Das Infanterie-Regiment Generalfeldmarschall von Mackensen Nr. 129 (3rd Westpreußisches) 11te Kompanie in 1917.
Jakobstadt.
German troops near Jakobstadt September, 1917.
The 105th Division occupied the Jakobstadt front from late 1916 until November 1917. In April of 1917, the division said good-bye to its kameraden of the 122nd Fusileers, who they had served with since early 1915 and who had been mauled so badly the previous year. The 400th Regiment (Rhenish) replaced the 122nd Fusileers, who were transferred to the 243rd Division, a Wurtemberg unit. The 105th Division captured Jakobstadt on September 21. It served as an occupying force there until disembarking for the Western Front in November. Note all the assault packs being worn in the photograph to the left.
TRANSFER to the WESTERN FRONT.
Arrival in France.
German troops in Juniville, 1917.
On November 5 the 105th Division entrained at Mitau and was transported to France. (Itinerary: Kovno-Konigsberg-Schneidemuhl-Berlin-Cassel-Coblenz-Treves-Thionville-Sedan-Mezires.) It detrained at Juniville (south of Rethel) on November 11 and rested in this region until early 1918. Juniville and Rethel are located in the Champagne area of France. While here the men were probably refitted during the last part of 1917. They would have recieved new and updated equipment and likely recieved training in tactics that had not been necessary on the Eastern Front but would prove vital to survival in the oppressive trench warfare of the Western Front.