38th Division (German Empire)
Encyclopedia
The 38th Division was a unit of the Prussia
n/German
Army
. It was formed on April 1, 1899, and was headquartered in Erfurt
. The division was subordinated in peacetime to the XI Army Corps (XI. Armeekorps). The division was disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I
.
. The 94th Infantry was the regiment of the Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
. The 95th Infantry was from the Duchies of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and Saxe-Meiningen
. The 96th Infantry had one battalion from Prussian Saxony, one from the Reuss principalities, and one from Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt
.
, fighting in Belgium and participating in the capture of the fortifications at Namur. It was soon transferred to the Eastern Front
, where it saw action in the First Battle of the Masurian Lakes and in the Gorlice-Tarnów Offensive
. It was transferred to the Western Front in October 1915, and after a period of fighting along the Aisne, entered the Battle of Verdun
in 1916. It then saw action in the later phases of the Battle of the Somme. It remained along the Somme until 1917, and then fought in the battles of Arras
and Passchendaele. In 1918, it fought in various defensive battles against Allied offensives and counteroffensives. Allied intelligence rated the division as a good division and considered it second class by 1918.
- 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 38th Infantry Division's order of battle on April 20, 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 April 1, 1899, and was headquartered in Erfurt
Erfurt
Erfurt is the capital city of Thuringia and the main city nearest to the geographical centre of Germany, located 100 km SW of Leipzig, 150 km N of Nuremberg and 180 km SE of Hannover. Erfurt Airport can be reached by plane via Munich. It lies in the southern part of the Thuringian...
. The division was subordinated in peacetime to the XI Army Corps (XI. 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
The division was recruited primarily in Thuringia: its Prussian elements were from Prussian Saxony while its other elements were from the smaller Thuringian states. The 71st Infantry was from Prussian Saxony and the Principality of Schwarzburg-SondershausenSchwarzburg-Sondershausen
Schwarzburg-Sondershausen was a small principality in Germany, in the present day state of Thuringia, with capital at Sondershausen.-History:...
. The 94th Infantry was the regiment of the Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
The Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach was created in 1809 by the merger of the Ernestine duchies of Saxe-Weimar and Saxe-Eisenach. It was raised to a Grand duchy in 1815 by resolution of the Vienna Congress. In 1877, it officially changed its name to the Grand Duchy of Saxony , but this name was...
. The 95th Infantry was from the Duchies of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and Saxe-Meiningen
Saxe-Meiningen
The Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen was one of the Saxon duchies held by the Ernestine line of the Wettin dynasty, located in the southwest of the present-day German state of Thuringia....
. The 96th Infantry had one battalion from Prussian Saxony, one from the Reuss principalities, and one from Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt
Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt
Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt was a small historic state in present-day Thuringia, Germany with its capital at Rudolstadt.-History:Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt was established in 1599 in the course of a resettlement of Schwarzburg dynasty lands...
.
Combat chronicle
The division began the war on the Western FrontWestern 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...
, fighting in Belgium and participating in the capture of the fortifications at Namur. It was soon transferred 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 saw action in the First Battle of the Masurian Lakes and 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...
. It was transferred to the Western Front in October 1915, and after a period of fighting along the Aisne, entered 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...
in 1916. It then saw action in the later phases of the Battle of the Somme. It remained along the Somme until 1917, and then fought in the battles of Arras
Battle of Arras (1917)
The Battle of Arras was a British offensive during the First World War. From 9 April to 16 May 1917, British, Canadian, New Zealand, Newfoundland, and Australian troops attacked German trenches near the French city of Arras on the Western Front....
and Passchendaele. In 1918, it fought in various defensive battles against Allied offensives and counteroffensives. Allied intelligence rated the division as a good division and considered it second class by 1918.
Pre-World War I organization
The organization of the 38th Division in 1914, shortly before the outbreak of World War I, was as follows:- 76.Infanterie-Brigade
- 3. Thüringisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 71
- 6. Thüringisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 95
- 83.Infanterie-Brigade
- Infanterie-Regiment Großherzhog von Sachsen (5. Thüringisches) Nr. 94
- 7. Thüringisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 96
- 38. Kavallerie-Brigade
- Jäger-Regiment zu Pferde Nr. 22nd Mounted RiflesThe 2nd Mounted Rifles were a light cavalry regiment of the Royal Prussian Army. The regiment was formed 1 October, 1905 in Langensalza were it belonged to the XI Army Corps....
- Jäger-Regiment zu Pferde Nr. 66th Mounted RiflesThe 6th Mounted Rifles were a light cavalry regiment of the Royal Prussian Army. The regiment was formed 1 October, 1910 in Erfurt....
- Jäger-Regiment zu Pferde Nr. 2
- 38. Feldartillerie-Brigade
- 1. Thüringisches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 19
- 2. Thüringisches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 55
- Landwehr-Inspektion Erfurt
Order of battle on mobilization
On mobilization in August 1914 at the beginning of World War I, 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 38th Division was redesignated the 38th Infantry Division. Its initial wartime organization was as follows:- 76. Infanterie-Brigade
- 3. Thüringisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 71
- 6. Thüringisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 95
- 83. Infanterie-Brigade
- Infanterie-Regiment Großherzhog von Sachsen (5. Thüringisches) Nr. 94
- 7. Thüringisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 96
- Halbregiment Kürassier-Regiment (Brandenburgisches) Nr. 66th (Brandenburg) Cuirassiers "Emperor Nicholas I of Russia"The 6th Cuirassiers “Emperor Nicholas I of Russia” were a heavy cavalry regiment of the Royal Prussian Army. The regiment was formed in 1807. The regiment fought in the War of the Sixth Coalition, the Second Schleswig War, the Austro-Prussian War, the Franco-Prussian War and World War I. The...
- 38. Feldartillerie-Brigade
- 1. Thüringisches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 19
- 2. Thüringisches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 55
- 2.Kompanie/Kurhessisches Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 11
- 3.Kompanie/Kurhessisches Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 11
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 38th Infantry Division's order of battle on April 20, 1918 was as follows:
- 73. Infanterie-Brigade
- Infanterie-Regiment Großherzhog von Sachsen (5. Thüringisches) Nr. 94
- 6. Thüringisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 95
- 7. Thüringisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 96
- 3.Eskadron/Kürassier-Regiment (Brandenburgisches) Nr. 66th (Brandenburg) Cuirassiers "Emperor Nicholas I of Russia"The 6th Cuirassiers “Emperor Nicholas I of Russia” were a heavy cavalry regiment of the Royal Prussian Army. The regiment was formed in 1807. The regiment fought in the War of the Sixth Coalition, the Second Schleswig War, the Austro-Prussian War, the Franco-Prussian War and World War I. The...
- Artillerie-Kommandeur 38
- 1. Thüringisches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 19
- Fußartillerie-Bataillon Nr. 61
- Stab Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 135
- 3.Kompanie/Kurhessisches Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 11
- Pionier-Kompanie Nr. 284
- Minenwerfer-Kompanie Nr. 38
- Divisions-Nachrichten-Kommandeur 38