52nd Infantry Division (German Empire)
Encyclopedia
The 52nd Infantry Division (52.Infanterie-Division) was a division of the Imperial German Army
during World War I
. The division was formed on March 6, 1915 from units taken from other divisions or newly raised. The division was initially mixed, with two infantry regiments from the Grand Duchy of Baden
, one infantry regiment from Prussian Saxony, and Prussian and Baden support units (cavalry, artillery, engineers, and service and support units). While the infantry regiments and the divisional cavalry squadron were regular army units, the rest of the division was made up of reserve units and units formed during the war. The 66th Magdeburg Infantry Regiment was taken from the 7th Infantry Division
, and the 169th and 170th Infantry Regiments were taken from Baden's 29th Infantry Division
. The 52nd Infantry Division became more Baden as the war progressed, as the 66th Magdeburg Infantry Regiment, the regiment from Prussian Saxony, was replaced on April 6, 1917 by Baden's 111th Infantry Regiment "Margrave Ludwig Wilhelm".
Shortly after its formation, the division went into the line facing the British Army near Arras
, France, on the Western Front
. In 1916, the division fought in the Battle of the Somme. The division remained on the Western Front for the duration of the war, although it moved to various sectors. Allied intelligence rated it one of the best German divisions.
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...
during 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 March 6, 1915 from units taken from other divisions or newly raised. The division was initially mixed, with two infantry regiments from the Grand Duchy of Baden
Grand Duchy of Baden
The Grand Duchy of Baden was a historical state in the southwest of Germany, on the east bank of the Rhine. It existed between 1806 and 1918.-History:...
, one infantry regiment from Prussian Saxony, and Prussian and Baden support units (cavalry, artillery, engineers, and service and support units). While the infantry regiments and the divisional cavalry squadron were regular army units, the rest of the division was made up of reserve units and units formed during the war. The 66th Magdeburg Infantry Regiment was taken from the 7th Infantry Division
7th Division (German Empire)
The 7th Division was a unit of the Prussian/German Army. It was formed in Magdeburg in November 1816 as a brigade and became a division on September 5, 1818. The division was subordinated in peacetime to the IV Army Corps . The division was disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the...
, and the 169th and 170th Infantry Regiments were taken from Baden's 29th Infantry Division
29th Division (German Empire)
The 29th Division was a unit of the Prussian/German Army, almost entirely made up of troops from the Grand Duchy of Baden. It was formed in Karlsruhe on July 1, 1871. The division was subordinated in peacetime to the XIV Army Corps...
. The 52nd Infantry Division became more Baden as the war progressed, as the 66th Magdeburg Infantry Regiment, the regiment from Prussian Saxony, was replaced on April 6, 1917 by Baden's 111th Infantry Regiment "Margrave Ludwig Wilhelm".
Shortly after its formation, the division went into the line facing the British Army near Arras
Arras
Arras is the capital of the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. The historic centre of the Artois region, its local speech is characterized as a Picard dialect...
, France, 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...
. In 1916, the division fought in the Battle of the Somme. The division remained on the Western Front for the duration of the war, although it moved to various sectors. Allied intelligence rated it one of the best German divisions.
Order of battle on March 6, 1915
- 104. Infanterie-Brigade
- 3. Magdeburgisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 66
- 8. Badisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 169
- 9. Badisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 170
- Radfahrer-Kompanie Nr. 52
- 4.Eskadron/Ulanen-Regiment Hennigs von Treffenfeld (Altmärkisches) Nr. 16
- 52.Feldartillerie-Brigade
- Badisches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 103
- Badisches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 104
- Fußartillerie-Bataillon Nr. 52
- Pionier-Kompanie Nr. 103
- Pionier-Kompanie Nr. 104
Order of battle on February 11, 1918
- 104.Infanterie-Brigade
- Infanterie-Regiment Markgraf Ludwig Wilhelm (3. Badisches) Nr. 111
- 8. Badisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 169
- 9. Badisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 170
- MG-Scharfschützen-Abteilung Nr. 38
- 4.Eskadron/Ulanen-Regiment Hennigs von Treffenfeld (Altmärkisches) Nr. 16
- Artillerie-Kommandeur 52:
- Badisches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 104
- II.Bataillon/Reserve-Fußartillerie-Regiment Nr. 17 (from 15.04.1918)
- Stab Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 137:
- Pionier-Kompanie Nr. 103
- Pionier-Kompanie Nr. 104
- Minenwerfer-Kompanie Nr. 52
- Divisions-Nachrichten-Kommandeur 52
Commanders
- Generalleutnant Karl von Borries (3.3.15-25.10.18)
- Generalmajor Eugen Glück (25.10.18-12.12.18)
- Generalleutnant Wilhelm Ribbentrop (12.12.18-23.1.19)