The Complete History of the 3rd SS Division Totenkopf ☠ The Elite of the Waffen SS The 3rd SS Division Totenkopf, also known as the "Death's Head" division, was one of the most infamous units of the Waffen-SS during World War II. Established in 1939, it was originally formed as a guard unit for concentration camps, and its name derived from the Totenkopf symbol, representing the skull and crossbones. This symbol became synonymous with the division's brutal reputation. The division's soldiers wer