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Kaiserschlacht - who attacked the 66th Battn (East Lancs)?


Trebrys

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I'm trying to put together a picture of the attack during the Kaiserschlacht on March 22 1918. The 66th Battn was based around Hervilly and Hesbecourt to the east of Peronne.

Would anyone know which part of von der Marwitz's 2nd Army attacked that area? Were they from a specific area of Germany i.e. Prussian, Bavarian, Saxon, Silesian etc? Were the German divisons regional like the British Army?

Any help would be gratefully received.

Regards,

Trebrys.

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Hi There,

I think you mean the 66th Division and the 4th East Lancs? Here is a map showing the 66th Division dispositions for the 21st March 1918. If this is not what you're on about let me know and I'll post any other area you would like.

66thBrigade21stMarch1918.jpg

Steve

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Oops! Yes, many thanks, Steve - I did mean the 66th Division, not battalion and this map is exactly what I needed! Can you make out what the numbers on the right hand side mean? I'm not too familiar with maps as these - are they the numbers of the respective German divisions? Is there any chance of finding out what were there make-up i.e. what region were they from?

Thanks again for your ready help!

Iwan.

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Hi there,

The numbers correspond to German units. However, I'm not a great expert on what they would have been e.g. Infantry, Fusilier etc.

The map comes from the Official History of the Great War. You can buy these as volumes and the one I would recommend you buy would this one:

1918 – Vol I The German March Offensive and its Preliminaries

by Brigadier-General Sir James Edmonds. Order No: 5679 Price: £35.00

Which can found here if you follow the links by browsing their stock to the Official History pages.

http://www.naval-military-press.com/FMPro?...et.htm&-new

I don't have a copy of this volume only the maps. However, the other alternative is to see if any of the other members can tell you what units were next the 66th Divison on the 21st March 1918.

Steve

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Iwan.

There were actually 2 East Lancs Battalions involved - the 2/4th and the 2/5th (in reserve). The German 25th Division facing them was a Hessian division and consisted of the following infantry regiments... J.R. 115 (Liebgarde-Infanterie-Regiment(1.Grossherzolich Hessisches) , J.R. 116 ( Infanterie Regiment Kaiser Wilhelm (2.Grossherzolich Hessisches) and J.R. 117 (Infanterie Liebregiment Grossherzogin (3.Grossherzolich Hessisches) .

Dave

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Thanks again, Steve - I will go after the book!

Dave, that's great news......many many thanks!

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  • 9 years later...

What beautiful staff duties on Gunner's Dream's map. I haven't seen such quality since I served in G2 1 (BR) Corps in the late 60s. I am helping an author compile facts about 'the |False Armistice' of 7 Nov '18. I hope to come across radio/telephone intercepts from the Germans, or possibly info from neighbouring French forces who were on Rawlinson's right flank. This means scouring Bn/Regt war diaries: It would be really helpful if I could get sight of the latest British Bn positions for the front line on 6/7 Nov.

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The numbers on the right are those of the German divisions, except for the Roman I at top right, which is an Army Corps.

Most German divisions were composed of men from a particular area of Germany. The country was divided into 24 regions, each home to a particular Army Corps.

Ron

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