The division was formed on mobilization of the German Army in August 1914[1] as part of the XII (Royal Saxon) Reserve Corps.
The 24th Reserve Division fought on the Western Front, participating in the opening German offensive which led to the Allied Great Retreat and ended with the First Battle of the Marne.
In late July 1916, the division entered the Battle of the Somme, fighting there with a few respites until November 1916 and then returning to positional warfare in the trenchlines.
The division returned to the Western Front in late October/early November and saw action in the last phases of the Battle of Passchendaele.
Over the course of the war, other changes took place, including the formation of artillery and signals commands and a pioneer battalion.