17th Division (German Empire)
Encyclopedia
The 17th Division was a unit of the Prussia
n/German
Army
. It was formed on October 11, 1866 and initially headquartered in Kiel
. It moved its headquarters to Schwerin
in 1871. The division was subordinated in peacetime to the IX Army Corps (IX. Armeekorps). The division was disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I
.
and Bremen
(and until the formation of the 162nd Infantry Regiment in 1897, that of Lübeck
). The division's 34th (Grand Ducal Mecklenburg) Infantry Brigade was composed of the infantry contingents of the grand duchies of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
and Mecklenburg-Strelitz
. The 81st Infantry Brigade, formed in 1897, included the newly raised Lübeck regiment and a Prussian regiment from Schleswig-Holstein. The divisional cavalry brigade was the 17th (Grand Ducal Mecklenburg) Cavalry Brigade, with two dragoon regiments from Mecklenburg-Schwerin and, at various periods in its history, attached Prussian cavalry. The 17th Artillery Brigade included a regiment from Holstein and a regiment from the two Mecklenburg grand duchies.
of 1870-71, the division was initially part of the reserve of the Prussian Army. It was sent into action in September 1870, beginning with the Siege of Metz
and the Siege of Paris
. The division then entered the Loire campaign, fighting in the battles of Loigny-Poupry
, 2nd Orléans
, Beaugency-Cravant, and Le Mans
.
During World War I, the division marched through Luxembourg, Belgium and France, in what became known to the Allies as the Great Retreat
, culminating in the First Battle of the Marne
. One of its brigades was detached for the Battle of Liège
. In 1916, it fought in the Battle of the Somme. It saw action in 1917 in the Battle of Passchendaele, also known as the Third Battle of Ypres and to the Germans as the Autumn Battle in Flanders. It participated in the 1918 German Spring Offensive
and defended against the subsequent Allied counteroffensives, including the Hundred Days Offensive
. Allied intelligence rated it a first class division, one of the best in the German Army.
, most divisional cavalry, including brigade headquarters, was withdrawn to form cavalry divisions or split up among divisions as reconnaissance units.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 17th Division was again renamed the 17th Infantry Division. The 81st Infantry Brigade was sent to the 17th Reserve Division
. The 17th Infantry Division's 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 17th Infantry Division's order of battle on May 21, 1918 was as follows:
4.Eskadron/2. Hannoversches Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 16
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 October 11, 1866 and initially headquartered in Kiel
Kiel
Kiel is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 238,049 .Kiel is approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the north of Germany, the southeast of the Jutland peninsula, and the southwestern shore of the...
. It moved its headquarters to Schwerin
Schwerin
Schwerin is the capital and second-largest city of the northern German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The population, as of end of 2009, was 95,041.-History:...
in 1871. The division was subordinated in peacetime to the IX Army Corps (IX. 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 17th Division was one of the more mixed units of the German Army. It was formed by merging the contingents of the Hanseatic Cities with those of the Mecklenburg grand duchies. The division's 33rd Infantry Brigade was composed of the contingents of HamburgHamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
and Bremen
Bremen
The City Municipality of Bremen is a Hanseatic city in northwestern Germany. A commercial and industrial city with a major port on the river Weser, Bremen is part of the Bremen-Oldenburg metropolitan area . Bremen is the second most populous city in North Germany and tenth in Germany.Bremen is...
(and until the formation of the 162nd Infantry Regiment in 1897, that of Lübeck
Lübeck
The Hanseatic City of Lübeck is the second-largest city in Schleswig-Holstein, in northern Germany, and one of the major ports of Germany. It was for several centuries the "capital" of the Hanseatic League and, because of its Brick Gothic architectural heritage, is listed by UNESCO as a World...
). The division's 34th (Grand Ducal Mecklenburg) Infantry Brigade was composed of the infantry contingents of the grand duchies of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Mecklenburg-Schwerin was a duchy in northern Germany created in 1348, when Albert II of Mecklenburg and his younger brother John were raised to Dukes of Mecklenburg by King Charles IV...
and Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Mecklenburg-Strelitz was a duchy and later grand duchy in northern Germany, consisting of the eastern fifth of the historic Mecklenburg region, roughly corresponding with the present-day Mecklenburg-Strelitz district , and the western exclave of the former Bishopric of Ratzeburg in modern...
. The 81st Infantry Brigade, formed in 1897, included the newly raised Lübeck regiment and a Prussian regiment from Schleswig-Holstein. The divisional cavalry brigade was the 17th (Grand Ducal Mecklenburg) Cavalry Brigade, with two dragoon regiments from Mecklenburg-Schwerin and, at various periods in its history, attached Prussian cavalry. The 17th Artillery Brigade included a regiment from Holstein and a regiment from the two Mecklenburg grand duchies.
Combat chronicle
In the Franco-Prussian WarFranco-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 was initially part of the reserve of the Prussian Army. It was sent into action in September 1870, beginning with the Siege of Metz
Siege of Metz
The Siege of Metz lasting from 19 August – 27 October 1870 was fought during the Franco-Prussian War and ended in a decisive Prussian victory.-History:...
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....
. The division then entered the Loire campaign, fighting in the battles of Loigny-Poupry
Battle of Loigny-Poupry
The Battle of Loigny-Poupry was a battle of the Franco-Prussian War. It took place on 2 December 1870 during the Loire Campaign near the town of Loigny...
, 2nd Orléans
Second Battle of Orléans (1870)
The Second Battle of Orléans was a battle of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. It took place on December 3 and 4, 1870 and was part of the Loire Campaign...
, Beaugency-Cravant, and Le Mans
Battle of Le Mans
The Battle of Le Mans was a Prussian victory during the Franco-Prussian War which ended French resistance in western France.-Background:After the victory at the Battle of Orleans , Prince Friedrich Karl of Prussia marched his army further to the west towards Le Mans. Antoine Chanzy had under his...
.
During World War I, the division marched through Luxembourg, Belgium and France, in what became known to the Allies as the Great Retreat
Great Retreat
The Great Retreat, also known as the Retreat from Mons, is the name given to the long, fighting retreat by Allied forces to the River Marne, on the Western Front early in World War I, after their holding action against the Imperial German Armies at the Battle of Mons on 23 August 1914...
, culminating in the First Battle of the Marne
First Battle of the Marne
The Battle of the Marne was a First World War battle fought between 5 and 12 September 1914. It resulted in an Allied victory against the German Army under Chief of Staff Helmuth von Moltke the Younger. The battle effectively ended the month long German offensive that opened the war and had...
. One of its brigades was detached for the Battle of Liège
Battle of Liège
The Battle of Liège was the opening engagement of the German invasion of Belgium, and the first battle of World War I. The attack on the city began on 5 August 1914 and lasted until the 16th when the last Belgian fort finally surrendered...
. In 1916, it fought in the Battle of the Somme. It saw action in 1917 in the Battle of Passchendaele, also known as the Third Battle of Ypres and to the Germans as the Autumn Battle in Flanders. It participated in the 1918 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...
and defended against the subsequent Allied counteroffensives, including the Hundred Days Offensive
Hundred Days Offensive
The Hundred Days Offensive was the final period of the First World War, during which the Allies launched a series of offensives against the Central Powers on the Western Front from 8 August to 11 November 1918, beginning with the Battle of Amiens. The offensive forced the German armies to retreat...
. Allied intelligence rated it a first class division, one of the best in the German Army.
Order of battle in the Franco-Prussian War
During wartime, the 17th Division, like other regular German divisions, was redesignated an infantry division. The organization of the 17th Infantry Division in 1870 at the beginning of the Franco-Prussian War was as follows:- 33. Infanterie-Brigade
- Füsilier-Regiment Nr. 36
- Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 75
- Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 76
- 34. Infanterie-Brigade
- Mecklenburgisches Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 89
- Mecklenburgisches Füsilier-Regiment Nr. 90
- Mecklenburgisches Jäger-Bataillon Nr. 14
- 17. Kavallerie-Brigade
- 1. Mecklenburgisches Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 17
- 2. Mecklenburgisches Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 18
- Ulanen-Regiment Nr. 11
Pre-World War I organization
German divisions underwent various organizational changes after the Franco-Prussian War. As noted above, a third brigade was added in 1897. The organization of the 17th Division in 1914, shortly before the outbreak of World War I, was as follows:- 33. Infanterie-Brigade
- Infanterie-Regiment Bremen (1. Hanseatisches) Nr. 75
- Infanterie-Regiment Hamburg (2. Hanseatisches) Nr. 76
- 34.Infanterie-Brigade (Großherzoglich Mecklenburgisches)
- Großherzoglich Mecklenburgisches Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 89
- Großherzoglich Mecklenburgisches Füsilier-Regiment Kaiser Wilhelm Nr. 90
- 81. Infanterie-Brigade
- Infanterie-Regiment Lübeck (3. Hanseatisches) Nr. 162
- Schleswig-Holsteinisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 163
- 17. Kavallerie-Brigade (Großherzoglich Mecklenburgisches)
- 1. Großherzoglich Mecklenburgisches Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 17
- 2. Großherzoglich Mecklenburgisches Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 18
- 17. Feldartillerie-Brigade:
- Holsteinisches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 24
- Großherzoglich Mecklenburgisches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 60
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 17th Division was again renamed the 17th Infantry Division. The 81st Infantry Brigade was sent to the 17th Reserve Division
17th Reserve Division (German Empire)
The 17th Reserve Division was a unit of the Imperial German Army in World War I. The division was formed on mobilization of the German Army in August 1914. The division was disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I...
. The 17th Infantry Division's initial wartime organization was as follows:
- 33. Infanterie-Brigade
- Infanterie-Regiment Bremen (1. Hanseatisches) Nr. 75
- Infanterie-Regiment Hamburg (2. Hanseatisches) Nr. 76
- 34.Infanterie-Brigade
- Großherzoglich Mecklenburgisches Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 89
- Großherzoglich Mecklenburgisches Füsilier-Regiment Kaiser Wilhelm Nr. 90
- Lauenburgisches Jäger-Bataillon Nr. 9
- Stab u. 3.Eskadron/2. Hannoversches Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 16
- 17. Feldartillerie-Brigade:
- Holsteinisches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 24
- Großherzoglich Mecklenburgisches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 60
- 1.Kompanie/Schleswig-Holsteinisches Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 9
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 17th Infantry Division's order of battle on May 21, 1918 was as follows:
- 34. Infanterie-Brigade
- Infanterie-Regiment Bremen (1. Hanseatisches) Nr. 75
- Großherzoglich Mecklenburgisches Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 89
- Großherzoglich Mecklenburgisches Füsilier-Regiment Kaiser Wilhelm Nr. 90
- Maschinengewehr-Scharfschützen-Abteilung Nr. 75
4.Eskadron/2. Hannoversches Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 16
- Artillerie-Kommandeur 17
- Großherzoglich Mecklenburgisches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 60
- I.Bataillon/Fußartillerie-Regiment Nr. 24
- Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 126
- Divisions-Nachrichten-Kommandeur 17