Complex sentence: The division was all but annihilated during the heavy fighting near Pillau, and while some survivors surrendered to the British in Schleswig-Holstein in May, many "Brandenburgers", highly skilled in evading detection, simply disappeared.
Split into simpler sentences: The division was all but annihilated during the heavy fighting near Pillau. While some survivors surrendered to the British in Schleswig-Holstein in May, many "Brandenburgers", highly skilled in evading detection, simply disappeared.