6th Waffen SS Gebirgs (Mountain) Division 1934-1945

Formed in Norway from members of the Allgemeine-, or General, SS, the Norti Division was the first of the Waffen-SS Gebirgs, or mountain, divisions. IN june 1940, the capitulation of Norway left a large border with Finland and the Soviet Union unguarded. To replace the two Norwegian infantry battalions and the motorized artillery battery that had been deployed in the area, the Germans decided to deploy SS units rather than regular Army formations. The Totenkopfitandarten that would provide the manpower for the new force were composed of military-age members of the Allgemeine-SS. 55-Totenkopf-Standarte 9, commanded by 55-Obersturmbannfuhrer Ernst Deutsch, was ordered north, with the first unit - SS-Bataillon Reitz, commanded by Obersturmbannfhrer Wilheml Reitz arriving at Kirkenes in the late summer. In February 1941, two further SS regiments arrived in northern Norway: the 6th and 7th 55-Totenkopf-Standarten. Soon afterwards, most of the 6th Standarte, reinforced by elements of the 9th. moved forwards to defensive positions at Salla in northern Finland. The German commander in Norway, General von Falkenhorst, was not impressed with the SS men, however. Although well equipped, the Totenkopf-Standarten were not made up from highly trained Waffen-SS men: the volunteers transferred from the Allgemeine-SS lacked the fitness and spirit of the Armed SS men. Action in Russia