The DFS 230 gliders were to be used to allow the assault groups to silently land virtually on top of their objectives, surprising the defenders and preventing them from destroying the bridge.

The 1st battalion was landed by DFS 230 gliders towed by Ju 52s of Luftlandegeschwader 1, but the rest of the regiment was parachuted in the vicinity of Maleme airfield on 20 May 1941.

Following the surrender of Crete, regiment forces were involved in murdering civilians in villages such as Kondomari, Alikianos and Kandanos.

The 1st Battalion was flown to Smolensk on 6 December 1941 and then moved to the Yukhnov area, west of Kaluga, to bolster the German defenses there.

Elements of the regiment also took part in the fighting in the Rzhev area starting on 3 January 1942, to reinforce defenses of the 9th Army.