3rd SS~Panzer Division “Totenkopf”:

SS-Mann, SS-Totenkopfstandarten ,,Oberbayern” Regiment 1:

In June of 1935, SS-Oberführer Theodor Eicke took over command of the Dachau concentration camp.  Due to corruption he dismissed 60 of the 120 man camp staff and began replacement with carefully recruited personnel.  In 1934/5 this unit was enlarged and renamed SS-Wachsturmbann I ,, Oberbayern”. In 1937 the unit was enlarged once again and renamed SS-Totenkopfstandarten 1 ,,Oberbayern”. Eventually ,,Oberbayern” would become the root of  Grenadier-Regiment 1 of the TK Panzer Grenadier Divison.

 This SS-Mann wears the standard black SS-Diesntrock or Service Tunic.  The collar and collar insignia are piped in black & silver cord, similar to the single shoulder insignia.  The SS armband is worn with the Standarten cuff title which shows the Totenkopf.  With this uniform, he wears black trousers with shoes or breeches with marching boots.  Headgear consists of an enlisted grade Schirmmütz.

‘Early’ Totenkopf 3 rgt. Oberbayern:

SS-Unterscharführer, SS-Totenkopf Camp Guard:

I’ll get something in here. Yuck! I’ve been putting this off

Dachau, Concentration Camp “Temporary” Guard:

We enter a rather dreadful part of our World's History, the "Camps" where the Germans did to Hitters's undesirables...we know the story, but we don't like to think about it. The Concentration Camps had their Hierarchy, of guards, workers, and control personnel, This uniform, shows one of the aspects of it. Some of these guards were there for “Punishment” for military infractions, like needing an attitude adjustment or toughened up, others were there for very different reasons perhaps they liked it, and even volunteered.

Established in March 1933, the Dachau concentration camp was the first regular concentration camp established by the Nazis in Germany. The camp was located on the grounds of an abandoned munitions factory near the medieval town of Dachau. The place would forever be remembered for what the SS. did there, building a human labor, and disposal facility.

Heinrich Himmler, in his capacity as police president of Munich, officially described the camp as the first concentration camp for "political prisoners". On this guard’s collar insignia is the “Double-Cross” (Seems appropriate because many of the people put into the camps were of German Decent originally), used by Troops on temporary assignment, pulled from the Wehrmachts, Heer, and Luftwaffe for work as a camp guard, so he is “not” of the Totenkopf Division, but he likely worked with them with this uniform is shown here.

Of course, all kinds of so-called “Undesirables” would end up going there to disappear from society. Undesirable-that is to anyone who questions their operation or is Hitler’s scapegoat the Jewish Peoples of Germany, occupied areas, and gypsies, all religions and reasons could put you there.

The Dachau camp was a training center for SS concentration camp guards, and the camp’s organization and routine became the model for all Nazi concentration camps that followed. Here the board is piped with rust or copper brown, His rank has nothing on it, so he is like an enlisted buck private.

His jacket is Feldgrau wool. Here we see the EM. SS. Sleeve-Eagle' The SS Runes symbol is one- that would live on as one of the most brutal and Horrible Regimes ever in World History, the Jewish Holocaust is very much a part of it. To me, it would seem to be extremely dense to wear the jacket with this title on it and would have been immediately ditched, or the title cut off leaving the camp.

He wears a standard late-war M43 SS Cap, as well as Feldgrau trousers, bloused at the bottom, with gaiters, and black lace-up shoes, likely he carries a sidearm on a black belt. and a grey shirt with a black tie.

It’s hard to believe, but being a guard at one of the camps, the bottom line was, that it was sometimes considered good duty, like west wall duty, compared to the Russian and Italian Front's fighting was hell, they had no fighting, and edible food, Guard Duty was considered a fair duty, a sad fact of how low it was This uniform came together a long time ago.

SS-Unterscharführer, Infantryman, SS-Division ”Totenkopf ”:

The SS-Totenkopf was formed in October 1939. The Totenkopf was initially formed using concentration camp guards of the 1st “Oberbayern” and 2nd “Brandenburg” with the being the 3rd “Thüringen” Standarten (Regiments) of the SS-Totenkopfverbände and soldiers from the SS-Heimwehr Danzig. The Division had received their officers from the SS-Verfügungstruppe, from whom many had seen action in Poland. The division was commanded by SS-Obergruppenführer Theodor Eicke. Through the Battle of France, the division was generally equipped with ex-Czech weapons. 

Having missed the Polish Campaign Totenkopf was initially held in reserve during the assault into France and the Low Countries in May 1940. They were committed on 16 May to the Front in Belgium. The Totenkopf soldiers fought fanatically, suffering heavy losses.

Totenkopf saw action several times during the French campaign. To the Northeast of Cambrai, the Division took 16,000 French prisoners. Whilst subsequently trying to drive through to the Coast they encountered a major Anglo-French force which they had a great deal of difficulty stopping and came perilously close to panic. Totenkopf had to resort to firing artillery pieces in an anti-tank role and was saved only by the intervention of Luftwaffe dive-bombers. It then suffered heavy losses during the taking of the La Bass’ee Canal. Stiff resistance was then encountered at both B’ethune and Le Paradis.

The French surrender found the division located near the Spanish border, where it was to stay, resting and refitting, until April 1941. Totenkopf had suffered heavy losses during the campaign, including over 300 officers. Replacement personnel was supplied, this time via regular Waffen-SS recruitment as opposed to coming from the camps. Anti-Aircraft “Flak” and “Artillery Battalions” were added to their strength. Local vehicles were also commandeered by the French, many of the divisions’ soft-skinned transports during Barbarossa were of French origin.

 This Totenkopf Unterscharführer is waiting to take part in Operation Gelb or the invasion of France.  It will be his first combat experience.   He wears the Feldanzug für Waffen-SS which had been issued for use by the SS-TV camp personnel. He wears the cuff title bearing the Totenkopf of the 1st Standarten called the “Oberbeyern”. The format of the collar insignia is pretty rare, reversed/mirrored vertical Totenkopf head looking to the rear, his rank indicated only by the shoulder insignia. When the camouflage smock is worn only the collar tress indicates that this is an NCO. Miming the Heer style of wearing closed collars without ties, the Feldanzug is worn closed at the neck held in place by a small strap under the collar.  Under the Feldanzug was the standard collared brown SS shirt.  As an NCO the Unterscharführer could wear the Feldmütz für Unterführer, the Feldmütz, or Stahlhelm. 

Ritterkreuzträger SS-Unterscharführer Josef Rölleke 5. SS-Pz. Gren. Rgt., 3rd SS-Division “Totenkopf”:

Little is known about SS-Unterscharfhr. Josef Rölleke so we must do some deductions to establish his history.   Rölleke was awarded his Knight’s Cross for action on 16 June 1944. At that time “Totenkopf” was involved in the heavy fighting in Romania near Targul Frumos where it joined “Großdeutschland” in defeating a major Soviet attack.  By early May the “TK” was reorganizing with new equipment. In a subsequent battle near Last, the division again stood with “GD” against 500 Soviet tanks.  It is probably during actions in one of these battles that Rölleke won his Knight’s Cross. 

“TK” continued a fighting retreat back from Warsaw to Budapest and finally surrendered to the American forces. Josef Rölleke survived the following Soviet Gulags that awaited all the men of the division who were turned over by the US forces and lived, according to records online, till 2011.

Unterscharfhr.  Rölleke’s single studio photo is our only indication of his records and since in B&W must be interpreted within historical information available.    Having earned both the EKI and II for combat leadership but not seeing any evidence of the Ost Front award or Demjansk Shield  Rölleke probably joined the division as it rebuilt and took place in all the campaigns in the East after that.   The Panzer Badge in the photo is dark, there for bronze indicating he is an armored vehicle crewman, probably of an Sd. Kfz. 251.  His wound badge is bright, probably silver as is his Close Combat Clasp indicating a large amount of time out of his vehicle and in hand-to-hand combat.

In the photo, Rölleke wears what is known as the M42 tunic, which was a wartime variation of the standard Feldbluse with un-pleated pockets yet with the early pattern scalloped pocket flaps. Since the norm of production was with a collar made in Feldgrau cloth, he has apparently used his Knight’s Cross winner status to get a conversion done to dark green. He wears an enlisted Schirmmütz with the stiffener removed and a slight pinch added to the front.  With this uniform, he would wear one of the variations of Feldgrau trousers with Marchstiefel.  A standard leather belt with an SS-buckle would finish the walking-out uniform.

SS-Hauptscharfuhrer, 2nd Company, SS-Panzer Grenadier Regiment 5./ ‘Thule’:

After the Campaign against Poland in 1939, several SS Divisions were formed. The 3rd SS Division was formed from the Totenkopf units that had taken part in the Polish Campaign with members of the SS-Totenkopfverbande and the Allgemeine-SS. Some portions of the 3rd SS-Dividion were formed from elements provided by the “SS-Heimwehr Danzig”, originally SS-Sturmbann “Gotz” but was renamed “Heimwehr Danzing” and they were formed into Abteilung size, and put under “Heer Control” for combat in Poland.

After the Battles in Poland, portions of this unit were used to form this Division. This Division was formed at the SS-Training Center near Dachau. Then the Division was transferred from the SS-Ubungslager Dachau (SS-Training Depot Dachau) to Wurttemberg and then sent to Truppen Ubungsplatz Obermunsingen. It was there that its training was finished, and the command of the Division was there that its training was finished, and the Command of Division was given to Theodor Eicke who had been the former head of the Totenkopfverbande.

During the campaign in France, the 3rd SS Division first served as part of the Heer Reserve. On May 16th, 1940, the Division was ordered into Battle, and on May 19th, 1940, it was used to secure the area of Le Cateu and Cambrai. Soon after, the Division was sent to the coast of France South of Dunkirk, taking part in the Coastal Defence Operations. At the beginning of June 1940, the Division was moved to St. Pol. During the second half of the campaign in France, the 3rd SS Division was used to secure the flanks of the advance clearing out the resistance, and collect prisoners. When the Campaign in France ended, the Division was relocated to the Spanish border.

Totenkopf stayed at the border until April 1941, when it was ordered to the East, as part of Army Group North for the invasion of the Soviet Union. Totenkopf saw action in Lithuania, then through Latvia, through the Stalin Line in July, to North of Demjansk, to Leningrad where it was in combat from July 31st to August 25th, 1941. Early in August 1941, the Totenkopf managed to capture, the Cit of Chudovo on the main Leningrad-Moscow railway.

During this period, a small but not insignificant unit, the Freikorps Danemark, was attached to the 3rd SS Division. Also during this time, in the Fall and Winter of 1941, the Soviets launched several operations against the German Lines in the Northern Sector of the Russian Front. As a result, the Division was encircled for several months in the Demyansk Pocket. The Division suffered so heavily in the Demyansk Pocket that it was renamed, Kamphgrouppe Eicke because of the huge losses sustained. In April 1942, the Division was able to break-out of the Pocket and managed to reach the area at the Lovat River. A portion of the Division stayed near Demyansk on defensive operations, continuously being whittled down, until the whole Division was pulled out of action for refitting in late October 1941, and sent to France.

While in France in 1942, the Division took part in the take-over of Vichy France and was provided with a Panzer Abteilung and a new name, The SS-Panzer Grenadier Division “Totenkopf”. The Division stayed in France until January 1943.

In February 1943, the Division was transferred back to the East as part of Army Group South. It was then that the Division took part in the massive German counter-offensive to stop the Russian Winter Offensive that had already destroyed the German 6th Army at Stalingrad. The Division took part in the Second Battle of Karkov, helping to stop the Russian offensive in the South. It was during this time that the division commander “Theodor Eicke” was killed in action. From Kharkov, the Division was then sent to massive battles for the Kursk Salient, where they fought some of the most bloody, and fierce combat of the War, and the largest tank battle in history. Eventually, the operation at Kursk was halted, but the Germans would never fully recover.

The 3rd SS Division was pulled out along with the other German units, but stayed, conducting defensive operations, and helping to shore up the front lines, after another Soviet Offensive launched right after the Kursk Offensive failure. They stayed there on the defensive operations in the South Central Sector of the German Front for nearly a year, during this time, in October 1943, the Division was reformed now as a Panzer Division. The Grenadier Regiments of the new Panzer Division were renamed “Thule” (5th SS Panzer-Grenadier Regiment) and “Theodore Eicke”.

By 1944, the situation on the Eastern Front was dire. Everywhere the Soviets were advancing. In the center, the Soviets had managed to launch what was probably the largest offensive of the entire war, sending hundreds of units against the German Lines at once, pushing them back some 300 miles in four weeks. When the Soviets finally came to a halt, they were at the gates of Warsaw. With the Russians so near, there was an uprising in the city, and the 3rd SS Division was called in, but the Russians did nothing to help Warsaw, and it was quite a fiasco. When the Russians came, but were pushed back by the Germans to the Vistula River. Around two Soviet Armies were held back, by the 3rd SS, the SS-Division “Wiking” and the 19th Panzer Division.

Next, the Division was sent south to help rescue the encircled German Forces in Budapest. The Totenkopf launched an assault taking it to the Budapest Airport, but they were pulled back, hoping to result in the destruction of the Soviet units to the North of Budapest. The Division was on the verge of rescuing some 45,000 German units that were trapped there.

From there, the Division was consistently pushed back West, fighting battles west of Budapest and then in Vienna. Then the Division Surrendered to the Americans on May 9th, 1945, and they handed them over to the Soviet Forces, where their fate was a very long march back to the Gulags in Siberia, where few ever came back.

Wearing an early cut of the mid-war uniform, the M43, this Hauptscharfuhrer retains his shoulder board buttons from an older uniform, t showing company affiliation.”5“ on the boards indicate his new Regimental number as does the “Cuff-Title”. This SS Nco has served since the early war period, as shown by his Austrian Annexation Ribbon and Long Service award on his Ribbons Bar. Totenkopf had been committed to the battle against the Soviet Union and had fought in the encirclement at Demjansk, and wears the early “Russian Winter Ribbon” from the early days in Russia, and the Demjansk Shield.

By the End of 1943 those “Alte Kampher” still alive and with the Regiment, were well decorated. This Hautscharfuhere in no different as he displays the Iron Crosses I and II Classes, the Infantry Assault Badge, and even the Close-Comabat Clasp in Silver, there did not come easy. Like most veterans by this point has been wounded in battle, maybe several times, and wears the Wound Badge in Black as well.

He could have worn a variety of optional caps, but he still retains his soft SS-cut overseas cap, with a reversed white chevron on the front (a Heer affection) and probably done by the CO himself. The uniform would be completed with matching trousers, black marching boots, and typical fighting gear.

SS-Sturmscharführer ‘der Spieß’ Panzergrenadier-Regiment 5 ,,Thule’’ 3. SS-Panzergrenadier Division ,,Totenkopf” Russland 1943:

Following rest and refit in France “TK” returned to the Ost Front in February 1943 as a component of Heeresgruppe Süd. Part of SS-Obergruppenführer Paul Hausser’s SS-Panzerkorps, “TK” fought at the third Battle of Karkov. The SS-Panzerkorps then shifted north to take part in Operation Citadel or the Kursk Offensive in Juli 1943. Through the rest of the summer and into fall the division, now part of 6. Armee fought at the Mius River bridgehead and then conducted a fighting retreat to the Dniepr River. Fighting in the heat of the Russian summer the Sturmscharführer wears the reed-green version of the two-pocket Model 1933 Drillich Bluse. He has added rank insignia, including early pattern Schulterklappen, along with his distinctive sleeve tress.

Theodor Eicke Sanitator:

If anyone was born under a bad sign, it was the Waffen-SS, and of them, the Totenkof Division, and yet here we see a Medical Corpsman.

S-Hauptscharfüher, SS-Panzer-Nachrichten-Abteilung, 3 SS-Panzer Division:

The Panzer-Nachtrichten Zug was composed of three specially equipped Panzerbefehlswagen that were organic to each Bataillon Stab of the Panzer Regiment.  Each Panzerbefehlswagen was equipped with long, medium, and short-range radio and was the communications link between the Bataillon and the Kompanie Kommandant, and to the Zug dispersed on the battlefield.

Panzerbefehlswagen Ausf.K mit 5cm KwK L/60:

Authorized for production in Oktober 1941 the Panzer III Ausf. J was modified to accommodate radios, without giving up main gun firepower.  The new Ausf.K mit 5cm KwK L/42 command tanks were converted and gradually introduced on the front in 1943.  Since the L/60 gun fielded by the Ausf. L and M had a far better muzzle velocity, 50 of these up-gunned types were modified for use as Panzerbefehlswagen and arrived in late 1942/early 1943. Most were given to SS-Panzer-Divisions fighting on the Ost Front.

3. SS-Panzergrenadier Divison “Totenkopf’’ was upgraded to Panzer-Division in Oktober 1943, reformed, adding a Panzer-Regiment.  The division fought on the Ost Front until the end of the war.

SS-Hauptscharführer Panzerjacke cut in SS style has the divisionally unique collar insignia piped in Citrongelb or lemon-yellow of the signals branch.  The crushed Schrimmütz für Unterführer is similarly piped.  The cap has had the standard aluminum Adler replaced by an officer’s bullion.  The Hascha’s long war service and leadership have provided perks.

In the picture at the bottom of a similar uniform, the Totenkopf Skull chin is forward, and eye sockets out, the common variant (See the rest of the collection).

SS-Oberscharführer SS-Artillerie Regiment 3 “Totenkopf”:

was formed in October 1939 from concentration camp guards of the SS Totenkopfverbände with the addition of officers from the SS-Verfügungstruppe (SS-VT) and men from SS-Heimwehr Danzig.

Generaloberst Fedor von Bock visited the division on 19 April 1940 and later wrote: The combat readiness of the SS non-commissioned officers and squadrons is insufficient. We will pay for that with unnecessary blood-shedding! It's a pity to waste such wonderful human resources.

It was initially held in reserve during the campaign in the west, but was soon sent to the front in Belgium. They suffered heavy losses compared to other units but managed to keep up the advance. It later fought in France seeing its only real action against colonial troops at Tarare.

It took part in the invasion of the USSR attached to Heeresgruppe Nord and advanced through the Baltic states and towards Leningrad.  ,,TK” remained in the Leningrad area until the Soviet counteroffensive pushed the Germans back and it was encircled at Demjansk January to March 1942. ,,TK” remained on the front until it was transferred to France October 1942 where it regrouped and reorganized into an SS-Panzer-Division.  Sent back to the Eastern front where it fought at Kursk and Kharkov. It was sent to Hungary in December 1944 where it took part in the failed attempt to relieve Budapest.  The division surrendered to the American army but was turned over to Soviet control resulting in few of its members returning to Germany.

On February 8th 1942, the Russians encircled the 2nd Army Corp in the small town of Demjansk, located in the northern section of the Russian front about 100 miles northeast of Cholm.  Trapped in the pocket were the 12th, 30th, 32nd, 223rd, and 290th Heer Infantry Divisions, as well as the 3rd SS “Totenkopf” Division.  There were also RAD, Police, Todt organization, and other auxiliary units who were trapped and assisted in the battle. Their commander was General der Infanterie Graf Brockdordd-Ahlefeldt.

Ordered to resist, the garrison was extensively and appropriately supplied by the Luftwaffe.  During their besiegement the group offered the Russians stiff and determined resistance, tying up three Soviet Armies (composed of 18 Infantry Divisions and three brigades) for the length of 14 months.  The battle group was able to break out of the siege on the 21st of April, but the battle had taken a toll.  Out of the approximately 100,000 men trapped, there were 3,335 never returned, and over 10,000 were wounded. However, their heroic struggle had denied the Soviet High Command of numerous units at a critical moment, units that would have otherwise been used elsewhere on the Eastern front.

SS-Artillerie Regiment 3 provided support for the division’s Panzer and Grenadier regiments in their offensive and defensive combat roles using the German military’s standard divisional 10.5 cm leFH 18 leichte Feldhaubitze.  Waffen-SS artillery troops were initially trained at Heer schools and this SS-Oberscharführer has also graduated as a Richtkanonier and wears the Heeres Richtabzeichen für Artillerie specialist sleeve badge.  The Richtkanonier is responsible for the laying in of the battery’s guns and the computation of the elements that will make the projectile land on target such as powder charge, wind, temperature, and turn of the earth which all must be carefully computed.

The Oberschar wears a Heer issue M36 Feldbluse (Feldbluse Model 1936), a common practice when the original SS units expanded to a wartime footing and the SS-Bekeildungsamt was not able to keep up the pace of issue without drawing on Heer depot stores.  A veteran from the original SS-Grenadier-Division formation he has served both in the west and now on the Eastern Front. For combat leadership, he has been awarded both the Eisernes Kreuz I u. II Klasse as well as the Allgemeines Sturmabzeichen. Serving on the Northern Russian Front during the winter of 1941-42 has made him eligible for the Ost Medal.  His service during the Demjanks encirclement has earned him the Damjansk Ärmellschield which is worn on the upper left sleeve. When not wearing his Stahlhelm he wears a well-worn Feldmütz für Unterführer or crusher piped in Artillerie Waffenfarben.  He will wear standard Hosen and March Steifel along with an enlisted belt and buckle with a holstered pistol.

SS-Hauptscharführer  9. Kp (S) SS-Panzer Regiment 3, Der Speiss:

In Early February 1943 Totenkopf was moved from France back to the  Eastern Front as part of Army Group South. The division, as a part of SS-Obergruppen-führer Paul Hausser’s SS Panzer-Korps and took part in the Third Battle of Kharakov, blunting the Soviet offensive. During this campaign, Theodor Eicke was killed when his Fiesler Storch spotter aircraft was shot down while on final approach to a front-line unit. The division mounted an assault to secure the crash site and recover their commander's body, he was buried with full military honors.  Hermann Priess succeeded Eicke as commander.

The SS Panzer Corps, including Totenkopf, was then shifted north to take part in Operation Citadel, the great offensive to reduce the Kursk Salient. It was in February 1943 that the 3rd SS Panzer Regiment received a company of Tiger I heavy tanks (9th Company/3rd SS Panzer Regiment). This company was near full strength by the time Citadel commenced, having honed their tank-killing skills during the German counterstroke to recapture Kharkov and Belgorod during the spring of 1943.

 This SS-Hauptscharführer is the Kompanie Spieß or First Sergeant who makes sure all the daily needs, as well as the discipline of the soldiers, is taken care of.  While not often the most combat-oriented NCO in the company he is skilled in the organization.  In this case, he is no stranger to combat and service with a long service ribbon to prove it. Like many of the members of the Panzer Regiment, he came to the division after the first winter in Russia, and as part of the Tiger Kompanie, he has probably spent months in training on this combat vehicle.  His proven combat leadership has been noted by the award of both the I and II Class Iron Cross.   His Panzer Battle Badge speaks for his time fighting in a tank.  His Black Wound Badge indicates no lack of physical contact with the arms of the enemy.

 With the standard black, SS-cut Panzerjacke, he wears black wool trousers and a cap.  A stickler for regulation he will be seen with a shirt and tie under most conditions, with shined boots.  He carries a small, but thick, notebook that contains regulations, and information and is the repository of notes he makes regarding infractions by Kompanie members.

SS-Sturmbannführer SS-Panzerregiment 3 , “Totenkopf”:

Through 1943-1945 Following the division’s breakout from the Demyansk pocket, with nearly an 80% casualty rate, it was transferred to France to be refitted in late Oktober 1942. During the time in France, the division took part in Operation Case Anton, the German takeover of southern or Vichy France in November 1942. For this action, a Panzer Bataillon was added and redesignated as 3. SS Panzergrenadier Division ,,Totenkopf’’. The division remained in France until Februar 1943, when its previous commander, Theodor Eicke, resumed control moving it back to the Ost Front.

Prior to the Battle of Kursk, the division was again upgraded, with the addition of a Panzer Regiment. The division was redesignated to Panzer Division status. SS-Panzer Regiment 3 consisted of three Panzer Bataillons plus a Schwere-Kompanie of Mk. VI Tigers. The division’s armor fought in the east until the end of the war when the remnant retreated west and surrendered to US forces.

The Sturmbannführer has sewn mirrored divisional Litzen along with sleeve eagle and Schulterklappen to a set of leather coveralls. This style of coverall or Kombi normally was seen worn by Luftwaffe personnel, mostly ground crews, but some flyers too. Perhaps he acquired them while in France anticipating the winter in the east he knew was coming.

They are worn onboard the Panzerbefehleswagen, Command Tank. The wear of a pair of TK Litzen, in both vertical and horizontal orientation, was not the norm, however, it was not uncommon in the regiment nor division, they were seen on all types of uniforms.

3rd SS-Panzer Division, Panzer - NCO, in the Summer Wrap:

Totenkopf has been on the Eastern front since the battle in the East began and it is now the summer of 1943. This hard-bitten Unterscharfhr rolled east in the invasion and wears the Ost Front medal. The division held its ground in the battle of Demjansk, one of the battles of encirclement that made Hitler believe that the encircled troops at Stalingrad could hold out.

He wears the campaign shield. Fanatically tough the TK troops were the "Asphalt Soldiers" with a hard history starting off in the camps and then with brutal training as they proved themselves all the bit as able as the primer 1st and 2nd SS Divisions. His leadership and bravery are noted by his Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Class and Close Combat Bar in Bronze awarded during the bitter fighting in Demjansk. He wears the panzer jacket and trousers in the newly issued HBT uniform which makes the Russian heat a bit easier to stand. Originally the uniform had a black overseas cap, then HBT M43 cut cap, and Wool M43 was in one shoot, all would work.

Ritterkreuzträger SS-Sturmbannführer Adolf Pittschellis 3. SS-Strurgeschütz Battalion ,,Totenkopf”:

 Dress Jacket, The Sturmbannführer wears either a crusher cap, Schrimmütz, or Stahlhelm.  A service pistol in a holster is worn on an officer’s belt. 

Totenkopf Stug. Btln. 3, SS-Sturmbannfuhrer Adolf Pittschellis:

Adolf Pittschellis was Sturmbannfuhrer in the Waffen-SS who was awarded the Ritterkreuz to recognize extreme battlefield bravery and successful battlefield leadership. Sturmbannfuhrer Adolf Pittschellis was awarded the decoration of the Knights-’s Cross on 23 August 1944. He commanded various tracked artillery with “Totenkopf” as commanders in the 7./3. SS-Panzer Artillery Regiment, 1./3. SS-PanzerArtillery Regiment, IV (schwere) Artillery Battalion, 3. SS-Panzer Artillery Regiment, the 3. SS-Stumgeschutz Battalion, and 3. Panzerjager Battalion, 3 SS Panzer Regiment.

Ss-Sturmbannfuhrer Pittschellis wears the typical Feldgrau uniform for armored personnel or ‘Sturmgeschutz Crewmen’, with officer quality insignia. An early replacement officer, he probably joined the division when it was rebuilding after the Battle of France in 1941, and remained with it until his death in early 1945, fighting his entire career on the Russian Front.

Pittschellis lead his artillery battery during the holding of Demjanask during the winter of 1942 and was awarded the Battle Shield, and the Ost Front Medal, however, he did not choose to wear them on his Sturmgeschutz uniform. As well as the Knights Cross he was awarded the German Cross in Gold, both I & II Class of the Iron Cross, the General Assault Badge, and the Gold-Wound Badge.

The Sturmbannfuhrer wears either a crusher cap or Stahlhelm, Service Pistol, in its holster, worn on an officer belt. He may have worn black short boots with matching feldgrau trousers.

NEW-Der Speiss, SS-Totenkopf Division, Transport Section:

The uniform has mirrored_bur looking away, rather than inward, yet another variation.