$20.00 CAD
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March 1916 photo postcard of three soldiers of the 2nd Company of a Bavarian Pioneer Regiment, part of the 52nd Infantry Division.
Clear text, signed by “Fritz”.
Postmarked ‘KD Feldpostexp. 19.3.16 d_n 52.Inf.Div.’
Purple stamp ‘BAYER. PION. – REGT. 2. Kompagnie.’
Small paper scuff, soldier on right.
(Red text is an electronic watermark that is not physically part of the photo for sale)
The 52nd Infantry Division (52.Infanterie-Division) was a division of the Imperial German Army during World War I. The division was formed on March 6, 1915, from units taken from other divisions or newly raised. The division was initially mixed, with two infantry regiments from the Grand Duchy of Baden, one infantry regiment from Prussian Saxony, and Prussian and Baden support units (cavalry, artillery, engineers, and service and support units). While the infantry regiments and the divisional cavalry squadron were regular army units, the rest of the division was made up of reserve units and units formed during the war. The 66th Magdeburg Infantry Regiment was taken from the 7th Infantry Division, and the 169th and 170th Infantry Regiments were taken from Baden's 29th Infantry Division.
Shortly after its formation, the division went into the line facing the British Army near Arras, France, on the Western Front. In 1916, the division fought in the Battle of the Somme. The division remained on the Western Front for the duration of the war, although it moved to various sectors. Allied intelligence rated it one of the best German divisions.
