I will be showing today another Commemorative Medal. This time is the one, which celebrates the 100 year of existence of the Royal Bavarian 14th Infantry Regiment “Hartmann” in 1914.
Before talking about the Regiment, I think it makes sense to talk about the name “Hartmann”.
The Regiment had its name in honour to the Bavarian General Jakob von Hartmann, who commanded the 2nd Bavarian Army Corps during the Franco-Prussian War. His figure would be very present in the famous painting from Anton von Werner, which shows the Proclamation of the German Empire on the 18th of January 1871 in Versailles. In the second version of the Painting, we see the General von Hartmann with his beautiful band of the Militär-Max-Joseph Orden, shaking hands with General von Blumenthal. The symbolism behind that is huge; they are just in the middle of the whole picture, giving the importance of the Bavarian Kingdom during the campaign (for example, during the Battles of Weißenburg or Wörth). Also, it shows or wants to show a “friendship” or “brotherhood” between Prussia and Bavaria. Still, to this days, there are a few “differences”.
Back to this Unit, the Royal Bavarian 14thInfantry Regiment was based in Nürnberg and was part of the 5thBavarian Infantry Division, III Army Corps, 6th Army under the command of Kronprinz Rupprecht von Bayern. I have the impression, he was a good and loved leader…
The Division started the War in Lorraine and in August and advance until ended up attacking in Nancy. The German offensive was a failure and the Division was sent southeast from Verdun, in the area of St. Mihiel. They were holding in the Forest of Apremont (Apremont-la-Forêt), where they remained until October 1915, when they were sent to Champagne, but just briefly because they returned to St. Mihiel later that year.
Until the middle of 1916 it was going to remain in that place, until it was moved to another front; the Vimy Ridge (see book from Jack Sheldon about it). Still, this was not going to be the last destination in 1916.
In September that year, the Division was moved to the Some Area, fighting in the Delville Wood and having a huge amount of casualties. Just 11 Days later, it had to be relieved from the front to be sent to Artois.
There and in Flanders, the regiment remained during 1917. They fought hard in Arras in the spring of 1917 until June. After some rest, they came back fighting in Belgium just east from Ypres, where once again, they suffered heavy losses.
And 1918 came, and the Regiment took part in the “Kaiserschlacht” and was going to fight in the Battle of Picard, just in the area of Cambrai.
They also participated in the second battle of the Somme. This time, the allies pushed really hard and deeper as the one in 1916. The end was near.
The allies considered the Royal Bavarian 5thDivision as a first class one. They attacked hard, they defended hard…. and the paid their toll with the casualties.
Sources:
– “Traditions of the Imperial German Infantry Regiments” – Chris Dale.
– Histories of the 251 Divisions of the German Army, which participated in the War 1914-1918.
– Picture from Wikipedia.
– Map from Wikiwand.