The 89th Infantry Division (89. Infanterie-Division) was a unit of the Imperial 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...

 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 provisional Westernhagen Division (Division Westernhagen), named after its commander. It became the 89th 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 Westernhagen Division initially served on the Eastern Front

Eastern 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...

. It fought in the Battle of Łódź in November/December 1914. From December 1914 to July 1915, it was in the line in the fighting on the Rawka and Bzura Rivers. In July and August 1915, it fought around Warsaw

Warsaw

Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...

 and then participated in the siege of Modlin Fortress

Modlin Fortress

Modlin Fortress is one of the biggest 19th century fortresses in Poland. It is located the town of Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki in district Modlin on the Narew river, some 50 kilometres north of Warsaw...

. It was redesignated the 89th Infantry Division in August and then fought in the Battles of Neman and Vilnius. After the line stabilized, the division was in positional warfare until September 1916. It then went south to participate in the Romanian campaign

Romanian Campaign (World War I)

The Romanian Campaign was part of the Balkan theatre of World War I, with Romania and Russia allied against the armies of the Central Powers. Fighting took place from August 1916 to December 1917, across most of present-day Romania, including Transylvania, which was part of the Austro-Hungarian...

. It fought in Romania until the armistice there in December 1917, and thereafter remained in the line securing the armistice. From May to November 1918, it was in the occupation troops in Romania. Allied intelligence rated the division as fourth class.

Order of battle on formation

The 89th Infantry Division was formed as an understrength division, with only two infantry regiments. It later received a third regiment, becoming a regular triangular division

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 order of battle of the division on August 9, 1915 was as follows:

• 178. Infanterie-Brigade
  • Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 8
  • Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 375
• 2. Landsturm-Eskadron/V. Armeekorps
• 7. Landsturm-Eskadron/V. Armeekorps
• Feldartillerie-Abteilung Nr. 89
• 4.Kompanie/Reserve-Fußartillerie-Regiment Nr. 5
• 4.Kompanie/Reserve-Fußartillerie-Regiment Nr. 11
• 2.Kompanie/Reserve-Fußartillerie-Regiment Nr. 15
• 2.Reserve-Kompanie/Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 17

Late-war order of battle

The division underwent a number of organizational changes over the course of the war. Cavalry was reduced and artillery and signals commands were formed. The order of battle on October 15, 1917 was as follows:

• 178.Infanterie-Brigade
  • Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 8
  • Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 333
  • Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 375
  • Maschinengewehr-Kompanie Nr. 89
• 4.Eskadron/Dragoner-Regiment von Wedel (Pommersches) Nr. 11
• Artillerie-Kommandeur 89
  • Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 89
  • I.Bataillon/Kgl. Bayerisches 4.Fußartillerie-Regiment
• 5.Kompanie/Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 26
• Divisions-Nachrichten-Kommandeur 89