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3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf

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3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf

The 3rd SS Panzer Division "Totenkopf" (German: 3. SS-Panzerdivision "Totenkopf") was an elite division of the Waffen-SS of Nazi Germany during World War II, formed from the Standarten of the SS-TV. Its name, Totenkopf, is German for "death's head" – the skull and crossbones symbol – and it is thus sometimes referred to as the Death's Head Division. The division was formed through the expansion of Kampfgruppe Eicke, a battle group named – in keeping with German military practice – after its commander, Theodor Eicke. Most of the battle group's personnel had been transferred to the Waffen-SS from concentration camp guard units, which were known collectively as SS-Totenkopfverbände; others were former members of Selbstschutz: ethnic German militias that had committed war crimes in Poland. The division became notorious for its brutality, and committed numerous war crimes, including the Le Paradis and Chasselay massacres. The remnants of the division surrendered on 9 May 1945 to American forces in Czechoslovakia.

Infobox

Active
1939–45
Country
Nazi Germany
Branch
Waffen-SS
Type
Panzer
Role
Armoured warfare
Size
Division
Nickname
Death's Head Division
Engagements
World War II Eastern Front Budapest Offensive Operation Konrad III Operation Spring Awakening
Notable commanders
Theodor Eicke Max Simon

Tables

· Commanders
1
1
No.
1
Commander
Eicke, TheodorSS-Gruppenführer Theodor Eicke (1892–1943)
Took office
1 November 1939
Left office
7 July 1941
Time in office
1 year, 248 days
2
2
No.
2
Commander
Kleinheisterkamp, MatthiasSS-Oberführer Matthias Kleinheisterkamp (1893–1945)
Took office
7 July 1941
Left office
18 July 1941
Time in office
11 days
3
3
No.
3
Commander
Keppler, GeorgSS-Brigadeführer Georg Keppler (1894–1966)
Took office
18 July 1941
Left office
19 September 1941
Time in office
63 days
1
1
No.
1
Commander
Eicke, TheodorSS-Obergruppenführer Theodor Eicke (1892–1943)
Took office
19 September 1941
Left office
26 February 1943 †
Time in office
1 year, 160 days
4
4
No.
4
Commander
Priess, HermannSS-Gruppenführer Hermann Priess (1901–1985)
Took office
26 February 1943
Left office
27 April 1943
Time in office
60 days
5
5
No.
5
Commander
Lammerding, HeinzSS-Gruppenführer Heinz Lammerding (1905–1971)
Took office
27 April 1943
Left office
1 May 1943
Time in office
4 days
4
4
No.
4
Commander
Priess, HermannSS-Gruppenführer Hermann Priess (1901–1985)
Took office
1 May 1943
Left office
20 June 1944
Time in office
1 year, 50 days
6
6
No.
6
Commander
Ullrich, KarlSS-Standartenführer Karl Ullrich (1910–1996) Acting
Took office
20 June 1944
Left office
13 July 1944
Time in office
23 days
7
7
No.
7
Commander
Becker, HellmuthSS-Brigadeführer Hellmuth Becker (1902–1953)
Took office
13 July 1944
Left office
8 May 1945
Time in office
311 days
No.
Portrait
Commander
Took office
Left office
Time in office
1
Eicke, TheodorSS-Gruppenführer Theodor Eicke (1892–1943)
1 November 1939
7 July 1941
1 year, 248 days
2
Kleinheisterkamp, MatthiasSS-Oberführer Matthias Kleinheisterkamp (1893–1945)
7 July 1941
18 July 1941
11 days
3
Keppler, GeorgSS-Brigadeführer Georg Keppler (1894–1966)
18 July 1941
19 September 1941
63 days
1
Eicke, TheodorSS-Obergruppenführer Theodor Eicke (1892–1943)
19 September 1941
26 February 1943 †
1 year, 160 days
4
Priess, HermannSS-Gruppenführer Hermann Priess (1901–1985)
26 February 1943
27 April 1943
60 days
5
Lammerding, HeinzSS-Gruppenführer Heinz Lammerding (1905–1971)
27 April 1943
1 May 1943
4 days
4
Priess, HermannSS-Gruppenführer Hermann Priess (1901–1985)
1 May 1943
20 June 1944
1 year, 50 days
6
Ullrich, KarlSS-Standartenführer Karl Ullrich (1910–1996) Acting
20 June 1944
13 July 1944
23 days
7
Becker, HellmuthSS-Brigadeführer Hellmuth Becker (1902–1953)
13 July 1944
8 May 1945
311 days

References

  1. Official designation in German language as to "Bundesarchiv-Militärarchiv* in Freiburg im Breisgau, stores of the Wehrma
  2. SS-Totenkopf: The History of the 'Death's Head' Division, 1940–45 (Waffen-SS Divisional Histories)
  3. Stein 1984, pp. 32–35.
  4. Stein 1984, p. 259.
  5. Sydnor 1990, pp. 37, 44.
  6. Stein 1984, p. 34.
  7. Niehorster, Leo W. G. German World War II Organizational Series, Vol. 2/II: Mechanized GHQ units and Waffen-SS Formation
  8. Flaherty 2004, p. 152.
  9. "Soldiers of Destruction: The SS Death's Head Division, 1933–1945" p. 93
  10. "Hitler's Elite: The SS 1939–45" p. 170
  11. The Axis Forces 14
    https://books.google.com/books?id=slLsDwAAQBAJ
  12. Harman 1980, p. 100.
  13. Revue du Nord
    https://www.cairn.info/revue-du-nord-2001-4
  14. Cooper 2004.
  15. Jackson 2001, pp. 285–288.
  16. Thunder at Prokhorovka: A Combat History of Operation Citadel, Kursk, July 1943
    https://books.google.com/books?id=kahZBAAAQBAJ&q=Andreyevka+psel&pg=PA386
  17. Tamelander M, Zetterling, N, Avgörandets Ögonblick, p. 279.
  18. Stein 1984, p. 238.
  19. Dollinger 1967, p. 182.
  20. Soldiers of Destruction: The SS Death's Head Division, 1933–1945
    https://books.google.com/books?id=QYU4QJsUWLYC
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