History of the Real Königlich
Bayerische Infanterie Leib Regiment

The Königlich Bayerische Infanterie Leib Regiment was a Life Guard unit for the kings of Bavaria. It started the first World War in 1914 a part of the 1^st Bavarian Division. It crossed the Frontier August 12^th 1914, sacked Baubaville and withdrew to the north of Sarrebrucken where it fought again on the 20^th. They became heavily engaged at Comles October 24^th and again at Maticourt on December 17^th. By November 4^th the 1^st Division suffered casualties of 63 Officers and 2,090 men.

The Alpenkorps

The 1^st Bavarian Division was kept on the Somme line until October 15^th 1914. The Division was sent to the region north of Arras (Neuville-Souchez sector) where it remained for seven months. In May of 1915 the Leib Regiment was assigned to the Alpenkorp which had just been formed that month. The Alpenkorps 1^st Jäger  Brigade consisted of the Bavarian Infanterie Leib Regiment, Bavarian 1st Jäger  Regiment, Bavarian 1st Jäger  Battalion, Bavarian 2nd Jäger  battalion, and the Bavarian 2^nd Reserve Jäger  Battalion. The composition of the Alpenkorps changed several times throughout the war. At the end of May 1915 it was sent to Italy in the vicinity of Camitello and to take part in several smaller actions that helped stabilized the Austrian front. In Honor of their actions, the Leib was presented with the Edelweiss cap badge by the Austrian Kaiserschützen.

On October 15^th the AlpenKorps was sent to France on the Mezieres-Rethel line but only until October 29^th, The Korp was then sent to Serbia and remained South of Uskub until March of 1916. On March 16^th of that year, the Korp was sent to France by way of Hungary and arrived at the front lines east of Rheims on April 1^st. In May it went into training with the Assault Battalion Rohr. On June 23 1916 the Leib went into action at Verdun North of Vaux Fort with reinforcements of two shock troops from Assault battalion Rohr. The Leib was pulled back from the front line at the end of the month. The Korp was reorganized and went back on line July 11^th near Fleury. The AlpenKorps had lost 71 percent of it’s infantry in various attacks at Verdun and was withdrawn on August 12^th. It was assigned the Fontaine-aux-Charmes-Vauquois sector in the Argonne.

In the first half of September 1916 the AlpenKorps entrained for Romanian and entered into a Composition of the 200^th Division (Carpathian Korp ) with the 2^nd Jäger  Regiment removed. At the end of September it went into action in the vicinity of Hermannstadt and then near Brasso. Upon the stabilization of the Romanian front it occupied the Pancio-Focsani sector. During it’s time of service in Romania the Leib Regiment again suffered heavy losses. It was relieved on April 6^th 1917 and was sent to Hungary near Karlsburg for a three week rest. The Leib was sent to the Western Front on June 15^th and was assigned to the Alsatian Front until July 20^th and was withdrawn for rest. At the beginning of August it was sent to Romania and took over its old positions near Focsani.

The Isonzo Front

In September of 1917 it was relieved and sent to the Isonzo Front Italy. On October 24^th it attacked on both sides of the Tolmino and took possession of Monte Tomba the following day. On November 25^th the Leib was engaged at Monte Tomba again and on December 12^th on the slopes of Monfenera. The Lieb was relieved December 20^th and remained behind the front lines until middle of January 1918 when it was shipped to Alsace for training near Saarburg, They were then sent to Flanders and arrived April 12^th . The Division was engaged northeast of Bailleul on the 14^th of Apirl to the 18^th. Relieved and rested east of Lille until the 23^rd and reentered the line on the Kemmel-Locre Front.

The Leib remained on the Kemmel-Locre Front until the 10^th of May when they were withdrawn after suffering heavy losses. They then moved to the Gent region of Belgium for rest until the 8^th of August before being moved to St Quentin. On August 11^th the unit entered the line near Hallu-Fransart-Hattencourt sector. On the 27^th they fell back along the Somme Canal near Bethencourt and were withdrawn in the beginning of Sept. Put back in the line immediately north of Peronne in Moislain sector on the 7^th of September, they were thrown back upon Longavesnes-Epehy Villeers-Guislain with heavy losses. The Leib was withdrawn on the 23^rd of August to the rear lines at Walincourt for rest until October 10^th when it was sent to the Balkans reinforcing the troops near Nish. There the Leib remained until the end of the war.

• Das Kgl. Bayerische Inf. Leib-Regiment im WeltKrieg 1930
• 251 Divisions of the German Army Which Participated in the War (1914-1918 ) Washington Government Printing Office 1920
• German Assault Troops of World War 1 Thomas Wictor Schiffer LTD 2012