The division's history is also marked by documented war crimes, particularly during the earlier campaigns in Poland and the Soviet Union. These included the Śladów massacre in 1939, where 252 prisoners of war and 106 civilians were executed, as well as instances of using civilians as human shields.
: It spearheaded the encirclement battles at Minsk and Gomel, pushing rapidly through Belarus and into Russia. 4 Panzer Division 1941-1945
: By mid-November, the division reached the outskirts of Tula, the southern pincer of the drive on Moscow. However, the onset of the Russian winter, combined with a lack of winter gear and fuel, paralyzed the unit. By January 1942, after the Soviet winter counter-offensive, the division was reduced to just 25 operational tanks. Defensive Struggles and Kursk (1942–1943) The division's history is also marked by documented