The division was a unit of the German Army's stabilization forces and specialized on conflicts of low intensity and homeland defense.

Troops of this division were also deployed to the support of civilian agencies during large natural disasters such as disastrous floods in 1997.

A member of the 13th Panzergrenadier Division was awarded his nation's highest decoration for gallantry, the Honour Cross for Bravery on January 22, 2010.

Master Sergeant Daniel Seibert led a heroic counterattack against a superior insurgent force in the village of Basoz in Afghanistan's Kunduz Province on June 4, 2009.

His actions killed ten Taliban insurgents and saved a jeopardized reconnaissance squad from almost certain destruction.