The 3rd SS Panzer Division "Totenkopf" (German: 3. SS-Panzerdivision "Totenkopf") was one of 38 divisions of the Waffen-SS of Nazi Germany during World War II. Its name, Totenkopf, is German for "death's head", and it is thus sometimes referred to as the Death's Head Division. Prior to achieving division status, the formation was known as Kampfgruppe (battlegroup) "Eicke". Most of the division's initial personnel belonged to the SS-Totenkopfverbände, and others were members of German militias that had committed war crimes in Poland.
The SS Division Totenkopf was formed in October 1939. The Totenkopf Division had close ties to the camp service and its members. When first formed a total of 6,500 men from the SS-Totenkopfverbände were transferred into the Totenkopf Division. The Totenkopf was initially formed from concentration camp guards of the 1st,2nd, and 3rd regiments of the SS-Totenkopfverbände, and men from the SS Heimwehr Danzig. Members of other SS militias were also transferred into the division in early 1940; these units had been involved in multiple massacres of Polish civilians, political leaders and prisoners of war. The division had officers from the SS-Verfügungstruppe (SS-VT), of whom many had already seen action in Poland.
Battle vs. Blackshirts (by Tybaltcapulet)
TBW.
Expert's Opinion
TBD.