the 42nd division ("42. division") was a unit of the prussian/german army. it was formed on october 1, 1912, and was the last regular division created in the imperial german army. it was headquartered in saarburg in lothringen (now sarrebourg, france). the division was subordinated in peacetime to the xxi army corps ("xxi. armeekorps"). the division was disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the german army after world war i. the division was primarily recruited in the rhine province and the province of westphalia, as the german population in alsace-lorraine was insufficient to fill the division.