The 2nd Guards Infantry Division (German: 2. Garde-Infanterie-Division) was a unit in the
Guards Corps of the
Imperial German Army
The Imperial German Army (1871–1919), officially referred to as the German Army (), was the unified ground and air force of the German Empire. It was established in 1871 with the political unification of Germany under the leadership of Kingdom o ...
during the
First World War
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
. At the outbreak of war it was commanded by
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the battlefield, who was norma ...
Arnold von Winckler
Arnold von Winckler (Neisse, 17 February 1856 – Bad Freienwalde, 24 July 1945) was a Prussian military officer, and a general in World War I.
He was the son of Lieutenant General Ewald Fedor von Winckler (1813–1895) and joined the Prussian a ...
.
[The First Battle of the Marne 1914: The French miracle halts the Germans, Ian Sumner page 22.]
Origins
The division was originally established on August 11, 1813 as a grenadier brigade of four battalions. On September 5, 1818, the brigade was expanded into the 2nd Division of the Guard and Grenadier Corps and was finally given the name 2nd Guard Division on December 22, 1819.
Franco-Prussian War
In the
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the War of 1870, was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the North German Confederation led by the Kingdom of Prussia. Lasting from 19 July 1870 to 28 Janua ...
, the division fought in the battles of
Gravelotte and
Sedan and was part of the
siege of Paris. Here it took part in the
Battle of Le Bourget
The First battle of Le Bourget was part of the siege of Paris during the Franco-Prussian War, fought between 27 and 30 October 1870.
Background
General Carey de Bellemare commanded the northern section of the Paris defenses, which, being in t ...
.
Imperial German Army
Order of battle: 1914
* 3rd Guards Infantry Brigade
**
1st (Emperor Alexander) Guards Grenadiers
** 3rd (Queen Elisabeth) Guards Grenadiers
**
Guards Schützen Battalion
* 4th Guards Infantry Brigade
** 2nd (Emperor Francis) Guards Grenadiers
**
4th (Queen Augusta) Guards Grenadiers
* 2nd Guards Field Artillery Brigade
**
2nd Guards Field Artillery Regiment
** 4th Guards Field Artillery Regiment
*
2nd Guards Uhlans (1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th Squadrons)
* 2nd and 3rd Companies, Guards Pioneer Battalion
* 2nd Section, Guards Field Ambulance Company
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:2nd Guards Infantry Division (German Empire)
Guards infantry divisions of Germany in World War I