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.
Read more about this topic: 4th SS Polizei Division
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“The anarchy, assassination, and sacrilege by which the Kingdom of France has been disgraced, desolated, and polluted for some years past cannot but have excited the strongest emotions of horror in every virtuous Briton. But within these days our hearts have been pierced by the recital of proceedings in that country more brutal than any recorded in the annals of the world.”
—James Boswell (1740–1795)