Published: 30 December 2010Last Updated: 17 May 2013
The SS-Totenkopf-Standarte 1 Oberbayern was formed in Dachau 1937 from SS-Sturmbann Oberbayern. During the 1937 Reichspartietag it received its Deutschland Erwache standard.
Two sturmbanne of this units entered the Sudetenland (Czechoslovakia) before the rest of the troops to support the Henlein Freikorps and prepare for the german occupation.
It was used for “police duties” during the invasion of Poland behind the lines of the 10. Armee between Upper Silesia and the Vistula river. These duties consisted of hunting down the remaining polish soldiers, terrorising the civilians and murdering political leaders, priests, intellectuals and Jews.
Most of its men were used to create the Totenkopf-division and the remaining were used to form the SS-Totenkopf-Rekreuten-Standarte.
Known war crimes
Soldiers from SS-Totenkopf-Standarte 1 Oberbayern and SS-Totenkopf-Standarte 3 Thüringen were guilty of numerous atrocities during the fighting in Poland, including massacres at Nisko, Rawa Mazowiecka and Ciepielow. (1)
Commanders
SS-Oberführer Theodore Eicke
SS-Standartenführer Otto Augustini
SS-Obersturmbannführer Max Simon
Manpower strength
Apr 1938 3.335
Order of battle
Stab
I. Stuba
II. Stuba
III. Stuba
IV. Stuba
V. Stuba
Nachrichten-Hundertschaft
Musikzug
Insignia
A cuff title with the text “Oberbayern” was authorized for this unit and was in use until Septerber 1938 when it was replaced with a cuff title with a skull (totenkopf).
Footnotes
1. “Soldiers of Destruction” by Charles W. Sydnor and “Murderous Elite: The Waffen-SS and its complete record of war crimes” by James Pontolillo.
Sources used
John R. Angolia – Cloth Insignia of the SS
Dr. K-G Klietmann – Die Waffen-SS: eine Dokumentation
Kurt Mehner – Die Waffen-SS und Polizei 1939-1945
James Pontolillo – Murderous Elite: The Waffen-SS and its complete record of war crimes
Jacek Solarz – Totenkopf 1939-1943
Charles W. Sydnor – Soldiers of Destruction
Ulrich of England & Otto Spronk – Deutschland Erwache: History & Development of the Nazi Party and the “Germany Awake” Standards
Reference material on this unit
– None known at this time –
