The German 66 Regiment First World War: The German Perspective

1

PRE-WAR HISTORY

Infantry-Regiment 66 (IR 66) was established by the Army Reorganisation which is associated with the name Kaiser Wilhelm, who laid the foundation of the greatness of both Prussia and Germany. The Prussian mobilisation in 1859, to support Austria–Hungary in its war against France and Piedmont, showed serious deficiencies in the Prussian Army; the then Prince Regent Wilhelm began a farsighted reorganisation. The youngest year groups of the Landwehr (National Guard) were retained on active duty. With men from the older year groups of the Ersatz (Replacement) Battalions and the Line regiments, they formed new units, called Landwehr Cadre Regiments. So, the Landwehr Regiment and elements of IR 26, who drew their recruits from the Bezirke (Counties) of Stendal, Burg and Neuhaldensleben, were formed by Allerhöcheste Kabinetts-Ordre (Royal Order in Council) of 5 May 1860 into a ‘combined infantry regiment’, with its first commander, Colonel von Kirchbach, who would later win considerable fame. It was designated 3. Magdeburgisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 66 (3rd Magdeburg Infantry Regiment No. 66) in the Allerhöcheste Kabinetts-Ordre of 4 July 1860.

The campaign against Austria in 1866 gave the young regiment its first opportunity to show its mettle in combat. When cannon fire announced the advance of the Elbe Army at the Battle of Münchengrätz, 13 Brigade was given the mission of driving the enemy from Musky Hill. While the first enemy shells landed (which fortunately caused no casualties), II/ 66 and Fusilier Battalion (III/ 66) advanced with a loud ‘Hurrah!’ and Regimental Bandmaster Schulz ordered the Prussian Anthem played. The regiment won undying fame in heavy fighting as an element of the 7th Infantry Division (7 ID) at the Battle of Kõniggrätz. The success was dearly bought, with fifteen officers and 476 enlisted men becoming casualties, after the 26th Infantry Regiment (IR 26) the heaviest casualties in the division. The reward for this quick and glorious campaign was the creation of an energetic and militarily powerful league of north German states under the leadership of the King of Prussia. The fruits of this victory, which promised a brilliant future, were due for the greatest part to the discipline and training of the Prussian army. In these, IR 66 showed that it was the equal of the older regiments, and added the laurels of victory to its young colours. This was reflected in the decorations that the king awarded the regiment: for the battalion standards, the combat ribbon to the 1866 Campaign Cross with silver tassels, surmounted by two upright swords. The standard of II/ 66, whose peak had been damaged by a shell, was given a silver ring with an inscription below the peak. In the following years of peace, the regiment trained energetically to maintain the edge it had gained in combat.

In the campaign of 1870–71 against France, it contributed significantly to the victory at Beaumont on 30 August 1870. Its mission was to allow the division to deploy out of the woods, which it accomplished with exceptional bravery. The losses, in only 90 minutes of combat, were terrible: ten officers, fourteen NCOs and 111 enlisted men dead, thirteen officers, forty NCOs and 439 men wounded – almost half the casualties suffered by the entire division. The regimental commander, Count Finkenstein, was wounded in the shoulder but remained in command, and during the pursuit was hit in the mouth and killed. The regiment won additional fame during the siege of Paris.

The heroic deeds of wartime were followed by quiet, unceasing work in peacetime. In 1872, the officers laid a granite tablet with the names of their fallen comrades at the cemetery at Beaumont. On 6 August 1875, a monument with the names of the fallen of both wars was unveiled in the courtyard of the Ravensburg Kaserne.

The regiment frequently had the opportunity to demonstrate its combat readiness to the Kaiser: in 1873 at Eisleben, 1876 at Merseburg and again in 1883 at the Kaisermanöver (Imperial Manoeuvres), for the last time in front of the venerable hero Kaiser of the great wars.

In 1885, the regiment held an unforgettable celebration of the 25th anniversary of its founding. Old comrades returned from all directions: the first commander, General Count von Kirchbach, was among the guests of honour.

The year 1888 brought deep mourning. On 9 March, shortly before his 91st birthday, death took the venerated hero Kaiser from Germany. After a few weeks, his son, Kaiser Friedrich, followed him. His lasting fame will be secured as much by the manner in which he unflinchingly bore his pain as by his generalship in battle. For the second time in the same year, the regiment formed ranks to swear its oath to its new warlord, Kaiser Wilhelm ii.

In 1889, the Fusilier Battalion was designated III/ 66 and was issued black leather web gear (replacing white). The other two battalions had been re-equipped in 1887. In 1890, the regiment was issued the Model 1888 rifle, which led to the recall of many reservists for training with the new weapon. In 1891, the regiment participated in the Kaisermanöver as part of iv Corps, for the first time under Kaiser Wilhelm ii.

In 1895, the regiment celebrated the 25th anniversary of its heroic battle at Beaumont. The regiment was at the Major Training Area at Loburg on 30 August. The brigade formed a square, the standards that were at Beaumont were decorated with oak-leaf garlands and the brigade commander gave a speech to commemorate the dead. The actual celebration was held on 26 September. By dint of hard work, the caserne courtyard was transformed into a richly decorated festival grounds. After the regiment had formed up, almost 1,100 veterans assembled on the Local Training Area, the Schroteplatz, and marched forward, organised in their old companies. After an address by Chaplain Dr Hermens, the regimental commander gave an impassioned speech, recalling the heroic deeds and the fallen, who were true to the soldier’s oath they had taken, and laid a wreath at the war memorial. This was followed by the regiment and the veterans, many led by their old commanders, passing in review, then a banquet for the officers and veterans and celebrations by the individual battalions. The camaraderie and happy reunion with the old officers was clearly apparent at this festival. In November, the Grenadier March of the old von Bonin and von Kalckstein Regiments (1806) was given to the regiment as its march.

The commemorative festival gave reason to restore the weathered memorial at the Beaumont cemetery. The inscription was smoothed off and the only remaining ornamentation was an iron cross. The chain around the monument was replaced by a wrought-iron fence. An iron tablet with the names of the fallen officers and numbers of casualties was affixed to the middle.

In 1897, iv/ 66 was transferred to the newly formed Infantry Regiment 152. At the unveiling of the Kaiser Wilhelm Monument in Magdeburg on 25 August, the regiment passed in review in front of the Kaiser; 1/ 1/ 66 brought the garrison’s standards out of the Headquarters to 11/ 66, the Honour Company at the monument, and then replaced them there again. The barracks of III/ 66 were rebuilt with a second and sometimes third storeys, a welcome improvement.

In 1898, the regiment participated in the Kaisermanöver in Westphalia. The call for volunteers for the China expedition was warmly received and answered by an officer, a medical officer, seven NCOs and sixty-eight enlisted men.

The Allerhöcheste Kabinetts-Ordre of 1 January 1900 directed that the tattered standards that had been carried in glorious battles be refurbished, so that in the summer of 1903 the three battalion standards received new bunting. They were ceremonially affixed to the standards and consecrated on 30 August, the anniversary of Beaumont, in the presence of the Kaiser and royal family in the Hall of Honour at Berlin. Present were the regimental commander, First Lieutenant Bonsac, the son of Captain Bonsac who had fallen at Beaumont, two lieutenants and three standard bearers. The new standards were given to the regiment by the Kaiser personally on the occasion of the Kaiserparade (parade at the Kaisermanöver) at the historic site of the Battle of Rossbach.

Since the death of General von Alvensleben in 1881, the regiment had no chief. In 1902, the regiment had the high honour that the King of Spain, Alfonso xiii, be named chief on the occasion of his coronation. The Kaiser named as head of the German delegation to the coronation at Madrid, Prince Albrecht of Prussia, accompanied by Colonel von Dehn-Rotfelser, who brought the king the uniform of the regiment. On the first anniversary of this day, 17 May 1903, the king sent as a present his life-size portrait wearing the regimental uniform. A special delegation first presented the portrait to the Kaiser, then it was brought to the regiment and hung in the Officer’s Club.

On 9 November 1905, the regiment had the high honour to receive its chief personally. He first inspected the regiment and a delegation of former regimental commanders and then they passed in review. He watched combat training on the Schroteplatz LTA, followed by a tour of the barracks and breakfast in the Officer’s Club.

The marriage of King Alfonso to Princess Ena of Battenberg, on 31 May 1906 in Madrid, was attended by a German delegation representing the Kaiser, led by Prince Albrecht, with Colonel Baron Digeon von Monteton in attendance. In a special audience, he extended to the king the best wishes of the regimental officer corps and gave as a wedding present a bronze statue of Sergeant Bieler, who was killed at Beaumont while carrying the standard of 11/ III/ 66.

In 1908, a solemn ceremony took place. The units that fought on the bloody fields of Beaumont erected a number of monuments to honour the fallen. Perhaps the most beautiful was that of our 13 Brigade and Field Artillery Regiment (FAR) 4. Significantly, it was placed where once IR 66 courageously attacked out of the woods. The not insignificant expense, 13,000 marks, was met by the Gera Association for the Maintenance of German War Graves in France and The Veteran’s Associations of IR 26, IR 66 and 13 Brigade. It was dedicated on 12 October 1908 and put under the protection of the French government. Some seventy comrades from the participating regiments assembled to revisit the scene of that memorable day, including deputations from the veterans of IR 26 and IR 66 under the leadership of First Lieutenant of Landwehr (inactive) Engel. The journey continued to Sedan and a walk over the battlefield. In the autumn of 1908, the graves of the officers who had fallen at Beaumont were decorated with a new monument.

The regiment continually strove to maintain its old reputation for combat effectiveness, which it demonstrated by winning the Kaiserpreis (for the company with the best combat gunnery score in the corps). In 1898, it was won by 11/ 66, 1901 by 9/ 66, 1907, 1908 and 1909 by 1/ 66 and 1912 by 5/ 66.

An important addition to the combat power of the regiment took place on 1 October 1909: a Machine Gun Detachment was formed from personnel of the regiment and billeted in specially constructed buildings in the Schroteplatz Local Training Area. In 1911, it formed the Machine Gun Company under Captain Siegfried and was attached to III/ 66.

In the fall of 1912, the Reichstag authorised the creation of two new army corps, xx and xxi, which were established by the War Ministry on 1 October 1912. Shortly before the autumn manoeuvres, it was announced that the IV Corps was to give up four companies to xxi Corps. IR 66 was to give up one company, and the decision was taken to send 10/ 66. The entire company, down to the youngest recruit, was to be sent to the 10 Lothringischen (Lorraine) Infanterie-Regiment 174. The company commander, Captain Dallmer, had just been transferred to Magdeburg from there, so back he went. On 1 October 1912, after the Kaisermanöver, the oldest year-group of conscripts was released and the cadre and youngest year-group were sent to IR 174.

IR 66 could not look back on a long history, but its existence coincided with a period of incomparable progress for the German people. In this time, Germany, under the leadership of Prussia, took its rightful place in the world, the expression of which was the Emperor’s Crown for the House of Hohenzollern.

The regiment had taken a significant role in the battles and sacrifices that led to this great success. Pride in this great past united the old comrades. It was the serious obligation of the younger generation to ensure that in the future the laurels of victory would continue to be attached to the regiment’s standards.

2

WAR

July 1914 found the regiment in its garrison at Magdeburg, busy with its normal peacetime routine. It was scheduled to leave the city in September for the autumn manoeuvres.

There were dark clouds on the political horizon. The murder of the Austro-Hungarian Crown Prince by a Serbian fanatic forced Austria to take serious measures against Serbia. For years, the Entente had worked to encircle Germany and Austria–Hungary, which threatened to make war unavoidable. All German attempts to avoid war collapsed due to the Russian mobilisation. The Central Powers were also forced to mobilise, though they did so at the last possible moment.

At 1400 on 31 July the ‘Period Preparatory to War’ was announced by Imperial Order, and the seriousness of the situation became evident to every German. From long-slumbering national pride broke forth like a volcano the intense blaze of patriotism and self-sacrifice, in the most peace-loving and industrious people in the entire world. Instantly, German quarrels and discord vanished, and in the face of the foreign enemy all Germans recognised each other as true brothers and helpers. Those days of the end of July and the beginning of August 1914 made, for all those who experienced them, the deepest impression of their lives. The city of Magdeburg, normally sober and withdrawn in speech, took on an entirely different character. The seriousness of the situation made the citizens loquacious and active, ready to aid their neighbours and the Fatherland. In the evening, when the places of work were closed, fervent patriotic songs broke forth. Immeasurable masses of people, of all occupations and classes, moved together through the streets and became, out of love for the Fatherland, one people.

For the active-army soldiers, the normal duties continued. At 1630, armed guards, with live ammunition, were posted to watch the most important rail installations, particularly bridges. The feverish tension was broken at 1845 on 1 August by the order for general mobilisation. The following days were strenuous. The arriving reservists were assigned to companies and issued their combat uniforms, weapons and equipment, down to first aid dressings and identity disks. Ammunition was brought out of the bunkers, vehicles out of the sheds and horses requisitioned for wagon teams and mounted men. The war-strength companies (250 men) conducted road marches and combat training. In these days, one task followed the next, until every man was strained to breaking point. The regimental adjutant, the three battalion adjutants, the purser (property clerk), the regimental clerk, the battalion clerks, the company first sergeants and their clerks, the armourers and the orderlies did not get a moment’s rest. The mobilisation calendar, carefully prepared with exactitude, did not need to be altered. Everything worked the way it was supposed to. On 6 August, IR 66 had completed its mobilisation. On the afternoon of 6 August, the regiment assembled on the Schroteplatz LTA for an unforgettable, sombre Holy Communion.

Unfortunately, the regiment had to detach a number of officers, NCOs and men to create new units. Some went to Reserve Infantry Regiment (RIR) 26, RIR 27, Brigade Ersatz (Replacement) Battalion 13 and other formations. The last peacetime regimental commander, Colonel von Dresler und Scharfenstein, assumed command of Reserve Infantry Brigade 13, and was replaced as regimental commander by the former commander of IR 153, Colonel Freiherr von Quadt-Wykradt und Hüchtenbruck. Lieutenant-colonel Ezettriz became the Ia (operations officer) General Staff officer on the iv Reserve Corps staff. Captain Evler became the 1st Adjutant on the same staff. Major Schmidt took over I/ 66 and Majors Jenke and Häusler became reserve battalion commanders. A lieutenant-colonel, five captains and seven lieutenants were also transferred. All active-duty First Sergeants and the clerks in the staff went in their assigned peacetime duty positions to the field.

On 8 August, the regiment loaded onto rail cars at the Magdeburg station. The battalion’s march through the city was like a triumphal procession, past the citizens who thickly lined both sides of the street. Mothers, women and brides waved to the warriors going to the field with tears in their eyes, and accompanied them to the gates of the station. Fifes and drums played over the noise of the crowd and flowers decorated the uniforms. The long row of rail cars waited at the station.

The trains rolled to the west, a last farewell to the towers of Magdeburg, then came new countryside and new impressions. Everywhere young and old waved at the passing train, which passed through Braunschweig, then Hildesheim, over the Weser, through Westphalia, Düsseldorf and over the Rhine. In the early dark morning of 10 August, the train stopped in Jülich. After a short rest, the regiment foot-marched through Geilenkirchen, Waurichen, Puffendorf and the surrounding villages. Due to the proximity of the Dutch border, strong exterior security was posted. The border at Herzogenrath was guarded by NCO outposts from the regiment. 11 August was a rest day.

3

APPROACH MARCH

Our iv AK (Armeekorps – army corps) was assigned to the 1st Army under General von Kluck. The army assembled in the northern Rhineland and was to form the right flank of the German Army, crossing the Meuse north of Liège, marching through Louvain, Brussels and north France to envelop the left flank of the French Army, which would be held fast in an iron grip, as far as the Swiss border, by the other German armies. The route to Belgium led through Aachen. The 1st Army was able to begin movement a day earlier than planned. The route to be followed was immensely long. There were many enemies to defeat, and great fortresses blocked the way. Such a mission could only have been given to the magnificent German Army of 1914. IR 66 could be proud to be among the troops given such a glorious task.

At 0630 on 12 August, the regiment marched as part of 7 ID (Infanteriedivision – infantry division) towards Aachen. In Broich and the surrounding villages the battalions bivouacked closely packed together. The countryside was thick with troops. North and east of Aachen assembled II, iv and III AK. Behind them, iii and iv RK (Reservekorps – reserve corps) were unloading. By this time we knew that the march passed through Belgium. The free afternoon was used to once again check equipment, write letters home and to say goodbye to the cheerful German population. Everyone, soldiers and civilians alike, was in a serious, solemn mood. It was evident in the faces of all that they were completely prepared to give everything for the Fatherland, as the victors of Mülhausen (Mulhouse, Alsace, 9 August 1914), Lagarde (Gerden, Lorraine, 2 August 1914) and Badonviller (Lorraine, 12 August 1914) had done, of which we had just learned. All day long we heard the sound, like far-away thunder, of the guns at Liège.

Early on the morning of 13 August, just as the sun had come up, the division assembled and marched in burning heat to Aachen, arriving in the city just before noon, dusty and sweaty, but in perfect formation. Our reception by the population was indescribable: general jubilation, extravagant masses of flowers, refreshments and bread, sweets and fruit, given to the soldiers by pretty girls and women. No one expected this, the most wonderful reception that iv AK ever experienced, though we could not have known that yet. In the city we passed in review in front of the corps commander, Lieutenant-General Sixt von Armin. His quiet and serious face looked with satisfaction on the elite of the province of Saxony.

On the far side of the city was a valley that led to the border. The sun beat down without pity and dust filled the air. Another world appeared: lorries drove past from Liège, loaded with wounded, also Belgian prisoners. Our first view of the seriousness of war. Late in the afternoon the regiment reached Neutral-Moresnet and bivouacked in the village and the surrounding fields, tired but content. The village was quiet and peaceful, much as though we were still in Germany.

Early in the morning on 14 August, the regiment crossed the border into Belgium and suddenly everything changed. The villages were deserted: their inhabitants had fled or were in hiding in the houses. The roadblocks made from trees fallen across the road had been removed. There were signs on the houses, ‘We took fire from this house’. The mayors and clergy had set the population in a panic, while failing to inform them correctly of the laws of war, and this was the reception they gave our border security force, troops fighting at Liège, and reconnaissance cavalry! As retribution, several houses had been burned down in the centre of the villages. Other signs said, ‘This house must be protected!’, evidence of the German sense of responsibility, which unfortunately only helped to preserve from punishment the few that had not participated in the combat.

The regiment marched in oppressive heat until, at 1600, it reached Dahlem and quartered there and in the surrounding area. The population was unquiet, and a search of the houses revealed weapons.

In the morning of 15 August, the regiment crossed the Meuse at Argentau on a pontoon bridge built by Engineer Battalion 4, with cannon fire echoing over to us from the isolated forts that still held out. Close nearby, the iron bridge destroyed by the Belgians stuck up out of the water. The crossing proceeded smoothly. That evening, the regiment reached Millen and Genoels-Eldern and quartered. The troops were fed from the mobile field kitchens: meat, vegetables and potatoes requisitioned from the surrounding area. There was seldom any bread.

The Flemish inhabitants were very accommodating, in contrast to the inhabitants of the cloister, who made a furtive impression. The ensuing nervousness led to fear of a night attack and in fact II/ 66, which was nearest to the cloister, was alerted.

Sunday 16 August brought an unexpected rest day which, after the exertions of the last week, was greeted with great joy. It was taken to allow the following two reserve corps to close up on the four (ix, iii, iv and ii) first-line corps. At 1600, the first field church services were held in enemy territory. The regimental band then played patriotic tunes, and we all sang along. The 100 or so limited-duty men from IR 26 and 66 were each formed into a company to perform rail security under Captain Knaths (8/ 66). Lt Reich (Martin) took over command of 8/ 66.

At 0500 on 17 August, the regiment marched through Tongres, reaching Alken at 1600, where it quartered. Once again the inhabitants made an open and willing impression. We did not speak to each other in French, but were able to use Plattdeutsch (the north German dialect, similar to Dutch). Late in the afternoon, we unsuccessfully shot at an enemy aircraft.

Aerial reconnaissance reported strong Belgian forces behind the Gette River, so we had to assume we would soon engage the enemy. Everyone was eager to come to grips with him. The war had begun, but we had not yet seen combat.

4

BATTLE ON THE GEETE

The Belgian Army had recovered from its initial shock and waited for French support in a dug-in position behind the Geete. General von Kluck decided that on 18 August he would attack the Belgians in front with the forward three corps, while II AK attacked their northern flank to cut them off from Fortress Antwerp.

The iv AK objective was Haelen. Early in the morning, all the troops were ready to march. Initially the division marched in column, with IR 66 as advance guard. East of Rummen, the brigade gave the order to deploy; II/ 66 was to march oriented on the Rummen-Hulsbeck road, III/ 66 south of the road, I/ 66 was corps reserve. Two battalions of IR 26 would advance on the left.

Movement began at 0800. Hussars rode in front of II/ 66; 6/ 66 under First Lieutenant Holscher was the advance guard, the point element was led by Lt Hermens. It advanced towards the Gette on a wonderful, arrow-straight road with deep roadside ditches, marching magnificently in the bright early morning sun which rose behind it. Left and right the road was lined with high poplars, whose crowns provided a shady roof. To both sides of the road were meadows, lined with wire to form individual enclosures. It looked like home, the Altmark north of Salzwedel.

Suddenly it cracked and whistled and popped in the trees. Rifle fire from forward! The hussars raced back. The column halted and moved to the ditches. Major Knauff stood quietly and easily on the road and gave his orders: we will attack! Initially, 6/ 66 would continue towards the Geete; 5/ 66 would deploy on the left of 6/ 66, cover the flank and attack; 7/ 66 and 8/ 66 would follow on both sides of the road. Lt Hermens’ point was reinforced to platoon strength and advanced by bounds against an invisible enemy. The other two platoons of 6/ 66, under Reserve Lieutenant Roebbling and Acting Officer Westphal, followed in support. Heavy rifle fire struck from the forest and bushes that lined the far side of the Geete. A broad water-filled ditch blocked the way, and could only be crossed by a road bridge. Lt Hermens was the first to spring forward, his men following after. The platoon closed to within 200m of the enemy and opened fire. While attempting to advance again, Lt Hermens was severely wounded by a bullet to the head and fell into a water-filled ditch. He was pulled out by Landwehr Sergeant Feldmann, who carried him out of the enemy fire. Trumpeter Wieblitz was killed by a bullet through the heart, the first fatal casualty in the regiment. Sergeant Ullmer assumed command, was hit by four bullets and put out of action.

The riflemen of 5/ 66 under Lt Korfes (the editor) had come level with 6/ 66 and fired diagonally into the enemy. 7 and 8/ 66 moved up, taking very little enemy fire. Lt Korfes crossed the water-filled ditch, taking the men of 6/ 66 with him. Suddenly they saw movement in the enemy position. As the enemy retreated to the west, under German pursuit fire, 5 and 6/ 66 crossed the Geete on tree trunks, then 7 and 8/ 66 followed on a bridge. III/ 66 crossed to the south, at Geet-Beetz, hardly under fire.

Weapons and pieces of uniforms of various Belgian units were found in the abandoned Belgian position. The first battle was over. On the horizon, a Belgian cavalry regiment could be seen disappearing over a ridge. Since the limit of advance in the division order was the Diest–Tirlemont rail line, the regiment linked up with I/ 27 on the right and IR 28 on the left. II and III/ 66 occupied an assembly area at the foot of the high ground on the west side of the Geete to cover the construction of a bridge. Men sent out to find water returned with red wine and champagne. The inhabitants said that the position had been held by 200 Guides (cavalry), which had relieved the Belgian 4th Infantry Regiment the previous day. Therefore, the main enemy force had abandoned the Geete position, so that Iv AK was opposed only by rearguards without artillery, which were easily dealt with. It was unknown if the high ground to the front was occupied. Farther left and right, cannon fire could be heard, so there were German troops working to establish bridgeheads over the Geete. As the regiment waited for the bridge to be completed, a strange situation developed. Slowly and carefully, men, women and children moved down the high ground to the front, vigorously waving handkerchiefs, until they were within shouting distance. Encouraged by us, they approached more closely. They told us that the high ground was not occupied. We found it hard to believe that such a tactically strong position would not be held, but the fact that they went back to their homes argued for their honesty, as they did not fear being shelled by their countrymen. And in fact, reconnaissance found the terrain up to Cappellen free of the enemy. After I/ 66 returned to the regiment at Geet-Beetz, it took over the advance guard and at 1430 the advance was renewed: it was fired on by cavalry and civilians. As darkness fell, the regiment quartered at Kersbeek-Miscom.

At 0800 on 19 August, the regiment assembled at Cappellen and moved out with I/ 66 as advance guard. At Kieseghem, numerous skillfully sited defensive positions were found, reinforced by abbatis and wire and apparently abandoned in haste. In Lubeek, I/ 66 was given forty prisoners by Hussar R 10, who were sent to the rear. The hussar patrols had been frequently fired on, once from a church with a Red Cross flag. The hostile attitude of the inhabitants, which frequently led to march columns or patrols being fired on, was cause enough for serious countermeasures. Therefore several burning villages were to be seen in all directions. Numerous footsore or straggling Belgians were brought in. The Belgian troops left uniforms, weapons and equipment on the side of the road, which gave proof that the Belgian Army was fleeing in panic. The misfortune that the irresponsible actions of the Belgian government had brought to pass was evident in seeing the large groups of refugees stopped in the fields to the side of the road: women, children and the old, clutching their few possessions. In several villages the inhabitants would come out in long processions with hands held high and waving white flags, in order to ask for mercy from the supposed German barbarians.

While resting 2km east of Louvain, the regiment was suddenly fired upon from houses and bushes by a Belgian lancer patrol. Captain Bonsac, 7/ 66, ordered a platoon to take up arms and charged forward at their head in the direction of the shooting: the enemy patrol was driven off. A number of prisoners were taken, as well as many completely exhausted horses. Aside from this patrol, the enemy was nowhere to be seen: apparently he had succeeded in withdrawing to Antwerp. Nevertheless, it was necessary to try to fix the Belgian Army in place or cut it off from Antwerp, so the entire 1st Army continued to advance rapidly.

During the afternoon, Iv AK reached the gates of Louvain. After a long rest, at 1830 the order was given to march into the beautiful old city. The artillery was in position, aimed at the roofs. IR 66 was the lead regiment, II/ 66 the advance guard, and entered the city with the flags unfurled and band playing. The population thickly lined the streets and watched, sullen and silent. Singing the ‘Watch on the Rhine’ with a thundering voice, the troops marched in perfect order down the streets. That evening, the regiment quartered at Boverberg on the Louvain–Brussels road. I/ 66 established outpost security.

According to reports, the Belgian Army had left Brussels and was retreating to Antwerp. The division began the march at 0800 on 20 August with IR 66 the lead element. En route there was a rest for several hours while negotiations for the capitulation of Brussels and the march into the city were conducted. At about 1500, Iv AK entered the Belgian capital. In front was Hussar R 10, followed by the regiment, the band leading, then III, II and I/ 66. A barricade had been erected at the entrance to the city, which the inhabitants were made to clear away. A few hundred metres beyond that, the corps passed in review before its commander, General Sixt von Arnim. The troops marched through beautiful Brussels in squad column, with fixed bayonets, singing, and to the sound of Prussian march music, the streets thickly lined with people. The populace was calm, and the Belgian national colours were frequently seen. Marching in step for 16km through the city in the burning August heat was fatiguing, but exhilarating. A great British newspaper wrote that the German troops had made a good impression, above all Infantry Regiments 66, 40 and 26. Only at the west side of the city was a normal march column formed and a stop to rest taken. III/ 66 remained as the garrison of Brussels and was attached to the 16 Infantry Brigade. I/ 66 quartered in Waasbroek and II/ 66 put outposts south-west of Brussels on the road to Hal. Rumours of a mass Belgian uprising made the rounds, and the highest degree of readiness was ordered. Danger seemed to lurk in the darkness. But all was quiet.

It was now certain that the Belgian Army was at Antwerp and III RK remained behind to provide security against the strong fortress. First Army left Brussels behind it and swung towards the French border and the 2nd Army near Maubeuge, where strong French resistance was expected. We now knew the British had landed, but not where and when we would find them. At 0730 on 21 August, 7 ID began the march, IR 26 advance guard, with IR 66 at the head of the main body, I/ 66 leading, followed by II/ 66 (with the MG Company) on the road Meilemerch–Vlesenbeeck–Elinghen, reaching Schamelbeek at 1630, where it quartered. The population was generally calmer.

On 22 August, the march continued in the same order through Enghein and Bassilly to La Cavée, where we quartered. During the march a British aircraft was brought down at Grandicq Farm by rifle and MG fire. This first contact made it likely that we would soon meet the British Army. The difficult marches made great demands on man and horse, but few dropped out and morale was excellent. The lack of bread was a disadvantage, and the field trains could not keep up with the combat troops.

5

MONS, 23–24 AUGUST 1914

On Sunday 23 August, we were supposed to make contact with the British. First Army ordered the continuation of the deeply echeloned march to the area north-west of Maubeuge. The regiment marched at 0700 as the lead element of the main body, order of march being II/ 66, I/ 66, MG Company, direction of march Chievres–Pommeroeul (15km west of the centre of Mons), when at 1500 the report arrived that the British held the Conde Canal north of Thulin. The division continued the march so as to engage the British that day. The advance guard, IR 26, was at the south side of Blois de Ville late in the afternoon when it was surprised by artillery fire from a position south of the canal. IR 26 attacked west of the main road to Thulin against the canal south of Ville-Pommeroeul. At 1930, II/ 66 was committed east of the road. There was heavy firing forward: IR 26 must have made serious contact. The desire to help our sister regiment and get to grips with the enemy motivated every man in the battalion. Just like in peacetime training, the battalion advanced in the growing darkness on a broad front from the rail line south of Ville-Pommeroul, accompanied by the MG platoon of Reserve Lieutenant Seldte. The battalion had to wade through several broad and deep water-filled ditches. For the smaller men, loaded with equipment, this wasn’t easy, as the water came to their necks. The heavy MG and rifle fire from the front fortunately all went too high, and there were no casualties.

In spite of the difficult terrain, by 2000 the canal had been reached and contact with IR 26 established at the sugar factory (Zuckerfabrik). Res. Lt Seldte brought his MG into position on the roof of a farm building near the canal. I/ 66 was in division reserve on the rail level crossing east of Ville-Pommeroul, occasionally under enemy MG grazing fire, and at 2200 was moved forward to the north side of the sugar factory. In spite of their exhaustion, the troops were burning to get at the British. Since the bridge had been blown down by the British, the division bridge train and Engineer Battalion 4 were brought forward. At about midnight, Musketeer Hermann Voigtländer swam the canal and discovered that the British had withdrawn. At about 0130, II/ 66 crossed on pontoons. Because it was still dark and the situation uncertain, the battalion advanced only 400m and dug in, together with IR 26. The British had withdrawn to Thulin and to the south. As soon as dawn began to break, at 0500, II/ 66 crossed the Haine River and attacked towards Thulin. Lt Winckler and Res. Lt Borchert from 8/ 66 and Lt Fricke from 7/ 66 led the troops, who soon took heavy fire from the scattered farms. Thulin was vigorously defended by a small force. The advancing battalion took fire from almost all the houses, especially from a church on which hung a Red Cross flag. The troops attacked with determination and after a short fight, in which Res. Lt Borchert and elements of 8/ 66 distinguished themselves, the town was taken. The battalion had taken casualties: Reserve Sergeant Kunzmann was killed on his birthday. The attack continued under heavy fire to the rail embankment. According to the brigade order, this was the limit of advance. The fire soon died down. Withdrawing enemy cavalry was engaged with lively pursuit fire. IR 26 had also reached the rail embankment, and I/ 66 Thulin, which, because of the house-to-house fighting, was now partially in flames. After a good rest, which was for the most part undisturbed by the enemy, at 1320 the attack was resumed, with Elouges the objective for II/ 66, with I/ 66 to the right. The attack was supported by the entire division artillery, which took the heights west of Elouges, which were held by the enemy, under concentric fire. The riflemen went continually forward, just like in the training area,