109. Infanterie-Division 1915-1918

The 109th Division was formed in Kurland in May 1915. The division was composite in structure, with 2nd Grenadiers from Pomerania (transferred from 3. Infanterie-Division), mobiles Ersatz-Infanterie-Regiment Königsberg Nr. 2 (which was reformed to become IR 376 in September 1915) with recruits from depots in Eastern Prussia, and RIR 26 originally from Magdeburg, Stendal and Burg in Prussian Saxony (transferred from 6. Reserve-Division).

The division was part of the Njemen Army and fought in front of Jakobstadt until it was transferred to Rumania in November 1916, where it took part in the breakthrough on the Szurduk and through the Vulkan Pass. The 2nd Grenadiers led the German troops that entered Bucharest in December 1916.

The division took up positions and fought on the Sereth for much of 1917 until the ceasefire in Rumania in December 1917. Like many other German formations in the East, it was then free to be deployed for operations on other fronts and was transferred to the West to form a reserve for the German Spring offensive in March 1918. In late April the division relieved the 19th Division wet of Hangard, and held the sector until August. In the first two days of the British attack launched on 8 August, the division lost more than 1,500 prisoners. Following its withdrawal after some four months in line on the Somme front, losses in casualties and prisoners were so high that the division was disbanded on 24 August 1918.

2nd Grenadiers was transferred intact to 3. Reserve-Division. The three battalions of IR 376 were transferred to 1. Infanterie-Division and divided between Grenadier regiments 1 and 3 and IR 43, respectively. The remaining companies of RIR 26 were reorganised and transferred to Füsilier-Regiment 36 and IR 66 of 113th Division and to IR 27 of 211th Division. The 1918 American intelligence assessment rated the division as third class.

Kriegsgliederung/order of battle 3 October 1915

174. Infanterie-Brigade
Grenadier-Regiment König Friedrich Wilhelm IV. (1. Pommersches) Nr. 2	Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 376	Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 26
Kavallerie-Regiment Nr. 89
Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 227	Landwehr-Fussartillerie-Bataillon 28
1. Garde-Landwehr-Pionier-Kompagnie	Scheinwerfer-Zug 276	Fernsprech-Doppelzug 109

Kriegsgliederung/order of battle 20 February 1918

174. Infanterie-Brigade
Grenadier-Regiment König Friedrich Wilhelm IV. (1. Pommersches) Nr. 2	Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 376	Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 26
5. Eskadron Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 10
Artillerie-Kommandeur 109
Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 227	Fussartillerie-Bataillon 64 (from 24.04.1918)
Stab Pionier-Bataillon 218
1. Garde-Landwehr-Pionier-Kompagnie	Pionier-Kompagnie 388	Minenwerfer-Kompagnie 109
Divisions-Nachrichten-Kommandeur 109

Commanders