21st Reserve Division

This Reserve Army unit was formed in August 1914

The 21st Reserve Division and 25th Reserve Division formed th XVIII Reserve Corps.

41st Reserve Infantry Brigade
80th Reserve Infantry Regiment
87th Reserve Infantry Regiment
42nd Reserve Infantry Brigade
81st Reserve Infantry Regiment
88th Reserve Infantry Regiment
7th Reserve Dragoon Regiment
21st Reserve Field Artillery Regiment
4th Coy/11th Pioneer Battalion

35th Infantry Division

This peacetime Army unit was formed in April 1890

Its home station was in West Prussia, part of the XVII Corps District.

The 35th and 36th Divisions formed the XVII Army Corps

70th Infantry Brigade
21st Infantry Regiment (von Borcke) (4th Pommeranian) formed on 1st July 1813, and garrisoned at Thorn
61st Infantry Regiment (von der Marwitz) (8th Pommeranian) formed on 5th May 1860, and garrisoned at Thorn
87th Infantry Brigade
141st Kulmer Infantry Regiment formed on 1st February 1890, and garrisoned at Graudenz
176th (9th West Prussian) Infantry Regiment, formed on 31st March 1897, and garrisoned at Kulm
4th Jäger-Regiment zu Pferde
35th Field Artillery Brigade	71st Field Artillery Regiment 81st Field Artillery Regiment

Also included 1st Company, 17th Pioneer Battalion

The 35th Division started the war on the Eastern Front, where it took part in the battle of Tannenberg.

It took part in the two German offensives against Warsaw, and saw action in Russia before moving in October to the Western Front.

It was engaged on the Somme in 1916, where it saw action against the French, and after suffering heavy losses was moved to St Quentin in 1917.  Like its sister division it saw service at Artois and Flanders.

It took part in numerous battles in 1918, most notably Ypres, Flanders, and Cambrai where it ended the war.

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