4. At the beginning of December it was sent to Russia (the 73d Landwehr entrained December 11 northeast of Reims, via Dusseldorf-Hamburg-Koenigsburg-Tilsit-Poneviej. Detrained at Elovka the 16th).
1917.
Courland.
Sent into line in the Illukst sector (region of Dvinsk) at the beginning of January 1917 and remained in this country during the whole year (Illukst, Lake Stenten, Kchtchava). Its losses were very small—17 killed and 20 wounded in the 3d Ersatz Reserve from the end of December, 1916, to the end of August, 1917. Because the sector was so quiet the division had only small forces during the last months of 1917. The 73d Landwehr at the end of November had only 60 to 65 men per company (examination of Russians).
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The division remained for a long time in the quiet sectors of the Russian front and seems to have had only moderate fighting value.
1918.
Courland.
1. The 5th Ersatz Division was still in the vicinity of Dvinsk in February. In March it exchanged the 3d Ersatz Regiment for the 8th Landsturm Regiment of the 87th Division, the latter being on the point of leaving for France.