The Guard Ersatz Division (Garde-Ersatz-Division) was a division of the Imperial German Army during World War I. Ersatz is German for "replacement"; the division was formed from companies of the replacement battalions (Ersatz-Bataillone) of the regiments of Prussian Guards and several other Prussian regiments. The division was formed on the mobilization of the German Army in August 1914.[1]
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.[2]
Order of battle on mobilization
1. gemischte Garde-Ersatz-Brigade:
Garde-Brigade-Ersatz-Bataillon Nr. 1
Garde-Brigade-Ersatz-Bataillon Nr. 2
Garde-Brigade-Ersatz-Bataillon Nr. 3
Garde-Brigade-Ersatz-Bataillon Nr. 4
Garde-Brigade-Ersatz-Bataillon Nr. 5
Garde-Brigade-Ersatz-Bataillon Nr. 6
Garde-Kavallerie-Ersatz-Abteilung Berlin (later Garde-Kavallerie-Eskadron Nr. 1)
Vorpommersches Feldartillerie-Ersatz-Abteilung Nr. 38
Hinterpommersches Feldartillerie-Ersatz-Abteilung Nr. 53
1.Ersatz-Kompanie/Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 2
17. gemischte Ersatz-Brigade:
Brigade-Ersatz-Bataillon Nr. 17
Brigade-Ersatz-Bataillon Nr. 18
Brigade-Ersatz-Bataillon Nr. 19
Brigade-Ersatz-Bataillon Nr. 20
Kavallerie-Ersatz-Abteilung Posen (V. Armeekorps)
Posensches Feldartillerie-Ersatz-Abteilung Nr. 20
Niederschlesisches Feldartillerie-Ersatz-Abteilung Nr. 41
It is possible that 17. gemischte Ersatz-Brigade remained in the east and was assigned to 3. Landwehr-Division - the sources are in conflict.[3] By 26 August, it was with the Landwehr Division.[4]
Hermann Cron, Geschichte des deutschen Heeres im Weltkriege 1914-1918 (Berlin, 1937)
Histories of Two Hundred and Fifty-One Divisions of the German Army which Participated in the War (1914-1918), compiled from records of Intelligence section of the General Staff, American Expeditionary Forces, at General Headquarters, Chaumont, France 1919, (1920, online)
^Hermann Cron, Geschichte des deutschen Heeres im Weltkriege 1914-1918 (Berlin, 1937)
^Histories of Two Hundred and Fifty-One Divisions of the German Army which Participated in the War (1914-1918), compiled from records of Intelligence section of the General Staff, American Expeditionary Forces, at General Headquarters, Chaumont, France 1919, (1920, online)
^1 Weltkrieg & Cron have 17. gemischte Ersatz-Brigade with Garde-Ersatz-Division on mobilization. Other sources have the brigade with the Landwehr Division on its formation.