3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf

3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf
Divisional insignia
Active	1939–45
Country	Nazi Germany
Branch	Waffen-SS
Type	Panzer
Role	Armoured warfare
Size	Division
Nickname(s)	Deathead
Engagements	World War II
Commanders
Notable commanders	Theodor Eicke Max Simon

The 3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf was one of 38 divisions of the Waffen-SS of Nazi Germany during World War II. 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 (concentration camp guards), and others were members of German militias that had committed war crimes in Poland. Due to its insignia and name ('Totenkopf' = 'death's head' in German), it was sometimes referred to as the "Death's Head Division".

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-TV were transferred into the Totenkopf Division. The Totenkopf was initially formed from concentration camp guards of the 1st (Oberbayern), 2nd (Brandenburg) and 3rd (Thüringen) Standarten (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. The division was commanded by SS-Obergruppenführer Theodor Eicke. At the time of the Battle of France, the division was equipped with ex-Czech weapons.

Totenkopf was initially held in reserve during the Battle of France and invasion of the Low Countries in May 1940. The division was committed on 16 May to the front in Belgium, where it suffered heavy casualties. Later, to the northeast of Cambrai the division took 16,000 French prisoners. Whilst subsequently trying to drive through to the coast, Totenkopf was involved in the only Allied tank attack in France. [Stonne was in France as well as Montcornet. Clarification needed.] On 21 May units of the 1st Army Tank Brigade, supported by the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division, took part in the Battle of Arras. The SS Totenkopf was overrun, finding their standard anti-tank gun, the 3.7 cm PaK 36, was no match for the British Matilda tank.