Das Infanterie-Regiment Generalfeldmarschall von Mackensen Nr. 129 (3rd Westpreußisches) 11te Kompanie in 1916.
Bulgaria and Macedonia.
Macedonian Countryside.
The 21st and 129th remained fairly comfortable along the Bulgarian Coast until May of 1916 when they were sent to Macedonia where the 105th Division reformed in early June.The K.U.K. would assault Serbia's ally Montenegro. The small nation actually offered strong opposition that aided the removal of the Serbian forces, but soon faced unmanageable odds and was obligated to surrender on January 25. The Austro-Hungarians continued proceeding down the Adriatic Coast, attacking into Italian-controlled Albania. At the end of winter, the small Italian garrison had been pushed out of almost the entire country.
By this time, with the war in the Balkans lost, the British General Staff wanted to remove all troops from Greece, but the French government objected intensely. Because the French forces were staying, the British also remained, with unconcealed dislike. The Allied armies fortified around Thessaloniki, which became a enormous entrenched camp, earning themselves the derisive moniker "the Gardeners of Salonika". The Serbian Army after reforming, recovering, and being resupplied on Corfu, was transported by the French to the Macedonian front.
At the same time, the political situation in Greece was chaotic. Formally, Greece was neutral, but King Constantine I was pro-German, being married to the sister of the Kaiser, as well as having attended school in Germany. His Prime Minister was pro-British. At the start, Greece supported the Allied military activity in rescuing the Serbian army, however after the Allies occupied Thessaloniki Greece slowly changed policy. With the Prime Minister’s resignation, the royalist government settled for formally condemning the occupation, but was powerless to oppose the larger Allied armies that had landed in Thessaloniki. The Germans, trying to keep Greece neutral, were cautious not to cross the Greek border.
In May of 1916, the French demanded that the Greek Army demobilize. Although the Greek government complied, this action further pushed them to side with the Central Powers. If it were not for the Russian offensive launched in the north at this time there is a good chance that JR129 would have soon been involved in fighting in this area.
By this time, with the war in the Balkans lost, the British General Staff wanted to remove all troops from Greece, but the French government objected intensely. Because the French forces were staying, the British also remained, with unconcealed dislike. The Allied armies fortified around Thessaloniki, which became a enormous entrenched camp, earning themselves the derisive moniker "the Gardeners of Salonika". The Serbian Army after reforming, recovering, and being resupplied on Corfu, was transported by the French to the Macedonian front.
At the same time, the political situation in Greece was chaotic. Formally, Greece was neutral, but King Constantine I was pro-German, being married to the sister of the Kaiser, as well as having attended school in Germany. His Prime Minister was pro-British. At the start, Greece supported the Allied military activity in rescuing the Serbian army, however after the Allies occupied Thessaloniki Greece slowly changed policy. With the Prime Minister’s resignation, the royalist government settled for formally condemning the occupation, but was powerless to oppose the larger Allied armies that had landed in Thessaloniki. The Germans, trying to keep Greece neutral, were cautious not to cross the Greek border.
In May of 1916, the French demanded that the Greek Army demobilize. Although the Greek government complied, this action further pushed them to side with the Central Powers. If it were not for the Russian offensive launched in the north at this time there is a good chance that JR129 would have soon been involved in fighting in this area.
Return to Galicia.
Kolomea District, now Kolmyia, Ukraine.
The Russian Brusilov Offensive in June was responsible for the 105th Division's return to Galicia and at the end of the month it was in Bukovina. The 105th Division operated in the region of Kolomea at the end of June and beginning of July suffering heavy losses. Kolomea had a large Jewish population that was badly treated by the Russians as they believed they would aid the Central Powers forces in the vicinity. The Kolomea District is in the foothills of the Carpathians so the terrain would have been severe. The 122nd Fusileers reported 26 officers and 1,165 men out of action. The division next fought in Galicia to the east of Stanislau in July and August (east of Tlumacz-Tysmienica), to the east of Halicz in September. The division remained in the vicinity of Halicz until October. The Brusilov Offensive lasted from June through September of 1916. It was a concerted effort, along with the Somme Offensive to draw German pressure away from Verdun. Brusilov's attack was the single most succesful Russian offensive of the entire war, however it was costly with close to Three Million German, Austro-Hungarian, and Russian casualties.
The early Russian success led to Romania entering the war on the side of the Allies, however Romania would be nearly overrun by the end of the year. The offensive was also the straw that broke the back of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. A large portion of the K.U.K. casualties were prisoners that quickly surrendered to the Russians. In some cases the Slavic troops of the Austro-Hungarian Army even joined the Russian Army. Any remaining faith the German Army High Command and even its soldiers had in the Hapsburg Army was now gone. The famous description of Germany being "shackled to a corpse" now became widespread. The Austro-Hungarian Army was useless for little more than a defensive force after this stage in the war and was for all purposes under the command of the German Army.
The early Russian success led to Romania entering the war on the side of the Allies, however Romania would be nearly overrun by the end of the year. The offensive was also the straw that broke the back of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. A large portion of the K.U.K. casualties were prisoners that quickly surrendered to the Russians. In some cases the Slavic troops of the Austro-Hungarian Army even joined the Russian Army. Any remaining faith the German Army High Command and even its soldiers had in the Hapsburg Army was now gone. The famous description of Germany being "shackled to a corpse" now became widespread. The Austro-Hungarian Army was useless for little more than a defensive force after this stage in the war and was for all purposes under the command of the German Army.
Kurland
Kurland countryside 1916.
Relieved from Galicia, the 105th Division was sent to Kurland, to the south of Kekkau in October. Kurland was part of what is now Latvia. As the Russians withdrew from this area they were extremely harsh on the inhabitants, often arresting and imprisoning any male of military age by transporting them along with their retreating army so they could not join the Germans and fight against them. They were especially hard on the Jewish population, as they thought they would support the Germans. Roughly seventy-five percent of the population was Lutheran, who the Russians were especially vicious towards, in some cases lynching farmers in their owns fields as spys. On October 20 the 105th took over the sector to the west of Jakobstadt where they would remain until the Fall of 1917.