The SSTotenkopf Division--German for "Skull", literally "Dead's Head"--was a part of the German armed forces' famous Waffen SS. Originally formed from members of concentration camp guards, it eventually evolved into one of NaziGermany's most formidable combat formations.
External links
History of the Death's Head Division (http://www.historyofmilitary.com/SSTotenkopf_The_History_of_the_Deaths_Head_Division_194045_0760310157.html)
The 3rd SSDivision was formed from the Totenkopf units that took part in the Polish Campaign and with other members of the Totenkopfverbande and the Allgemeine SS.
Freikorps Danemark, was attached to the 3rd SSDivision.
The Division stayed on defensive operation in the south and central sector of the German front for nearly a year, and during this time, in October, 1943, the Division was reformed and renamed as a Panzer Division.
The SS-Panzerkorps was to attack the southern flank of the salient as the spearhead for Generaloberst Hermann Hoth's 4.Panzer-Armee.
The division was pulled back to the west, executing a fighting withdrawal from Budapest to the area near Lake Balaton, where the 6th SS Panzer Army under SS-Oberstgruppenführer Josef Dietrich was massing for the upcoming Operation Frühlingserwachen.
The division's original cadre was drawn from the SS-Totenkopfverbände (concentration camp guards), as opposed to the other Germanic SSDivisions which were formed from the SS-Verfügungstruppe.
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