Its primary and most noteworthy function throughout the war was the defense of the air space of the city of Berlin.

[1]: 67  The initial head of the Air Defense Command staff was a Major General named Braun, who was in August 1938 replaced by Gerhard Hoffmann.

Schilffarth was in turn replaced by Max Schaller on 20 January 1943, who was succeeded by Erich Kressmann on 18 February 1944 and by Kurt von Ludwig on 5 November 1944.

[4]: 30–32 On 2 February 1945, in the face of the rapidly approaching Red Army, the 1st Flak Division was partially repurposed for ground-level combat and, by orders of Wilhelm Keitel, placed under the direct control of the leadership staff of Wehrkreis III, tasked with the defense of the region.

[6]: 339  The 1st Flak Division was involved in the power struggle that went on behind the scenes during the Battle of Berlin; attempts by Helmuth Weidling (army commander of Berlin defenders) to subordinate the Luftwaffe's 1st Flak Division as well as Waffen-SS units to his own command were met with resistance in the last days of April 1945.