German 16th Infantry Division in the Great War

The 16th Division was part of the VIII Corps of the German Army, and together with the 15th Division joined as part of that Corps with the 4th Army (Duke of Wuerttemburg).

Both Divisions recruited from the Rhineland, and it was to this Corps that the men of Grenderich would have found themselves.

The 16th Division was formed as the 15th Division on 5th September 1818 from a Troop Brigade of the German Army at Koblenz.  It became the 16th Division on 14th December 1818 and moved its headquarters to Trier, it was part of the VIII Corps in peacetime.

The 16th Division fought in the Austrian-Prussian War of 1866, and in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1

In the Franco-Prussian War the Division consisted of:

  31st Infantry Brigade

29th Infantry Regiment
69th Infantry Regiment

32nd Infantry Brigade

40th Fusilier Regiment
72nd Infantry Regiment

9th Hussar Regiment

German divisions underwent various organizational changes after the Franco-Prussian War. The 15th Division's 30th Infantry Brigade went to the 16th Division in exchange for the 80th Infantry Brigade, formed in 1897.

The organisation of the Division in 1914 was as follows

30th Infantry Brigade

28th (2nd Rhine) (Von Goeben) Infantry Regiment
68th (6th Rhine) Infantry Regiment

31st Infantry Brigade

29th (3rd Rhine) (Von Horn) Infantry Regiment
69th (7th Rhine) Infantry Regiment

16th Cavalry Brigade

7th Horse Jager Regiment
8th Horse Jager Regiment

16th Field Artillery Brigade

44th (Trier) Field Artillery Regiment
23rd Field Artillery Regiment (2nd Rhine)

On mobilisation in 1914 it lost in Cavalry Brigade, which was withdrawn to constitute Cavalry Divisions, and was made up of the following units.

30th Infantry Brigade

28th (2nd Rhine) (Von Goeben) Infantry Regiment
68th (6th Rhine) Infantry Regiment

31st Infantry Brigade

29th (3rd Rhine) (Von Horn) Infantry Regiment
69th (7th Rhine) Infantry Regiment

7th Hussar Regiment (1st Rhine) (King William I)

16th Field Artillery Brigade

44th (Trier) Field Artillery Regiment
23rd Field Artillery Regiment (3rd Rhine)
8th (2/1st Rhine) Pioneer Battalion
8th (3/1st Rhine) Pioneer Battalion

The 16th Division entered Luxembourg on 20th August 1914.  The Division entered France on 26th August 1914.  The 16th Division then took part in the battle of the Marne.

The winter of 14/15 saw the Division take up positions in Souain-Perthes in Champagne, where it saw heavy fighting. In November and December 1914 the 31st Infantry Brigade saw service in the Langemarck area of Belgium.  In mid December the 31st Brigade was sent to Alsace as part of the Fuchs (Fox) Division.  It rejoined the 30th Brigade at the end of that month.

At the middle of May 1915 the 16th Division after a period of rest was placed in the line at Arras. 

In October 1915 the Division was made up of the following regiments:

28th (2nd Rhine) (Von Goeben) Infantry Regiment
29th (3rd Rhine) (Von Horn) Infantry Regiment
68th (6th Rhine) Infantry Regiment
23rd Field Artillery Regiment (3rd Rhine)
32nd Foot Artillery Battalion

 In November 1915 it was sent to the Russian front, and in June 1917 the Division was back in Flanders, and in September it was placed in the reserve.

At the beginning of October 1917 it was returned to the French front at Ypres.  It continued to serve on that front until the end of the war.

The German 15th Infantry Division in the Great War

The 15th Division was part of the VIII Corps of the German Army, and together with the 16th Division joined as part of that Corps with the 4th Army (Duke of Wuerttemburg).

Both Divisions recruited from the Rhineland, and it was to this Corps that the men of Grenderich would have found themselves.

The 15th Division was formed as the 16th Division on 5th September 1818 from the 4th Brigade of the Army in France.  It became the 15th Division on 14th December 1818, it was part of the VIII Corps in peacetime.

The 15th Division fought in the Austrian-Prussian War of 1866, and in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1

In the Franco-Prussian War the Division consisted of:

29th Infantry Brigade

33rd Fusilier Regiment
65th Infantry Regiment

30th Infantry Brigade

28th Infantry Regiment
67th Infantry Regiment

German divisions underwent various organizational changes after the Franco-Prussian War. The 15th Division's 30th Infantry Brigade went to the 16th Division in exchange for the 80th Infantry Brigade, formed in 1897.

The organisation of the Division in 1914 was as follows

29th Infantry Brigade

25th (1st Rhine) (Von Lutzow) Infantry Regiment
161st (10th Rhine) Infantry Regiment

80th Infantry Brigade

65th (5th Rhine) Infantry Regiment
160th (9th Rhine) Infantry Regiment

15th Cavalry Brigade

8th (Rhine) Currassier Regiment "Graf Gessler"
7th (1st Rhine) Hussar Regiment "King William I"

15th Field Artillery Brigade

59th Field Artillery Regiment
83rd Field Artillery Regiment (3rd Rhine)

On mobilisation in 1914 it lost in Cavalry Brigade, which was withdrawn to constitute Cavalry Divisions, and was made up of the following units.

29th Infantry Brigade

25th (1st Rhine) (Von Lutzow) Infantry Regiment
161st (10th Rhine) Infantry Regiment

80th Infantry Brigade

65th (5th Rhine) Infantry Regiment
160th (9th Rhine) Infantry Regiment

15th Field Artillery Brigade

59th Field Artillery Regiment
83rd Field Artillery Regiment (3rd Rhine)
8th (1/1st Rhine) Pioneer Battalion

The 25th Infantry Regiment was detached to take part in the siege of Liege the remainder of the Division entered Luxembourg on 19th/20th August 1914.  The Division entered France on 26th August 1914, with the 29th Brigade crossed the Mouse at Sedan, and the 80th Brigade entered Meziers.  The 15th Division then took part in the battle of the Marne.

The winter of 14/15 saw the 29th Brigade moved to the Ypres front, and then to Alsace.  It was temporaraly replaced by the 1st Bavarian Landwehr Brigade.  Both the 1st Bavarian Landwehr Brigade and the 80th Brigade remained in Champagne.

At the end of May 1915 the 15th Division with the now reunited 29th and 80th Brigades took part in the battle of Artois.  From June 1915 until June 1916 the Division occupied positions on the Aisne.

On 1st July 1916 it was transferred to the Somme front, and in August it lost the 160th Infantry Regiment, and it lost the 65th and 161st Infantry Regiments to the 185th Division, and the 25th Regiment to the 208th Division.

In October 1916 the Division was made up of the following regiments:

160th Infantry Regiment (returned)
186th Infantry Regiment
389th Infantry Regiment (from Rhine regiments)

 In November 1916 it was sent to the Russian front, and in February 1917 the Division was in Transylvania, and in April it was placed in the reserve.

At the end of April 1917 it was returned to the French front.  It continued to serve on that front until the end of the war.