The division founded in early May 1941, spent most of World War II stationed in the Netherlands and Antwerp, and, after the Allied invasion of June 1944, fought in several defensive battles until being destroyed in April 1945.

In an order dated 13 April 1941, each military district had been required to raise two regiment for a total of thirty.

The division remained there until 7 September 1944 when it was transferred to Antwerp as part of the LXXXVIII Korps, 1.

It fought at Fort Merksem, Woensdrecht, Breda before being transferred to the Saarpfalz region in February 1945.

The remnants of the 719th surrendered to the United States Army in early May 1945 near Münsingen in Baden-Württemberg.