The 6th Royal Bavarian Division was a unit of the Royal Bavarian Army which served within the Imperial German Army.[1] The division was formed on April 1, 1900, and was headquartered in Regensburg.[2] In Bavarian sources, it was not generally referred to as a "Royal Bavarian" division, as this was considered self-evident, but outside Bavaria, this designation was used for it, and other Bavarian units, to distinguish them from similarly numbered Prussian units. The division was part of the III Royal Bavarian Army Corps.
6th Royal Bavarian Division (6. Königlich Bayerische Division); from August 2, 1914, 6th Bavarian Infantry Division (6. Bayerische Infanterie-Division)
During World War I, the division served on the Western Front. It fought initially in the Battle of the Frontiers. It then served in the area between the Meuse and Moselle Rivers until July 1916, seeing action on the Meuse heights, by St. Mihiel, and in the Bois-brulé. In July and August 1916, the division fought in the Battle of Verdun, and afterwards went into combat in the Argonne Forest. At the end of September 1916, it fought in the Battle of the Somme. The division suffered heavy losses in both of these battles. From October 1916 into 1918, the division occupied the trenchlines in Flanders and the Artois, and fought in the Battle of Arras and the Battle of Passchendaele. It then fought in the 1918 German spring offensive, fighting in the First Battle of the Somme (1918), also known as the Second Battle of the Somme (to distinguish it from the 1916 battle). After a period in the trenches in Flanders and near Verdun, the division fought in the Second Battle of the Somme (1918), also known as the Third Battle of the Somme. It continued resisting various Allied offensives until the end of the war. Allied intelligence rated the division as one of the very best German divisions.[3][4]
Pre–World War I peacetime organizationedit
In 1914, the peacetime organization of the 6th Royal Bavarian Division was as follows:[5]
11. bayerische Infanterie-Brigade
Kgl. Bayerisches 10. Infanterie-Regiment König Ludwig
Kgl. Bayerisches 13. Infanterie-Regiment Franz Josef I., Kaiser von Österreich und Apostolischer König von Ungarn
12. bayerische Infanterie-Brigade
Kgl. Bayerisches 6. Infanterie-Regiment Kaiser Wilhelm, König von Preußen
Kgl. Bayerisches 11. Infanterie-Regiment von der Tann
Kgl. Bayerisches 3. Feldartillerie-Regiment Prinz Leopold
Kgl. Bayerisches 8. Feldartillerie-Regiment Prinz Heinrich von Preußen
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 6th Bavarian Division was renamed the 6th Bavarian Infantry Division. The division's initial wartime organization (major units) was as follows:[6]
11. bayerische Infanterie-Brigade
Kgl. Bayerisches 10. Infanterie-Regiment König Ludwig
Kgl. Bayerisches 13. Infanterie-Regiment Franz Josef I., Kaiser von Österreich und Apostolischer König von Ungarn
12. bayerische Infanterie-Brigade
Kgl. Bayerisches 6. Infanterie-Regiment Kaiser Wilhelm, König von Preußen
Kgl. Bayerisches 11. Infanterie-Regiment von der Tann
Kgl. Bayerisches 2. Chevaulegers-Regiment Taxis
6. bayerische Feldartillerie-Brigade
Kgl. Bayerisches 3. Feldartillerie-Regiment Prinz Leopold
Kgl. Bayerisches 8. Feldartillerie-Regiment Prinz Heinrich von Preußen
2.Kompanie/Kgl. Bayerisches 3. Pionier-Bataillon
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"). The 6th Bavarian Infantry Division was triangularized in January 1917, dissolving the 12th Bavarian Infantry Brigade headquarters and sending the 11th Bavarian Infantry Regiment to the newly formed 16th Bavarian Infantry Division. An artillery commander replaced the artillery brigade headquarters, the cavalry was further reduced, and the engineer contingent was increased. Divisional signals commanders were established to better control communications, a major problem in coordinating infantry and artillery operations during World War I. The division's order of battle on February 21, 1918, was as follows:[7]
11. bayerische Infanterie-Brigade
Kgl. Bayerisches 6. Infanterie-Regiment Kaiser Wilhelm, König von Preußen
Kgl. Bayerisches 10. Infanterie-Regiment König
Kgl. Bayerisches 13. Infanterie-Regiment Franz Josef I., Kaiser von Österreich und Apostolischer König von Ungarn
Kgl. Bayerische Maschinengewehr-Scharfschützen-Abteilung Nr. 3
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 1825-1939. (Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück, 1993)
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. Only the Bavarian Army remained fully autonomous, while the Saxon Army maintained a lesser degree of autonomy. The armies of the other German states were integrated into the Prussian Army with limited autonomy.
^Günter Wegner, Stellenbesetzung der deutschen Heere 1815-1939. (Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück, 1993), Bd. 1, p. 666; Claus von Bredow, bearb., Historische Rang- und Stammliste des deutschen Heeres (1905), p. 1255.
^ (in German). Archived from the original on September 30, 2007.
^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. 134-137.
^Militär-Handbuch des Königreich Bayerns (1914), pp. 31-32.
^Hermann Cron et al., Ruhmeshalle unserer alten Armee (Berlin, 1935)
royal, bavarian, division, unit, royal, bavarian, army, which, served, within, imperial, german, army, division, formed, april, 1900, headquartered, regensburg, bavarian, sources, generally, referred, royal, bavarian, division, this, considered, self, evident,. The 6th Royal Bavarian Division was a unit of the Royal Bavarian Army which served within the Imperial German Army 1 The division was formed on April 1 1900 and was headquartered in Regensburg 2 In Bavarian sources it was not generally referred to as a Royal Bavarian division as this was considered self evident but outside Bavaria this designation was used for it and other Bavarian units to distinguish them from similarly numbered Prussian units The division was part of the III Royal Bavarian Army Corps 6th Royal Bavarian Division 6 Koniglich Bayerische Division from August 2 1914 6th Bavarian Infantry Division 6 Bayerische Infanterie Division Active1900 19CountryKingdom of Bavaria German EmpireBranchArmyTypeInfantry in peacetime included cavalry SizeApproximately 18 000 on mobilisation in 1914 Part ofIII Royal Bavarian Corps III Kgl Bayer Armeekorps Garrison HQRegensburgEngagementsWorld War I Battle of the Frontiers Battle of Verdun Battle of the Somme Battle of Arras 1917 Passchendaele German spring offensive First Battle of the Somme 1918 Second Battle of the Somme 1918 Contents 1 Combat chronicle 2 Pre World War I peacetime organization 3 Order of battle on mobilization 4 Late World War I organization 5 References 6 NotesCombat chronicle editDuring World War I the division served on the Western Front It fought initially in the Battle of the Frontiers It then served in the area between the Meuse and Moselle Rivers until July 1916 seeing action on the Meuse heights by St Mihiel and in the Bois brule In July and August 1916 the division fought in the Battle of Verdun and afterwards went into combat in the Argonne Forest At the end of September 1916 it fought in the Battle of the Somme The division suffered heavy losses in both of these battles From October 1916 into 1918 the division occupied the trenchlines in Flanders and the Artois and fought in the Battle of Arras and the Battle of Passchendaele It then fought in the 1918 German spring offensive fighting in the First Battle of the Somme 1918 also known as the Second Battle of the Somme to distinguish it from the 1916 battle After a period in the trenches in Flanders and near Verdun the division fought in the Second Battle of the Somme 1918 also known as the Third Battle of the Somme It continued resisting various Allied offensives until the end of the war Allied intelligence rated the division as one of the very best German divisions 3 4 Pre World War I peacetime organization editIn 1914 the peacetime organization of the 6th Royal Bavarian Division was as follows 5 11 bayerische Infanterie Brigade Kgl Bayerisches 10 Infanterie Regiment Konig Ludwig Kgl Bayerisches 13 Infanterie Regiment Franz Josef I Kaiser von Osterreich und Apostolischer Konig von Ungarn 12 bayerische Infanterie Brigade Kgl Bayerisches 6 Infanterie Regiment Kaiser Wilhelm Konig von Preussen Kgl Bayerisches 11 Infanterie Regiment von der Tann 6 bayerische Kavallerie Brigade Kgl Bayerisches 2 Chevaulegers Regiment Taxis Kgl Bayerisches 7 Chevaulegers Regiment Prinz Alfons 6 bayerische Feldartillerie Brigade Kgl Bayerisches 3 Feldartillerie Regiment Prinz Leopold Kgl Bayerisches 8 Feldartillerie Regiment Prinz Heinrich von PreussenOrder 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 6th Bavarian Division was renamed the 6th Bavarian Infantry Division The division s initial wartime organization major units was as follows 6 11 bayerische Infanterie Brigade Kgl Bayerisches 10 Infanterie Regiment Konig Ludwig Kgl Bayerisches 13 Infanterie Regiment Franz Josef I Kaiser von Osterreich und Apostolischer Konig von Ungarn 12 bayerische Infanterie Brigade Kgl Bayerisches 6 Infanterie Regiment Kaiser Wilhelm Konig von Preussen Kgl Bayerisches 11 Infanterie Regiment von der Tann Kgl Bayerisches 2 Chevaulegers Regiment Taxis 6 bayerische Feldartillerie Brigade Kgl Bayerisches 3 Feldartillerie Regiment Prinz Leopold Kgl Bayerisches 8 Feldartillerie Regiment Prinz Heinrich von Preussen 2 Kompanie Kgl Bayerisches 3 Pionier BataillonLate 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 The 6th Bavarian Infantry Division was triangularized in January 1917 dissolving the 12th Bavarian Infantry Brigade headquarters and sending the 11th Bavarian Infantry Regiment to the newly formed 16th Bavarian Infantry Division An artillery commander replaced the artillery brigade headquarters the cavalry was further reduced and the engineer contingent was increased Divisional signals commanders were established to better control communications a major problem in coordinating infantry and artillery operations during World War I The division s order of battle on February 21 1918 was as follows 7 11 bayerische Infanterie Brigade Kgl Bayerisches 6 Infanterie Regiment Kaiser Wilhelm Konig von Preussen Kgl Bayerisches 10 Infanterie Regiment Konig Kgl Bayerisches 13 Infanterie Regiment Franz Josef I Kaiser von Osterreich und Apostolischer Konig von Ungarn Kgl Bayerische Maschinengewehr Scharfschutzen Abteilung Nr 3 3 Eskadron Kgl Bayerisches 2 Chevaulegers Regiment Taxis Kgl Bayerischer Artillerie Kommandeur 6 Kgl Bayerisches 3 Feldartillerie Regiment Prinz Leopold II Bataillon Kgl Bayerisches Reserve Fussartillerie Regiment Nr 1 Kgl Bayerisches 6 Pionier Bataillon Kgl Bayerische Pionier Kompanie Nr 11 Kgl Bayerische Pionier Kompanie Nr 12 Kgl Bayerische Minenwerfer Kompanie Nr 6 Kgl Bayerischer Divisions Nachrichten Kommandeur 6References editClaus 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 1825 1939 Biblio Verlag Osnabruck 1993 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 Only the Bavarian Army remained fully autonomous while the Saxon Army maintained a lesser degree of autonomy The armies of the other German states were integrated into the Prussian Army with limited autonomy Gunter Wegner Stellenbesetzung der deutschen Heere 1815 1939 Biblio Verlag Osnabruck 1993 Bd 1 p 666 Claus von Bredow bearb Historische Rang und Stammliste des deutschen Heeres 1905 p 1255 6 Bayerische Infanterie Division Chronik 1914 1918 in German Archived from the original on September 30 2007 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 134 137 Militar Handbuch des Konigreich Bayerns 1914 pp 31 32 Hermann Cron et al Ruhmeshalle unserer alten Armee Berlin 1935 Cron et al Ruhmeshalle Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 6th Royal Bavarian Division amp oldid 1188171455, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
