12th Division (German Empire)

The 12th Division, for the duration of the mobile ratio referred to as the 12th Infantry Division was a major unit of the Prussian army.

• 2.1 World War I

Structure

The command was in Neisse and the Division was part of the VI. Army Corps.

Peacetime in 1914

• 23rd Infantry Brigade in Gliwice Infantry Regiment " Keith " No. 22 ( 1 Oberschlesisches ) in Gliwice and Katowice
• 3 Silesian Infantry Regiment No. 156 in Bytom in Upper Silesia and Tarnowitz

• Infantry Regiment " von Winterfeldt " (2 Oberschlesisches ) # 23 in Neisse
• 3 Upper Silesian Infantry Regiment No. 62 in Cosel and Ratibor

• 4 Upper Silesian Infantry Regiment No. 63 in Opole and Lublinitz
• 4 Silesian Infantry Regiment No. 157 in Brieg

• Uhlan Regiment " of Katzler " ( Silesian ) # 2 in Gliwice and Pless
• Jäger Regiment on horseback # 11 in Tarnowitz and Lublinitz

• Field Artillery Regiment " von Clausewitz " (1 Oberschlesisches ) # 21 in Neisse and Grottkau
• 2 Upper Silesian Field Artillery Regiment No. 57 in Neustadt in Upper Silesia and Gliwice

Mobilization of Battle at 1914

• 24th Infantry Brigade Infantry Regiment " von Winterfeldt " (2 Oberschlesisches ) # 23
• 3 Upper Silesian Infantry Regiment No. 62

• 4 Upper Silesian Infantry Regiment No. 63
• 4 Silesian Infantry Regiment No. 157
• Uhlan Regiment " of Katzler " ( Silesian ) # 2

• Field Artillery Regiment " von Clausewitz " (1 Oberschlesisches ) No 21
• 2 Upper Silesian Field Artillery Regiment No. 57
• 2nd and 3rd Company / Silesian Pioneer Battalion No. 6

Of Battle from March 20, 1918

• 24th Infantry Brigade Infantry Regiment " von Winterfeldt " (2 Oberschlesisches ) # 23
• 3 Upper Silesian Infantry Regiment No. 62
• 4 Upper Silesian Infantry Regiment No. 63
• MG- Sniper Division No. 20
• 4th Squadron / Uhlan Regiment " of Katzler " ( Silesian ) # 2

• Field Artillery Regiment " von Clausewitz " (1 Oberschlesisches ) No 21
• Foot Artillery Battalion No. 68

History

World War I

In August 1914, the left wing of the 4th Army - the VI. Army Corps under General Kurt von Pritzelwitz temporarily placed under the 5th Army on the line L'Eglise - Thibesart ago and was. The corresponding 12th Division under Lieutenant-General Chales de Beaulieu supported during the thrust through the Ardennes attack of the 5th Army on Virton and participated from August 22nd at the Battle of Neufchâteau. The 12th Division went from L'Eglise area south on Rossignol and Tintigny before they reached St. Vincent and finally secured to the heights of Les Bulles. Below Montmedy the Division had crossed the Chiers at La Ferte on 25 August and reached Olizy. During the Battle of the Marne in early September, the division fought at Montfaucon and Varennes in space. They went on the left wing of the 4th Army west of Verdun, which was by the Argonne to the south. In mid-September, the division moved to the 3rd Army in the Champagne and fought in the Bois de Cheppy and Malancourt. During the Aisneschlacht at Binarville standing, the VI. Withdrawn Army Corps of the 4th Army and inserted at the seam 2 to 3 Army to replace the 2nd Guards Division at Prunay from September 18. Until December 19, 1914 was followed by position battles in Champagne, in the room of St. Menehould and Malancourt. End of December 1914 began heavy defensive battles in Souain and Perthes.

Between February 21 and 20 March 1915, the division fought to reinforce the hard-pressed VIII Corps in the Battle of Champagne. Between 18 and 21 June, the Division moved into Artois, led there Trench warfare and made between 25 September to 5 October its share in the autumn Battle of Arras and La Bassée. Between October 7, 1915 and 22 May 1916, the position battles led Division west of Bapaume and in July 1916, the Division was in the room Combles in the Battle of the Somme. Between August 19 and September 26, 1916 then served in Flanders and the end of September 1916, the division was again on the Somme used. The Division From 25 November until the end of 1916 was back in the Champagne region.

At the turn of 1917, the evacuation was followed to the northern eastern front. Between January 5 and 24 May 1917, the Division was in the standings before Dvinsk and moved in late May 1917 Back to the Western Front. She served briefly as a reserve of the Supreme Command in the Army Division A in Upper Alsace and stood from 9 June again in Flanders. Between June 31 and 21 August, the division was used in the Third Battle of Ypres. After one month trench warfare in Upper Alsace was followed on 24 September, the transfer to Italy.

Between September 25 to October 15, 1917, the Division took place under the leadership of General Arnold Lequis their march behind the Isonzo Front. It was allocated during the 12th Isonzo battle of the "Group Stone " of the 14th Army and made available for the offensive on 24 October Tolmein north. It succeeded the conquest of places Selisce and Volarje. By evening, the division was able to push forward and 27 km to reach the old Austrian border near Robic. On October 25, Monte Kuk and Mount Stol was stormed, after fighting on Luico Pass the breakthrough was achieved to 27 October in the Julian Alps. After participating in the capture of Cividale the conquest of Monte Ragogna and San Daniele followed. After fighting to Udine and the Tagliamento was overcome on November 3. Until November 5 created at Pinzano Piave bridge head, together with the imperial 50th Division troops expanded. The division continued on 6 and 7 November continued the persecution and achieved marching in three columns the Livenza transitions at Fiaschetti, Sacile and Carolana. All bridges were destroyed. On Monticano section in Vidor the Division on November 8, tried to push in the existing Italian here bridgehead and penetrate simultaneously with mass over the bridge. On the night of November 11, the bridgehead was abandoned and blown up the bridge. After short position battles on the lower Piave, the division moved from 10 December to Lorraine, there followed until the end of February 1918 position battles in the Vosges.

During the early years offensive in France, the division fought from March 21, 1918 in the 17th Army between Monchy and Cambrai section. Laid in late March to Lille, the Division 9 to 18 April also participated in the Battle of Armentieres. The end of April until the end of August 1918 was followed by alternating position battles in Flanders and Artois ( inserts at Ypres and La Bassée ). The end of August, the division increased the tottering front section in the 17th Army between Monchy and Bapaume section. Until September 1918 was followed by retreat fighting on the Siegfried Line in the association of the XIV Reserve Corps under General der Infanterie Kurt von morning. The division was the end of September in heavy defensive fighting between Cambrai and St. Quentin and went mid-October Lens back to the Scheldt. Between 26 October and November 4, 1918 was followed by defensive battles in space Valenciennes and the retreat to the Antwerp -Meuse position.

Commanders