21st Infantry Division

This peacetime Army unit was formed in October 1866

Its Home Station was in Franfurt am Main, part of the XVIII Corps District

The 21st and 25th Infantry Divisions combined to form the XVIII Army Corps

 

41st Infantry Brigade
87th (1st Nassau) Infantry Regiment, formed on 14th March 1809, garrisoned in Mainz
88th (2nd Nassau) Infantry Regiment, formed on 13th August 1808, garrisoned in Mainz
42nd Infantry Brigade
80th Füsilier Regiment von Gerdsdorff (1st Kurhessian), formed on 22nd November 1813, garrisoned in Weisbaden
81st Infantry Regiment Landgraf Friedrich I. von Hessen-Kassel (1st Kurhessian), formed on 5th December 1813, garrisoned in Frankfurt am Main
6th Ulhan Regiment 21st Field Artillery Brigade 1st Company, 21st Pioneer Battalion	27th Field Artillery Regiment 61st Field Artillery Regiment

The Division entered Luxembourg and moved through Belgium as part of the German 4th Army, before taking part in the crossing of the Meuse.  It then took part in the battle of the Marne.

In 1915 and early 1916 it saw action on the Somme sector.  From February 1916 it saw action at the battle of Verdun.  In September 1916 it returned to the Somme front. It remained in the line on the Somme until February 1917 when it was rested.  It had suffered severe losses at Verdun, and on the Somme.

In February 1917 it saw action in the Aisne sector where it suffered heavy losses.  Between April and September 1917 it served on the Eastern front, before returning to the Western front.  

Entering the line in October 1917 taking part in the 1918 battles of Picardy, the Somme and La Chateau.  It ended the war south of Ghent