The 13th Division (13. Division) was a unit of the Prussian/GermanArmy.[1] It was formed in November 1816 in Münster in Westphalia as a troop brigade and became the 13th Division on September 5, 1818.[2] The division was subordinated in peacetime to the VII Army Corps (VII. Armeekorps).[3] The division was disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I. The division was recruited primarily in the Prussian Province of Westphalia and two small principalities in the Westphalian region, Lippe-Detmold and Schaumburg-Lippe.
13th Division (13. Division); in 1870-71 and from August 2, 1914, 13th Infantry Division (13. Infanterie-Division)
The 13th Division served in the Second Schleswig War against Denmark in 1864, seeing action in the war's major battles: the Battle of Dybbøl (also called the Battle of the Düppeler Heights) and the Battle of Als. The division then fought in the Austro-Prussian War in 1866, where it was part of the Army of the Main (Main-Armee) and saw action in the engagements against Austria's south German allies, including the siege of the Bavarian fortress at Würzburg. In the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71, the division fought in several battles and engagements, including the Battle of Borny-Colombey, also called the Battle of Colombey-Nouilly, and the Gravelotte, or Gravelotte-St. Privat, and the Siege of Metz.[4]
In World War I, the division served on the Western Front. It participated in the initial German drive through Belgium and France, culminating in the First Battle of the Marne. After a period of trench warfare in various parts of the line, the division went to Verdun in 1916. Later that year, beginning in September, the division saw action in the later phases of the Battle of the Somme. During the 1918 German spring offensive, the division fought in the Second Battle of the Somme. The division bore the brunt of later Allied offensives, including the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Allied intelligence rated it a first class division.[5][6]
Order of battle in the Franco-Prussian Waredit
During wartime, the 13th Division, like other regular German divisions, was redesignated an infantry division. The organization of the 13th Infantry Division in 1870 at the beginning of the Franco-Prussian War was as follows:[7]
25. Infanterie Brigade
Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 13
Füsilier-Regiment Nr. 73
26. Infanterie Brigade
Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 15
Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 55
Jäger-Bataillon Nr. 7
Husaren-Regiment Nr. 8
Pre-World War I organizationedit
German divisions underwent various organizational changes after the Franco-Prussian War. The organization of the 13th Division in 1914, shortly before the outbreak of World War I, was as follows:[8]
25. Infanterie Brigade
Infanterie-Regiment Herwath von Bittenfeld (1. Westfälisches) Nr. 13
7. Lothringisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 158
26. Infanterie Brigade
Infanterie-Regiment Prinz Friedrich der Niederlande (2. Westfälisches) Nr. 15
Infanterie-Regiment Graf Bülow von Dennewitz (6. Westfälisches) Nr. 55
13. Kavallerie-Brigade
Kürassier-Regiment von Driesen (Westfälisches) Nr. 4
Husaren-Regiment Kaiser Nikolaus II. von Rußland (1. Westfälisches) Nr. 8
13. Feldartillerie-Brigade
2. Westfälisches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 22
Mindensches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 58
Landwehr-Inspektion Dortmund
Order of battle on mobilizationedit
On mobilization in August 1914 at the beginning of World War I, most divisional cavalry, including brigade headquarters, was withdrawn to form cavalry divisions or split up among divisions as reconnaissance units. Divisions received engineer companies and other support units from their higher headquarters. The 13th Division was again renamed the 13th Infantry Division. Its initial wartime organization was as follows:[9]
25. Infanterie-Brigade:
Infanterie-Regiment Herwarth von Bittenfeld (1. Westfälisches) Nr. 13
7. Lothringisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 158
26.Infanterie-Brigade:
Infanterie-Regiment Prinz Friedrich der Niederlande (2. Westfälisches) Nr. 15
Infanterie-Regiment Graf Bülow von Dennewitz (6. Westfälisches) Nr. 55
Westfälisches Jäger-Bataillon Nr. 7
Stab u. 3.Eskadron/Ulanen-Regiment Hennigs von Treffenfeld (Altmärkisches) Nr. 16
13. Feldartillerie-Brigade:
2. Westfälisches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 22
Mindensches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 58
1. Kompanie/Westfälisches Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 7
Late World War I organizationedit
Divisions underwent many changes during the war, with regiments moving from division to division, and some being destroyed and rebuilt. During the war, most divisions became triangular - one infantry brigade with three infantry regiments rather than two infantry brigades of two regiments (a "square division"). An artillery commander replaced the artillery brigade headquarters, the cavalry was further reduced, the engineer contingent was increased, and a divisional signals command was created. The 13th Infantry Division's order of battle on March 8, 1918, was as follows:[9]
26. Infanterie-Brigade:
Infanterie-Regiment Herwarth von Bittenfeld (1. Westfälisches) Nr. 13
Infanterie-Regiment Prinz Friedrich der Niederlande (2. Westfälisches) Nr. 15
Infanterie-Regiment Graf Bülow von Dennewitz (6. Westfälisches) Nr. 55
Maschinengewehr-Scharfschützen-Abteilung Nr. 22
3.Eskadron/Ulanen-Regiment Hennigs von Treffenfeld (Altmärkisches) Nr. 16
Artillerie-Kommandeur 13:
Mindensches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 58
Fußartillerie-Bataillon Nr. 157
Westfälisches Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 7
Divisions-Nachrichten-Kommandeur 13
Referencesedit
13. Infanterie-Division - Der erste Weltkrieg
Claus von Bredow, bearb., Historische Rang- und Stammliste des deutschen Heeres (1905)
Hermann Cron et al., Ruhmeshalle unserer alten Armee (Berlin, 1935)
Hermann Cron, Geschichte des deutschen Heeres im Weltkriege 1914-1918 (Berlin, 1937)
Günter Wegner, Stellenbesetzung der deutschen Heere 1815-1939. (Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück, 1993), Bd. 1
Histories of Two Hundred and Fifty-One Divisions of the German Army which Participated in the War (1914-1918), compiled from records of Intelligence section of the General Staff, American Expeditionary Forces, at General Headquarters, Chaumont, France 1919 (1920)
Notesedit
^From the late 1800s, the Prussian Army was effectively the German Army, as during the period of German unification (1866-1871) the states of the German Empire entered into conventions with Prussia regarding their armies and only the Bavarian Army remained fully autonomous.
^Günter Wegner, Stellenbesetzung der deutschen Heere 1815-1939. (Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück, 1993), Bd. 1, p.108-09; Claus von Bredow, bearb., Historische Rang- und Stammliste des deuschen Heeres (1905), pp.458-459.
^Histories of Two Hundred and Fifty-One Divisions of the German Army which Participated in the War (1914-1918), compiled from records of Intelligence section of the General Staff, American Expeditionary Forces, at General Headquarters, Chaumont, France 1919 (1920), pp. 225-228.
^A. Niemann, Der französische Feldzug 1870-1871 (Verlag des Bibliographischen Instituts, Hildburghausen, 1871), p. 38.
^Rangliste der Königlich Preußischen Armee (1914), pp. 74-75.
13th, division, german, empire, 13th, division, division, unit, prussian, german, army, formed, november, 1816, münster, westphalia, troop, brigade, became, 13th, division, september, 1818, division, subordinated, peacetime, army, corps, armeekorps, division, . The 13th Division 13 Division was a unit of the Prussian German Army 1 It was formed in November 1816 in Munster in Westphalia as a troop brigade and became the 13th Division on September 5 1818 2 The division was subordinated in peacetime to the VII Army Corps VII Armeekorps 3 The division was disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I The division was recruited primarily in the Prussian Province of Westphalia and two small principalities in the Westphalian region Lippe Detmold and Schaumburg Lippe 13th Division 13 Division in 1870 71 and from August 2 1914 13th Infantry Division 13 Infanterie Division Active1818 1919CountryPrussia GermanyBranchArmyTypeInfantry in peacetime included cavalry SizeApprox 15 000Part ofVII Army Corps VII Armeekorps Garrison HQMunster in WestphaliaEngagementsSecond Schleswig War Dybbol Als Austro Prussian War Main River campaign Franco Prussian War Colombey Gravelotte Metz World War I 1st Marne Verdun Somme 1916 German spring offensive Somme 1918 Meuse Argonne OffensiveCommandersNotablecommandersFriedrich Graf von Wrangel August Karl von Goeben Friedrich Bertram Sixt von Armin Hermann von Francois Kurt von dem Borne Rudolf von Borries Peter von Kameke Contents 1 Combat chronicle 2 Order of battle in the Franco Prussian War 3 Pre World War I organization 4 Order of battle on mobilization 5 Late World War I organization 6 References 7 NotesCombat chronicle editThe 13th Division served in the Second Schleswig War against Denmark in 1864 seeing action in the war s major battles the Battle of Dybbol also called the Battle of the Duppeler Heights and the Battle of Als The division then fought in the Austro Prussian War in 1866 where it was part of the Army of the Main Main Armee and saw action in the engagements against Austria s south German allies including the siege of the Bavarian fortress at Wurzburg In the Franco Prussian War of 1870 71 the division fought in several battles and engagements including the Battle of Borny Colombey also called the Battle of Colombey Nouilly and the Gravelotte or Gravelotte St Privat and the Siege of Metz 4 In World War I the division served on the Western Front It participated in the initial German drive through Belgium and France culminating in the First Battle of the Marne After a period of trench warfare in various parts of the line the division went to Verdun in 1916 Later that year beginning in September the division saw action in the later phases of the Battle of the Somme During the 1918 German spring offensive the division fought in the Second Battle of the Somme The division bore the brunt of later Allied offensives including the Meuse Argonne Offensive Allied intelligence rated it a first class division 5 6 Order of battle in the Franco Prussian War editDuring wartime the 13th Division like other regular German divisions was redesignated an infantry division The organization of the 13th Infantry Division in 1870 at the beginning of the Franco Prussian War was as follows 7 25 Infanterie Brigade Infanterie Regiment Nr 13 Fusilier Regiment Nr 73 26 Infanterie Brigade Infanterie Regiment Nr 15 Infanterie Regiment Nr 55 Jager Bataillon Nr 7 Husaren Regiment Nr 8Pre World War I organization editGerman divisions underwent various organizational changes after the Franco Prussian War The organization of the 13th Division in 1914 shortly before the outbreak of World War I was as follows 8 25 Infanterie Brigade Infanterie Regiment Herwath von Bittenfeld 1 Westfalisches Nr 13 7 Lothringisches Infanterie Regiment Nr 158 26 Infanterie Brigade Infanterie Regiment Prinz Friedrich der Niederlande 2 Westfalisches Nr 15 Infanterie Regiment Graf Bulow von Dennewitz 6 Westfalisches Nr 55 13 Kavallerie Brigade Kurassier Regiment von Driesen Westfalisches Nr 4 Husaren Regiment Kaiser Nikolaus II von Russland 1 Westfalisches Nr 8 13 Feldartillerie Brigade 2 Westfalisches Feldartillerie Regiment Nr 22 Mindensches Feldartillerie Regiment Nr 58 Landwehr Inspektion DortmundOrder of battle on mobilization editOn mobilization in August 1914 at the beginning of World War I most divisional cavalry including brigade headquarters was withdrawn to form cavalry divisions or split up among divisions as reconnaissance units Divisions received engineer companies and other support units from their higher headquarters The 13th Division was again renamed the 13th Infantry Division Its initial wartime organization was as follows 9 25 Infanterie Brigade Infanterie Regiment Herwarth von Bittenfeld 1 Westfalisches Nr 13 7 Lothringisches Infanterie Regiment Nr 158 26 Infanterie Brigade Infanterie Regiment Prinz Friedrich der Niederlande 2 Westfalisches Nr 15 Infanterie Regiment Graf Bulow von Dennewitz 6 Westfalisches Nr 55 Westfalisches Jager Bataillon Nr 7 Stab u 3 Eskadron Ulanen Regiment Hennigs von Treffenfeld Altmarkisches Nr 16 13 Feldartillerie Brigade 2 Westfalisches Feldartillerie Regiment Nr 22 Mindensches Feldartillerie Regiment Nr 58 1 Kompanie Westfalisches Pionier Bataillon Nr 7Late World War I organization editDivisions underwent many changes during the war with regiments moving from division to division and some being destroyed and rebuilt During the war most divisions became triangular one infantry brigade with three infantry regiments rather than two infantry brigades of two regiments a square division An artillery commander replaced the artillery brigade headquarters the cavalry was further reduced the engineer contingent was increased and a divisional signals command was created The 13th Infantry Division s order of battle on March 8 1918 was as follows 9 26 Infanterie Brigade Infanterie Regiment Herwarth von Bittenfeld 1 Westfalisches Nr 13 Infanterie Regiment Prinz Friedrich der Niederlande 2 Westfalisches Nr 15 Infanterie Regiment Graf Bulow von Dennewitz 6 Westfalisches Nr 55 Maschinengewehr Scharfschutzen Abteilung Nr 22 3 Eskadron Ulanen Regiment Hennigs von Treffenfeld Altmarkisches Nr 16 Artillerie Kommandeur 13 Mindensches Feldartillerie Regiment Nr 58 Fussartillerie Bataillon Nr 157 Westfalisches Pionier Bataillon Nr 7 Divisions Nachrichten Kommandeur 13References edit13 Infanterie Division Der erste Weltkrieg Claus von Bredow bearb Historische Rang und Stammliste des deutschen Heeres 1905 Hermann Cron et al Ruhmeshalle unserer alten Armee Berlin 1935 Hermann Cron Geschichte des deutschen Heeres im Weltkriege 1914 1918 Berlin 1937 Gunter Wegner Stellenbesetzung der deutschen Heere 1815 1939 Biblio Verlag Osnabruck 1993 Bd 1 Histories of Two Hundred and Fifty One Divisions of the German Army which Participated in the War 1914 1918 compiled from records of Intelligence section of the General Staff American Expeditionary Forces at General Headquarters Chaumont France 1919 1920 Notes edit From the late 1800s the Prussian Army was effectively the German Army as during the period of German unification 1866 1871 the states of the German Empire entered into conventions with Prussia regarding their armies and only the Bavarian Army remained fully autonomous Gunter Wegner Stellenbesetzung der deutschen Heere 1815 1939 Biblio Verlag Osnabruck 1993 Bd 1 p 108 09 Claus von Bredow bearb Historische Rang und Stammliste des deuschen Heeres 1905 pp 458 459 Bredow p 457 Hermann Cron et al Ruhmeshalle unserer alten Armee Berlin 1935 Wegner p 459 13 Infanterie Division Histories of Two Hundred and Fifty One Divisions of the German Army which Participated in the War 1914 1918 compiled from records of Intelligence section of the General Staff American Expeditionary Forces at General Headquarters Chaumont France 1919 1920 pp 225 228 A Niemann Der franzosische Feldzug 1870 1871 Verlag des Bibliographischen Instituts Hildburghausen 1871 p 38 Rangliste der Koniglich Preussischen Armee 1914 pp 74 75 a b Cron et al Ruhmeshalle Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 13th Division German Empire amp oldid 1020538903, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
