In 1940 it joined the invasion of Norway, most famously sending its 139th Mountain Regiment under General Eduard Dietl to seize the ice-free Arctic port of Narvik.

The Allies briefly managed to take the town back, but abandoned it to the Germans after the invasion of France.

The division was withdrawn to Germany for rehabilitation at the end of the year, but left its 139th Mountain Infantry Regiment behind to operate independently.

It was then transferred to the Eastern Front, where it served as a reserve for Army Group North near Leningrad.

In November 1942 it was committed to the front where the Soviets had surrounded Velikiye Luki, and then transferred in mid-December to the far south to help in the attempt to relieve Stalingrad.