The 6th Bavarian Landwehr Division (6. Bayerische Landwehr-Division) was a unit of the Bavarian Army, part of the Imperial 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...

, 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 was formed on February 20, 1915. It was disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I. It was composed primarily of troops of the Landwehr and the Landsturm from the 1st Bavarian Corps district.

Combat chronicle

The 6th Bavarian Landwehr Division served 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...

, entering the line in Upper Alsace. It fought in the first and second battles of Münster

Munster, Haut-Rhin

Munster is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.It is located in a valley of the Vosges mountains about 15 kilometres west of Colmar on the D417 road to the Col de la Schlucht and Épinal....

 in 1915 and remained in the line in Upper Alsace until the end of the war. Allied intelligence rated the division as fourth class, noting that it was only used in the calmest sectors of the front.

Order of battle on formation

The 6th Bavarian Landwehr Division was formed as 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...

 with two brigades of two infantry regiments. The order of battle of the division on April 11, 1915 was as follows:

• 1. bayerische Landwehr-Infanterie-Brigade
  • Kgl. Bayerisches Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 1
  • Kgl. Bayerisches Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 2
• 2. bayerische Landwehr-Infanterie-Brigade
  • Kgl. Bayerisches Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 3
  • Kgl. Bayerisches Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 12
• 2. Landwehr-Eskadron/I. Bayerisches Armeekorps
• Kgl. Bayerische Landsturm-Feldartillerie-Abteilung Nr. 1
• 2.Batterie/Landwehr-Fußartillerie-Bataillon Nr. 20
• Kgl. Bayerische Landsturm-Pionier-Kompanie Nr. 1/II. Bayerisches Armeekorps

Late-war order of battle

The division underwent several organizational changes over the course of the war. It was triangularized

Triangular 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...

in December 1916. It received artillery and signals commands, and combat engineer support was expanded to a full pioneer battalion. The order of battle on February 28, 1918 was as follows:

• 1. bayerische Landwehr-Infanterie-Brigade
  • Kgl. Bayerisches Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 1
  • Kgl. Bayerisches Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 3
  • Kgl. Bayerisches Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 12
• 2. Eskadron/Kgl. Bayerisches 2. Chevaulegers-Regiment Taxis
• Kgl. Bayerischer Artillerie-Kommandeur 23
  • Kgl. Bayerisches Landwehr-Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 6
• Stab Kgl. Bayerisches Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 26
  • Kgl. Bayerische Reserve-Pionier-Kompanie Nr. 16
  • Kgl. Bayerische Landsturm-Pionier-Kompanie Nr. 10
  • Kgl. Bayerische Minenwerfer-Kompanie Nr. 306
• Kgl. Bayerischer Divisions-Nachrichten-Kommandeur 506