[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.

[5] The Division was ordered to prepare for service in Libya, North Africa that same year to help support the Italian efforts there.

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.