14th Division ( German Empire ) The 14th Division ( " 14 . Division " ) was a unit of the Prussia n / German Army . It was formed in November 1816 in Trier as a troop brigade and became the 14th Division on September 5 , 1818 , also relocating its headquarters to Düsseldorf . The division was subordinated in peacetime to the VII Army Corps ( " VII . Armeekorps " ) . The division was disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I . The division was recruited in the Prussian Province of Westphalia and the Rhine Province , primarily in the densely populated Lower Rhine region . Combat chronicle . The 14th Division fought in the Austro - Prussian War in 1866 , seeing action in the Battle of Königgrätz . In the Franco - Prussian War of 1870 - 71 , the division fought in several battles and engagements , including the Battle of Spicheren , the Battle of Borny - Colombey ( also called the Battle of Colombey - Nouilly ) , and the Battle of Gravelotte ( also called the Battle of Gravelotte - St . Privat ) , as well as the Siege of Metz . During World War I , the division served on the Western Front . It participated in the initial German drive through Belgium and France , including the Battle of Liège and culminating in the First Battle of the Marne . After a period of trench warfare in various parts of the line , the division went to Verdun in 1916 . During the 1918 German Spring Offensive , the division fought in the Third Battle of the Aisne . Allied intelligence rated it a second class division , noted for tenacity on the defense . Order of battle in the Franco - Prussian War . During wartime , the 14th Division , like other regular German divisions , was redesignated an infantry division . The organization of the 14th Infantry Division in 1870 at the beginning of the Franco - Prussian War was as follows : Pre - World War I organization . German divisions underwent various organizational changes after the Franco - Prussian War . The organization of the 14th Division in 1914 , shortly before the outbreak of World War I , was as follows : Order of battle on mobilization . 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in August 1914 at the beginning of World War I , most divisional cavalry , including brigade headquarters , was withdrawn to form cavalry divisions or split up among divisions as reconnaissance units .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 . The 14th Division was again renamed the 14th Infantry Division and sent its 28th Infantry Brigade to the 14th Reserve Division . Its initial wartime organization was as follows : Late World War I organization . Divisions underwent many changes during the war , with regiments moving from division to division , and some being destroyed and rebuilt . During the war , most divisions became triangular - one infantry brigade with three infantry regiments rather than two infantry brigades of two regiments ( a " square division " ) . 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 . The 14th Infantry Division ' s order of battle on February 19 , 1918 was as follows :