By the time of World War I, it was garrisoned at Tiflis and was part of the 2nd Caucasus Army Corps.

It would later also take part in the Russian Civil War on the side of the White movement.

The Caucasus Grenadier Division saw action since the first days of World War I.

In October–September 1914 the division took part in fighting against the German Army in the Augustów Forest (in modern-day Poland) during the East Prussia Operation, and later that month fought in the First Battle of the Masurian Lakes.

Later during the Russian Civil War, some of the unit's members would join the Volunteer Army at Tsaritsyn.