The division consisted of more than 10,000 soldiers, primarily of the infantry branch, with supporting artillery.

The division was only semi-motorized and relied on marching for the infantry units and horse-drawn transport for most of the support equipment, especially the artillery.

Shortly after its formation it then participated in the invasion of Poland as a reserve division of Army Group North.

As part of the 11th Army, it participated in the Crimean campaign in late 1941, including the initial assaults near Perekop and the "Tartar Ditch" as well as Sevastopol.

The division was reformed in Hungary on 16 June 1944. it participated in battles around Warsaw in the summer, at the end of July it was routed by the Red Army's 2nd Guards Tank Army commanded by Alexei Radzievsky, and in September 1944 was destroyed by Soviet forces during their assault on the Praga suburb of Warsaw.