In World War I the division was strengthened by an additional infantry brigade (the IJA 29th Brigade) and, led by Lieutenant General Kamio Mitsuomi, was given an independent command in the Siege of Qingdao of the German colony of Qingdao in the Shandong peninsula, China in October 1914, forcing a surrender of German forces after a week-long assault.

From September 1938, the division came under the control of the IJA 21st Army, and participated in the Canton Operation and the invasion and occupation of Guangdong Province under the command of Lieutenant General Seiichi Kuno.

Following the conquest of Singapore, the division was transferred to the IJA 15th Army for the invasion of Burma, where it suffered over 3000 casualties, primarily from malnutrition and malaria in securing control of the Ledo Road.

Although suffering heavy losses, the division nevertheless inflicted many casualties and imposed severe delays on the Allies.

Especially hit was the 114th infantry regiment which suffered about 2000 combat casualties while holding an important rail and road hub of Myitkyina in 1944 while under command of the 56th division.

The Japanese 18th Division also suffered heavy losses in the joint operations between the Chinese, American and British armies.

More than seven or eight thousand people were killed in battle.The 114th Regiment, the main force of the Special Myitkyina Garrison, according to its resume, recorded 2,979 dead, 1,821 casualties, and 107 prisoners during its Myitkyina defense operations (May–August 44) In the aftermath of the disastrous Battle of Imphal in March–July 1944, Lieutenant-General Shinichi Tanaka exchanged divisional appointment with Lieutenant-General Eitaro Naka, formerly Chief of Staff of the Burma Area Army.

In the 1945 campaigning season, the division once again lost many thousands of men in the Battle of Central Burma, particularly at Meiktila, south of Mandalay.