The 22nd Division was a unit of the Prussian/German Army. It was formed on October 11, 1866, and was headquartered in Kassel. The division was subordinated in peacetime to the XI Army Corps. The division was disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I.
During wartime, the 22nd Division, like other regular German divisions, was redesignated an infantry division. The organization of the 22nd Infantry Division in 1870 at the beginning of the Franco-Prussian War was as follows:
43. Infanterie-Brigade
*Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 32
*Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 95
44. Infanterie-Brigade
*Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 83
*Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 94
Husaren-Regiment Nr. 13
The 32nd, 94th and 95th Infantry Regiments were from the Thuringian states, while the 83rd Infantry Regiment was from the Electorate of Hesse and included a battalion from Waldeck.
Pre-World War I organization
German divisions underwent various organizational changes after the Franco-Prussian War. With the creation of the 38th Division, most Thuringian elements were transferred to the new division and replaced with the Electorate of Hesse units. The organization of the 22nd Division in 1914, shortly before the outbreak of World War I, was as follows:
43. Infanterie-Brigade
*2. Kurhessisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 82
*Infanterie-Regiment von Wittich Nr. 83
44.Infanterie-Brigade
*2. Thüringisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 32
*1. Ober-Elsässiches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 167
22. Kavallerie-Brigade
*Dragoner-Regiment Freiherr von Manteuffel Nr. 5
*Husaren-Regiment Landgraf Friedrich II. von Hessen-Homburg Nr. 14
22. Feldartillerie-Brigade
*1. Kurhessisches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 11
*2. Kurhessisches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 47
Order of battle on mobilization
On mobilization in August 1914 at the beginning of World War I, most divisional cavalry, including brigade headquarters, was withdrawn to form cavalry divisions or split up among divisions as reconnaissance units. Divisions received engineer companies and other support units from their higher headquarters. The 22nd Division was again renamed the 22nd Infantry Division and its initial wartime organization was as follows:
43. Infanterie-Brigade
*2. Kurhessisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 82
*Infanterie-Regiment von Wittich Nr. 83
44.Infanterie-Brigade
*2. Thüringisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 32
*1. Ober-Elsässiches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 167
*Kurhessisches Jäger-Bataillon Nr. 11
1.Halbregiment/Kürassier-Regiment Kaiser Nikolas I. von Rußland Nr. 6
22. Feldartillerie-Brigade
*1. Kurhessisches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 11
*2. Kurhessisches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 47
1.Kompanie/Kurhessisches Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 11
Late World War I organization
Divisions underwent many changes during the war, with regiments moving from division to division, and some being destroyed and rebuilt. During the war, most divisions became triangular - one infantry brigade with three infantry regiments rather than two infantry brigades of two regiments. An artillery commander replaced the artillery brigade headquarters, the cavalry was further reduced, the engineer contingent was increased, and a divisional signals command was created. The 22nd Infantry Division's order of battle on May 29, 1918, was as follows:
43. Infanterie-Brigade
*2. Kurhessisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 82
*Infanterie-Regiment von Wittich Nr. 83
*1. Ober-Elsässiches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 167
6.Eskadron/Kürassier-Regiment Kaiser Nikolas I. von Rußland Nr. 6
Artillerie-Kommandeur 22
*1. Kurhessisches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 11
*Fußartillerie-Bataillon Nr. 50
Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 128
*1.Kompanie/Kurhessisches Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 11
*2.Kompanie/Kurhessisches Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 11