[2][3] Members of the divisions tank regiment participated in the Spanish Civil War on the Nationalist side as part of the German Legion Condor.

With the Soviet counterattacks in the winter of 1941–42 the division acted as a stand-by emergency force and, in March 1942, participated in the defense of Kharkov.

Initially successful the operation was ultimately a failure, with the division suffering heavy casualties in the process, especially in the fighting around Mozdok.

It remained on the Eastern Front for the remainder of the Second World War, fighting in Ukraine, Romania, Poland and Hungary.

At the end of the war saw the division engaged in Styria where it evaded Soviet forces and managed to surrender to the US Army instead.