Gustav von Värst
Encyclopedia
Gustav Fritz Julius von Vaerst (April 19, 1894 – October 10, 1975) was a German General der Panzertruppe
during World War II.
Vaerst was born in Meiningen
. He married Astor Freiin von Swaine on 30 August 1925 in Theres
. They had one son and three daughters.
After being released from a POW camp in 1947, Vaerst returned to what remained of his family's land holdings to live the rest of his life quietly on a hunting lodge in the town of Nordheim vor der Rhön
, near Fladungen
.
NOTE: Based on his service in World War II, it would seem probable that General der Panzertruppe von Vaerst was a recipient of the following decorations: Panzer Assault Badge in Bronze or Silver; Wound Badge
in Black (for wounds received on 26 May 1942); and the "AFRIKA" Campaign Cuff title
. However, no photographic or documentary evidence has been seen to support this assumption.
General der Panzertruppe
General der Panzertruppe was a rank of German Army General introduced by the Wehrmacht in 1935. As the commander of a Panzer Corp this rank corresponds to a US Army Lieutenant-General...
during World War II.
Vaerst was born in Meiningen
Meiningen
Meiningen is a town in Germany - located in the southern part of the state of Thuringia and is the district seat of Schmalkalden-Meiningen. It is situated on the river Werra....
. He married Astor Freiin von Swaine on 30 August 1925 in Theres
Theres
Theres is a municipality in the district of Haßberge in Bavaria in Germany....
. They had one son and three daughters.
After being released from a POW camp in 1947, Vaerst returned to what remained of his family's land holdings to live the rest of his life quietly on a hunting lodge in the town of Nordheim vor der Rhön
Nordheim vor der Rhön
Nordheim vor der Rhön is a municipality in the district of Rhön-Grabfeld in Bavaria in Germany....
, near Fladungen
Fladungen
Fladungen is a town in the district Rhön-Grabfeld, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated in the Rhön Mountains, 20 km west of Meiningen, and 33 km east of Fulda.-Twinnings: Kõo, Estonia Köyliö, Finland Nora, Sweden...
.
Promotions
- Fahnenjunker: 15 July 1912
- Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier: 17 December 1912
- FähnrichFähnrichFähnrich is a German and Austrian military rank in armed forces which translates as "Ensign" in English. The rank also exists in a few other European military organizations, often with historical ties to the German system. Examples are Sweden, Norway and Finland . The French Army has a similar...
: 22 March 1913 - Leutnant: 17 February 1914
- OberleutnantOberleutnantOberleutnant is a junior officer rank in the militaries of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In the German Army, it dates from the early 19th century. Translated as "Senior Lieutenant", the rank is typically bestowed upon commissioned officers after five to six years of active duty...
: 18 April 1917 - RittmeisterRittmeisterRotamaster was the military rank of a commissioned cavalry officer in charge of a squadron , the equivalent of O3 or Captain, in the German-speaking armies, Austro-Hungarian, Polish-Lithuanian, Russian and some other states.The exact name of this rank maintains a variety of spellings in different...
: 1 June 1924 - MajorMajorMajor is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
: 1 February 1934 - OberstleutnantOberstleutnantOberstleutnant is a German Army and Air Force rank equal to Lieutenant Colonel, above Major, and below Oberst.There are two paygrade associated to the rank of Oberstleutnant...
: 1 August 1936 - OberstOberstOberst is a military rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to Colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. The Swedish rank överste is a direct translation, as are the Finnish rank eversti...
: 1 March 1939 - Generalmajor: 1 September 1941
- Generalleutnant: 1 December 1942
- General der PanzertruppeGeneral der PanzertruppeGeneral der Panzertruppe was a rank of German Army General introduced by the Wehrmacht in 1935. As the commander of a Panzer Corp this rank corresponds to a US Army Lieutenant-General...
: 1 March 1943
Commands & Assignments
- Easter 1903-1907: Attended Gymnasium (High School) in Meiningen.
- June 1907-1908: Attended Realgymnasium in Meiningen.
- July 1908-13 July 1912: Attended Realgymnasium in München; attained his certificate of graduation from that institution.
- 15 July 1912: Entered the Army as a Fahnenjunker in Husaren-Regiment Landgraf Friedrich III von Hessen-Homburg (2. Kurhessisches) Nr.14.
- 3 August 1914: In the field with HussarHussarHussar refers to a number of types of light cavalry which originated in Hungary in the 14th century, tracing its roots from Serbian medieval cavalry tradition, brought to Hungary in the course of the Serb migrations, which began in the late 14th century....
RegimentRegimentA regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
14 and detached as an Ordnance Officer to the 22nd Cavalry BrigadeBrigadeA brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
. - 1 December 1914: Returned to Hussar Regiment 14.
- 1 April 1915: Detached as an Ordnance Officer to the 22nd Cavalry Brigade.
- 26 May 1916: Returned to Hussar Regiment 14.
- 8 June 1916-27 August 1916: Deputy Regimental Adjutant of Hussar Regiment 14.
- 2 November 1916-27 December 1916: Deputy Regimental Adjutant of Hussar Regiment 14.
- 18 February 1917-25 February 1917: Detached to a course with Assault BattalionBattalionA battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
4. - 10 April 1917-20 September 1917: Deputy Regimental Adjutant of Hussar Regiment 14.
- 21 September 1917: Regimental Adjutant of Hussar Regiment 14.
- 5 August 1918: Detached as Deputy Adjutant to the staff of the 22nd Cavalry Brigade.
- 11 November 1918: Returned to Hussar Regiment 14 and delegated with the leadership of the 3rd Squadron.
- 28 February 1919: Delegated with the leadership of the 2nd Squadron of Volunteer Hussar Regiment Hessen-Homburg.
- 1 November 1919: Transferred to Reichswehr Cavalry Regiment 11.
- 1 April 1920: Transferred to the 16th Reiter (Mounted]-Regiment.
- 3 January 1921: Detached to Wehrkreis (Military District] Command VII in München for training as an Officer for Special Employment.
- 20 June 1922-31 July 1922: Detached to the II. Battalion of the 21st (Bavarian) Infantry Regiment.
- 1 October 1922: Relieved of his command to the staff of the 7th Division.
- 1 October 1924: Leader of the Machinegun PlatoonPlatoonA platoon is a military unit typically composed of two to four sections or squads and containing 16 to 50 soldiers. Platoons are organized into a company, which typically consists of three, four or five platoons. A platoon is typically the smallest military unit led by a commissioned officer—the...
of the 16th Reiter-Regiment. - 30 September 1924-23 October 1924: Detached to a machinegun course at SennelagerSennelagerSennelager is a village in Germany that forms part of the City of Paderborn. It is notable by the presence of a British army barracks, where the 20th Armoured Brigade are currently situated...
. - 1 October 1925: Chief of the 6th Squadron of the 16th Reiter-Regiment.
- 15 July 1927-15 August 1927: Detached to a course promoting standardized riding training at HanoverHanoverHanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
. - 4–23 March 1929: Detached to the Course for Physical Education at Wünsdorf.
- 1 October 1929: Chief of the 3rd Squadron of the 16th Reiter-Regiment.
- 6 December 1929: Saber of Honor for good shooting with the carbine.
- 5–19 September 1930: Detached to the Hungarian Army.
- 1–7 October 1930: Detached to a cavalry course at Neuhammer.
- 1 November 1930: Transferred to the staff of the 1st Cavalry Division.
- 3 December 1930: Message of greeting from the Chief of the Army Command (General der Infanterie Kurt Freiherr von Hammerstein-Equord) for good shooting with the carbine.
- 1 July 1933: Detached to the Cavalry School at Hanover.
- 1 January 1935: Transferred to the Hanover War School.
- 20 January 1938: Commander of Schützen (Rifle)-Regiment 2 of the 2nd Panzer DivisionGerman 2nd Panzer DivisionThe 2nd Panzer Division was created in 1935, and stationed in Austria after the Anschluss. It participated in the campaigns in Poland and France , and then returned to Poland for occupation duties . It took part in the Balkans campaign and then transferred to the Russian Front in September 1941...
. - 11 April 1939-31 May 1941: Commander of the 2nd Schützen-Brigade of the 2nd Panzer Division. In September 1939, the 2nd Panzer Division, commanded by Generalleutnant Rudolf VeielRudolf VeielRudolf Veiel was a German General of the Panzertruppe during World War II.Veiel's first army service was noted as a Fahnenjunker in the Ulanen-Regiment 19 in April 1904. On 18 August 1905, he became a leutnant.At the beginning of World War I, Veiel was a commander of the Squadron in the...
, took part in the invasion of Poland as a component of General der Kavallerie Ewald von KleistPaul Ludwig Ewald von KleistPaul Ludwig Ewald von Kleist was a leading German field marshal during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
's XXII Army Corps (Motorized). Following the Invasion of PolandInvasion of Poland (1939)The Invasion of Poland, also known as the September Campaign or 1939 Defensive War in Poland and the Poland Campaign in Germany, was an invasion of Poland by Germany, the Soviet Union, and a small Slovak contingent that marked the start of World War II in Europe...
, the 2nd Panzer Division transferred to western Germany and then engaged in the invasion of the Low CountriesLow CountriesThe Low Countries are the historical lands around the low-lying delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse rivers, including the modern countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of northern France and western Germany....
and France in May–June 1940. After a period of occupation and training duty in Poland, the division took part in Operation "Marita", the invasion of YugoslaviaYugoslaviaYugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
and Greece in April 1941 as a component of General der Infanterie Franz BöhmeFranz BöhmeFranz Friedrich Böhme was an Austrian who later went on to become a military officer...
's XVIII Mountain Army Corps. Prior to Operation "Barbarossa"Operation BarbarossaOperation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
, the invasion of the Soviet Union, Oberst von Vaerst relinquished command of the 2nd Schützen-Brigade to Oberst Arno von LenskiArno von LenskiArno Ernst Max von Lenski was a German military officer and general who served in the Imperial German army, the Wehrmacht, and after the war in the National People's Army of the German Democratic Republic, where he was also a politician.-Early career:Lenski was born in the East Prussian village of...
. An officer evaluation prepared by Generalleutnant Veiel on 25 August 1941 assessed Oberst von Vaerst's command qualities: "Splendid man of high personal standards. Practical, clear, calm and determined in his leadership and issuance of commands before the enemy! He has proven outstanding! Knight's CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
holder. His formal performance as a brigade commander as well as a leader of a mixed combat group is very good.") - 1 June 1941-8 December 1941: Although his exact duty status during this period is not known, it appears from the evaluation cited above that Oberst/Generalmajor von Vaerst was serving at the School for Mobile Troops at Krampnitz for at least a part of the time.
- 9 December 1941-12 December 1942: Delegated with the leadership of the 15th Panzer Division in North Africa.
- 12 December 1942-26 May 1942: Commander of the 15th Panzer Division in North Africa.
- 26 May 1942: Wounded/in hospital. (After Generalmajor von Vaerst was wounded during the Battle of GazalaBattle of GazalaThe Battle of Gazala was an important battle of the Second World War Western Desert Campaign, fought around the port of Tobruk in Libya from 26 May-21 June 1942...
in LibyaLibyaLibya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
, temporary leadership of the 15th Panzer Division passed to Oberst Eduard CrasemannEduard CrasemannEduard Crasemann was a highly decorated General der Artillerie in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded several divisions. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
, commander of the division's Artillery Regiment 33 (Motorized).) - 8 July 1942-31 August 1942: Again, Commander of the 15th Panzer Division in North Africa.
- 31 August 1942-17 September 1942: Delegated with the leadership of the German Afrika Korps. (In the early morning hours of 31 August 1942, General der Panzertruppe Walther NehringWalther NehringWalther Kurt Josef Nehring , was a German general of World War II, known for his involvement with the Afrika Korps. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
, the Commanding General of the German Afrika Korps, was wounded when a British aircraft bombed his command vehicle during the Battle of Alam Halfa. Temporary command of the corps passed briefly to Nehring's chief of staff, Oberst Fritz BayerleinFritz BayerleinFritz Bayerlein was a German panzer general during the Second World War.Fritz Bayerlein was born in Würzburg, Franconia, Germany. During the First World War, Bayerlein was drafted into the 9th Bavarian Infantry in 1917 and fought on the Western front. He was wounded and received an Iron Cross when...
, until later in the morning when Generalmajor von Vaerst relinquished command of the 15th Panzer Division to Generalmajor Heinz von RandowHeinz von RandowHeinz Friedrich von Randow was a German army general.- Life :Randow was born in Grammow, Mecklenburg-Schwerin. He became an ensign in 1910, then attended the military academy and became lieutenant on 20 November 1911, five days after his 21st birthday. He was then in the 2nd Mecklenburgian Dragoon...
and assumed leadership of the German Afrika Korps. Although formally appointed to command on 1 September 1942, various sources indicate Generalleutnant (later General der Panzertruppe) Wilhelm Ritter von ThomaWilhelm Ritter von ThomaWilhelm Josef Ritter von Thoma was a German officer who served in World War I, in the Spanish Civil War, and as a General der Panzertruppe in World War II.-Early life:...
did not actually arrive in North Africa to take command of the German Afrika Korps until 17 September. Generalmajor von Vaerst resumed command of his division upon Ritter von Thoma's arrival.) - 17 September 1942-11 November 1942: Again, Commander of the 15th Panzer Division in North Africa.
- 11 November 1942: On sick leave.
- 28 February 1943-9 May 1943: Commander-in-Chief of the 5th Panzer ArmyGerman Fifth Panzer ArmyThe 5th Panzer Army, also known as Panzer Group West and Panzer Group Eberbach was a panzer army which saw action in the Western front and North Africa...
in North Africa. - 9 May 1943-ca. 1946/1947: Prisoner of war in British captivity. (Pushed into a pocket southeast of Bizerta by the British-American linkup at Protville in TunisiaTunisiaTunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
, General der Panzertruppe von Vaerst unconditionally surrendered his battered 5th Panzer Army on 9 May 1943 to Lieutenant General Omar N. Bradley's U.S. II CorpsU.S. II CorpsThe II Corps was a corps of the United States Army and the first US formation of any size to see combat in Europe or Africa during World War II.-World War I:...
. On 12 May 1943, Generaloberst Hans-Jürgen von ArnimHans-Jürgen von ArnimHans-Jürgen Bernhard Theodor von Arnim was a German Generaloberst who served during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross...
, the Commander-in-Chief of Army Group Afrika, accompanied by General der Panzertruppe Hans CramerHans CramerGeneral Hans Cramer was a Panzer General in the German army who was captured by the British during both world wars.Cramer joined Prussian cadet corps before World War I...
, the Commanding General of the German Afrika Korps, surrendered at Ste.-Marie-du-Zit to Lieutenant-General Charles W. AllfreyCharles Walter AllfreyLieutenant-General Sir Charles Walter Allfrey, KBE, CB, DSO, MC was a British Army officer who served in both the First and Second World Wars .-Military career:...
and Major-General Francis TukerFrancis TukerLieutenant General Sir Francis Ivan Simms Tuker KCIE CB DSO OBE was a British Indian Army officer.-Military career:...
, commanders of the V CorpsV Corps (United Kingdom)V Corps was an army corps of the British Army in both the First and Second World War. It was first organised in February 1915 and fought through World War I on the Western front...
and the 4th Indian DivisionIndian 4th Infantry DivisionThe Indian 4th Infantry Division, also known as the Red Eagle Division, is an infantry division of the Indian Army.The division was formed in Egypt in 1939 and was the first Indian formation to go overseas during the Second World War. As with all formations in the Indian Army prior to independence,...
respectively. The next morning, Maresciallo d'ItaliaMarshal of ItalyMarshal of Italy was a rank in the Italian Royal Army . Originally created in 1924 by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini for the purpose of honoring Generals Luigi Cadorna and Armando Diaz, the rank was granted to several other general officers from 1926 to 1943...
Giovanni MesseGiovanni MesseGiovanni Messe was an Italian general, politician, and Field Marshal . He is considered by many to have been the best Italian general of the Second World War.-Early life and career:Born in Mesagne, Apulia, Giovanni Messe pursued a military career in 1901...
surrendered the remnants of his Italian 1st ArmyItalian First ArmyThe Italian First Army was an Italian army formation, in World War I, facing Austro-Hungarian and German forces, and in World War II, fighting on the North African front.-World War I:...
to Major-General Sir Bernard FreybergBernard Freyberg, 1st Baron FreybergLieutenant-General Bernard Cyril Freyberg, 1st Baron Freyberg VC, GCMG, KCB, KBE, DSO & Three Bars , was a British-born New Zealand Victoria Cross recipient and soldier who later served as the seventh Governor-General of New Zealand.A veteran of the Mexican Revolution, he became an officer in the...
, the commander of the 2nd New Zealand Division, thus ending the long and costly campaign in North Africa.)
Known POW camp transfers
- 16 May 1943 - transferred to Trent ParkTrent ParkTrent Park is a country park, formerly the grounds of a mansion house which currently forms the Trent Park campus of Middlesex University in the north of London, United Kingdom...
Camp 11 sorting camp. - 1 June 1943 - departure from Trent Park Camp 11 sorting camp to unknown camp.
Decorations & Awards
- Knight's Cross of the Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
: 30 July 1940, Oberst, Commander of the 2nd Schützen-Brigade. - Prussian Iron Cross, 1st Class (1914)Iron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
: 24 December 1916. - Prussian Iron Cross, 2nd Class (1914)Iron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
: 25 September 1914. - 1939 Bar to the Prussian Iron Cross, 1st Class
- 1939 Bar to the Prussian Iron Cross, 2nd Class
- Saxe-Meiningen Cross for Merit in War: 30 May 1915.
- Schaumburg-Lippe Cross for Faithful Service: 29 November 1914.
- Cross of Honor for Combatants 1914-1918Cross of HonorThe Cross of Honor, also known as the Honor Cross or, popularly, the Hindenburg Cross, was a commemorative medal inaugurated on July 13, 1934 by Reichspräsident Paul von Hindenburg for those soldiers of Imperial Germany who fought in World War I...
- Armed Forces Long Service Award, 1st Class (25-year Service Cross): 2 October 1936.
- Armed Forces Long Service Award, 3rd Class (12-year Service Medal): 2 October 1936.
- Commemorative Medal of 13 March 1938: 8 November 1938.
NOTE: Based on his service in World War II, it would seem probable that General der Panzertruppe von Vaerst was a recipient of the following decorations: Panzer Assault Badge in Bronze or Silver; Wound Badge
Wound Badge
Wound Badge was a German military award for wounded or frost-bitten soldiers of Imperial German Army in World War I, the Reichswehr between the wars, and the Wehrmacht, SS and the auxiliary service organizations during the Second World War. After March 1943, due to the increasing number of Allied...
in Black (for wounds received on 26 May 1942); and the "AFRIKA" Campaign Cuff title
Cuff title
A cuff title is a form of insignia placed on the sleeve, near the cuff of German military and paramilitary uniforms, most commonly seen in the Second World War but also seen postwar....
. However, no photographic or documentary evidence has been seen to support this assumption.
Western Front
- 6–18 August 1914: Engagement against the Othain and Ciers Districts and reconnaissance in force at Fillen.
- 22–27 August 1914: Battle of LongwyLongwyLongwy is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.The inhabitants are known as Longoviciens.-Economy:Longwy has historically been an industrial center of the Lorraine iron mining district. The town is known for its artistic glazed pottery.-History:Longwy initially...
- Longuyon and the Othain District. - 28 August 1914-1 September 1914: Battle of the Maas River crossings.
- 2–3 September 1914: Battle of Varennes - MontfauconMontfaucon-Places:*In Switzerland**Montfaucon, Switzerland, in the canton of Jura*In France** Montfaucon, Aisne, in the Aisne département** Montfaucon, Doubs, in the du Doubs département** Montfaucon, Gard, in the Gard département...
. - 4–5 September 1914: Pursuit west of VerdunVerdunVerdun is a city in the Meuse department in Lorraine in north-eastern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.Verdun is the biggest city in Meuse, although the capital of the department is the slightly smaller city of Bar-le-Duc.- History :...
and through the ArgonneArgonneArgonne may refer to:*The Forest of Argonne in France*Argonne National Laboratory, a U.S. D.O.E. National Laboratory near Chicago, Illinois*Meuse-Argonne Offensive, also called the Battle of Argonne Forest, a World War I battle*Argonne, Wisconsin, a town, US...
. - 7–11 September 1914: Battle on the Rhine–MarneMarneMarne is a department in north-eastern France named after the river Marne which flows through the department. The prefecture of Marne is Châlons-en-Champagne...
canal. - 4–6 October 1914: Engagement before LilleLilleLille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
. - 8–15 October 1914: Engagement at St. Jans Cappel - Metern - Berquin - Estaires.
- 15–28 October 1914: Battle of Lille.
- 30 October 1914-24 November 1914: Battle of YpernFirst Battle of YpresThe First Battle of Ypres, also called the First Battle of Flanders , was a First World War battle fought for the strategic town of Ypres in western Belgium...
. - 13 October-13 December 1914: Positional combat in FlandersFlandersFlanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
and ArtoisArtoisArtois is a former province of northern France. Its territory has an area of around 4000 km² and a population of about one million. Its principal cities are Arras , Saint-Omer, Lens and Béthune.-Location:...
.
Eastern Front
- 3–21 April 1915: Positional combat between AugustówAugustówAugustów is a town in north-eastern Poland with 29,600 inhabitants . It lies on the Netta River and the Augustów Canal. It is situated in the Podlaskie Voivodeship , having previously been in Suwałki Voivodeship . It is the seat of Augustów County and of Gmina Augustów.In 1970 Augustów became...
, MarijampolėMarijampoleMarijampolė is an industrial city and the capital of the Marijampolė County in the south of Lithuania, bordering Poland and Russian Kaliningrad oblast, and Lake Vištytis. The population of Marijampolė is 48,700...
and Pilviškės. - 26 April 1915-29 May 1915: Advance against LithuaniaLithuaniaLithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
and CourlandCourlandCourland is one of the historical and cultural regions of Latvia. The regions of Semigallia and Selonia are sometimes considered as part of Courland.- Geography and climate :...
. - 28 April 1915: Engagement at KelmėKelmeKelmė is a city in central Lithuania. It has a population of around 11,000 and is the administrative center of the Kelmė district municipality.-History:Prior to World War II, Kelmė was home to a famous Rabbinical College, the Kelm Talmud Torah....
. - 30 April 1915: Engagement at ŠiauliaiŠiauliaiŠiauliai , is the fourth largest city in Lithuania, with a population of 133,900. It is the capital of Šiauliai County. Unofficially, the city is the capital of Northern Lithuania.-Names:...
. - 2 May 1915: Engagement at Skaistgiris and JoniškisJoniškisJoniškis is a city in northern Lithuania with a population of about 11,150. It is located 40 kilometers north of Šiauliai and 14 kilometers south of the Lithuania–Latvia border...
. - 4–9 May 1915: Advance against KėdainiaiKedainiaiKėdainiai is one of the oldest cities in Lithuania. It is located on the Nevėžis River. First mentioned in the 1372 Livonian Chronicle of Hermann de Wartberge, its population as of 2008 was 30,214. Its old town dates to the 17th century....
. - 5 May 1915: Engagement at Baisiogola.
- 7 May 1915-13 July 1915: Engagement on the lower DubysaDubysaDubysa, at 131 km, is the 15th longest river in Lithuania. It originates just a few kilometers from Lake Rėkyva near Šiauliai city. At first it flows south, but at Lyduvėnai turns southeast and near Ariogala - southwest. Dubysa is a Samogitian river...
River. - 9–15 May 1915: Engagement at Šiauliai.
- 19–26 May 1915: Engagement at RaseiniaiRaseiniaiRaseiniai is a city in Lithuania. It is located on the south eastern foothills of the Samogitians highland, some north from the Kaunas–Klaipėda highway.- Grand Duchy of Lithuania :...
. - 27 May 1915-4 June 1915: Engagement at Sawdiniky and near DubysaDubysaDubysa, at 131 km, is the 15th longest river in Lithuania. It originates just a few kilometers from Lake Rėkyva near Šiauliai city. At first it flows south, but at Lyduvėnai turns southeast and near Ariogala - southwest. Dubysa is a Samogitian river...
River. - 4–7 June 1915: Engagement at TytuvėnaiTytuvenaiTytuvėnai is a city in the Kelmė district municipality, Lithuania. It is located east of Kelmė. It is known for its Bernardine monastery.The first church in the town was built in 1555. The construction of the monastery was initiated by Andrius Valavicius and his family, who returned to the...
. - 6–7 June 1915: Engagement at Bubice.
- 8–9 June 1915: Engagement at Jlgize.
- 10–26 June 1915: Engagement at Žaiginis and on the Swamp Tyrulis.
- 14–25 July 1915: Battle of Šiauliai.
- 30 July 1915-7 August 1915: Battle of KupiškisKupiškisKupiškis is a city in north-eastern Lithuania. It is the capital of the Kupiškis district municipality. Kupiškis is situated on the Lėvuo and Kupa rivers. The name of the city originates from Kupa River. Gediminas bridge crosses river Kupa.-History:...
. - 3–10 August 1915: Engagement at KavarskasKavarskasKavarskas , with a population of only 700, is the fourth smallest city in Lithuania. The Šventoji River flows through the town. In 1956 near Kavarskas a water lifting station was built and part of the Šventoji River's water was channeled to the Nevėžis River...
and UkmergėUkmerge-Early history:Ukmergė was first mentioned as a settlement in 1333. It was essentially a wooden fortress that stood on a hill, near the confluence of the Vilkmergė River and the Šventoji River. Ukmergė was attacked by the Teutonic Knights and the Livonian Order in 1333, 1365, 1378, 1386, and even...
. - 19 August 1915-8 September 1915: Niemen Battle.
- 9 September 1915-2 October 1915: Battle of VilniusVilniusVilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...
. - 1 January 1916-10 August 1916: Positional combat between KrevaKrevaKreva is a township in Hrodna Voblast, Belarus.-History:The Kreva Castle, constructed of brick, was built by the Grand Duke Gediminas of Lithuania at the borderland of Lithuanian ethnic lands. After his death in 1341, Kreva became the patrimony of his son and successor, Algirdas...
- Smorgen - Lake Narotsch. - 25 August 1916-21 November 1916: Positional combat west of BrodyBrodyBrody is a city in the Lviv Oblast of western Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Brody Raion , and is located in the valley of the upper Styr River, approximately 90 kilometres northeast of the oblast capital, Lviv...
. - 9–20 December 1916: Combat pursuit to Ialomiţa - PrahovaPrahovaThe word Prahova can refer to these places and features in Romania:* Prahova River* Prahova Valley* Prahova County, named after the Prahova River** Prahova Ploieşti, a football club based in Ploieşti** Stadionul Prahova, a football-only stadium in Ploieşti...
- BuzăuBuzauThe city of Buzău is the county seat of Buzău County, Romania, in the historical region of Wallachia. It lies near the right bank of the Buzău River, between the south-eastern curvature of the Carpathian Mountains and the lowlands of Bărăgan Plain.The city's name dates back to 376 AD when the name...
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Western Front
- 9 January 1917-24 February 1917: Border defense on the Belgian-Holland border.
- 16 March 1917-7 April 1917: Combat before the "Siegfried" Front.
- 29 June 1917-9 September 1917: Border defense on the Belgian-Holland border.
Eastern Front
- 14 September 1917-20 October 1917: Positional combat on the upper Styr and Stokhod Rivers.
- 3 December 1917-16 February 1918: In the War Zone on the Stokhod River during the cessation of hostilities.
- 19 February 1918-15 November 1918: Combat in support of the UkraineUkraineUkraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
. - 16 November 1918-14 January 1919: Evacuation of the Ukraine.
- 15 January 1919-20 February 1919: Border and railway protection in Białystok.
- 21 February 1919: Evacuation home.