Theodor Eicke
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 concentration 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.