
, was formed in the Grand Duchy of Baden, a member state of the German Empire
. Both divisions grew out of the Grand Ducal Baden Division (Großherzoglich Badische Division), the army of the grand duchy. The Grand Ducal Baden Division had fought against Prussia in the Austro-Prussian War
, but after Prussia's victory Baden and most other German states had entered into conventions subordinating their armies to Prussia's.
The Grand Ducal Baden Division served in the Franco-Prussian War
against France
in 1870-71, where its regiments saw action in the Siege of Strasbourg
and the Battle of the Lisaine
.
In peacetime, the 29th Division was stationed in southern Baden (the 28th covered northern Baden), with garrisons in southern Baden and across the Rhine in Alsace.
In World War I, the division served primarily on the Western Front
, seeing action at the Battle of the Frontiers
and then moving north during the Race to the Sea
. It participated in some of the more well-known battles and campaigns of the Western Front, including the 1916 Battle of the Somme, the later phases of the Battle of Verdun
, the Second Battle of the Aisne
(also known as the Third Battle of Champagne and to the Germans as the Double Battle on the Aisne and in the Champagne), and against the Allied Hundred Days Offensive
.
, most divisional cavalry, including brigade headquarters, was withdrawn to form cavalry divisions or split up among divisions as reconnaissance units (the 29th Cavalry Brigade headquarters was dissolved and its two regiments divided among divisions). Divisions received engineer companies and other support units from their higher headquarters. The 29th Division was renamed the 29th Infantry Division. It kept all three infantry brigades and was thus much larger than most infantry divisions. 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
"). The 84th Infantry Brigade was detached to form the core of the 52nd Infantry Division
in March 1915. The 57th Infantry Brigade headquarters and the 114th Infantry Regiment were detached to form the infantry base of the 212th Infantry Division in September 1916. 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 29th Infantry Division's order of battle on January 1, 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...
, almost entirely made up of troops from the Grand Duchy of Baden
Grand Duchy of Baden
The Grand Duchy of Baden was a historical state in the southwest of Germany, on the east bank of the Rhine. It existed between 1806 and 1918.-History:...
. It was formed in Karlsruhe
Karlsruhe
The City of Karlsruhe is a city in the southwest of Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg, located near the French-German border.Karlsruhe was founded in 1715 as Karlsruhe Palace, when Germany was a series of principalities and city states...
on July 1, 1871. The division was subordinated in peacetime to the XIV Army Corps
XIV Corps (German Empire)
The XIV Army Corps was a corps of the Imperial German Army. It was, effectively, also the army of the Grand Duchy of Baden, which had been integrated in 1871 into the Prussian Army command structure, as had the armies of most German states. Both divisions and the bulk of the corps' support units...
(XIV. Armeekorps). The 29th 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...
.
The division, along with the other division of the XIV Army Corps, the 28th Division
28th Division (German Empire)
The 28th Division was a unit of the Prussian/German Army, almost entirely made up of troops from the Grand Duchy of Baden. It was formed in Karlsruhe on July 1, 1871. The division was subordinated in peacetime to the XIV Army Corps...
, was formed in the Grand Duchy of Baden, a member state of the German Empire
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...
. Both divisions grew out of the Grand Ducal Baden Division (Großherzoglich Badische Division), the army of the grand duchy. The Grand Ducal Baden Division had fought against Prussia in the Austro-Prussian War
Austro-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...
, but after Prussia's victory Baden and most other German states had entered into conventions subordinating their armies to Prussia's.
The Grand Ducal Baden Division served 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...
against France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 1870-71, where its regiments saw action in the Siege of Strasbourg
Siege of Strasbourg
The Siege of Strasbourg took place during the Franco-Prussian War, and resulted in the French surrender of the fortress on 28 September 1870.-Background:...
and the Battle of the Lisaine
Battle of the Lisaine
The Battle of the Lisaine was fought from 15 January to 17 January 1871 between Prussian and French forces. The French were led by Charles Denis Bourbaki, and were attempting to relieve the Siege of Belfort. Early in the morning the French forces under Bourbaki with only a few thousand men against...
.
In peacetime, the 29th Division was stationed in southern Baden (the 28th covered northern Baden), with garrisons in southern Baden and across the Rhine in Alsace.
In World War I, the division served primarily 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...
, seeing action at the Battle of the Frontiers
Battle of the Frontiers
The Battle of the Frontiers was a series of battles fought along the eastern frontier of France and in southern Belgium shortly after the outbreak of World War I. The battles represented a collision between the military strategies of the French Plan XVII and the German Schlieffen Plan...
and then moving north during the Race to the Sea
Race to the Sea
The Race to the Sea is a name given to the period early in the First World War when the two sides were still engaged in mobile warfare on the Western Front. With the German advance stalled at the First Battle of the Marne, the opponents continually attempted to outflank each other through...
. It participated in some of the more well-known battles and campaigns of the Western Front, including the 1916 Battle of the Somme, the later phases of the Battle of Verdun
Battle of Verdun
The Battle of Verdun was one of the major battles during the First World War on the Western Front. It was fought between the German and French armies, from 21 February – 18 December 1916, on hilly terrain north of the city of Verdun-sur-Meuse in north-eastern France...
, the Second Battle of the Aisne
Second Battle of the Aisne
The Second Battle of the Aisne , was the massive main assault of the French military's Nivelle Offensive or Chemin des Dames Offensive in 1917 during World War I....
(also known as the Third Battle of Champagne and to the Germans as the Double Battle on the Aisne and in the Champagne), and against the Allied 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...
.
Pre-World War I organization
Before World War I, the division was larger than most, having three rather than two infantry brigades. The structure in 1914 was as follows:- 57. Infanterie-Brigade:
- 5. Badisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 113
- 6. Badisches Infanterie-Regiment Kaiser Friedrich III Nr. 114
- 58.Infanterie-Brigade:
- 4. Badisches Infanterie-Regiment Prinz Wilhelm Nr. 112
- 7. Badisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 142
- 84. Infanterie-Brigade:
- 8. Badisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 169
- 9. Badisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 170
- 29. Kavallerie-Brigade:
- 3. Badisches Dragoner-Regiment Prinz Karl Nr. 22
- Jäger-Regiment zu Pferde Nr. 5
- 29. Feldartillerie-Brigade:
- 2. Badisches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 30
- 5. Badisches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 76
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 (the 29th Cavalry Brigade headquarters was dissolved and its two regiments divided among divisions). Divisions received engineer companies and other support units from their higher headquarters. The 29th Division was renamed the 29th Infantry Division. It kept all three infantry brigades and was thus much larger than most infantry divisions. Its initial wartime organization was as follows:
- 57. Infanterie-Brigade:
- 5. Badisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 113
- 6. Badisches Infanterie-Regiment Kaiser Friedrich III Nr. 114
- 58.Infanterie-Brigade:
- 4. Badisches Infanterie-Regiment Prinz Wilhelm Nr. 112
- 7. Badisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 142
- 84. Infanterie-Brigade:
- 8. Badisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 169
- 9. Badisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 170
- 3. Badisches Dragoner-Regiment Prinz Karl Nr. 22
- 29. Feldartillerie-Brigade:
- 2. Badisches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 30
- 5. Badisches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 76
- 1./Badisches Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 14
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...
"). The 84th Infantry Brigade was detached to form the core of the 52nd Infantry Division
52nd Infantry Division (German Empire)
The 52nd Infantry Division was a division of the Imperial German Army during World War I. The division was formed on March 6, 1915 from units taken from other divisions or newly raised...
in March 1915. The 57th Infantry Brigade headquarters and the 114th Infantry Regiment were detached to form the infantry base of the 212th Infantry Division in September 1916. 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 29th Infantry Division's order of battle on January 1, 1918 was as follows:
- 58.Infanterie-Brigade:
- 4. Badisches Infanterie-Regiment Prinz Wilhelm Nr. 112
- 5. Badisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 113
- 7. Badisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 142
- 4.Eskadron/Jäger-Regiment zu Pferde Nr. 5
- Artillerie-Kommandeur 67:
- 2. Badisches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 30
- II. Bataillon/Reserve-Fußartillerie-Regiment Nr. 9 (from 15.VI.1918)
- Stab Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 130:
- 1./Badisches Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 14
- 5./Badisches Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 14
- Minenwerfer-Kompanie Nr. 29
- Divisions-Nachrichten-Kommandeur 29