The German Army Order of Battle at Vimy Ridge April 1917

[Guest ABG]

Hello everyone,

As a follow on to my previous post, I am currently constructing an accurate Order of Battle for the German Army at Vimy Ridge, April 9-12, 1917, for an upcoming project. This is very much a 'work in progress' right now and I have included below the first draft of this OOB. I am certain it contains mistakes, and as can been seen I am missing several of the commanding officers of the various sub-units. I am inviting any comments, constructive criticism, and assistance with mistakes, ommissions, names of commanders, etc. Any help is greatly appreciated and I will re-post the product after the incorporation of any edits received here and elsewhere.

Thank you in advance for any assistance and/ or comments,

Andrew Godefroy

The German Army at Vimy Ridge

1st Bavarian Reserve Corps Gruppe Vimy ? General der Infanterie Karl Ritter von Fasbender

Corps Troops

Artillery

9th Field Artillery Regiment

25th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment

66th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment

69th Field Artillery Regiment

Three Batteries of Kriegsmarine 30cm Naval guns

79th (Prussian) Reserve Infantry Division ? General der Infanterie von Bacmeister

79th (Prussian) Reserve Infantry Brigade - Generalleutnant Alfred Dieterich

261st Reserve Infantry Regiment ? Oberst von Goerne

1st Battalion

2nd Battalion

3rd Battalion

262nd Reserve Infantry Regiment ? Major Freiherr von Rotenhan

1st Battalion

2nd Battalion

3rd Battalion ? Major von Knobelsdorff-Brenckenhoff

263rd Reserve Infantry Regiment ? Oberstleutnant von Behr

1st Battalion

2nd Battalion

3rd Battalion

Cavalry Squadron

3 Sqn / 16th Hussar Regiment

79th Artillery Command

63rd Reserve Field Artillery Regiment (9 Batteries)

Engineers and Liaison

379th Pioneer Battalion

81st Reserve Pioneer Company

1 Ersatz Company, 24th Pioneers

279th Trench Mortar Company

40th Reserve Searchlight Section

50th 51st and 79th Searchlight Sections

79th Reserve Pontoon Engineers

Medical and Veterinary

541 Ambulance Company

110th 111th and 112th Field Hospital

Veterinarian Hospital

Transport

746th Motor Transport Column

Reinforced on 9 April by:

1st Battalion, 118th Reserve Infantry Regiment, 56th Infantry Division

3rd Battalion, 34th Reserve Infantry Regiment, 80th Infantry Division

1st (Bavarian) Reserve Infantry Division ?Generalmajor Freiherr von Bechmann

1st (Bavarian) Reserve Infantry Brigade

1st Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment ? Oberstleutnant Ritter von F?ger

1st Battalion

2nd Battalion

3rd Battalion

3rd Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment ? Major Anton Maier

1st Battalion

2nd Battalion

3rd Battalion

Regiment reinforced on 9 April by:

1st Battalion, 225th Infantry Regiment, 17th Division

Note: 2nd Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment (Oberstleutnant von Brunner) fought the 51st Division of XVII Corps in the Third Army area of operations to the south of Vimy Ridge. They were not involved directly in the Canadian battle.

Cavalry Squadron

3 Sqn/ 3rd Bavarian Chevauxleger Regiment

13th Bavarian Artillery Command

1st Bavarian Reserve Field Artillery Regiment

Engineers and Liaison

17th Bavarian Pioneer Battalion

1st 3rd and 7th Bavarian Reserve Pioneer Companies

201 Trench Mortar Company

1st Bavarian Reserve Searchlight Section

401st Bavarian Telephone Detachment

Medical and Veterinary

15th Bavarian Ambulance Company

45th 48th and 49th Bavarian Field Hospitals

Veterinary Hospital

Transport

750th Motor Transport Column

14th Bavarian Infantry Division ? General Ritter von Rauchenberger

Though part of Gruppe Vimy, it took no part in the battle for Vimy Ridge. It was posted on the northern side of the river Scarpe and fought the 34th and 9th Divisions of XVII Corps.

8th Reserve Corps (Gruppe Souchez) ? General der Infanterie Georg Karl Wichura

Corps Troops

16th (Bavarian) Reserve Infantry Division ? Generalmajor Arnold Ritter von M?hl

9th (Bavarian) Reserve Infantry Brigade

11th Bavarian Infantry Regiment ? Major Ritter von Braun

1st Battalion

2nd Battalion

3rd Battalion

14th Bavarian Infantry Regiment

1st Battalion

2nd Battalion (did not see action)

3rd Battalion (did not see action)

21st Bavarian Infantry Regiment

1st Battalion

2nd Battalion (did not see action)

3rd Battalion (did not see action)

Cavalry Squadron

4 Sqn/ 7th Bavarian Light Cavalry Regiment

16th Artillery Command

3rd Bavarian Artillery Regiment

Engineers and Liaison

16th (Bavarian) Pioneer Battalion

14th and 15th Bavarian Reserve Pioneer Company

16th Bavarian Trench Mortar Company

16th Bavarian Telephone Detachment

Medical and Veterinary

8th Bavarian Ambulance Company

29th Bavarian Field Hospital

Veterinarian Hospital

Transport

697th Motor Transport Company

Reinforced on 10 and 11 April by:

1st Battalion, 14th Bavarian Infantry Regiment (16th Bavarian Infantry Division)

1st Battalion, 21st Bavarian Infantry Regiment (16th Bavarian Infantry Division)

3rd Battalion, 5th Guards Grenadier Regiment (4th Guards Division)

1st Battalion, 93rd Reserve Infantry Regiment (4th Guards Division)

Note: With the exception of reinforcing battalions specified above, 16th Division?s 14th and 21st Bavarian Infantry Regiments remained uncommitted to battle, 56th and 80th Divisions forming the remainder of Gruppe Souchez also only played a reinforcing role.