The division was composed primarily of troops from the Free and Hanseatic Cities and from Schleswig-Holstein.
Besides these regions, other troops of the division came from parts of the Province of Hanover adjoining Bremen and Hamburg.
It remained in the Flanders region for the rest of the year and into 1918 and fought in the Battle of Passchendaele.
In 1918, it occupied various parts of the line and fought against several Allied offensives, including in the second Battle of Cambrai.
Over the course of the war, other changes took place, including the formation of artillery and signals commands and a pioneer battalion.