[3] The division was disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I.
During World War I, the division fought on the Western Front, seeing action in the Allied Great Retreat which culminated in the First Battle of the Marne and the Race to the Sea.
[4][5] The organization of the 40th Division in 1914, shortly before the outbreak of World War I, was as follows:[6] On mobilization in August 1914 at the beginning of World War I, most divisional cavalry, including brigade headquarters, was withdrawn to form cavalry divisions or split up among divisions as reconnaissance units.
Divisions received engineer companies and other support units from their higher headquarters.
An artillery commander replaced the artillery brigade headquarters, the cavalry was further reduced, the engineer contingent was increased, and a divisional signals command was created.