Bavarian Infantry Division: How Many Companies Were There?

The Bavarian Infantry Division was a unit of the Royal Bavarian Army, which served alongside the Prussian Army as part of the Imperial German Army. The division was formed on November 27, 1815, as the Infantry Division of the Munich General Command. The number of companies in the Bavarian Infantry Division varied throughout its existence, as divisional cavalry, including brigade headquarters, was often withdrawn to form cavalry divisions or split among divisions as reconnaissance units. On mobilisation, the Bavarian Army formed twelve Brigade Replacement Battalions by grouping companies taken from the replacement battalion of each infantry regiment.

Bavarian Ersatz Division

The Bavarian Ersatz Division (Bayerische Ersatz Division) was a Bavarian division of the Imperial German Army during World War I. It was formed in August 1914 and dissolved on 6 October 1918. Initially, it was composed entirely of Bavarian units, but it soon incorporated several non-Bavarian units that served with the division until 1917.

The Bavarian Ersatz Division first saw action in 1914 during the Battle of the Frontiers, including the battles before Nancy and Epinal. The division then participated in the Race to the Sea and subsequently settled into trench warfare. Unfortunately, the divisional commander, General der Infanterie Eugen Ritter von Benzino, was killed in action on November 28, 1915.

In 1916, the division entered the Battle of Verdun and fought on the Somme in October. The following year, in 1917, they were engaged in the Second Battle of the Aisne, also referred to as the Third Battle of Champagne or the Dual Battle of Aisne-Champagne in German sources. After a brief period of trench warfare near Verdun, the division was dispatched to Flanders in late 1917 to counter the Allied offensive.

In October 1917, the division advanced to the Romanian Front and then to Ukraine following the armistice in Romania. They returned to the Western Front in April 1918, occupying the line near Verdun and Reims before engaging in mobile defence. The division concluded the war confronting Allied forces in the Hundred Days Offensive. Allied intelligence rated the division as a third-class division.

Now, let's delve into the formation and organisation of the Bavarian Ersatz Division upon mobilisation. The Bavarian Army established twelve Brigade Replacement Battalions, or Brigade-Ersatz-Bataillone, by grouping companies from the replacement battalion of each infantry regiment. These battalions were then organised into three mixed brigades, each comprising four battalions, along with Ersatz cavalry, artillery, and engineer units drawn from the replacement detachments and companies of the respective regiments and battalions.

The order of battle of the Bavarian Ersatz Division upon mobilisation was as follows:

• Stab/1. Königlich Bayerische gemischte Ersatz-Brigade
• Königlich Bayerisches Brigade-Ersatz-Bataillon Nr. 1 to Nr. 4
• Kavallerie-Ersatz-Abteilung München/I. Königlich Bayerisches Armeekorps (1/3 squadron)
• Königlich Bayerische Feldartillerie-Ersatz-Abteilung Nr. 1 and Nr. 4 (2 batteries each)
• 2. Ersatz-Kompanie/Königlich Bayerisches 1. Pionier-Bataillon
• Stab/5. Königlich Bayerische gemischte Ersatz-Brigade
• Königlich Bayerisches Brigade-Ersatz-Bataillon Nr. 5 to Nr. 8
• Kavallerie-Ersatz-Abteilung Landau/II. Königlich Bayerisches Armeekorps (1/3 squadron)
• Königlich Bayerische Feldartillerie-Ersatz-Abteilung Nr. 2 and Nr. 12 (2 batteries each)
• Stab/9. Königlich Bayerische gemischte Ersatz-Brigade
• Königlich Bayerisches Brigade-Ersatz-Bataillon Nr. 9 to Nr. 12
• Kavallerie-Ersatz-Abteilung Nürnberg/III. Königlich Bayerisches Armeekorps (1/3 squadron)
• Königlich Bayerische Feldartillerie-Ersatz-Abteilung Nr. 8 and Nr. 10 (2 batteries each)
• 1. Ersatz-Kompanie/Königlich Bayerisches 3. Pionier-Bataillon

1st Royal Bavarian Division

The 1st Royal Bavarian Division was a unit of the Royal Bavarian Army that served alongside the Prussian Army as part of the Imperial German Army. The division was formed on 27 November 1815 as the Infantry Division of the Munich General Command. From 1822 to 1848, it was called the 1st Army Division, then the 1st Infantry Division from 1848 to 1851, and the Munich General Command from 1859 to 1869. From 1 April 1872 until mobilisation for World War I, it was known as the 1st Division.

The 1st Royal Bavarian Division fought against Prussia in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 and alongside the Prussians in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71. During World War I, the division served on the Western Front, fighting in the Battle of the Frontiers against French forces and then participating in the Race to the Sea. It remained on the northern front facing the British Army through 1915 and early 1916. In 1916, the division fought in the Battle of Verdun and later in the Somme offensive. In 1917, it occupied the trench lines, and in 1918, it participated in the German spring offensive. The division was generally rated as one of the better German divisions by Allied intelligence.

In 1914, the peacetime organisation of the 1st Royal Bavarian Division included the 1st and 2nd Royal Bavarian Infantry Brigades, each with two infantry regiments, as well as the 1st Royal Bavarian Cavalry Brigade and the 1st Royal Bavarian Field Artillery Brigade. On mobilisation for World War I, most divisional cavalry was withdrawn to form cavalry divisions, and divisions received engineer companies and other support units. The 1st Division was renamed the 1st Bavarian Infantry Division, and its initial wartime organisation included the 1st and 2nd Royal Bavarian Infantry Brigades, the 1st Royal Bavarian Jäger Battalion, the 8th Royal Bavarian Chevaulegers Regiment, the 1st Royal Bavarian Field Artillery Brigade, and the 10th Royal Bavarian Foot Artillery Battalion.

By late World War I, most divisions had become triangular, with one infantry brigade comprising three infantry regiments rather than two infantry brigades of two regiments (a "square division"). An artillery commander replaced the artillery brigade headquarters, the cavalry contingent was reduced, and the engineer contingent was increased. Divisional signals commanders were established to improve communications. On 21 March 1918, the 1st Royal Bavarian Division's order of battle included the 1st Royal Bavarian Infantry Regiment, the 2nd Royal Bavarian Infantry Regiment, the 24th Royal Bavarian Infantry Regiment, the 4th Royal Bavarian Machine Gun Sharpshooter Detachment, the 2nd Squadron of the 8th Royal Bavarian Chevaulegers Regiment, the 1st Royal Bavarian Artillery Commander, the 1st Royal Bavarian Field Artillery Regiment, the 9th Royal Bavarian Foot Artillery Battalion, the 1st Royal Bavarian Pioneer Battalion, and various pioneer and mine-thrower companies.

1st Royal Bavarian Division's Order of Battle

The 1st Royal Bavarian Division was a unit of the Royal Bavarian Army that served alongside the Prussian Army as part of the larger Imperial German Army. The division was formed on November 27, 1815, as the Infantry Division of the Munich General Command. It was headquartered in Munich from 1815 to 1919 and was part of the 1st Royal Bavarian Army Corps.

Pre-World War I Peace Organization:

In 1914, the peacetime organization of the 1st Royal Bavarian Division was as follows:

1st Royal Bavarian Infantry Brigade (1. Königlich Bayerische Infanterie-Brigade):

• Royal Bavarian Infantry Lifeguards Regiment (Kgl. Bayer. Infanterie-Leib-Regiment)
• Royal Bavarian 1st Infantry Regiment "King" (Kgl. Bayer. 1. Infanterie-Regiment König)

2nd Royal Bavarian Infantry Brigade (2. Kgl. Bayer. Infanterie-Brigade):

• Royal Bavarian 2nd Infantry Regiment "Crown Prince" (Kgl. Bayer. 2. Infanterie-Regiment Kronprinz)
• Royal Bavarian 16th Infantry Regiment "Grand Duke Ferdinand of Tuscany" (Kgl. Bayer. 16. Infanterie-Regiment Großherzog Ferdinand von Toskana)

1st Royal Bavarian Cavalry Brigade (1. Kgl. Bayer. Kavallerie-Brigade):

• 1st Royal Bavarian Heavy Cavalry “Prince Charles of Bavaria” (Kgl. Bayer. 1. Schweres Reiter-Regiment Prinz Karl von Bayern)
• 2nd Royal Bavarian Heavy Cavalry "Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria" (Kgl. Bayer. 2. Schweres Reiter-Regiment Erzherzog Franz-Ferdinand von Österreich-Este)

1st Royal Bavarian Field Artillery Brigade (1. Kgl. Bayer. Feldartillerie-Brigade):

• Royal Bavarian 1st Field Artillery Regiment "Prince Regent Luitpold" (Kgl. Bayer. 1. Feldartillerie-Regiment Prinz-Regent Luitpold)
• Royal Bavarian 7th Field Artillery Regiment "Prince Regent Luitpold" (Kgl. Bayer. 7. Feldartillerie-Regiment Prinz-Regent Luitpold)

Order of Battle on Mobilization:

On mobilization in August 1914, at the beginning of World War I, the 1st Division was renamed the 1st Bavarian Infantry Division. Its initial wartime organization included the following major units:

Kgl. Bayer. Infanterie-Brigade:

• Kgl. Bayer. Infanterie-Leib-Regiment
• Kgl. Bayer. 1. Infanterie-Regiment König

Kgl. Bayer. Infanterie-Brigade:

• Kgl. Bayer. 2. Infanterie-Regiment Kronprinz
• Kgl. Bayer. 16. Infanterie-Regiment Großherzog Ferdinand von Toskana
• Kgl. Bayer. 1. Jäger-Bataillon König
• Kgl. Bayer. 8. Chevaulegers-Regiment

Kgl. Bayer. Feldartillerie-Brigade:

• Kgl. Bayer. 1. Feldartillerie-Regiment Prinz-Regent Luitpold
• Kgl. Bayer. 7. Feldartillerie-Regiment Prinz-Regent Luitpold
• Kgl. Bayer. 10. Fußartillerie-Bataillon

Kompanie/Kgl. Bayer. 1. Pionier-Bataillon:

3.Kompanie/Kgl. Bayer. 1. Pionier-Bataillon

Late World War I Organization:

The division underwent significant changes during World War I, including the transfer of regiments and the destruction and rebuilding of others. The artillery brigade headquarters was replaced by an artillery commander, the cavalry contingent was reduced, and the engineer contingent was increased. Divisional signals commanders were also established to enhance communication and coordination. By March 21, 1918, the division's order of battle had evolved as follows:

Kgl. Bayer. Infanterie-Brigade:

• Kgl. Bayer. 1. Infanterie-Regiment König
• Kgl. Bayer. 2. Infanterie-Regiment Kronprinz
• Kgl. Bayer. 24. Infanterie-Regiment
• Kgl. Bayer. 4. MG-Scharfschützen-Abteilung

Eskadron/Kgl. Bayer. 8. Chevaulegers-Regiment:

• Kgl. Bayer. Artillerie-Kommandeur 1
• Kgl. Bayer. 1. Feldartillerie-Regiment Prinz-Regent Luitpold
• Kgl. Bayer. 9. Fußartillerie-Bataillon

Stab Kgl. Bayer. 1. Pionier-Bataillon:

• Kgl. Bayer. 1. Pionier-Kompanie
• Kgl. Bayer. 3. Pionier-Kompanie
• Kgl. Bayer. 3. Minenwerfer-Kompanie
• Kgl. Bayer. 1. Divisions-Nachrichten-Kommandeur

2nd Royal Bavarian Division

The 2nd Royal Bavarian Division was a unit of the Royal Bavarian Army, which served alongside the Prussian Army as part of the Imperial German Army. The division was formed on November 27, 1815, as the Infantry Division of the Munich General Command. From its formation in 1815 until mobilisation for World War I, the division underwent several name changes. It was called the 2nd Army Division from 1822-1848, 1851-1859, and 1869-1872. From 1848-1851, it was known as the 2nd Infantry Division, and from 1859-1869, it was renamed the Augsburg General Command. Finally, from April 1, 1872, until World War I, it was simply referred to as the 2nd Division.

The division was headquartered in Ingolstadt from 1815 to 1817, then in Regensburg from 1817 to 1822, and finally in Augsburg from 1822 to 1919, except for a brief period from 1871-1873 when it was part of the German occupation forces in France. The 2nd Royal Bavarian Division was part of the I Royal Bavarian Army Corps.

During the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, the division fought against Prussia, seeing action at Kissingen, Helmstadt, and Roßbrunn. In the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71, the division fought alongside the Prussians and participated in the battles of Beaumont and Sedan, the first and second battles of Orleans, the battles of Loigny-Poupry and Beaugency-Cravant, and the siege of Paris.

During World War I, the 2nd Bavarian Division served on the Western Front, initially fighting in the Battle of the Frontiers against French forces. Subsequently, it joined the Race to the Sea, fighting along the Somme. The division remained in the trench lines on the Somme until October 1915, after which it moved to Flanders and the Artois until May 1916. In May 1916, the division played a pivotal role in the Battle of Verdun, followed by participation in the latter stages of the Battle of the Somme.

In May 1917, the 2nd Royal Bavarian Division fought in the Second Battle of the Aisne, also known as the Third Battle of Champagne, or the Double Battle on the Aisne and in the Champagne by German sources. After a period of reserve and trench warfare, the division successfully resisted the late 1917 French offensive at Verdun. In 1918, the division joined the German spring offensive, engaging in the First Battle of the Somme (1918), also recognised as the Second Battle of the Somme to distinguish it from the 1916 battle. They also fought in the Second Battle of the Marne, both in the initial German offensive and the Allied counteroffensive. The division continued to resist various Allied attacks until the end of the war. Notably, Allied intelligence rated the division as one of the top German shock divisions.

The pre-World War I peacetime organisation of the 2nd Royal Bavarian Division was as follows:

Bayerische Infanterie-Brigade

• Kgl. Bayerisches 3. Infanterie-Regiment Prinz Karl von Bayern
• Kgl. Bayerisches 20. Infanterie-Regiment Prinz Franz

Bayerische Infanterie-Brigade

• Kgl. Bayerisches 12. Infanterie-Regiment Prinz Arnulf
• Kgl. Bayerisches 15. Infanterie-Regiment König Friedrich August von Sachsen

Bayerische Kavallerie-Brigade

• Kgl. Bayerisches 4. Chevaulegers-Regiment König
• Kgl. Bayerisches 8. Chevaulegers-Regiment

Bayerische Feldartillerie-Brigade

• Kgl. Bayerisches 4. Feldartillerie-Regiment König
• Kgl. Bayerisches 9. Feldartillerie-Regiment

On mobilisation for World War I in August 1914, the division underwent several changes. Most divisional cavalry, including brigade headquarters, was withdrawn to form cavalry divisions or allocated to divisions as reconnaissance units. The 2nd Bavarian Division was renamed the 2nd Bavarian Infantry Division, and its initial wartime organisation included the following major units:

Bayerische Infanterie-Brigade

• Kgl. Bayerisches 3. Infanterie-Regiment Prinz Karl von Bayern
• Kgl. Bayerisches 20. Infanterie-Regiment Prinz Franz

Bayerische Infanterie-Brigade

• Kgl. Bayerisches 12. Infanterie-Regiment Prinz Arnulf
• Kgl. Bayerisches 15. Infanterie-Regiment König Friedrich August von Sachsen
• Kgl. Bayerisches 4. Chevaulegers-Regiment König

Bayerische Feldartillerie-Brigade

• Kgl. Bayerisches 4. Feldartillerie-Regiment König
• Kgl. Bayerisches 9. Feldartillerie-Regiment
• 2.Kompanie/Kgl. Bayerisches 1. Pionier-Bataillon

During World War I, divisions underwent dynamic transformations, with regiments frequently moving between divisions, and some being rebuilt after destruction. By April 9, 1918, the 2nd Bavarian Infantry Division had become triangular, sending the 3rd Bavarian Infantry Regiment to the newly established 11th Bavarian Infantry Division. An artillery commander superseded the artillery brigade headquarters, the cavalry component was diminished further, and the number of engineers was augmented.

2nd Royal Bavarian Division's Order of Battle

The 2nd Royal Bavarian Division was a unit of the Royal Bavarian Army, formed on November 27, 1815, as the Infantry Division of the Munich General Command. It was headquartered in Ingolstadt from 1815 to 1817, then in Regensburg from 1817 to 1822, and finally in Augsburg from 1822 to 1919, except for a brief period from 1871 to 1873 when it was part of the German occupation forces in France.

Pre-World War I Peace Organization:

In 1914, the peacetime organization of the 2nd Royal Bavarian Division was as follows:

Bavarian Infantry Brigade (3. bayerische Infanterie-Brigade)

• Kgl. Bayerisches 3. Infanterie-Regiment Prinz Karl von Bayern
• Kgl. Bayerisches 20. Infanterie-Regiment Prinz Franz

Bavarian Infantry Brigade (4. bayerische Infanterie-Brigade)

• Kgl. Bayerisches 12. Infanterie-Regiment Prinz Arnulf
• Kgl. Bayerisches 15. Infanterie-Regiment König Friedrich August von Sachsen

Bavarian Cavalry Brigade (2. bayerische Kavallerie-Brigade)

• Kgl. Bayerisches 4. Chevaulegers-Regiment König
• Kgl. Bayerisches 8. Chevaulegers-Regiment

Bavarian Field Artillery Brigade (2. bayerische Feldartillerie-Brigade)

• Kgl. Bayerisches 4. Feldartillerie-Regiment König
• Kgl. Bayerisches 9. Feldartillerie-Regiment

Order of Battle on Mobilization:

On mobilization in August 1914, at the beginning of World War I, the 2nd Bavarian Division was renamed the 2nd Bavarian Infantry Division. Its initial wartime organization included:

Bavarian Infantry Brigade (3. bayerische Infanterie-Brigade)

• Kgl. Bayerisches 3. Infanterie-Regiment Prinz Karl von Bayern
• Kgl. Bayerisches 20. Infanterie-Regiment Prinz Franz

Bavarian Infantry Brigade (4. bayerische Infanterie-Brigade)

• Kgl. Bayerisches 12. Infanterie-Regiment Prinz Arnulf
• Kgl. Bayerisches 15. Infanterie-Regiment König Friedrich August von Sachsen

Kgl. Bayerisches 4. Chevaulegers-Regiment König

Bavarian Field Artillery Brigade (2. bayerische Feldartillerie-Brigade)

• Kgl. Bayerisches 4. Feldartillerie-Regiment König
• Kgl. Bayerisches 9. Feldartillerie-Regiment

Company/Kgl. Bayerisches 1. Pionier-Bataillon

Late World War I Organization:

During World War I, the division underwent changes, and by April 9, 1918, its order of battle was as follows:

Bavarian Infantry Brigade (4. bayerische Infanterie-Brigade)

• Kgl. Bayerisches 12. Infanterie-Regiment Prinz Arnulf
• Kgl. Bayerisches 15. Infanterie-Regiment König Friedrich August von Sachsen
• Kgl. Bayerisches 20. Infanterie-Regiment Prinz Franz

Kgl. Bayerische Maschinengewehr-Scharfschützen-Abteilung Nr. 2

3rd Squadron/Kgl. Bayerisches 8. Chevaulegers-Regiment

Kgl. Bayerischer Artillerie-Kommandeur 2

Kgl. Bayerisches 9. Feldartillerie-Regiment

I. Battalion/Kgl. Bayerisches Reserve-Fußartillerie-Regiment Nr. 3

Kgl. Bayerisches Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 7

Kgl. Bayerische Pionier-Kompanie Nr. 2

Kgl. Bayerische Pionier-Kompanie Nr. 4

Kgl. Bayerische Minenwerfer-Kompanie Nr. 2

Kgl. Bayerischer Divisions-Nachrichten-Kommandeur 2

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