WWI Order of Battle?

[Ralph Heinz]

Does anyone have a reference that lists Infantry Regt. 29 and where it served? I have an item with a printed tag sewn to it: "Musketier Heinz 12. Komp. Inf. Regt 29" which I obviously got because the man's name is the same as my own. I assume it's WWI era because of the rank "Musketier" but I have no references for this unit at that time.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Rick Research]

"Musketier" wouldn't narrow down dating to just WWI; that title was used before as well.

Inf Rgt 29 was in 30th Inf Brigade, 16th Inf Div throughout WWI. Its personnel was recruited exclusively from the Rhineland. The division invaded Luxemburg in August 1914, then advanced through the Ardennes to the Marne, absorbing strong French attacks in the Champagne during the winter of 1914/15.

Withdrawn for rest and refitting in April 1915, when it went back into line against the French in the Artois sector in May, it again suffered heavy losses. Pulled back in June, it remained on the same sector of the Aisne front until the end of July 1916.

Thrown into the Somme at Pozieres and Thiepval in August 1916, Inf Rgt 29 took heavy casualties, and the division was withdrawn again for refitting. Unfortunately, the Somme battles were still raging, and sent back in October, it was churned up again, having had most of its replacements taken from the early 1917 draft class.

November 1916 until May 1917 was spent in Russian Galicia, gaining "experience" without being smashed in the process, as had happened repeatedly in France.

From June 1917 until March 1918 it opposed the British in Flanders, the Ypres sector, and at Passchendaele.

Illness and "lack of food" (as reported by British intelligence) led to severe casualties, including 2 of 3 regimental commanders, in the battle of the Lys April 1918. Depleted, it only held quiet sectors until August.

The division lost 1.500 prisoners on the Somme again in September 1918, being pushed back steadily by the British until the end of the war.

British intelligence reports credit this division, nicknmaed "the Iron Division," with a "wonderful reputation" until the 1916 Somme battles. After that it was steadily ground up and unable to serve as more than a holding division with teenaged cannon-fodder replacements, though still classified in the 2nd of 4 categories by Allied intelligence.

[Ralph Heinz]

Sehr geehrter Herr Lundstrom,

Danke schon! I salute you for taking the time to post such a complete and informative reply. I assumed the rank, "Musketier" could also predate WWI, but it is very likely that the small personal bag with the man's printed name tag was a souvenir of WWI. The dealer who had it simply gave it to me because of the man's name, Heinz, being my own.

I'll print this out and place it with the personal bag this soldier carried.

Again, many thanks for sharing your knowledge and expertise.

Mit freundlichen Grussen,
Ralph Heinz