The Kaisers Legions: 5th Ersatz (Replacement) Division (Division Basedow)

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This Blog was born from a wet day in Germany, looking at one of the many war memorials in that country and further investigation which led me to notice a lack of reference material with regards to the German Army in World War One.

My work on this project has been made easier by the World Wide Web, but with the information tools at my disposal it has been a constant battle to ensure that the correct information has been included.

This Blog is intended for reference, and will hopefully enable those with an interest in the German Army of World War One to look up with confidence the various units and organisations which contributed to the German war machine.

Wednesday, 30 April 2014

5th Ersatz (Replacement) Division (Division Basedow)

This Army Militia unit was formed in June 1915.

The 5th Ersatz Division was formed in 1915 and formed part of the German fourth line after regular and reserve formations. It fought on the Somme and on the Eastern front.

2nd Reserve Ersatz Brigade

3rd Reserve Ersatz Regiment
4th Res Ersatz Regiment

37th Landwehr Brigade

73rd Landwehr Infantry Regiment
74th Landwehr Infantry Regiment

2nd Landwehr Squadron/VIII Corps
2nd Landwehr Squadron/X Corps
2nd Landwehr Squadron/I Bavarian Corps
2nd Landwehr Squadron/II Bavarian Corps

26th Field Artillery Regiment (2nd Hanover)/Ersatz Company
24th Pioneer Battalion (2nd Westphalia)/3rd Pioneer Company
2nd Landsturm Pioneer Company/IX Corps

The Division was triangulised in November 1916

37th Landwehr Brigade

73rd Landwehr Infantry Regiment
74th Landwehr Infantry Regiment

3rd Reserve Ersatz Regiment

16th Hanover Dragoon Regiment/1st Squadron

102nd Field Artillery Detachment

2nd Landsturm Pioneer Company/IX Corps

405th Mine Thrower Company

By January 1918 the Division consisted of the following units:

37th Landwehr Brigade

73rd Landwehr Infantry Regiment
74th Landwehr Infantry Regiment

8th Landsturm Infantry Regiment