Between June 1941 and July 1944, the 296th Infantry Division fought on the Eastern Front. Between June and September 1941, the division served under Army Group South, and was then transferred to Army Group Center, where it remained until its destruction in 1944. The division fought at the Battle of Kiev between August and September 1941 and then advanced via Tula towards Oryol, where it remained through the year 1942 and into August 1943. Until June 1944, it was driven back to Babruysk via Gomel.