The 716. Infanterie-Division was formed from the Replacement Army on May 2nd, 1941 as part of the 15th wave of draftees. It was intended to be part of the static divisions sent to occupied Europe. Therefore it didnt have the usual complement of vehicles and heavy weapons. Artillery and anti-tank weapons were usually captured weapons.

After formation in Bielefeld, it was  transferred to Rouen in France for training. After training, it took part in coastal defense operations, security duties, air raid protection, construction of defensive fortifications, and alert exercises along the coast of Normandy. After a couple of months near Amiens (North of Paris), it was transferred near Brussels in Belgium. After another couple of months it was transferred to Caen where it was stationed when the Allied forces invaded the Normandy Coast on June 6th, 1944.

The 716.Infanterie-Division occupied the region north of Caen east and west of the Orne. The Artillery regiment was stationed at the Merville Battery. They were also charged with guarding Pegasus Bridge. They were likely the first German ground troops in action on D-Day when they engaged the British Ox and Bucks defending Pegasus Bridge. The rest of the British 6th Airborne Division fought a pitched battle with the Artillery Regiment at the Merville Battery. Veterans accounts speak of defending Omaha beach against the Americans.

The 716.Infanterie-Division also fought in fierce defensive combat at Villers Bocage, along the Caen-Bayeux road and in the region of Caen. To quote Generalleutnant Richter, the division commander, "My division had been defeated and badly beaten up in Normandy". It was withdrawn July 10th just before the Falaise disaster.

Moving into southern France the Division took up coastal security positions in the region of Salses-Perpignan-Elne. This area was close to the French-Spanish border. Thereafter, the 716.Infanterie-Division was ordered to withdraw on August 19th and retreated through Languedoc, over the Cevennen and through the Rhonental to the region of Lyon. After this movement the Division was engaged by French partisan units before later arriving in the area of Schlettstadt.

In October of 1944 the 716.Infanterie-Division was in the region of Oberrhein near Kolmar where it fought at Neunkirch-Obenhein and was nearly destroyed in very heavy fighting. The remains of the Division formed "Kampfgruppe 716.Infanterie-Division" near Todtmoos and withdrew through the southern portion of the Schwarzwald being taken by American units at Kempten.

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