During 1946, the division took part in Operation Keelhaul, which included the forced repatriation of Cossacks to the Soviet Union. The author Ian Mitchell wrote the division was ordered, on 26 May, "to provide 'static picquets' along the route the Cossacks were to travel". Mitchell stated the 138th Brigade was informed that "the return of the Cossacks to Russia is part of an international agreement", many were wanted for war crimes, and "any Cossack who escapes will be a menace to British troops stationed in the area". The men of the division were ordered "to capture or shoot any Cossack" who attempted escape, but were to avoid any potential mass shootings. The historian and writer Giles MacDonogh wrote the division, along with the 78th, were engaged in "some ugly scenes" once the Cossacks and their families realised what was happening; "Tommies used rifles, bayonets and pickaxe handles to convince them to board the lorries that would take them to the frontier." These efforts resulted in 900 German officers being turned over to the Soviets, among them Helmuth von Pannwitz who was later executed.