The division was incorporated into the second army (Imperial Japanese Army) under Toshizo NISHIO, who held the title of Chujo (Middle Captain) commander when the Sino-Japanese War broke out in July 1937, and it was placed in the frontlines of the Northern China battle line before joining the Shanghai Expeditionary Army on the Shanghai City battle line in November of the same year to participate in the Battle of Nanking.
1937年（昭和12年）7月に日中戦争が勃発すると、師団は西尾寿造中将司令官の第2軍(日本軍)戦闘序列に編入され華北戦線に投入、同年11月上海派遣軍隷下上海市戦線に転じ南京攻略戦に参戦した。