12th Division (German Empire)
| 12th Division (12. Division); in 1870-71 and from August 2, 1914, 12th Infantry Division (12. Infanterie-Division) | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1818–1919 |
| Country | Prussia/Germany |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Infantry (in peacetime included cavalry) |
| Size | Approx. 15,000 |
| Part of | VI. Army Corps (VI. Armeekorps) |
| Garrison/HQ | Neiße |
| Engagements |
Austro-Prussian War: Königgrätz |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Eduard von Bonin, Kraft, Prinz zu Hohenlohe-Ingelfingen, Remus von Woyrsch |
Austro-Prussian War: Königgrätz
Franco-Prussian War: Paris
The 12th Division (12. Division) was a unit of the Prussian/German Army. It was formed in Neiße (now Nysa, Poland) on September 5, 1818. The division was subordinated in peacetime to the VI Army Corps (VI. Armeekorps). The division was disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I. The division was recruited primarily in the Province of Silesia, mainly in the region of Upper Silesia.
The 12th Division fought in the Austro-Prussian War in 1866, including the Battle of Königgrätz. In the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71, the division fought in several battles and engagements, including the Siege of Paris.
In World War I, the division served initially on the Western Front. It spent most of this period in various parts of the trenches and suffered heavily in the 1916 Battle of the Somme. At the end of December 1916, it was sent to the Eastern Front, where it did not participate in any major actions. The division returned to the Western Front in May–June 1917. At the end of September 1917, it was sent to the Italian Front, where it fought in the Battle of Caporetto. After returning to the Western Front, the division saw action in the German Spring Offensive of 1918, including the Battle of the Lys, and the subsequent Allied counteroffensives, including the 1918 Battle of Cambrai. The division was rated as a good second-class division by Allied intelligence.
...
Wikipedia