[3] The division was disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I.
The division was recruited heavily in densely populated Westphalia, as its primary recruiting and garrison area was Lorraine, whose German population was insufficient to support the division.
It participated in the initial German offensive and the Allied Great Retreat.
It then fought in the subsequent Allied counteroffensives, including the Battle of Champagne-Marne and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.
Divisions received engineer companies and other support units from their higher headquarters.