The division saw its first combat near Bitterfeld as part of the 11th Army. It was then moved to the 12th Army in preparation of the planned liberation of the encircled German capital, Berlin. The 12th Army reached Potsdam, but was then rerouted by its commander Walther Wenck to assist the 9th Army, commanded by Theodor Busse, which had sustained heavy damage in combat against the Red Army at the Battle of Halbe. The 9th and 12th Armies then turned west towards the Elbe river with the intention to surrender to the United States Army rather than the Soviet forces. The German formations as well as the civilians they escorted sustained heavy casualties, but ultimately fulfilled that goal.