11th Division (German Empire)
Encyclopedia
The 11th Division was a unit of the Prussia
n/German
Army
. It was formed in Breslau (now Wrocław, Poland) in November 1816 as a brigade, and became the 11th Division on September 5, 1818. The division was subordinated in peacetime to the VI Army Corps (VI. Armeekorps). The division was disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I. The division was recruited primarily in the Province of Silesia
, mainly in the region of Lower Silesia
.
in 1866, including the Battle of Königgrätz
. In the Franco-Prussian War
of 1870-71, the division fought in several battles, including the siege of Toul and the Siege of Paris
.
In World War I
, the division served on the Western Front
. It spent most of the war in various parts of the trenches and fought in the 1916 Battle of the Somme. Allied intelligence rated it a second class division.
, most divisional cavalry, including brigade headquarters, was withdrawn to form cavalry divisions or split up among divisions as reconnaissance units.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 11th Division was again renamed the 11th Infantry Division. 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
"). 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 11th Infantry Division's order of battle in 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 in Breslau (now Wrocław, Poland) in November 1816 as a brigade, and became the 11th Division on September 5, 1818. The division was subordinated in peacetime to the VI Army Corps (VI. Armeekorps). The division was disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I. The division was recruited primarily in the Province of Silesia
Province of Silesia
The Province of Silesia was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1815 to 1919.-Geography:The territory comprised the bulk of the former Bohemian crown land of Silesia and the County of Kladsko, which King Frederick the Great had conquered from the Austrian Habsburg Monarchy in the 18th...
, mainly in the region of Lower Silesia
Lower Silesia
Lower Silesia ; is the northwestern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia; Upper Silesia is to the southeast.Throughout its history Lower Silesia has been under the control of the medieval Kingdom of Poland, the Kingdom of Bohemia and the Austrian Habsburg Monarchy from 1526...
.
Combat chronicle
The 11th Division's 21st Infantry Brigade served in the Second Schleswig War against Denmark in 1864. The division fought in the Austro-Prussian WarAustro-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...
in 1866, including the Battle of Königgrätz
Battle of Königgrätz
The Battle of Königgrätz , also known as the Battle of Sadowa, Sadová, or Hradec Králové, was the decisive battle of the Austro-Prussian War, in which the Kingdom of Prussia defeated the Austrian Empire...
. 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...
of 1870-71, the division fought in several battles, including the siege of Toul and the Siege of Paris
Siege of Paris
The Siege of Paris, lasting from September 19, 1870 – January 28, 1871, and the consequent capture of the city by Prussian forces led to French defeat in the Franco-Prussian War and the establishment of the German Empire as well as the Paris Commune....
.
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 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...
. It spent most of the war in various parts of the trenches and fought in the 1916 Battle of the Somme. Allied intelligence rated it a second class division.
Order of battle in the Franco-Prussian War
During wartime, the 11th Division, like other regular German divisions, was redesignated an infantry division. The organization of the 11th Infantry Division in 1870 at the beginning of the Franco-Prussian War was as follows:- 21. Infanterie Brigade
- Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 10
- Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 18
- 22. Infanterie Brigade
- Füsilier-Regiment Nr. 38
- Füsilier-Regiment Nr. 51
- Jäger-Bataillon Nr. 9
- Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 8
Pre-World War I organization
German divisions underwent various organizational changes after the Franco-Prussian War. The organization of the 11th Division in 1914, shortly before the outbreak of World War I, was as follows:- 21. Infanterie-Brigade:
- Grenadier-Regiment König Friedrich Wilhelm II. (1. Schlesisches) Nr. 10
- Füsilier-Regiment General-Feldmarschall Graf Moltke (Schlesisches) Nr. 38
- 22.Infanterie-Brigade:
- Grenadier-Regiment König Friedrich III. (2. Schlesisches) Nr. 11
- 4. Schlesisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 51
- 11. Kavallerie-Brigade
- Leib-Kürassier-Regiment Großer Kurfürst (Schlesisches) Nr. 1
- Dragoner-Regiment König Friedrich III. (2. Schlesisches) Nr. 8
- 11. Feldartillerie-Brigade:
- Feldartillerie-Regiment von Peucker (1. Schlesisches) Nr. 6
- 2. Schlesisches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 42
- Landwehr-Inspektion Breslau
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. Divisions received engineer companies and other support units from their higher headquarters. The 11th Division was again renamed the 11th Infantry Division. Its initial wartime organization was as follows:
- 21. Infanterie-Brigade:
- Grenadier-Regiment König Friedrich Wilhelm II. (1. Schlesisches) Nr. 10
- Füsilier-Regiment General-Feldmarschall Graf Moltke (Schlesisches) Nr. 38
- 22.Infanterie-Brigade:
- Grenadier-Regiment König Friedrich III. (2. Schlesisches) Nr. 11
- 4. Schlesisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 51
- Jäger-Regiment zu Pferde Nr. 11
- 11. Feldartillerie-Brigade:
- Feldartillerie-Regiment von Peucker (1. Schlesisches) Nr. 6
- 2. Schlesisches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 42
- 1.Kompanie/Schlesisches Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 6
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 11th Infantry Division's order of battle in 1918 was as follows:
- 21. Infanterie-Brigade
- Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 10
- Füsilier-Regiment Nr. 38
- Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 51
- 2.Eskadron/Ulanen-Regiment Nr. 2
- Artillerie-Kommandeur 11
- Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 42
- Fußartillerie-Bataillon Nr. 131
- Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 122
- Divisions-Nachrichten-Kommandeur 11