The division was primarily recruited in the V Army Corps area (Posen and Lower Silesia).
The 119th Infantry Division initially fought on the Eastern Front in World War I, entering the line in April as part of "Combined Corps Kneussl" (Kombiniertes Korps Kneussl) and then fighting in the battle of Gorlice-Tarnów and the ensuing Gorlice-Tarnów Offensive.
From September 1915 to March 1916, the division occupied the line between the Servech and Shchara Rivers, near Baranovichi.
It remained in the line in Russia until May 1917, when it was transferred to the Western Front, where it was initially stationed on the Belgian/Dutch border.
Cavalry was reduced, artillery and signals commands were formed, and combat engineer support was expanded to a full pioneer battalion.