The division was active during the Cold War and some time after the fall of the Berlin Wall, before being disbanded.

It was an experimental formation of the French Army and served to test of new structures and tactics for the expected nuclear battlefield and also new weapons, being the first large unit equipped with the new, light-weight Panhard EBR armoured cars and AMX-13 tanks.

In late 1956 the division was hurriedly reunited with its tanks and armoured cars to take part in Operation Musketeer, the invasion of Egypt by Franco-British forces.

The division was transferred to Metropolitan France, with its headquarters at Besançon, forming part of I Corps.

It was selected to test the new ideas, and its 7th Mechanised Brigade did much of the experimental work.