7th Division (German Empire)

The 7th Division for the duration of the mobile ratio referred to as the 7th Infantry Division, was a major unit of the Prussian army.

  • 2.1 World War I

Structure

The command was in Magdeburg and the Division was part of the Fourth Army Corps.

Peacetime in 1914

  • Infantry Regiment " Prince Louis Ferdinand of Prussia " (2 Magdeburgisches ) # 27 in Halberstadt
  • 5 Hannoversches Infantry Regiment No. 165 in Quedlinburg and Blankenburg
  • Magdeburgisches Hussar Regiment No. 10 in Stendal
  • Uhlan Regiment " Hennig meeting of the field" ( Altmärkisches ) # 16 in Salzwedel and Gardelegen
  • Field Artillery Regiment " Prince Regent Luitpold of Bavaria " ( Magdeburgisches ) Ranked # 4 in Magdeburg
  • Altmärkisches Field Artillery Regiment No. 40 in Burg

Of Battle from August 2, 1914

  • Infantry Regiment " Prince Louis Ferdinand of Prussia " (2 Magdeburgisches ) No 27
  • 5 Hannoversches Infantry Regiment No. 165
  • ½ Magdeburgisches Hussars 10
  • Field Artillery Regiment " Prince Regent Luitpold of Bavaria " ( Magdeburgisches ) # 4
  • Altmärkisches Field Artillery Regiment No. 40
  • 1st Company / Magdeburgisches Pioneer Battalion No. 4

Of Battle from April 1, 1918

  • Altmärkisches Field Artillery Regiment No. 40
  • 1st Battalion / reserve Foot Artillery Regiment No. 20

History

World War I

In August 1914, the Division ( Sixt von Armin ) on Liege moved under the commander Lieutenant General John Riedel along with the 8th Division of the Association of the IV Army Corps by pushing in a neutral Belgium. Until 18 August, the Belgians were pushed back from the IV Corps to Gette. On August 23, the 7th Division met at the line Pommeroeul - Thulin ( Battle of Mons ) on the left flank of the British Expeditionary Force ( BEF). From the 8th Division of the Mons- Condé Canal had to be overcome, east of it managed a weak detachment of the 7th Division to break about 400 meters behind the channel on the south road leading by Thulin. The IV Corps was to lead to another attack at Mons on 24 August, took place at daybreak no more enemies in front of their front and the 7th Division reached tracing over Thulin Angre. On the morning of August 26, the division came about Solesmes approach to Le Cateau and took the entrenched British under heavy artillery fire, Le Cateau fell after a bitter street fighting. Between 28 and 30 August 1914, the retreating enemy was pursued in the area of the Somme and the beginning of September attacked the 7th Division in the Battle of the Marne a. Between 5 and 7 September, the 7th Division was regrouped to the Ourcq, in this section, the German IV Reserve Corps had been pushed back by the French after Étrépilly. Following the general retreat order for the 1st Army on 9 September, the 7th Division was withdrawn and moved west to the Aisne between Soissons Vic- Fontenoy position. Here held the IV Corps between September 12 to 28 was the Allied attacks and was the beginning of October to the 6th Army moved to Arras. Between 13 October to early November 1914, the city of the 7th Division defended the eastern front line and Blangy Tilloy. Between 14 and December 24, 1914 attacked the Division as a reserve in battle in Flanders and made ​​thereafter until the end of June 1916 again Trench warfare in Artois. The division participated in the Arras area in the defense of the first Franco-British offensive in the Loretto battle between 9 May to 23 July 1915. Between 25 September to 13 October 1915, the 7th Division fought in the second battle of La Bassée ( Battle of Loos ). It in turn was followed by trench warfare in Artois and Flanders, from mid- June 1916 moved the Division for reconnaissance of the 6th Army on the Somme. The Division participated from mid-July to early October as a reserve at the Battle of the Somme and was postponed several times alternating between Flanders and Artois. As of October 9, 1916, the division was back in the Artois, in November 1916, Lieutenant General Hans von der Esch the leadership of the 7th Division. Between April 2 us May 20, 1917 the 7th Division fought in the 6th Army section in the spring Battle of Arras. On June 7, 1917 began with the mine detonation of Messines the great battle in Flanders. The standing in the room Wytschaete 7th Division acted June 15 to July 27 as a reserve of the High Command and was in between also used for trench warfare in Upper Alsace. The 7th Division in early August 1917, re-thrown to Flanders and fought 15 to 27 August, the 6th Army in the Lens. From December 4, 1917 until the beginning of May 1918 resulted in the division back position battles in Flanders, while they participated from April 10, 1918 in the attack on the Kemmel. After working at the Avre and at the Matz, the division participated in mid-July 1918 the 7th Army section ( Boehn ) to the relief attacks in Champagne. The 7th Division remained then to early October in the 1st Army section on the Aisne in position. On 4 November 1918 the new division commander Lieutenant General Carl Nehbel took over the leadership of the retreat of the 7th Division on the Antwerp -Meuse position.

Commanders

15220
de