105th Infantry Division (German Empire)
Encyclopedia
The 105th Infantry Division (105. Infanterie-Division) was a unit of the Imperial German
Army
in World War I
. The division was formed on May 5, 1915 and organized over the next few weeks. It was part of a wave of new infantry divisions formed in the spring of 1915. The division was disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I.
The division was formed primarily from the excess infantry regiments of existing divisions which were being triangularized
. The division's 209th Infantry Brigade was formerly the 69th Infantry Brigade of the 36th Infantry Division
, and came to the division with the 129th Infantry Regiment. The 21st Infantry Regiment came from the 35th Infantry Division
and the 122nd Füsilier Regiment came from the 26th Infantry Division
. The 21st and 129th Infantry Regiments were raised in West Prussia
. The 122nd Füsilier Regiment was from the Kingdom of Württemberg
, and was later replaced by the 400th Infantry Regiment, raised primarily in the Rhineland.
, seeing its first action in the Gorlice-Tarnów Offensive
. It was then transferred south to participate in the Serbian Campaign
. It advanced to the Greek border and remained on the Macedonian front
until June 1916. Elements of the division were detached and sent to Bulgaria during this period. The division was sent back to Galicia in June in response to the Russian Brusilov Offensive
. In September, the division went to Latvia, and fought near Riga
and Jakobstadt (now Jēkabpils
). At the end of October 1917, the division was sent to the Western Front
, entering the line in the German "Siegfried" position. It fought in the tank Battle of Cambrai in November 1917 and in the German counterattack in December. In April 1918, the division participated in the German Spring Offensive
, fighting in the First Battle of the Somme (1918), also known as the Second Battle of the Somme (to distinguish it from the 1916 battle). It remained in the Somme salient and fought against various Allied counteroffensives. The division moved to the St. Mihiel salient in September and then occupied the line in the Woëvre
region. In October, it met the Allied Meuse-Argonne Offensive
. The division remained in the line until the end of the war. Allied intelligence rated the division as third class.
. The order of battle of the division on May 15, 1915 was as follows:
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 May 5, 1915 and organized over the next few weeks. It was part of a wave of new infantry divisions formed in the spring of 1915. The division was disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I.
The division was formed primarily from the excess infantry regiments of existing divisions which were being 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...
. The division's 209th Infantry Brigade was formerly the 69th Infantry Brigade of the 36th Infantry Division
36th Division (German Empire)
The 36th Division was a unit of the Prussian/German Army. It was formed on April 1, 1890, and was headquartered in Danzig . The division was subordinated in peacetime to the XVII Army Corps . The division was disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I...
, and came to the division with the 129th Infantry Regiment. The 21st Infantry Regiment came from the 35th Infantry Division
35th Division (German Empire)
The 35th Division was a unit of the Prussian/German Army. It was formed on April 1, 1890, and was headquartered initially in Graudenz and from 1912 in Thorn . The division was subordinated in peacetime to the XVII Army Corps...
and the 122nd Füsilier Regiment came from the 26th Infantry Division
26th Division (German Empire)
The 26th Division , formally the 26th Division , was a unit of the Prussian/German Army. It was headquartered in Stuttgart, the capital of the Kingdom of Württemberg. The division was subordinated in peacetime to the XIII Corps The 26th Division (26. Division), formally the 26th Division (1st...
. The 21st and 129th Infantry Regiments were raised in West Prussia
West Prussia
West Prussia was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1773–1824 and 1878–1919/20 which was created out of the earlier Polish province of Royal Prussia...
. The 122nd Füsilier Regiment was from the Kingdom of Württemberg
Kingdom of Württemberg
The Kingdom of Württemberg was a state that existed from 1806 to 1918, located in present-day Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It was a continuation of the Duchy of Württemberg, which came into existence in 1495...
, and was later replaced by the 400th Infantry Regiment, raised primarily in the Rhineland.
Combat chronicle
The 105th Infantry Division initially served on the Eastern FrontEastern 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...
, seeing its first 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...
. It was then transferred south to participate in the Serbian Campaign
Serbian Campaign (World War I)
The Serbian Campaign was fought from late July 1914, when Austria-Hungary invaded Serbia at the outset of the First World War, until late 1915, when the Macedonian Front was formed...
. It advanced to the Greek border and remained on the Macedonian front
Macedonian front (World War I)
The Macedonian Front resulted from an attempt by the Allied Powers to aid Serbia, in the autumn of 1915, against the combined attack of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Bulgaria. The expedition came too late and in insufficient force to prevent the fall of Serbia, and was complicated by the internal...
until June 1916. Elements of the division were detached and sent to Bulgaria during this period. The division was sent back to Galicia in June in response to 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...
. In September, the division went to Latvia, and fought near Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
and Jakobstadt (now Jēkabpils
Jekabpils
Jēkabpils is a city in Selonia, Latvia roughly halfway between Riga and Daugavpils. The Daugava River runs through the town, and the ancient valley, branches, and islands of the river are considered picturesque...
). At the end of October 1917, the division was sent to 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 the German "Siegfried" position. It fought in the tank Battle of Cambrai in November 1917 and in the German counterattack in December. In April 1918, the division participated in the German 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...
, fighting in the First Battle of the Somme (1918), also known as the Second Battle of the Somme (to distinguish it from the 1916 battle). It remained in the Somme salient and fought against various Allied counteroffensives. The division moved to the St. Mihiel salient in September and then occupied the line in the Woëvre
Woëvre
The Woëvre is a natural region of Lorraine in northeastern France. It forms part of Lorraine plateau and lies largely in the department of Meuse....
region. In October, it met the Allied Meuse-Argonne Offensive
Meuse-Argonne Offensive
The Meuse-Argonne Offensive, or Maas-Argonne Offensive, also called the Battle of the Argonne Forest, was a part of the final Allied offensive of World War I that stretched along the entire western front.-Overview:...
. The division remained in the line until the end of the war. Allied intelligence rated the division as third class.
Order of battle on formation
The 105th Infantry Division was formed as a triangular divisionTriangular 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...
. The order of battle of the division on May 15, 1915 was as follows:
- 209. Infanterie-Brigade
- Infanterie-Regiment von Borcke (4. Pommersches) Nr. 21
- Füsilier-Regiment Kaiser Franz Josef von Österreich, König von Ungarn (4. Württembergisches) Nr.122
- 3. Westpreußisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 129
- 3.Eskadron/Reserve-Husaren-Regiment Nr. 5
- 5.Eskadron/Jäger-Regiment zu Pferde Nr. 4
- Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 209
- Fußartillerie-Batterie Nr. 105
- Pionier-Kompanie Nr. 209
Late-war order of battle
The division underwent relatively few organizational changes over the course of the war. The 122nd Füsilier Regiment, a Württemberg unit, was replaced by the Prussian 400th Infantry Regiment. Cavalry was reduced, artillery and signals commands were formed, and combat engineer support was expanded to a full pioneer battalion. The order of battle on June 16, 1918 was as follows:- 209.Infanterie-Brigade
- Infanterie-Regiment von Borcke (4. Pommersches) Nr. 21
- 3. Westpreußisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 129
- Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 400
- 5.Eskadron/Jäger-Regiment zu Pferde Nr. 4
- Artillerie-Kommandeur 105
- Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 209
- I.Bataillon/1. Westpreußisches Fußartillerie-Regiment Nr. 11
- Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 105
- 1.Kompanie/Samländisches (Festungs-) Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 18
- Pionier-Kompanie Nr. 209
- Minenwerfer-Kompanie Nr. 105
- Divisions-Nachrichten-Kommandeur 105