Die Abreise der 18. Division aus Wilna mag dem Leser dieses Blogs recht überraschend zu kommen. Eine Erklärung für den recht kurzen Aufenthalt der 18. Division gibt die Regimentschronik:
Am Tage darauf [21.11.1917] kam plötzlich Befehl, daß das Regiment nach einem anderen Kriegsschauplatz abtransportiert werden sollte. Also keinen Einsatz an der Russenfront. Was war geschehen?Am 7. November hatte der Bolschewismus in Russland die Herrschaft ergriffen und zeigte sich zu Friedensverhandlungen bereit. Ein Einsatz an der Ostfront kam daher voraussichtlich nicht mehr in Frage. Dagegen war am 20. November an
der Westfront noch einmal ein schwerer Kampf entbrannt [Schlacht bei Cambrai]. Der Stoß auf Havrincourt, den das Regiment während des ganzen Sommers erwartet hatte, war an diesem tage geführt worden. Mit acht Infanteriedivisionen und hunderten von Tanks hatten die Engländer die Siegfriedstellung bis Royelles hin eingedrückt. Sie standen in freiem Gelände, daher der plötzliche Abtransport der 18. Div. Das Regiment wurde am Abend und Nachmittag des 21. Novembers verladen.[…]
In der Nacht vom 25. zum 26. November stiegen die Bataillone nach fünftägiger Fahrt in Mühlhausen im Elsaß aus.
In Cambrai war nämlich die schlimmste Gefahr beseitigt, wohl aber wurde der französische Stoß aus Richtung Belfort befürchtet. Die 18. Division war für diesen Fall Eingreifdivision.
Karte: Wikipedia: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schlacht_von_Cambrai
The 18th division's departure from Wilna might seem surprising to the reader. An explanation for the rather short stay can be found in the regiment's chronicles:The day after (21.11.1917) order came that the regiment was to be transported to a different war theatre. Consequently no combat action at the russian front. What had happened? On november the 7th, bolshevism had seized authority and seemed to be open for peace negotiations. Hence actions at the eastern front presumably would not take place. In contrast to that, on November 20th on the western front once again heavy fighting had developed (battle for Cambrai). The attack on Havrincourt that had been expected by the regiment all summer long, took place on that day. Throwing into combat eight infantry divisions with hundreds of tanks the british had pushed back the Siegfried line up to Royelles. They were in plain open, and thus the sudden departure of the 18th division. The regiment were packed and loaded on the afternoon and evening of November 21st.
The night from November 25th to 26th after a five-days trip, the battalions disembarked in Mühlhausen in Alsace. Because meanwhile in Cambrai the greatest danger had been eliminated, and the french main attack was expected to come from the Belfort direction. The 18th divison in this case was reserve disivion ["Eingreifdivision" = intervene division].
Motivi per il trasferimento del fronte occidentaleLa partenza della 18^ Divisione da Vilnius potrebbe costituire una sorpresa per il lettore. Nei diari di reggimento si può trovare una risposta sul perché di una così breve permanenza:Il giorno seguente (21.11.1917) arrivò l'ordine che il reggimento fosse spostato su un diverso teatro di guerra. Di conseguenza cessarono le azioni di guerra sul fronte russo. Cos'era accaduto?
Il 7 novembre i bolscevichi avevano preso il potere e sembrava si potesse aprire uno spazio per negoziati di pace. Azioni sul fronte orientale, quindi, forse non sarebbero state intraprese. Ma, al contrario, il 20 novembre sul fronte occidentale scoppiarono di nuovo intensi combattimenti (battaglia di Cambrai). L'attacco a Havrincourt che ci si era attesi dal reggimento per tutta l'estate, ebbe luogo in quel giorno. Lanciando In combattimento otto divisioni di fanteria con centinaia di tank, gli Inglesi avevano spinto all'indietro la linea Sigfrido fino a Royelles. Ci trovavamo in aperta pianura, perciò si decise la partenza della 18^ Divisione. I reggimenti furono raggruppati e caricati per la partenza nel pomeriggio e la sera del 21 novembre.
La notte tra il 25 e il 26 novembre, dopo cinque giorni di viaggio, i battaglioni scesero a Mühlhausen (oggi Moulhouse) in Alsazia. Nel frattempo, a Cambrai, il pericolo più grosso era stato eliminato e ci si aspettava l'attacco principale francese dalla direzione di Belfort. La 18^ Divisione, in questo caso, era di riserva.
The Russian Revolution
FRA
The 18th division's departure from Wilna might seem surprising to the reader. An explanation for the rather short stay can be found in the regiment's chronicles:
AntwortenLöschenThe day after (21.11.1917) order came that the regiment was to be transported to a different war theatre. Consequently no combat action at the russian front. What had happened?
On november the 7th, bolshevism had seized authority and seemed to be open for peace negotiations. Hence actions at the eastern front presumably would not take place. In contrast to that, on November 20th on the western front once again heavy fighting had developed (battle for Cambrai). The attack on Havrincourt that had been expected by the regiment all summer long, took place on that day. Throwing into combat eight infantry divisions with hundreds of tanks the british had pushed back the Siegfried line up to Royelles. They were in plain open, and thus the sudden departure of the 18th division. The regiment were packed and loaded on the afternoon and evening of November 21st.
The night from November 25th to 26th after a five-days trip, the battalions disembarked in Mühlhausen in Alsace. Because meanwhile in Cambrai the greatest danger had been eliminated, and the french main attack was expected to come from the Belfort direction. The 18th divison in this case was reserve disivion ["Eingreifdivision" = intervene division].