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Full photo credits will be given upon, publication. ISBN 962-361-687-2 printed in Hong Kongaddition to the Verfigungstruppe, there was another full-time SS formation in Germany prior to the outbreak of war in 1939. It ‘of the so-called 8S-Totenkopfverbiinde, ot SS Death's idetachments, which guarded the concentration camps. The first of units was’ established, late in 1933, at Dachau by SS nfhrer Theodor Eicke. Over the next few years that followed officially became Inspector of Concentration Camps and fof the SS Death's Head detachments, He then set about establishing his new force and reorganised and enlarged the erbande into five numbered Sturmbanne: \“Oberbayern’, Il “IL “Sacksen’. 1V “Ostfriesland”, and V “Brandenburg”. By 1937 battalions were again reorganised, ths ime into three Standarren carried the designations ‘Oberbayern’, "Brandenburg", and n’. In addition to their guard duties, the Totenkopf formations along with the Verfigungsiruppe in the occupations of ‘the Suderenland, and C2echosiovakia, A number of Totenkopf also provided military training for members of the Allgemeine= were fo be mobilised as ‘police reinforcements” inthe event of| When sar finally came in September 1939, around 40,000 ine-SS reservists were called up to fil more than a dozen new ftandarten sr the extensive raining and preparation, when the rerbinde finally went to war in 1939 against Poland they were fact used for combat, Instead the three Totentopfverbuinde is Oherbayern, Thiringen and Brandenburg, under Eicke's were primarily used. as Finsatzeruppen, Oberbayern and en_were sent into the 1O.Armee area of operations located Upper Silesia and the Vistula south of Warsaw Brandenburg the 8.Armee through Poznan and west central Poland. Across ry the Torenkopfverbande Einsatzeruppen unleashed a reign of and did not simply limit themselves to the liquidation of the polish ip either, but extended its brutal treatment on innocent civilians oF that did not fit into Nazi ideology. When the original ftandarten lef. a defeated Poland in late October 1939, they replaced by the new Totenkopfverbinde, which included the wie, which behaved with the same savage action on the of Poland. 2 Eicke returned from Poland to Dachau he immediately set to ‘organising the conversion of the Torenkopfverbiinde into the Division. Torentopf had been designated as motorised, The regiments were divided into three battalions, of four companies “There were also two replacement companies for each regiment. The regiment was divided into three battalions: two light artillery, and Each anllery battalion had three batteries and each battery had jguns. The tank destroyer and engineer battalion both had three and the reconnaissance battalion consisted of two motorcycle and an armoured car platoon. The signals battalion was nto a telephone communications and a radio company. Jn February 1940, the Army High Command finally assigned is role in the forthcoming Western campaign. However, it ot be in the vanguard ofthe assault. Instead it was assigned to the an untrained reserve force composed of newly formed infantry and Totenkopf. On 9 May 1940, the 2.Armee signalled Eicke to Totenkop}-Division on ful alert. The following day as German tanks across the Dutch and Belgian borders, Totenkopf oops waited i pation to move across into enemy territory to begin the war in the Torenkopf was included in the reserves of HeGrA, but owing to the i success of its formations, Totenkopf was finally released tothe main ‘on 17 May 1940. The Division was ordered across the southern lands. through Belgium into France to link up with General INTRODUCTION “a Hermann Hoth’s 15.Panzer-Division Korps, which included the 5. and ‘7.Panzer-Divisions. During its advance Totenkopf encountered no enemy, due to the fact that HeGrC had pushed back both British and French forces further west. I was not until 19 May that Totenkopf encountered its first enemy formations towards the village of Le Cateaux, Here the men of Totenkopf fought with courage and zeal. fighting its way through the village in a series of vicious house-to-house battles, By mid-morning of 20 May. Totenkopf had cleared the area tothe north and east of Cambrai and taken 16,000 prisoners and a large amount of battlefield booty. Totenkopf had also taken is frst wartime combat casualties, with 16 dead and $3 wounded, Over the next few days Totenkopf continued 10 display skill and tenacity on the battlefield. Its antitank companies. were particularly effective at causing considerable casualties and heavy losses against British tanks. Persistently Totenkopf pushed forwards, pressing against the weakening British positions that were reluctantly withdrawing towards Dunkirk, Once the British Forces had retreated into relative safety of the Dunkirk perimeter, Torenkopf was then ordered to hal in order to allow the Luftwaffe to complete the Fist phase ofthe batle for France. ‘The Division was then briefly pulled out of the line and sent for a period of occupation duties around Boulogne. From there it was ordered south to participate in the final defeat of the French Aemy. Essentially its ‘main duties were to mop-up the remaining French forces, Between 17 and 19 June, the Division captured 6088 prisoners at a cost of 5 killed and 13, ‘wounded. However, by the end of the French campaign the Totenkopf- Division had itself suffered extremely heavy casualties for its considerable courage and resilience in combat. A total of 1152 soldier, ‘more than 10 percent ofthe unit's combat strength, had been lost. Aer months of hard te and periods of rest and rebuilding, Totenkopf was ready 0 take part in the invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, The Division had been transformed since the bate For France, ‘motorised infuntey regiments had, for instance, been converted into self. contained Kampferuppen. thus giving them more flexibility on the battlefield. is flak capability to0 was expanded with the allotment of a ‘number of 1Sem heavy artillery pieces, a motorised reserve battalion was also established. For the opening attack on the Red Army. Totenkopf was attached to Erich Hoepner’s 4.Panzet-Gruppe, which would be the vanguard of Feld Marshall Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb's H.GzNord. However, as with the French campaign, Eicke’s Death's Head would once again have to wait in reserve, The Division were not brought out of reserve until the night of 24/25 June 1941, where it was given orders to cross the border and clear ‘the Lithuanian forests around Jurbarkas. From there it drove to the Dvina, and by 27 June, the reconnaissance battalion made the first serious contact, with the Red Army forces. Upon reaching the Dvina, Totenkopf was assigned to Manstein’s 56,Panzer-Korps and given the task of guarding the Korps flank and maintaining contact with the 16.Armee to the south, ‘Torenkopf's drive was very successful and after just 10 days of fighting hhad reached the Luga Line, the last Soviet defence line before Leningrad However, in the face of the Totenkopf stood suicidal Russian resistance For days both Totenkopf and Red Army forces clashed ina biter contest, of attrition. The Totenkopf once again displayed feats of stupendous heroism and soon crushed enemy resistance, which subsequent led to 8 Red Army divisions being destroyed, In September 1941 Totenkopf was transferred tothe 2.Armee-Korps ‘and was soon embroiled in the battle for Lushno. During this fierce battle, ‘which saw Lushno change hands four times in just one single day. Torenkopf soldiers finally drove the Soviets out of the village. Although this was a great victory for the Death's Head, it had left them much ‘weakened in strength. 16km east of Lushno, the Division hit new Russiandefensive positions and it ground to halt almost at once. All across the front, the German offensive was drawing to a halt as winter settled in Totenkopf and the test of the 16.Armee began to dig i. For the next few ‘months the Totenkopf-Division went over to the defensive south of Lake HImen along with 2.Armee-Korps. In January 1942 Red Amy forces renewed further attacks in the ‘midst of the blizzards, during which the temperature had dropped to below —40 degrees Celsius, The offensive was directed against H.Gr-Nord southem flank. Desperately Tofentopf was rushed in to help stiffen the areas of the front from collapse, Five battalions, including the reconnaissance and engineer battalions and part ofthe anillery regiment were rushed 1 the front. By February 1942 it appeared that the core ofthe Totenkopf including 2, and 10.Atmee-Korps would soon be constricted in ‘8 pocket around the town of Demyansk. Both Waffen-SS and Wehrmacht troops fought in chestdeep snow in temperatures that averaged ~30 degrees Celsius. Yet, they were ordered not to retreat one step back Instead the soldiers fought to the death, whilst the Soviets committed their remaining reserves in a final effort to crush the pocket. Casualties were massive on both sides and Totenkopf was on the verge of destruction ‘Throughout March, the battle continued to rage, in spite of a relief attempt and proposed breakout of the pocket, It was not until 22 April 1942 that a bridgehead was finally established between the troops in the Demyask pocket and the rest of H.GrNord. The survival ofthe Totenkopf in the Demyatnsk pocket was a great achievement and contibuted significantly to the stabilisation ofthe German position around Lake Iimen. However, Eicke’s division was in a terrible condition and needed urgent replacements in order for ito continue on the battlefield. kn May 1942 all, Totenkopf received in terms of replacements was. 300% ill-trained reservists from Germany to help bolster its badly depleted force. ive in southern In July 1942, as the great German summer offer Russia pushed towards the Caueasus, Torenkepf were once again Subjected to continual Red Army attacks in the Demyansk salient. The Division once again demonstrated its skill and courage in the face of adversity and kept open the corridor. In spite of appalling losses, the Soviets attacked again in August, Hitler told Eicke in no uncertain words That the army would hold Demyansk to the last drop of SS blood”. For the next two months Totenkopf fought a bitter atrition until October 1942, when the remnants of the Division were finally pulled out of the Hine on the Eastem Front and put on trains for Germany for a complete overhaul and refit Totenkopf was re-equipped with the formation of a panzer battalion, largely consisting of Pz.Kpfi.ll’s and Pz.KpfwclV's, It also received battalion of assault guns and a company of Tiger tanks. The Division's antiaircraft capability was inereased as well, But in spite of the Division's rest it was far from adequate. Even by the beginning of January 194° i had fewer than half the vehicles required and had not received its Tigers. At the end of January the Division arrived at Kiev and was ordered ceastwards 10 Poltava, to join other erack Waffen-SS divisions, the Liebstandarte and Das Reich, Together this elite force became part of SS Obereruppenfihrer Paul Hausser’s 1.SS-Panzer-Komps. In February the 1.SS-Panzer- Korps was given the task of recapturing the city of Kharkov. On S March 1943, Totenkopf and Das Reich linked up with Hoth’s “4 Panzer-Armee for an offensive to take the city. The vanguard of Das Reich reached the westem outskirts of Kharkov on 9 March 1943, whilst Totenkopf were sent around the northem edge to block off any’ Soviet retreat. Whils SS troops were sen into the city to crush enemy resistance, Totenkopf completed the encirclement of Kharkov. By 18 March, the cere Panzer-Korps drove the final Soviet units out of the city Tiree months later, with spirits greatly revived after the victory of Kharkov, elite Waffen-S§ forces once again saw extensive action this time at Kursk “Operation Zitaelle’ the largest tank battle in history, opened 10380 hours on $ July 1943, Once again under Hausser’s command, the 1.SS-Panzer-Korps on the southem half of the Kursk’s salient, ripped Uhrough formidable enemy defensive works. However, within hours th were entangled in heavy fighting. Although over the next few days t tack went extremely wel, Totenkopf forces along with their SS counte parts were constantly up against strong enemy resistance, in spite penetrating deepest into the salient. By 13 July, with huge los ‘mounting, Hitler officially cancelled Zitadelle so as to free up the S} division. Totenkopf, like so many other German formations that fought Kursk, would never again possess anything like the strength it had at ‘beginning of the summer of 1943, Torenkopf were exhausted. They hi Jost more than half its vehicles and taken huge casualties. The Divisi ‘vas pulled back with remnants ofthe Leibstandarte and Das Reich wo t relative calm of Kharkov. However, the Red Army did not allow them a respite an! launched series of heavy attacks, For over a week Das Reid and Torenkopf held the Soviet armored spearheads and prevented the reaching the Dnieper. But under huge enemy pressure Kharkov soon f and the two Waffen-SS divisions were compelled to withdraw. For next few months there was no respite, and although Totenkopf wei shuttled from one point of crisis to another, they were slowly pus back. By October 1943, Totenkopf had been designated a Panz Division, However, they did not receive any significant amount offre armor and men. Within a month the Division contained three fi hattalions of panzer grenadiers, one weak battalion of tanks, sor anillery and lak, and half the strength of its engineer battalion. Over t next several months Totenkopf was used as a defensive barter against massive battering arm of the Red Army, as it moved towards the west borders of the Soviet Union, As German troops fell back, Totenko protected the withdrawal As H.GrMine disintegrated, following the Soviet offensive in Ju 1944, Totenkopf was moved nom to join the 4.Armee. There it defene the city of Grodno for 11 days, outnumbered seven to one in troops a ten o one in tanks. However, by 18 July it withdrew west in the rete towards Warsaw. I halted north eat of the Polish capital where Totenko} and the 5.8S-Panzer-Division Wiking held to the grim death. For thy solid month this elite band of SS troops defended its positions arou ‘Warsaw with everything it could muster. Torenkopf's performance against the Red Army in Poland had 0 gone unnoticed, and as Hitler's attention tened towards relieving 1 Hungarian capital. Budapest. he immediately called for the Divisi Both Totenkopf and Wiking launched their atack towards Budapest New Year’s Day 1945, but they were immediately stalled in the face Stiff resistance. On 11 February the Red Army captured Budapest, a Hitler wasted no time to begin an offensive, codenamed “Opera Spring Awakening’, with an objective of recapturing. the city. offensive opened on 6 March in heavy snow. In spite of the teri conditions, Totenkopf and their Waffen-SS counter-parts fought the bat with their customary determination and élan. Soviet resistan immediately hindered their advance and casualties mounted hourly the Waffen-SS found themselves surrounded and being ground down in battle of attrition, In spite of Hitler's hysterical demands thatthe Waffe SS stand fast, Totenkopf and the remnants of the 4.S8-Panzer-Ko broke out westwards, The 6.SS-Panzer-Aemee began a general rere towards the Austrian frontier. What was left of Totenkopf withdrew up to Bratislava and Vien with remnants of 6.8$-Panzer-Armee. On 3 April 1945, Totenkopf halt inthe southern suburbs of Vienna and put up a symbolic resistance again ‘to Soviet fronts converging on the city. Ten days later Vienna fell. AS f the Totenkopf. they took their surviving uni surrendered 10 American forces on 8 May 1945, to Lintz. Ie final Al images in this book are from the Bundesarchiv in Koblenz a from the HITM Archive, Tan Baxter| ‘long column of troops belonging to the newly formed Totenkopt | en seen here on exercise in the winter of 1999, The men are all | \Sacks wih rlled blankets and the standard army issue great coat, | fai Totenkopf insignia sewn onto the collars. tis interesting | of height. Italy, all recruits joining the SS had to be at least ak Ee tl and of the highest physical finess. ' Totenkop! MG26{) machine gunner and loader practising with their potent weapon in the snow. A typical MG squad ofthis period consisted of a four-man crew vith the two least experienced recruits bringing up fresh ‘ammunition forthe gun. Great emphasis was placed on the SS machine ‘gunners finaing the mast advantageous defonsive positons In order to halt fan enemy advance, Tatenkop! troops being led by their commanding officer in front of intrigued German In December 1939 Totenkop! was ordered to Ludwigsberg, just north of Stuggar. placed inthe second-ine reserve forthe attack in the West A typical SS wardrobe displays hanging tunes and two pals of black boots. Aluminium Bee ts anc otnor toms of kt can also be seen. On top of the wardrobe two M1995 steel Dpeerets treaty on pressed anc folded kt. ether side of corugated gas mask holders,WESTERN FRONT Troops of the TotenkopFDivsion march westwards to the Belgian lronter on 12 May 1940. They waited for another four days betore being commited to battle. They were assigned to H.GrA and were given plans 10 strike across southern Holland, thvough Belgium and into France to lnk up with General Hot's 15, Panzer Korps Totenkopf, probably trom the Eicke Regiment, rest in a ruined French town near Arras was herein this area on 21 May 1940, that Tolenkopf sustained a heavy mauling by both British and French forces. In spite of sustaining heavy losses Totenkopf resumed is advance and pushed forward towards the town of Bethune, along the banks of the La Basseo Canal. This was a natural defensive barter and when Totenkopf entered the town to cross the ‘canal it was met by a spirited British delense And forced to retreat. It was not untl 24 May that pars of the S.lnlanterie-Regiment led personally by Theodor Eicke finally crossed Gown stream and established a bridgehead, Passing destroyed vehicles of the French Army Totenkopf soldier ‘move on north and east of Camira. Although Totenkop had incurred its is ‘wartime combat losses, with 16 dead and 53 wounded, it had infact relieved the pressure on Rommet's 7.Panzet-Dvision and allowed General Hoth 15.Panzer-Korps to continue its rapid advance through France. It was he ‘along these dusty French roads that Totenkopf became stuck in huge traf jams in the area around Cambrai and Artois, A .7em Pak35,96 antitank gun seen on 20 May 1940 with its crew. Although the Pak35/36 proved successiul during the Polish campaign, when wad ted with more heavily armored British and tanks in 1940, Totankopr Pak crews. ofter watched in horror as\ their armor plereing_ round bounced off he enemy tanks, even at point bank rangeMen of the Totenkopt Dnesion manhandle PRtber dinghy down to the water during wih Bris forces along the line of the iBassee Canal. The solders are dressed in feancs and trousers. under an eary frst jemock worn green side outermost 3 roops clamber inside a dinghy during an unopposed canal % Beeseng in May 1940. This photograph clearly demonstrates how vulnerable trained their guns. Totenkopf troops Beeeenotre the area and find a suitable crossing point, onsuit @ map on top of an Sd.Kt2.221 light see Canal, It was near here that frustrated ho had sulfered heavy casualties against sti British fered to murder 97 men of the Royal Norfolk Regiment rer Fritz Knéchiein, the be led across a road | fecinto a barnyara, where they were subsequently machine-gunned in cold boosTotenkopf troops are seen here examining a Puteaux me 1937 47mm French antitank gun. Alter the fall of France, large amounts of captured French equipment were widely used for a varity. of tasks. During the intial Stages of the invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, Totenkopt had employed captured French armored vehicles and atilry onthe battlefield Men of 1.infanterie-Regimen commanded by Standartenfbrer Ma ‘Simon, are seen here with capture Moroccan troops. This Totenkop Regiment had crossed the Sambr River and advanced. towards Cateaux and. Cambrai, where i sa fighting with Moroccan forces. It shoul be noted that the first day's fighting ‘against the Moroccan units only sa about 100 of them captured. Mod Surrendering Alricans were simply sha cout of hand, being considered ‘sue humans {A Totenkopt motorcyclist in France in late May 1940. Dus to the hot, dry weather dust was @ particular hindrance, especialy with motoreyetists, This] motoreycis with aviator googes, which were an essential part of kt on the dusty French roads. He can also be seen wearing the Standard Wehrmacht motoreyele coat, which were dark bluelgreen in color.tank gun overiook enemy postions near Arras on 21 May 1840. At the time the. Totenko 1940, moto seo They areal wearing at, which ha Note the distinctive standard. double-breasted rubberized soled in mud and dit 40 steel helmet wih slate g ald paintad on the left side of n the feld the realives of combat in France lado many SS solders dling ther helmets by daubing them with mud. olders found that geting tid of the shiny surface of the helmet reduced the risk of detection whist under cover. The SS runes and National Party decals land concealed with mu, smearedEASTERN FRONT Aust assault gun move through the town © assigned to Mansten's 86 Panzor-Korps, part of H.GrNord, The Division was given thet ‘mee spearheaded the Karp attack on the wore Surprised a with fold grey ousers and SS patter vision crossed the border with Russia on Lithuanian forests around Jurbarkas isthe Ovina ria, In early July 1941, the SS Totenkopt-Dvsion wi nk while maintaining contact witht zer-Korps. The SS me Jers pause during the intial phase of ‘Barbaro skilful a tandarte, Daps advance towards the Luga Line, the fortication fat stretched from the western tip of Lake men to the Gull of This was the Soviet defence line belore Leningrad, Totenkopf was Manstein's Korps and added tothe 16 Armee commanded by lwarin. Iwas along the Luga Line in August 1941 tha the Division fed some ofthe hardest fighting during that yer. WA tenkoot solder scours the terrain ahead through a par of In the distance smoke can be seen visibly pouring skyward B itensive Russian artilery bombardments along the Luga Line in #541. Strategcaly the Soviet position was stronger. However were able 10 absorb wave afer wave of Russian counterattacks forward probing enemy positions. Fela kichens are an important part of ary miltary organisation Keeping troops fed well inthe field enabled them to keep fighting effectively hunger reduces combat efficiency remarkably quickly. This was particularly tue in winter. SS field rations included rye bread, tinted meat or sausage lied vegetable, am or honey, coffee, sugar and cigarettes. This fied kichen Is mounted on a ralway truck during winter operations in 1941 on the Eastern Front, “Two Totenkopf riflemen are seen during ant-partsan actions in August 1941, This photograph was taken during the attacks along the Luga Line During the intial Soviet assaults, partisan units constantly harassed Tatenkopis' lines of communications, However, Totenkopfinfantry were soon able to establish a frm bridgehead across the Mshaga river inthe face of Suiidal Fussian resistance A group of Totenkop soldiers take cover atthe side of a dt track ducing ‘operations around Lushno in September 1941. The batle at Lushno reached Its peak on 26 and 27 September, as Totenkopf endured a continuous 48 hour assault by everything the Red Army could spare. But the extraordinary resistance of Totenkopf showed a wilingness to fight against appalling odds land this characterised the Division as @ whole throughout the remainder of‘An SS-Standartenfutver inspects a captured trench in the gion around Lushno in October 1941. He is wearing the SS. Flamatze, to provide SS officers with @ soft cap for feld wear Lunder conditions where the steel helmet was not required. The fies cap could also be easily stowed away tthe stee! helmet ut on, Standartentinrer and higher ranks did not display the SS runes on the colar worn by all other ranks. Instead both patches displayed the rank insignia, which consisted of one, two Of three embroidered siver oak leaves together with white metal ps’ tured enemy trench in mid-January 1942. Th photograph was taken when the led Army were about to launch its massive offensh ‘against German forces south of Lake lmen, in an attempt to spt H Gr Nord ro H.GeMMite In front of this planned dive lay 16 Armee, 10.Korps and 2 Korps, part hich was the Totenkopt-Dlvision. The wo rffemen are wearing furs beneath ther whi winter camouflage smocks. The soldier is using an ammuntion box to rest nis 98k bol ‘ction rile on ose with a Som Pak3B antitank gun. The troops are all wearing t SS Folomutze, and a number of them a 'smocks with ts spring/summer side design exposed, These camouflaged garments had a lace-up front opening down 2s and two verbal openings the chest with covering flaps. The waist and wrists were elasticated lor a much closerthe fighting in January bing them to distinguish be Acton rile has also received a winter coat of inter operations in 198 1 93 side, and appear to be ons, The MG34 machine gun he‘A Totenkopf mortar crew about to fire a shell during a de indicating the degree of fighting raging in the area. Also of interest, note that two ofthe Soldiers have received an application of whitewash pain tothe ‘M1995 steel helmets, whist one of the mortar crew wears a white carvas helmet cover as an alternative form of winter camoutage, ‘Several Waffen-SS and Wehrmacht unis bul igloos to shelter from the arctic winds, and to use as machine gun nests. n this photograph an MG34 Gunner can be seen preparing to fire his weapon. Note the ammuntion Dox ith a 50-round bel of bullots. Each box could hold upto ix 50round bets fain staggered rows [A Totonkopt MG34 machine gun crew in a defensivd position on the edge ofthe Demyansk Pocket. The machine gu has been attached to @ MG Latete 34 sustained-fire mount. Th dunner uses a grip tigger that has a mechanical linkage to th tigger onthe gun. The M&34 had tremendous staying power o ‘ne battliold, a long as the machine gun crew could Keep the ‘weapon fully operational and deployed with good tilde of reB of sk troopers in February 1942. The soldiers are armed with Hreecons, including Kar 98k bol-action res, MP40 sub-machine ia captures Tokarev Sub-machine guns were used extensively by fa by ther Soviet counterparts. They offered ess ofa burden Jatse sking, and they could be brought into action much more A Totonkopt soldier seen during operations inside the Demyansk Pocket in Fedruary 1942. This SS man has been kitted out wih ample winter Clothing. Note the headpiece worn by this pariclar solder. was designed to help contain as much body neat as possible and to prevent discomfort trom the arctic temperatures whilst wearing the standard isu steel helmet. Troops often complained thatthe helmets were ike freezer boxes! during the winter Heat loss through the head lowered their body temperatures. Ths led toa very real danger of exposure as well as hypothermia, Totenkop! troops belonging to Eicke's Kampfgruppe patrol the edge of the Demyansk Pocket on horseback. A vilage in the Background can be seen coming under heavy attack. This was a desperate bate of ation, but Eicee firiy believes that his men were superior and that their resistance would wear down the Soviet onsiaught. His men did indeed fight wath sil and endurance, but he drove them to the ends of that endurance eet soldiers on their way iReet ines in the Demyansk The Red Army could field BBS fresh infanry divisions We exhausted German IMM te pocket becoming Be Deleaquered 000: Some sunples were fown in fan mmprovised airald n from where sick and jen be evacuates whieDuring a lull in the Demyar fighting, a Totenkopf mortar crew tai ‘all wearing the b ye received an application fewash for camouflage. Throu February and early March 19 Totenkopf was under continu pressure, yin most sectors of thet they oid nt retreat rom ther poste in temperatures that averaged degrees centigrade below zero, ’A wel wrappad up Totenkopf solder ina ceamoutlage smock. The Waffen-SS, along wiht /nrmacht counterparts, made many tq criices during the winter of 1981-42. Those ti ‘managed to survive the ordeal got a medal o ro they had been there, Troops nicknamed ecoration the ‘Frozen Meat Meda, as many them had experienced uncovering the troz corpses of their dead comrades and giving th proper burial. ‘An MG34 machine gun positon. The machi ‘unis mounted on the MG Latette 34 sustained mount. The MG34_ machine gun crew are Ccamoutlaged in the standard two-piece snows i jacket is butloned right down white painted butions and has attach white hood. The white trousers were worn over Winter clothing and were tucked ino the boots,Totenkopf troops are driven from buildings as the Red Army deliberately destroy every shelter and safe haven in the Demyansk Pocket. Lile in the line for these men was a continuous grind of guard duty and patros. There was litle respite ~i ie Soviets ever let up for brat period, the sub zero temperatures certainly didnot. Numb and cold, inspite oftheir winter clothing. they would stumble back nto shelters ~ primitive ‘dugouts, whose air was thick with choking smoke, By March 1942, most of the men were infested wih lice, and to make matters worse they could not undres inthe cold dugout to pick off and kil the vermin I. The premier Wallen SS divisions used the mortar extensively, as & was with all German nhs own portable ight artilary support. Buti required training to use; even experiencedinthe snow Totenkopf soldiers wade across afield dressed in their us Tis photograph was taken west ofthe Lovat rv sed areas of the Demyansk Pocket, The wo Toten re used as Tire brigade’ unis, plugging gaps wher Totenkop? troops compelied to protect themsolves against the biter night ahead and dig a large fox hole in the snow. Even by the eary winter of 1842, Totenkopf were sil earning how to deal wth some of the problems of winter warfare. However, Totonkop! had already set up excelent laison networks through the depots of units under their command to help endure the winter, but the Division sil lacked shelter on the front ines [A Totenkopf radio operator uses his lightweight, sled-mounted ra set He is probabiy ata forward observation post, ram where he can si Getails of enemy movements back to disional headquarters, For ease 4 to deny them any shelter Although casualies were high’ the use heis wearing black knitted mitten, instead ofthe standard white mi ry of those kiled id not infact perish due tothe cold supplied to al sk-roopers, ted blanket. Over the months thatthe Division fought inthe . they had to contend with continual Soviet attacks‘operator receives orders through his earphones: 198s on his notepad, He is wearing the black field [bears tne usual ‘eagle’ and ‘deaths head Gin their winter white camoulage smacks, Totenkopf troops [aono 2 frozen road. passing dead Soviet sociers lying nthe snow. Army was basicaly an infantry force with a primitive supply and service, manned by soldiers of immense toughness. and Strength. They were accustomed since birth to tar colder 6. which they withstood on far smaller rations than many inthe feeuad have believed possie, Faced wih such a foe, the SS soldier fadant very Quickly or de. Kopf Woops pose Tor the camera, Behind the two solders in the foreground is a motoreels wth his motoroycle combination. Of interest three of he soldiers are wearing their rversble gray/white sus, {ray'sde. Tis is more than likely due tothe fact that they were fighting n dere forested areas with itle trace of snow, ‘A Totenkopt soldier wearing his reversible grayiwhite sul, gray side, confers wih a comrade withthe aid of a notepad and pencil His comrade is wearing the shapeless two-piece snows. Although the snowsut was a pur tom of winter clothing soldiers tended to wear it day and night for weeks on end. Soon it became fy, thus defeating the object ofthe white camoutage.= 'A Totenkopf soldier makes the most ofthe natural environment by constructing for ina forest He is wearing his reversible winter uni side in order to camoulage himset with the dense overgromth ofthe forest. He is also wearing the nelmet toque, which was a shapeless sieeve offi ray woolen material open at oth ends. I could be worn, as in his photograph, around the base ofthe wearer's neck and the other end around the fad Totenkopt troops in ful winter kit prepare to move forward. Note all the soldiers are wearing rolled ground sheets that are probably from Captured Soviet stocks. Living in the snow was ‘generally very dificult, but all the soldiers were ‘aught atthe snow could algo serve as anally, {A Totenkopf MG34 machine gun team are seen wearing single snow overalls. These items of winter clothing were probably the popular forms of snow camoutlage produced by the Germans. The ov was a single white cotton garment that had an attached hood and | sleeves. Being loose fing, t could be easily worn over the uniform ‘equipment. Whist the garment atforded complete snow camoutlage ‘excellent freedom of movement to the wearer, it did have one m ‘drawback in that the coton material quickly got fit.SS-Unterscharfihrer, SS-TotenkopfPioneer Battalion, France 1940 Inthe 1940 campaign nat all Watten-SS divisional unis were issued camouflage clothing due fo limited stocks. Prony went to the infantry and reconnaissance units. Smocks were shor supply compared to the wumerously produced helmet cover and shelter quarter. Ths NCO has. een issued an SS camoullage helmet cover (showing the Plain Tree spring /summer sida) for his SS M35 stee helmet. Many of his comrades would have to make do without heimel covers and smear mud on thee helmets as a temporary camouflage measure. The field blouse worn is the Army M36 type with a dark-green facing collar. By 1940 this more practical and smarter looking army tunic was the favored choice forthe Watlen-SS. The now redundant SS M36 feld-gray blouse was being phased out although mary were sill used in the western campaign. The insignia on the tunic is the fist ‘sional type dauble Totenkopf verical collar patches, the SS eagle yatika national emblem on the lft arm and black shoulder straps of the SS with black piping branch color (watfentarbe) Characteristic ofthis NCO is bright aluminum ‘tesse’ trim on Nis collar and shoulder straps From 1999 to mid 1942 the TolenkopADvision di not sess a cuffoand, however some solders of ths division wore pre-war regimental cuffoands. As a member of the SS: enkopt Standarte ‘Oberbayern’ he wears this units regimental kul cuffoand. The ‘Oberbayen’ cuffband was a highly desirable piece of insignia sought affer by personnel inthe Division throughout the War). A ahisional. Totenkopf cutfoand. was introduced on 1st September 1942, nevertheless the ‘Oberbayern' ulfoand although unoticial was tolerated, SS fiele-gray service trouser tucked into pe ng boots. These trousers were the same ‘army tune, army trousers in 1940 were shade of feld-gray as th stone gray in color. This senior-corporal has acquired a ‘Bergmann’ "MP2Bi. These were mostly taken trom captured stock due to shortages of submachine guns in the Wefrmacht during the early war years. Most NCOs were stil issued with the Karabiner 98k rifle at this time. He also caries two M24 stick grenades. tached to his SS leather belt isthe POS pistol holster and MP28 leather magazine pouch. Other equipment issued (out of View) Is the M1831 bread bag, M1931 field flask and the SS shelter quarter (Zelibahn), smal entrenching too) ‘584/98 bayonet and M1938 gasmaskin its metal canister. Photographic ‘evidence shows somo'SS-TK' soldiers wearing the M31 breadbag strap fas an improvised equipment suppon strap.‘The Wehrmacht was unprepared for a winter war in Russia and inadequately clothed to fightin harsh sub-zero conditions. In 1940 the foresighted SS tested new winter clothing offcaly known as ‘Speci Clothing for Partculary Cold Zones’. it was to be worn by SS and ‘Death's Head unt in occupation duty in Norway and Norther Poland, In midslaruary 1842 special furlined winter clothing was issued 10 the Totenkopf division during the battle ot Demyansk Pocket in northerm Russia. Ths SS lance corporal is dressed in his, standard issue winter clothing uniform His winter unform consists ofthe M1940 greatcoa with its field gray colar and relevant Totenkop insignia collar patches. The collar patches in this case follow the Conventional Waffen-SS style with one divisional patch 4& rank patch. However many divisional personne! Continued to wear the double ‘Death's Head collar patch insignia. The SS pracioe of wearing colar patches on the greatcoat was abolished in 1982 to Conserve collar patch stocks. Other insignia on the {greatcoat included the SS national emblem on the left farm. Under his greatcoat he would be wearing the standard Totenkopf service uniform & M39 marching boats, now with their shorter shat to preserve leather supalies. Over the greatcoat hhe wears. the reversible M1940 type smock with the {autumn/winter side worn outermost. In his case the smock has the distinctive ‘Paim Tree’ camouflage pattern. On his head for ‘extra warmth he wears the woolen toque under an SS M0 fd ap (introduced in Octeber 1940), Woolen gives are alsa worn, Standard riteman's equipment and weapons ate shown: the M1930 infantry support straps, SS enlisted mans belt two rile ‘ammunition pouches (slung over one of them is the SS M3S stool holmet with the autummwinir Plain Tree! camoutage helmet cover), M1931 feld flask, the M1998 gasmask ints metal Canister, smal entrenching too! and $84/98 bayonet. Other infantry equipment items worn (but not seen) are the M1931 bread bag, mess kt M31 and SS shelter quarter (Zebahn), He is holding the (general issue Karabiner 8k ete and leather sing, 26Panzer-Grenadier Regiment 6 was renamed Theodor Eicko'in honor ofits founder and divisional commander aftr he was kiled in February 1943, This regiment was issued a cufoend bearing his name too, lin March 1944 the M44 tworpioce (Pea! pattern) camoutlage rill uniform was officially introduced. The reason for the introduction of this new camouflage uniform was that stocks of high quality duck cotton were nearly exhausted (the material sed for Watfen-SS camoutage smocks, helmet covers, sheer ‘quarters and other items o clothing). However this camouflage dhl uniform was never produced in the numbers originally Intonded. This was to eventualy replace the camouflage ‘smock and equip all the Waffen-SS fold divisions ina ‘standard camouflage, Due fo this shortage in manulacturing the new camoutage dil uniforms coincided with the early type camoutlage untorms, The cut of the uniform was. Similar to the M&S fold gray SS service uniform: with a fivebutton front, plain pockets and straight cut pocket flaps. I was non-reversibie unlike al previous Watlen-SS ‘camoutiage uniforms. The only insignia allowed on the uniform mwas. the SS eagle & ‘swastika national emblem (on the let sieeve. could 0 bo wom over the fold ‘gray uniform or in. warm woather worn on its own. The ew "Pea! pattern camouflage was Gesigned tobe sutable forall seasons ‘This private is typical ofthe late war infantryman, wearing the SS 'MA2 stee! helmet wit its flared edge, gray canvas gates and lace up ankle boots. Period photographs show some Totenkopf panzer. ‘enadiers wearing this new Maa camouflage dil uniform in the Warsaw 2Fea in late summer 1944, but the camouflage smack was prevalent to this division. Under his dil uniform ne wears the MA3 field Bouse with ‘one divisional collar patch and rank patch. This horizontal divisional ‘colar atch isthe final BeVo! type introduced in 1943, with the light ‘ray Death's Head facing right. ‘The Gorman panzer-grenadier fought mainly in light bate order, Unnecessary equipment was let in motorzed or armored transport. He wears the basic rifleman's kit; the SS leather bel, late patiern leather Infantry suppor straps, two rife ammunition pouches, S84/98 bayonet ‘small entrenching tool, the M1951 bread bag, and M1891 field flask with ‘inking cup. His weapons comprise ofthe M939 egg grenade attached toa rifle pouch strap. a mid-war production Kar 98k rile (with 1s laminated wooden stock and meta but plate) slung over his shoulder. He is holding the tank destroying "Panzerfaust 30,Inthe winter of 1944/45 the main winter uniforms issued to the \Watton-SS were the reversible camoulaged winter sult (with its parka, ‘trousers. mitens and unpopular toque). the M2 furtined hooded ‘anorak and to lesser extent the Miia fur-lined hooded anorak. The ‘material outer shell or these anoraks came in various shades ofl gray trom an olive-greenigray through to slate gray. Fur caps, ‘sheepskin waltcoats and fet boots were also frequently used in the sovere winter months. If the Watfen-SS soldier was not fortunate enough to be issued the above he would have to resort to wearing the long sutcoat or the inadequate standard greatcoat The most typical appearance of the Totenkopf Division on the Eastern Front in winter was the wearing ofthe M2 furstined hooded anorak. This winter clothing item was efficent at keeping the Soldier warm in a sta postion, but had a number of aisadvantages. It made the soldier too warm in ud combat conditions. pullover type garment buttoning anly Ralf way down it was not easy 10 venta, 100 heavy & 100 long. The Maa anorak tried to remedy some of these flaws, but was never produced in sufficient numbers to replace its earier counterpart. For all hat, the M2 tur lines hooded anorak would remain the mest dominant winter clothing tem for Walfen-SS divisions who mainly fought inthe east Under his M42 turlined hooded anorak this SS Color ‘Sergeant wears the usual eld gray service uniform, The insignia on his MAt field blouse is the fst type horizontal divisional colar patch, machine embroidered in an off-white ‘Death's Head’ facing left and opposite a rank collar patch with two metal stars. Tis NCO wears the war pattern light gray ‘resse’ trim on his collar and shoulder straps, ust seen s the 2nd class iron cross ribbon. Over his service trousers he wears a pair of reversible camouflaged Winter suit wousers in autumniwinter ‘Oak Lea pattern, He also ‘Wears the winter sul mftens, He has a variant single button type 'SS MS tld cap whereas the other MAS field cap came wih a two button tron, He wears a pair of late patiorn fot winter boots with ‘heir distinctive minimum leather pars He cartes the ‘Sturmgewehr 44’ also known as the MP44, a revolutionary weapon that was to replace the boltaction ri, automatic les and sub-machine guns. His equipment is basic: 439 infantry suppor straps, 6x30 fed binoculars painted in ordnance tan, SS enlisted mans bet with attached MP44 canvas. magazine pouches and a 584198 bayonetfany crcumstances try to breakout to Hist and be suppted trom the air by the Lu Boiders in full winter kt jut to do bate against Broops. In an attempt to Ble cold, some of the woollen toque, scart to each solders webbing assault pack Iss Atrame to which are mess tin, gas mask IGes cape, personal kt and oles Zevtoann. ranging fare the soldiers bread fand entrenching too 198k bayonet strapped to Bef unit on the move, solders trapped in the PPockat was at a premum fand bombers regularly diary bombs on any Used by the Germans. Fotude complete vilages Which wore devastated for the cost to their (A number of Totenkopt fe lve out in tho open Hing in such extreme Wwahout sheer not only problems fr the men, but femble problems wi the ‘A. Totenkopf soldier well protect temperatures, He is wearing the standard equipment fora rfleman withthe Usual Bett and cartridge pouches. The cold affected almost everything the Germans used and this made life, especially the fist winter on the Eastern Front, very dificult. The arctic temperatures made it necessary forthe troops to use any means possible to overcome the immense problems they aced ina subzero environmentIn action against Siberian sk troops, a Totankop! mortar crew prepare to fie a shell. Because Watlen-SS troops were olen used as special fie brigade units, being moved from one disintegrating front to another, fighting rearguard actions as often as ot, inevitably there wer became encircled and had to undertake dating breakout operations using just their own resources. ‘A Totenkopf G34 machine gun team open fre against en postions in the snow Note the color of the camouflage smocks, dit ime were making them an ineectve item of camoutlage. cloth though the Demyansk Pocket had seen a series of terible disasters fr tenkopf and their Wehrmacht counterparts, they had stood resolute had led the Totenkopf to make sacle after sacrifice, fighting to Mold line to allow other units to escape the impending doom Fighting in the Demyansk Pocket continued with unabated ferocty Totenkop? blunted relentless Rea Army assaults. Few other unts could h {endured or shown such confidence inthe face of such overumelming but these solders ofthe TatenkopEDivsion stil continued to fight fr Fonvor. Totenkopf roops supported by a Pz Kptw ll Aust.) slowly advance through the snow in March 1942, The tank has received an application of winter wi wash paint. Tanks had only limited ctoss-country endurance, and this also applied to snow terran as well Armored crews often found themselves ich forward, and invariably ground to a alt n deep snow 30facies set up a temporary positon for fia forest during a ul inthe Red Army March 1942. Anough the front mgnt ‘@uet during a ll, the troops 1 the constant dangers of succenly iby a Sovet night patrol. inorder to Koop fn the snow, the troops are using sleds with toques, two Totenkopt solders 8 guns. Attached to their belt are cier on the right also wears one of his ‘magazine pouches on the belt. His comrade has a stick grenade tucked ito his betut as tended to restrct he pe and camouflage it against the ar inform wth the white side out, but has cho also wearing the fur pile with or without isig ‘een of oficial issue, form and all equipn tobe as practical as /eedom of movementlayeg nes of communication in 2 fp ate March 1942. Two of the solders can A bret respite during fighting in the Demyansk Pocket. By tis period Totenkopf were onthe verge of destruction. Preparations had already been made for an attempt to relieve the pocket. However, Soviet re fierce and'in site of numerous attempts to break out west, Tot pushed slowly back through Russian defensive postions east ofthe pocket, - tented erasers png 1 a tw tank has received a whitewash coat of paint. I ark cont yt ong ne cow good uc arg tal operate mn perfor Fusla 331 vast open steppe suppor n polcaton of winter whitewash pa whilst the soldiers are clearly wearing the two-piece snowsu rope a eauiy laden with equipment, This units attached 10 (Obergrsopentabver Paul Haussers 1 SS-PanzerKorps, which boasted aion A Totenkopf MG34 machine-gunnas trudge through the snow during bizar, folowed by his crewmember. The machine-gunner is wearing reversible overcoat gray-side out with hood. This photograph was taker February 1943 between Kiev and Potavathe snow the halfrack has not received any application of winter whitewash paint. ts more than likely thatthe Dwvision had not ime to paint any type of top photograph, this haltrack ceived an winter whitewash the majority of since faded es can be seen on 7" vehicleTwo Totenkopf soldiers that appear to be on ‘carly 1943. The man on the lefts wearing a fur in A P2.BeobWo Aust observa tank has halted ox oad outside theA group of Totenkopf solders making every fot to use camouflage to their best advantage in the snow. All the men are dressed in reversible Clothing that allows them to wear white or gray, depending on the season and weather conditions. Note how constant wear has tured their normally white garments into a ditty grubby appearance, Totenkop? and 's 4 Panzer-Armee for surrounding ft eee fe jenaciers armed with Mauser riles and an MG42 machine gun advance across a fel. The solder to the right of the MG42 mactine gunner is cary pion boxes, which probably indicates he's the MG feeder. This photograph is typical ofa winter combat zone inthe lst two years ofthe wat 7 ers are all wearing toques and camouflage smacks over ther greatcoatlaunching Note the snow overall with camoutage Kar 98k rile with fixed bayonet. Te close quarter fighting that raged inside 1ask holders they are all wearing are by 2 used purely for storage purposes for Kharkov in March 1943, a heavy mortar team fives rage around them. All the men are wearing the{About to render the ar wih around from their 7Som PakAO, an antitank from an unidentiied Totenkop regiment moves thei gun int aration against enemy targets. The qun has received a te whitewash paint, whist the crew are camouflaged ‘est color for blending in withthe landscape in the late auturnn and spring in Russia A Totenkopf soldier armed with a Kar 98k rile takes a wel-concesled positon inside sunflower field during the opening attack at Kursk in 849, He is wearing the ‘plane tree’ or ‘oak leat’ camautiage smock with ng helmet cover. The photograph llustrates just how effective the SS. puflage smocks and helmat covers were on the battle vation for ‘Operation Ziladelle’in late June 1943, troops and fe fonard to their specially designated alloted areas, waiting for © move into action, Here an exhausted Totenkopf motoreycist sleeps [BMW 12 motoroyce, among other parked motorycles. Note the of equipment attached to the motoroycles inclucsing steet helmets, Mas bi = = Totenkopf troops during the opening phase of ‘Operation Ztadel’ in July 1943. Here in his photograph a mortar crew move fonward across the vast Russian plan of the Kursk salen. Within an hour ofthe attack Totenkopt, Das Reich and Leibstandarto were embrole in ferce fighting, 41AL Kursk a Totenkopf commander raises is right arm to signi to his ‘men to move forward, This photograph vividly ilustrates. how well the soldiers camouflage smocks and helmet covers blended with the local terrain in July 1843. The use of camouflaged clothing in the Waffen-SS Feduced casualties by some 15 percent. However, due to their Hhting techniques, which sometimes led them to be aver zealous on the battlfiela this signiicantiy decreased their chances of not being injured or kiled Even during the sum Periods in Russia the weat ould grind a division to temporary halt in a hea downpour. In this photogrs this Totenkopf crew of a BM R75 motoreycie combina are experiencing proble following @ freak rainsto ‘during ‘Operation Ztadale July 1943. Note the tact markings painted in. white the tront ofthe sidecar. There an’S'painted above the syd forthe second company, One of the most comm sights seen in Russia by German foroes was the ter road surace. Here soldied from Totenkopf struggle 1 move a BMW R12 motorye combination that ha unavoidably become bogge down in @ sandy road. interest. isthe Totenko femblem painted on the side the front mudguard along wi the white number "23" on th side of the fuel tank. Th motorcycle is being driven &) fan S8-Rortenfanrer who wearing the Ion Cross Secon Class ribbon,‘A two-man MG37() machine gun team in ton against an unidentified Sovet target. Both 350 Totonkopt men have equipment and uniforms ical of ths period in the war. The frepower ofthe en-SS and the Wenrmacht was one of the portant factors in overwhelming the Red Army roughout the entire war. A single column of Totenkopf troops advance through a swamp infested forest clearing during ‘Operation Zitadelle. One soldier can visibly be seen wearing a mosquito net in order to protect himself against the plagues of insects during the summer of 1943. By this period of the atte Totenkopf and its two fellow Watten-SS divisions ‘mopped up the remaining Soviet resistance in the Sapa le pink saseipacearneve lh vary of what they thought would be the final and ‘ecisive Blow ‘A woll-camouflaged MG34 machine gun team poised for action in a forest. Note the solder, probably the squad leader, scouring the dense lndergrowth ahead through binoculars, trying to ‘deduce the location ofthe enemy target. A machine {un crew usually consisted of five men ~ the squad leader. machine gunner, and ammunition feeder plus two infantrymen’ to help cary spareLooking through his gun-sight an MG34 machine gunner and feeder in ‘action during the last phase of ‘Operation Zitadelo’. Ifthe enemy fire is nat ‘adequate, a few bursts from this machine gun will suppress any enemy ‘actvty, When facing a German machine gun team supplied with plenty of ‘ammunition, Russian units had @ dificult time, especially since ther own ‘suppiy of ammunition was often inadequate J replaced. 44Vh ‘A group of Totonkopt grenadiers huddle inside a feral attack by Red Army fighter aircraft. These Hypicaly for this period wih eatly sive ‘Plane Tree’ pata ge he fourth man furthest from the camera holds the rank of an perched in poston ontop ofthe trench, ready at a moment's notice ‘garment over his tunie. The soldier's ME Ho is wearing the toque pulled around M1920 stick grenade,two men is an SdKl2.251 haltrack armor 1944 was characterized by @ series mir to another, which subsequenty push ns, and German army forces back to 1 onthe let is armed with an MP44 assaut ri Curious Toten Soviet KV tank. Both t'A Bom Granatwerfer34 manned by Totenkop! troops during alin the fighting near the Bug River in March 1944. Both Watten-SS and Wehrmacht soldiers found thatthe use of the mortar gave them ~ both in attack and etence — a valuable high explosive capabilty beyond the range of ries or hand grenades. A Hummel sett propelled gun mounting fa i5em FHIB field howitzer on the chassis of a PeKptwiV. This vehicle has received an application of winter whitewash paint. It formed the single mobile heavy field artilery battery for Totenkopf from the spring of 1943, and proved a usetul and popular weapon. Here ft last was a deadly artlery piece that could fight ata pace of the Panzers. This Hummel was assigned to 1 Panzer-Division in Pussia ‘them with dirt and grime from the bate Tis photograph was taken March 1944, t was during the fst week of March that along the Bug Riverina desperate attempt to slow the rapid advance of Fed Army, However, the postion on the Bug soan collapsed and Totenk together with the rest of H.Gr Sid fell back on the River Dniester, between the Soviet Union and Romania. In the background, four Tiger's ‘can be seen in a hull dow poston behind the crest ofa ilFeichsfanver Hel Himmler decided western Ukraine ancient Gali sulticlently allow it men to alongside and ove enter the Watfen-S Although the bulkee 2 “Two Totenkopf Pz Kplw.V Panther’ halt inside a during the summer of 1944, Both anks have received a coating ag mine paste and are painted in summer camouilage schemes. The Panther in the Dackground is a command tank and has the cigtal numbers 102’ painted in red wth a white outine on te side of is turret. In October 1943 Totenkopt Panzer Division, albetin name only. By 1944 i stated receiving he 25 replacements Totenkopf troops move along a forest hotograph was taken in July 1944, and it fo the ay of Grodno in Poland to hold the right lank of & Armee i outnumbered seven in troops and ten 0 one However, by 18 July i nally abandoned Grodno and towards Warsaw. 1 dscontinued in 1943,iotographTotenkopf attack Soviet larmored column, inthe background a Russian 7.34/85 tank is ablaze opens fre against standard uniorm, He's also wearing a toque with no steel! hele! 1g Totenkopt's attack towards Budapest in early January 19 ‘Totenkopf soldier in the depths in January 1945. This man is probably trying to comet the cold by around tis face, He is also Uncovered and early type Mauser 98k re’A photograph showing Totenkopf grenadiers around a halted white washed SIuG..V. They are preparing fo begin ‘Operation Spring Awakening’, the code name to dive the Soviels rom the last aiid in German possession, knocking them back across the Danube and retaking Budapest. The men are wear ® variety of adapted winter clothing including reversible greyiwhite padded camouflage garments. Note the two soldiers with fur covered caps. The offensive ‘opened on 6 March 1945 in heavy snow. The grenadiars are being supported by @ SWuG.V, which has received an application of winter whitewash paint {an officer holding he rank of Untersturmftrer ofthe Regi TotenkopY's commander, SS-Brigadetuhver Helmuth Becket in early 1945 Helmuth Becker was TolenkopY’s last commander and was as ute ruthless as Theodor been. However, unlike Eicke, Becker was a alcoholic and was seen sometimes by hie men on the batted drunk. spite of his heavy drinking he held the Divison together through the fr ‘months of the war until he eventualy surrendered his beloved Totenkap! the American 3d Army on © May 1945, Totenkop' oops on quar duly in Hungary in February 1945. They a both wearing identical standard issue uniforms, with sheepskin coat, toques {and uncovered M35i40 helmets, Note the fater-war SS rune decal painting fn the ight side ofthe soldiers slate-gray helmet-361-687-2 ISBN 962-361-687 Mn 265) alll