the 8th ersatz division ("8. ersatz-division") was a unit of the german army in world war i. the division was formed on mobilization of the german army in august 1914. the division was a composite division, formed from 14 brigade replacement battalions ("brigade-ersatz-bataillone") from the kingdom of württemberg, the grand duchy of hesse, the rhine province, the province of hesse-nassau and the imperial territory of alsace-lorraine. it became more württemberg as the war progressed; and, in february 1917, it was officially designated a royal württemberg division. it was redesignated the 243rd infantry division in april 1917.