16th Division (German Empire)
Encyclopedia
The 16th Division was a unit of the Prussia
n/German
Army
. It was formed as the 15th Division on September 5, 1818 in Koblenz
from a troop brigade. It became the 16th Division on December 14, 1818 and moved its headquarters to Trier
. The division was subordinated in peacetime to the VIII Army Corps (VIII. Armeekorps). The division was disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I. It was mainly recruited in the densely populated Prussian Rhine Province
, mainly along the Rhine and the cities and towns along the Moselle River.
in 1866, seeing action in the Battle of Königgrätz
. In the Franco-Prussian War
of 1870-71, the division fought in the Battle of Spicheren
, the Battle of Mars-la-Tour
, the Battle of Gravelotte
(also called the Battle of Gravelotte-St. Privat) and the Siege of Metz
, and then in the battles of Amiens
, Hallue
, and St. Quentin
.
During World War I, the division marched through Luxembourg, Belgium and France, in what became known to the Allies as the Great Retreat
, culminating in the First Battle of the Marne
. In 1916, it fought in the Battle of the Somme. The division was briefly sent to the Eastern Front
in late 1916. It saw action in 1917 in the Battle of Passchendaele, also known as the Third Battle of Ypres. It participated in the 1918 German Spring Offensive
, including the Battle of the Lys, and defended against the Allied counteroffensives, including the Second Battle of the Somme. The 16th Infantry Division was a highly regarded division early in the war, known as the Iron Division, but by 1918 Allied intelligence rated it a second class division.
, most divisional cavalry, including brigade headquarters, was withdrawn to form cavalry divisions or split up among divisions as reconnaissance units.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 16th Division was again renamed the 16th Infantry Division. Its initial wartime organization was as follows:
- 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 16th Infantry Division's order of battle on March 25, 1918 was as follows:
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n/German
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
Army
German Army (German Empire)
The German Army was the name given the combined land forces of the German Empire, also known as the National Army , Imperial Army or Imperial German Army. The term "Deutsches Heer" is also used for the modern German Army, the land component of the German Bundeswehr...
. It was formed as the 15th Division on September 5, 1818 in Koblenz
Koblenz
Koblenz is a German city situated on both banks of the Rhine at its confluence with the Moselle, where the Deutsches Eck and its monument are situated.As Koblenz was one of the military posts established by Drusus about 8 BC, the...
from a troop brigade. It became the 16th Division on December 14, 1818 and moved its headquarters to Trier
Trier
Trier, historically called in English Treves is a city in Germany on the banks of the Moselle. It is the oldest city in Germany, founded in or before 16 BC....
. The division was subordinated in peacetime to the VIII Army Corps (VIII. Armeekorps). The division was disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I. It was mainly recruited in the densely populated Prussian Rhine Province
Rhine Province
The Rhine Province , also known as Rhenish Prussia or synonymous to the Rhineland , was the westernmost province of the Kingdom of Prussia and the Free State of Prussia, within the German Reich, from 1822-1946. It was created from the provinces of the Lower Rhine and Jülich-Cleves-Berg...
, mainly along the Rhine and the cities and towns along the Moselle River.
Combat chronicle
The 16th Division fought in the Austro-Prussian WarAustro-Prussian War
The Austro-Prussian War was a war fought in 1866 between the German Confederation under the leadership of the Austrian Empire and its German allies on one side and the Kingdom of Prussia with its German allies and Italy on the...
in 1866, seeing action in the Battle of Königgrätz
Battle of Königgrätz
The Battle of Königgrätz , also known as the Battle of Sadowa, Sadová, or Hradec Králové, was the decisive battle of the Austro-Prussian War, in which the Kingdom of Prussia defeated the Austrian Empire...
. In the Franco-Prussian War
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
of 1870-71, the division fought in the Battle of Spicheren
Battle of Spicheren
The Battle of Spicheren, also known as the Battle of Forbach, was a battle during the Franco-Prussian War. The German victory compelled the French to withdraw to the defenses of Metz.- History :...
, the Battle of Mars-la-Tour
Battle of Mars-La-Tour
The Battle of Mars-La-Tour was fought on 16 August 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War near the town of Mars-La-Tour in northeast France. Two Prussian corps encountered the entire French Army of the Rhine in a meeting engagement, and with the surprise entailed, successfully forced the Army of the...
, the Battle of Gravelotte
Battle of Gravelotte
The Battle of Gravelotte was a battle of the Franco-Prussian War named after Gravelotte, a village in Lorraine between Metz and the former French–German frontier.-Terrain and armies:...
(also called the Battle of Gravelotte-St. Privat) and the Siege of Metz
Siege of Metz
The Siege of Metz lasting from 19 August – 27 October 1870 was fought during the Franco-Prussian War and ended in a decisive Prussian victory.-History:...
, and then in the battles of Amiens
Battle of Amiens (1870)
Battle of Amiens on November 27, 1870 was fought during the Franco-Prussian War, ending in a Prussian victory.The French under General Faure fought the Prussians under Edwin Freiherr von Manteuffel in Amiens, France. Having already capitulated at Metz, the French were compelled to leave the city of...
, Hallue
Battle of Hallue
The Battle of Hallue was a battle of the Franco-Prussian War on December 23 and 24, 1870.The battle was fought between 40,000 French under General Louis Faidherbe and 22,500 Prussian troops under Edwin Freiherr von Manteuffel. The French lost heavily in the village lying in front of their position....
, and St. Quentin
Battle of St. Quentin (1871)
The Battle of St. Quentin was a battle of the Franco-Prussian War in which Prussian forces defeated French attempts to relieve the besieged city of Paris....
.
During World War I, the division marched through Luxembourg, Belgium and France, in what became known to the Allies as the Great Retreat
Great Retreat
The Great Retreat, also known as the Retreat from Mons, is the name given to the long, fighting retreat by Allied forces to the River Marne, on the Western Front early in World War I, after their holding action against the Imperial German Armies at the Battle of Mons on 23 August 1914...
, culminating in the First Battle of the Marne
First Battle of the Marne
The Battle of the Marne was a First World War battle fought between 5 and 12 September 1914. It resulted in an Allied victory against the German Army under Chief of Staff Helmuth von Moltke the Younger. The battle effectively ended the month long German offensive that opened the war and had...
. In 1916, it fought in the Battle of the Somme. The division was briefly sent to the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War I)
The Eastern Front was a theatre of war during World War I in Central and, primarily, Eastern Europe. The term is in contrast to the Western Front. Despite the geographical separation, the events in the two theatres strongly influenced each other...
in late 1916. It saw action in 1917 in the Battle of Passchendaele, also known as the Third Battle of Ypres. It participated in the 1918 German Spring Offensive
Spring Offensive
The 1918 Spring Offensive or Kaiserschlacht , also known as the Ludendorff Offensive, was a series of German attacks along the Western Front during World War I, beginning on 21 March 1918, which marked the deepest advances by either side since 1914...
, including the Battle of the Lys, and defended against the Allied counteroffensives, including the Second Battle of the Somme. The 16th Infantry Division was a highly regarded division early in the war, known as the Iron Division, but by 1918 Allied intelligence rated it a second class division.
Order of battle in the Franco-Prussian War
During wartime, the 16th Division, like other regular German divisions, was redesignated an infantry division. The organization of the 16th Infantry Division in 1870 at the beginning of the Franco-Prussian War was as follows:- 31. Infanterie-Brigade
- Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 29
- Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 69
- 32. Infanterie-Brigade
- Füsilier-Regiment Nr. 40
- Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 72
- Husaren-Regiment Nr. 9
Pre-World War I organization
German divisions underwent various organizational changes after the Franco-Prussian War. The 16th Division received a new infantry brigade, the 80th, in 1897. It lost the 32nd Infantry Brigade, whose recruiting area was outside the Rhineland. The 15th Division's 30th Infantry Brigade then went to the 16th Division in exchange for the 80th Infantry Brigade. The organization of the 16th Division in 1914, shortly before the outbreak of World War I, was as follows:- 30. Infanterie-Brigade:
- Infanterie-Regiment von Goeben (2. Rheinisches) Nr. 28
- 6. Rheinisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 68
- 31. Infanterie-Brigade:
- Infanterie-Regiment von Horn (3. Rheinisches) Nr. 29
- 7. Rheinisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 69
- 16. Kavallerie-Brigade
- Jäger-Regiment zu Pferde Nr. 7
- Jäger-Regiment zu Pferde Nr. 8
- 16. Feldartillerie-Brigade
- 2. Rheinisches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 23
- Triersches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 44
Order of battle on mobilization
On mobilization in August 1914 at the beginning of World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, 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 16th Division was again renamed the 16th Infantry Division. Its initial wartime organization was as follows:
- 30. Infanterie-Brigade:
- Infanterie-Regiment von Goeben (2. Rheinisches) Nr. 28
- 6. Rheinisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 68
- 31. Infanterie-Brigade:
- Infanterie-Regiment von Horn (3. Rheinisches) Nr. 29
- 7. Rheinisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 69
- Husaren-Regiment König Wilhelm I. (1. Rheinisches) Nr. 7
- 16. Feldartillerie-Brigade:
- 2. Rheinisches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 23
- Triersches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 44
- 2.Kompanie/1. Rheinisches Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 8
- 3.Kompanie/1. Rheinisches Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 8
Late World War I organization
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 triangularTriangular division
A triangular division is a designation given to the way divisions are organized. In a triangular organization, the division's main body is composed of three regimental maneuver elements. These regiments may be controlled by a brigade headquarters or directly subordinated to the division commander...
- one infantry brigade with three infantry regiments rather than two infantry brigades of two regiments (a "square division
Square division
A square division is a designation given to the way military divisions are organized. In a square organization, the division's main body is composed of four regimental elements. Since a regiment could be split into separate battalions for tactical purposes, the natural division within a 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 16th Infantry Division's order of battle on March 25, 1918 was as follows:
- 30. Infanterie-Brigade:
- Infanterie-Regiment von Goeben (2. Rheinisches) Nr. 28
- Infanterie-Regiment von Horn (3. Rheinisches) Nr. 29
- 6. Rheinisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 68
- 1.Eskadron/Husaren-Regiment König Wilhelm I. (1. Rheinisches) Nr. 7
- Artillerie-Kommandeur 16:
- 2. Rheinisches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 23
- Fußartillerie-Bataillon Nr. 32
- Stab/1. Rheinisches Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 8
- 2.Kompanie/1. Rheinisches Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 8
- 3.Kompanie/1. Rheinisches Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 8
- Minenwerfer-Kompanie Nr. 169
- Divisions-Nachrichten-Kommandeur 16