The 5th Landwehr Division is composed of two Landwehr brigades meant to be the war garrison of Metz, where they detrained August 9 and 10, 1914: 14th Landwehr Brigade from the Fourth District (36th Landwehr and 66th Landwehr); 30th Landwehr Brigade from the Eighth District (25th Landwehr and 65th Landwehr). The 17th Landwehr was under the 14th Brigade.
Woevre.
1. During the first days of September the 14th Landwehr Brigade was engaged at Fresnes and Marcheville (in Woevre), near the 33d Reserve Division. It fought on the Cotes de Meuse, near Champlon and Les Eparges, at the beginning of October and suffered heavy losses there.
2. In December the two brigades (14th Landwehr Brigade and 30th Landwehr Brigade) were united in the Woevre (Warcq, Hennemont, Marcheville, Champlon, Saulx). The division at that time was part of the Von Strantz detachment.
1915.
1. The division remained in the sector between Warcq and Saulx en Woevre during the whole of 1915. In January the 17th Landwehr, from which many men had deserted, was sent to Russia, where it assisted in the formation of the 85th Landwehr Division.
1916.
Cotes de Meuse.
1. At the time of the Verdun offensive the division was present during the attacks on the Cotes de Meuse, near Braquis, Ronvaux, Manhuelles, at the end of February to March, 1916.
2. Toward the end of March the 14th Landwehr Brigade took the place of the First Guard Ersatz Brigade (Guard Ersatz Division) in the Apremont sector.