- 1st Guards Division, Imperial German Army during the Great War -
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1st Guards Division, Imperial German Army
Divisional History 1st Guards Division part of the Guards Corps and 2nd ArmyOrder of battle 1914
- 1st Guards Brigade
- 1st Foot Guards Regiment
- 2nd Foot Guards Regiment
- 2nd Guards Brigade
1st Artillery Guards Brigade
- 3rd Foot Guards Regiment
- 4th Foot Guards Regiment
- 1st Guards Artillery Regiment
- 3rd Guards Artillery Regiment
Divisional History 1st German Guards DivisionAdditions to Order of Battle in 1915
- 1st Guards Engineering Battalion
- Field Company Guards Pioneers
- 1st Guards Pontoon Engineers
- 4th Guards Telephone Detachment
Divisional Structure 1916 1st German Guards DivisionRevised Order of Battle 1916
1st/2nd Guards Brigade
- 1st Foot Guards Regiment
- 2nd Foot Guards Regiment
- 4th Foot Guards Regiment
Cavalry
- Guards Regiment (Massow)
- 1st Squadron
- 2nd Squadron
- 3rd Squadron
- 4th Squadron
- Body Guard Hussars Regiment
- 6th Dragoon Regiment
- 2nd Squadron
Artillery
- 1st Guards Brigade
- 1st Guards Artillery Regiment
- 3rd Guards Artillery Regiment
Engineers and Liaison
- 1st Guards Engineering Battalion
- 1st Guards Pioneer Company
- 1st Guards Trench Mortar Company
- 1st Guards Pontoon Engineers
- 1st Guards Telephone Detachment
Divisional Structure 1917 1st German Guards DivisionRevisions to Divisional Order of Battle 1917
1st Guards Brigade only but no changes in the 3 divisions.
Cavalry
- 2nd Squadron Body Guard Hussars left the Division
- 4th Squadron Body Guard Hussars left the Division
Artillery restructured to include.
- 1st Guards Artillery Command
- 1st Guards Artillery Regiment
Engineering and Liaison - no changes
Medical and Veterinary
- Field Hospital
- 1st Ambulance Company
- Veterinary Hospital
Transport
Divisional Motor Transport Column
Attached
35th Machine Gun Battalion - Sharpshooter Company
Order of Battle 1918 1st German Guards DivisionRevised Divisional Order of Battle in 1918
Infantry
1st Guards Brigade
- 1st Foot Guard Regiment
- 2nd Foot Guard Regiment
- 4th Foot Guard Regiment
Cavalry
3rd Squadron Body Guards Hussars Regiment
Artillery
1st Guards Artillery Command
- 1st Guards Field Artillery Regiment (less 4 and 5 Abteil)
- 1st Abteil Light Guards Foot Artillery Regiment (1, 2 and 4 Batteries)
- 870 Light Ammunition Column
- 1099 Light Ammunition Column
- 1128 Light Ammunition Column
Engineering and Liaison
- Guards Pioneer Battalion (1st and 5th Company Guards Pioneers)
- 23 Searchlight Section
Medical and Veterinary
- 1st Ambulance Company
- 4th Field Hospital
- 6th Field Hospital
- 1st Guards Veterinary Hospital
Allied Intelligence evaluation 1917 1st German Guards DivisionAllied Intelligence Value - 1917 Estimate
The 1st Guard Division may be considered one of the very best German divisions. Excellent conduct under fire. It displayed on the Aisne as well as on the Somme, energy and determination while on the defensive. Among its heavy losses there was an exceedingly small number of prisoners. Again on the Aisne (April-May, 1917), it displayed remarkable military qualities. It received important reinforcements of the younger classes (15-16-17), 30 per cent from the class of 1917. Its normal value was reduced temporarily on account of the arrival of elements which had never been under fire (June, 1917). Prisoners taken in the Argonne (June, 1917) seemed less keen for fighting.
The above quote from a joint French and American report based on observation and prisoner interrogation which was compiled for all German Divisions active during 1914 to 1918.
Allied Intelligence evaluation 1918
11th August 1914 Opening movements WW1 1st German Guards DivisionDetrained on 11th and 12th August in Prussian Wallonia at Weimar and neighbouring stations. Entered Belgium on the 13th August via Stavelot and crossed the Meuse on the 18th August 1914.
23rd August 1914 Initial Action
5th September 1914 Marne action
1st November 1914 Flanders
1st January 1915 brigade move
1st February 1915 brigade move
1st March 1915 Division relocation
22nd April 1915 On the Move
1st September 1915 Relocation
25th September 1915 Back into action
20th October 1915 Relief and relocation
1st August 1916 Move to Somme area
15th August 1916 Somme action
19th August 1916 Somme losses
1st January 1917 Reinforcement, Training and Relocation
1st April 1917 Chemin de Dames
1st July 1917 To Russia
16th October 1917 Return to France
1st January 1918 Training and relocation 1st German Guards DivisionFrance.
The division remained in line at the Marquise sector in Champagne from the end of October until the 21st of January 1918
It was withdrawn at that date and put through a course of training in open warfare until the 1st March, when it entered the line east of Reims (relieving the 203rd Division), remaining there until the 15th in order to become familiar with the terrain.
28th March 1918 Back into Action
29th May 1918 Ongoing Action
15th of July 1918 Slight Shelling
16th July 1918 Ongoing Action
20th September 1918 Closing actions in WW1
21st of October 1918If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
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1st Guards Division, Imperial German Army
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