German Infantry Regiment 28

[dphillipsd]

Does anyone know anything about the 28th German Infrantry Regiment. It took part in the Ludendorff offensives of March 1918.

If you do please let me know. Alternatively any sites that contain relevant information would be helpful.

[Rick Research]

What other sites? We're the Magnificent Best There Is! Need more answers-- ask more questions!

Rhenish Infantry Regiment 28 was in the 16th Infantry Divison, VIIIth Army Corps. Invaded Luxemburg 1914, crossed the Ardennes, Champagne, and was pounded on the Marne by the French.

In 1915 it was pummeled again in the Artois during the French May offensive, which nearly wiped out another of the division's regiments, the 69th Infantry. The rest of 1915 was fairly quiet along the Aisne sector near Soissons, where it remained until July 1916.

Thrown into the Somme fighting in August, 3rd Company of the 29th Infantry was wiped out. Pulled back in August, refitted, then back into the Somme in October, getting mauled again.

So badly pounded that it could not recover in the west, the division was sent to Poland until May 1917 to train cannon fodder... er, underaged teenaged draftee replacements. Returning to Flanders, it escaped the British attack of July 31 without major losses. It faced the British again in October at Vonnebeke and Poelcappelle, counterattacking.

1918 found it uninvolved in major operations of the great March offensive, only going into hard action in April near Neuve Chapelle. The 68th regiment failed to attack on the 17th because the men were starving. Two of the three regimental commanders were casualties at this time. Short stretches at the front and the now permanent refitting and attempts to "feed" replacements in occurred until August. From the end of August, the division fell back in continuous fighting retreat, losing over 1,500 prisoners in September alone. (Since a "company" was lucky at the end stage of the war to have 50 men, and there were three regiments of 10 companies each, total infantry strength would have been roughly 1,500-- so with replacement turnover, this = "100%" losses!)

British intelligence rated the division very highly until the Somme. Rhenish troops were always considered good, but after casualties outstripped sustainable replacements and training, it was all over. The division was still rated in the 2nd of 4 Allied intelligence classifications, scoring high on defensive action throughout 1918.

[Glenn2438]

IR.28

Infanterie-Regiment von Goeben (2. Rheinisches) Nr.28 as Rick says was a part of 16th Infantry Division and remained so throughout the war. Initially brigaded with IR.68 in the 30th Infantry Brigade the regiment had a strength of 78 officers and aspirant officers, 6 medical officers, 3 paymasters and 3251 NCOs and soldiers.

In 1914 it saw action at Neuchateau, Meuse, Marne, battle of the Marne, Champagne, Sounin, Perthes les Hurlus, Beauséjoir.

1915: Champagne, Perthes les Hurlus, Beauséjoir, Massiges, winter battle in the Champagne, La Bassée and Arras. IR. 29 joined brigade in 1915 on infantry division reorganization.

1916 On the Aisne and Somme - 19 Jul - 25 Aug, On the Aisne and Somme - 4 Oct - 30 Oct, Aisne. 19 Nov 16 transfered to the East.

1917: 25 Nov 16 - 19 May 17 on the Styr and Stochod rivers. 20 May transfered to the West. Flanders, Wytschaete until 4 Apr 18

1918: Armentières, Artois, Ypres, La Bassée, Dury, Villers les Caznicourt, Monchi, Bapaume, Siegfried-Antwerp-Meuse Position.

Losses:1914 - 21 officers, 71 NCOs 435 men KIA
Wounded: 48 officers, 199 NCOs, 1530 men

Losses for entire war: 109 officers, aspirant officers and medical officers and 3995 NCOs and men.

1 Golden Militärverdienstkreuz: Vizefeldwebel Josten

Commanding Officers:

2 Mar 1913 - 26 Aug 1914: Oberst Hans von Oppen
26 Aug 1914 - 21 Jan 1915: Theodor Pennrich
21 Jan 1915 - 4 May 1915: Hermann Kirchner
4 May 1915 - 30 Jul 1915: Max Transfeldt
30 Jul 1915 - 21 Sep 1916: Georg von Wodtke
21 Sep 1916 - 30 Sep 1919: Hans von Oidtman

Regards
Glenn

[dphillipsd]

Hi all,

Thanks for the great information. If you could give me as much detail as you can about the month of March 1918 I would be most appreciative. My great uncle, Martin Heinrich, died on 28 March 1918 and is buried in Ferin.

I would like to know whatever else there is I see why you say this site is the best.

Thanks once again!