The Guard Ersatz Division fought in the opening phases of the war in the Battle of the Frontiers and then participated in the Race to the Sea. In 1916, the division fought in the Battle of Verdun. In 1917, the division participated in the Second Battle of the Aisne. In July 1917, the division was sent to the Eastern Front, where it fought in the Baltic region. It returned to the Western Front in September, entering the line in October near Verdun. The division remained on the Western Front until the Armistice on November 11, 1918.