Feldausbildungs-Division) was formed on 9 September 1942 with two regiments (numbered 639 and 640) to serve as a training formation for the recruits of Army Group North on the Eastern Front; the division's personnel was drawn from Wehrkreis I for the staff, from Wehrkreis VIII for Infantry Training Regiment 639 and from Wehrkreis II for Infantry Training Regiment 640.

The division was formed without artillery or divisional support units.

[2]: 578 On 3 December 1943, orders were issued to expand the division in the timeframe until 1 April 1944 with four regiments (that were also to include newly formed Panzerjäger formations).

[1]: 50 Throughout the division's history (as well as during the history of its subsequent redesignations), it was commanded by Johann Pflugbeil,[3] whose advanced age and limited abilities as a field commander (in the estimation of German higher ups) had already lead to several previous appointments to less prestigious and combat-ready formations, such as Landwehr Command Breslau or the 221st Security Division (the latter of which became notable through its numerous war crimes).

On 2 February 1945, it was renamed "Field Training Division Courland".