Original German WWII 3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf “War Memories” Personal Photo Album – 123 Photos Original Items

Original Item: One-of-a-kind-set. The SS (Schutzstaffel – ‘Protection Squadron’) was originally formed in 1925, ostensibly to act as a small, loyal bodyguard unit to protect the Führer, Adolf H. Under the direction of the Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler, the SS grew to be the most ruthless and feared organization of the 20th century. They were the vanguard of NSDAP and eventually controlled nearly every function of German life and much of Occupied Europe.

When WWII began in earnest, the SS-Verfügungstruppe (SS-VT) (SS Dispositional Troops) became the Waffen-SS (“Armed SS”), an official military branch of the SS organization. Its formations included men from NSDAP ruled Germany, along with volunteers and conscripts from both occupied and unoccupied lands.

Here we have a wonderful 3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf Waffen SS personal photo album, with what looks to be all photographs they took themselves (or had others take of them), with possibly a few professional shots. It is covered with a lovely textured black leatherette cover, embossed with a wood grain motif. The lower right is embossed in silver with Kriegserinnerungen (War Memories). There is a lovely hand drawn Waffen SS Totenkopf (Death’s Head) Skull & Crossbones over this, with III added to the right, for the 3rd SS Panzer. The album measures approximately 12 3/4” x 9”.

A total of 123 photographs fill the pages of this album, making it a treasure-trove of images taken from the viewpoint of a young, patriotic German soldier. These are contained on the first 11 of the 15 total pages, which are not captioned, and most pages are separated by spiderweb pattern “onion skin” separators. All of the photos look to have been attached directly to the pages using some type of adhesive. The album does look to have had moisture exposure over the years, as the pages are definitely significantly rippled. We do not however see any staining.

The photo album starts with some photos of servicemen at ease with some alcoholic libations, and possibly some civilians. We can see a sailor among the group, as well as Heer Army and Waffen SS personnel. The rest of the pages are almost entirely Waffen SS, showing some combat scenes, MG 34 Machine guns, light armored vehicles, bunkers, and so forth. The pictures show the change to winter, with Waffen SS soldiers in heavier clothing, and there are also some city scenes from time on leave. On one of the last pages we can see an MG42 gunner screw. Definitely some great historical research potential in these pages!

Historical records like this album have become priceless time capsules that provide an incomparable level of insight into the individual experience of the Second
World War, now that almost eighty years have passed.

The older albums such as these usually withstand the ravages of time. The leather or fabric covers may wear, but the pages stay well intact. The black paper albums of the early 20th century are more fragile, while the glue from magnetic albums can damage photographs. And, as with all old photographs, keep albums in a safe, climate controlled environment.

More on the 3rd SS Panzer Division “Totenkopf”:

This elite division of the Waffen-SS of NSDAP Germany during World War II formed from the Standarten of the SS-TV. Its name, Totenkopf, is German for “death’s head” – the skull and crossbones symbol – and it is thus sometimes referred to as the Death’s Head Division.

The division was formed through the expansion of Kampfgruppe Eicke, a battle group named – in keeping with German military practice – after its commander, Theodor Eicke. Most of the battle group’s personnel had been transferred to the Waffen SS from KZ camp guard units, which were known collectively as SS-Totenkopfverbände; others were former members of Selbstschutz: ethnic German militias that had committed war crimes in Poland.

The division became notorious for its brutality, and committed numerous war crimes, including the Le Paradis massacre.