4th SS Polizei Division - France 1940

France 1940

The division, at this time a straight 'leg' (infantry) formation with horse-drawn transport, was initially held in reserve with Army Group C in the Rhineland during the Battle of France until 9 June when it first saw combat during the crossing of the Aisne river and the Ardennes Canal. The division was engaged in heavy fighting and after securing its objectives, moved to the Argonne Forest, where it came into contact with the French and fought a number of actions with their rear guard. In late June 1940, the division was pulled out of combat and transferred to the reserve of Army Group North in East Prussia.

In January 1941, administrative responsibility for the division passed from the police to the SS-Führungshauptamt, the materiel and training headquarters of the Waffen-SS; its personnel however, remained policemen, not members of the SS.