9th Reserve Division (German Empire)
Encyclopedia
The 9th Reserve Division (9. 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 during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I. The division was a reserve division of the V Reserve Corps and was raised primarily in the Province of Posen
and the Province of West Prussia
.
. It was part of the Fifth Army and pursued the Allies during the Great Retreat
to the Woëvre
region. It then participated in the Race to the Sea
, seeing action in Flanders. It returned to the Woëvre region in December 1914, where it remained until early 1916. In 1916, it fought in the Battle of Verdun
until June, and then went to the Champagne region to recover. It then saw action in the later phases of the Battle of the Somme. It remained in the Somme region and fought in the Battle of Arras
in early 1917, the Battle of Passchendaele in Autumn 1917, and the tank battle at Cambrai in November 1917. In 1918, it saw action in the German Spring Offensive
, including the Battle of Picardy. It remained in the line in the northern part of the Western Front until war's end. Allied intelligence noted that the division fought well in the battles of 1917, and rated the division as second class in 1918.
in March 1915 and reorganized again during the Battle of Verdun in April 1916. Over the course of the war, other changes took place, including the formation of the artillery and signals commands. The order of battle on February 25, 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 on mobilization of the German Army in August 1914. The division was disbanded during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I. The division was a reserve division of the V Reserve Corps and was raised primarily in the Province of Posen
Province of Posen
The Province of Posen was a province of Prussia from 1848–1918 and as such part of the German Empire from 1871 to 1918. The area was about 29,000 km2....
and the Province of West Prussia
West Prussia
West Prussia was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1773–1824 and 1878–1919/20 which was created out of the earlier Polish province of Royal Prussia...
.
Combat chronicle
The 9th Reserve Division began the war on the Western FrontWestern 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 was part of the Fifth Army and pursued the Allies during 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...
to the Woëvre
Woëvre
The Woëvre is a natural region of Lorraine in northeastern France. It forms part of Lorraine plateau and lies largely in the department of Meuse....
region. It then participated in the Race to the Sea
Race to the Sea
The Race to the Sea is a name given to the period early in the First World War when the two sides were still engaged in mobile warfare on the Western Front. With the German advance stalled at the First Battle of the Marne, the opponents continually attempted to outflank each other through...
, seeing action in Flanders. It returned to the Woëvre region in December 1914, where it remained until early 1916. In 1916, it fought in the Battle of Verdun
Battle of Verdun
The Battle of Verdun was one of the major battles during the First World War on the Western Front. It was fought between the German and French armies, from 21 February – 18 December 1916, on hilly terrain north of the city of Verdun-sur-Meuse in north-eastern France...
until June, and then went to the Champagne region to recover. It then saw action in the later phases of the Battle of the Somme. It remained in the Somme region and fought in the Battle of Arras
Battle of Arras (1917)
The Battle of Arras was a British offensive during the First World War. From 9 April to 16 May 1917, British, Canadian, New Zealand, Newfoundland, and Australian troops attacked German trenches near the French city of Arras on the Western Front....
in early 1917, the Battle of Passchendaele in Autumn 1917, and the tank battle at Cambrai in November 1917. In 1918, it saw action in the 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...
, including the Battle of Picardy. It remained in the line in the northern part of the Western Front until war's end. Allied intelligence noted that the division fought well in the battles of 1917, and rated the division as second class in 1918.
Order of battle on mobilization
The order of battle of the 9th Reserve Division on mobilization was as follows:- 17.Reserve-Infanterie-Brigade
- Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 6
- Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 7
- 19.Reserve-Infanterie-Brigade
- Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 19
- Reserve-Jäger-Bataillon Nr. 5
- Reserve-Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 3
- Reserve-Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 9
- 4.Kompanie/Niederschlesisches Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 5
- 2.Reserve-Kompanie/Niederschlesisches Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 5
Order of battle on March 28, 1918
The 9th Reserve Division 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 March 1915 and reorganized again during the Battle of Verdun in April 1916. Over the course of the war, other changes took place, including the formation of the artillery and signals commands. The order of battle on February 25, 1918 was as follows:
- 18. Reserve-Infanterie-Brigade
- Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 6
- Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 19
- Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 395
- 3.Eskadron/Reserve-Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 3
- Artillerie-Kommandeur 97
- Reserve-Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 9
- Fußartillerie-Bataillon Nr. 29
- Stab Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 309
- 4.Kompanie/Niederschlesisches Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 5
- 1. Reserve-Kompanie/Samländisches (Festungs-)Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 18
- Minenwerfer-Kompanie Nr. 209
- Divisions-Nachrichten-Kommandeur 409