 Parts of the GD were used to expand the FBA until it eventually served as GD's replacement and reserve battalion.The FBA saw action along with the rest of "Großdeutschland "Panzer-Grenadier-Division" in its campaigns on the eastern front.Although not permanently attached to the division and composed mainly of an "ad hoc" collections of several units, the FBA and its successors would retain the traditional helmet insignia of its parent division, and when sub-units of the "Großdeutschland" division were being expanded to bring GD to corps strength (Panzerkorps "Großdeutschland"), the FBA was enhanced to brigade strength as well.