The 158th (7th Lotharingian) Infantry Regiment was formed in Paderborn, Germany on 31st March 1897, and was part of the VII Army Corps. In peace time the regiment was part of the 25th Infantry Brigade, and was paired with the 13th (1st Westphalian) Infantry Regiment, based in Munster.
Its higher formation was the 13th Infantry Division, itself paired with the 14th Infantry Division, too form the Corps.
The Regiment mobilised in August 1914 and entrained for the West Front. It saw action as part of the 2nd Army at the siege of Liege, and at the end of August took part in the Battle of Charleroi. In September it was transferred with the rest of the Division to the 7th Army and moved to Rheims.
At the beginning of October it moved to the Artois sector, where it remained until March 1915. During 1915 it suffered in the battles of Neuvre Chapel and Festubert. In March the Regiment was transferred to the 50th Infantry Division, a new formation.
It formed part of the 100th Infantry Brigade, which also included the 39th Fusiliers and 53rd Infantry Regiment.
The Regiment saw action at Verdun, and took part on in the battle for Fort Veux. In 1917 it was rested in the area of Aillette. It was rated by the allies as a first class Regiment, and since Verdun, part of an elite shock division.
In 1918 it took part in the Kaisers battle, and was in almost constant combat, suffering many casualties. It was in action until the end of the war.
