31st Division (German Empire)
| 31st Division (31. Division); from August 2, 1914, 31st Infantry Division (31. Infanterie-Division) | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1871-1919 |
| Country | Prussia/Germany |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Infantry (in peacetime included cavalry) |
| Size | Approx. 15,000 |
| Part of | XXI. Army Corps (XXI. Armeekorps) |
| Garrison/HQ | Strasbourg (1871-1912); Saarbrücken (1912-1919) |
| Engagements | World War I: Battle of the Frontiers, Race to the Sea, Gorlice-Tarnów Offensive, Spring Offensive, Lys, Saint-Mihiel |
The 31st Division (31. Division) was a unit of the Prussian/German Army. It was formed on March 20, 1871, and was headquartered in Straßburg (now Strasbourg, France) until 1912, and then in Saarbrücken. The division was subordinated in peacetime to the XV Army Corps (XV. Armeekorps) until 1912, and then to the XXI Army Corps (XXI. 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 southern part of the Rhine Province, but during World War I also drew replacements from Westphalia.
The division began World War I on the Western Front. It saw action in the Battle of the Frontiers and in the Race for the Sea. In January 1915, it was transferred to the Eastern Front, where it remained until December 1917. It fought in the Gorlice-Tarnów Offensive in 1915. After returning to the Western Front, it participated in the 1918 German Spring Offensive, including the Battle of the Lys. In September 1918, it faced an American/French offensive in the Battle of Saint-Mihiel. The division was rated as third class by Allied intelligence.
The organization of the 31st Division in 1914, shortly before the outbreak of World War I, was as follows:
On mobilization in August 1914 at the beginning of World War I, most divisional cavalry, including brigade headquarters, was withdrawn to form cavalry divisions or split up among divisions as reconnaissance units. Divisions received engineer companies and other support units from their higher headquarters. The 31st Division was redesignated the 31st Infantry Division. Its initial wartime organization was as follows:
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