The campaign in Western Europe began in the Netherlands before it was assigned to the
4th Army and sent to France. The division crossed the Somme on 7 June and fought near
Meulen. On 18–19 June, it fought around
Saumur and attempted to capture a bridge across the Loire, but the attack failed when it was blown up with a patrol still on it. The division reached
La Rochelle when the fighting in France ended. After the French capitulation the division was stationed in France on occupation duties until the early summer of 1941 when it was moved east in preparation for the attack on the Soviet Union. It was assigned to the
XXIV Army Corps in the opening stages of
Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union. The division fought in the southern sector of the front, seeing action around the
Berezina and
Dniepr rivers, especially in efforts to clear the
Pripet Marshes of by-passed
Red Army units. It was withdrawn to France in November 1941 and its 17,000 horses were handed over to infantry divisions. The “
Schlußappell”, the last divisional parade, was held on 5 November at Gomel before it was finally disbanded and reformed as the
24. Panzer-Division. == Commanders ==