88th Infantry Division (German Empire)
Encyclopedia
The 88th Infantry Division (88. Infanterie-Division) was a unit of the Imperial German
Army
in World War I
. The division was formed in November 1914 as the Menges Division (Division Menges), named after its commander, and made up primarily of Landwehr
troops. It became the 88th Infantry Division in August 1915. The division was disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I.
, receiving its baptism of fire in the Battle of Łódź. In 1915, it participated in the Gorlice-Tarnów Offensive
, breaking through at Przaznysz and fighting in the battle on the Narew. On August 2, 1915, it became the 88th Infantry Division. From November 1915 to December 1917, the division occupied the line near Daugavpils. In December 1917, after the armistice on the Eastern Front, the division was transferred to the Western Front
, where it entered the line in positions near St. Quentin and on the Oise. It participated in the 1918 German Spring Offensive
, fighting in the First Battle of the Somme (1918), also known as the Battle of St. Quentin or the Second Battle of the Somme (to distinguish it from the 1916 battle). From April to July 1918, it was in the line in the Champagne region, and then fought in the Second Battle of the Marne
. Except for minor periods, it remained in the Champagne region until the end of the war, and faced the Allied Meuse-Argonne Offensive
in October and November 1918. Allied intelligence rated the division as fourth class.
, with three infantry brigades. The order of battle of the division on August 2, 1915 was as follows:
in the summer of 1916. 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 October 21, 1918 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 in November 1914 as the Menges Division (Division Menges), named after its commander, and made up primarily of Landwehr
Landwehr
Landwehr, or Landeswehr, is a German language term used in referring to certain national armies, or militias found in nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Europe. In different context it refers to large scale, low strength fortifications...
troops. It became the 88th Infantry Division in August 1915. The division was disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I.
Combat chronicle
The Menges 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...
, receiving its baptism of fire in the Battle of Łódź. In 1915, it participated 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...
, breaking through at Przaznysz and fighting in the battle on the Narew. On August 2, 1915, it became the 88th Infantry Division. From November 1915 to December 1917, the division occupied the line near Daugavpils. In December 1917, after the armistice on the Eastern Front, the division was transferred 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...
, where it entered the line in positions near St. Quentin and on the Oise. 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...
, fighting in the First Battle of the Somme (1918), also known as the Battle of St. Quentin or the Second Battle of the Somme (to distinguish it from the 1916 battle). From April to July 1918, it was in the line in the Champagne region, and then fought in the Second Battle of the Marne
Second Battle of the Marne
The Second Battle of the Marne , or Battle of Reims was the last major German Spring Offensive on the Western Front during the First World War. The German attack failed when an Allied counterattack led by France overwhelmed the Germans, inflicting severe casualties...
. Except for minor periods, it remained in the Champagne region until the end of the war, and faced 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:...
in October and November 1918. Allied intelligence rated the division as fourth class.
Order of battle on formation
The 88th Infantry Division was formed as an overstrength square divisionSquare 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...
, with three infantry brigades. The order of battle of the division on August 2, 1915 was as follows:
- 175. Landwehr-Infanterie-Brigade
- Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 349
- Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 350
- 176. Landwehr-Infanterie-Brigade
- Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 351
- Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 352
- 177.Infanterie-Brigade
- Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 353
- Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 354
- Kavallerie-Regiment Nr. 88
- Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 88
- Landwehr-Fußartillerie-Bataillon Nr. 6
- Landwehr-Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 6
Late-war order of battle
The division underwent a number of organizational changes over the course of the war. It was triangularizedTriangular 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...
in the summer of 1916. 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 October 21, 1918 was as follows:
- 176.Infanterie-Brigade
- Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 352
- Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 353
- Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 426
- 1.Eskadron/Jäger-Regiment zu Pferde Nr. 10
- Artillerie-Kommandeur 59
- Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 88
- Fußartillerie-Bataillon Nr. 123
- Stab Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 88
- 3. Reserve-Kompanie/Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 33
- Pionier-Kompanie Nr. 249
- Minenwerfer-Kompanie Nr. 88
- Divisions-Nachrichten-Kommandeur 88