In 1939, the 52nd ID received border security tasks in the Saarpfalz and Trier area on the West Wall.

[1] It participated in operations on the Western Front in May 1940, advancing through Luxembourg and Belgium to Northern France under the 12th Army.

In June 1941, the division was moved to Poland to participate in Operation Barbarossa in which it advanced to Vilnius, Minsk and Moscow, where it was stopped at the Protva river.

In October 1943, the Division was reduced to only a combat group after heavy losses in the Battle of Nevel and was dissolved on 1 November 1943.

The division was first stationed at Baranavichy and then in Festung Libau (Liepāja in Latvia) in the Courland Pocket where it surrendered in May 1945.