ABOUT 2. KOMPANIE
2. Kompanie is a non-political historical research group based in the Mid-west and Central Plains of the United States. Our goal is to accurately research and portray soldiers from an Infanterie Kompanie of the III SS Division “Totenkopf” on the Eastern Front during the Second World War; and to provide research material and date relevant to the understanding of this infamous formation..
While doing a living history portrayal of the 3.SS-Division “Totenkopf”. We wear historically correct uniforms and accoutrements, and carry original weapons from World War Two. As a research group foremost as opposed to a re-enactment club, 2. Kompanie does not attend public WWII reenactments and shows. We typically only meet once or twice a year for highly authentic living history experiences we hold on private property in the Midwest. Additionally, we do on occasion support WWII Campaigner style events, provided they meet our criteria.
2. Kompanie differs from many other German living history or reenactment units, and SS units by portraying a unit that fought almost exclusively on the Eastern Front throughout the entire war, with exception to their time in France during the Invasion of 1940.
Our uniforms and equipment vary from what you see in a late-war SS unit., and most other impressions done based during that time period. The 3.SS Division received most of it's uniforms from one source, and therefor as we have found by looking at thousands of photos, the division was quite uniform in comparison to other German units of the time.
Also, as we are portraying early-war Totenkopf, our uniforms and equipment are even more specific, as less items are historically correct. It is an impression that is more difficult than your standard late-war Kampfgruppe troop, but it is also that much more rewarding to do it properly.
2. Kompanie uses a large allotment of Czech weapons during our living history portrayals, alongside our standard German weapons. When the Division was first formed and preparing for the Invasion of France, they had not proven themselves in the field as a successful unit. The Waffen-SS was still a new idea, and therefor SS troops did not recieve the newest and best supplies, which at this time were going to the Heer. Totenkopf received old outdated sub-machine guns, such as MP-28's and MP-34's, and instead of the common MG-34, the Division used a Czech Machinegun known as a ZB-26 or ZB-30. For heavy machine guns the Division used Czech ZB-37's, which can be seen in many of our photos. Many of the riflemen of the Totenkopfdivision were armed with a Czech variant of the Mauser 98k known as a Vz. 24. In order to have the most accurate impression possible, 2. Kompanie encourages the use of Vz.24's and ZB machine guns by it's members.
We chose the to represent and focus our research on the 3. SS-Totenkopf for a variety of reasons. The SS-Totenkopf division is not often portrayed because of it’s reputation for brutality, and because many people make the misconception that members of the 3.SS "Totenkopf" Division were all concentration camp guards. Although the division was formed in the town of Dachau, and some of the original cadre came from the Pre-War Dachau camp, the great majority of the men serving in the 3.SS throughout the war had no experience in the camps. However, the diversity and dynamic of it's personnel, and the stories associated therein, as well as the exploits of bravery alongside the sheer destruction and brutality displayed by the formation make it unique in not only the Second World War, but all of history.
For more information on our history please refer to our history page. For detailed accounts of the SS-Totenkopfdivision during and before World War Two, please read Soldiers of Destruction, by Charles Snydor.
While doing a living history portrayal of the 3.SS-Division “Totenkopf”. We wear historically correct uniforms and accoutrements, and carry original weapons from World War Two. As a research group foremost as opposed to a re-enactment club, 2. Kompanie does not attend public WWII reenactments and shows. We typically only meet once or twice a year for highly authentic living history experiences we hold on private property in the Midwest. Additionally, we do on occasion support WWII Campaigner style events, provided they meet our criteria.
2. Kompanie differs from many other German living history or reenactment units, and SS units by portraying a unit that fought almost exclusively on the Eastern Front throughout the entire war, with exception to their time in France during the Invasion of 1940.
Our uniforms and equipment vary from what you see in a late-war SS unit., and most other impressions done based during that time period. The 3.SS Division received most of it's uniforms from one source, and therefor as we have found by looking at thousands of photos, the division was quite uniform in comparison to other German units of the time.
Also, as we are portraying early-war Totenkopf, our uniforms and equipment are even more specific, as less items are historically correct. It is an impression that is more difficult than your standard late-war Kampfgruppe troop, but it is also that much more rewarding to do it properly.
2. Kompanie uses a large allotment of Czech weapons during our living history portrayals, alongside our standard German weapons. When the Division was first formed and preparing for the Invasion of France, they had not proven themselves in the field as a successful unit. The Waffen-SS was still a new idea, and therefor SS troops did not recieve the newest and best supplies, which at this time were going to the Heer. Totenkopf received old outdated sub-machine guns, such as MP-28's and MP-34's, and instead of the common MG-34, the Division used a Czech Machinegun known as a ZB-26 or ZB-30. For heavy machine guns the Division used Czech ZB-37's, which can be seen in many of our photos. Many of the riflemen of the Totenkopfdivision were armed with a Czech variant of the Mauser 98k known as a Vz. 24. In order to have the most accurate impression possible, 2. Kompanie encourages the use of Vz.24's and ZB machine guns by it's members.
We chose the to represent and focus our research on the 3. SS-Totenkopf for a variety of reasons. The SS-Totenkopf division is not often portrayed because of it’s reputation for brutality, and because many people make the misconception that members of the 3.SS "Totenkopf" Division were all concentration camp guards. Although the division was formed in the town of Dachau, and some of the original cadre came from the Pre-War Dachau camp, the great majority of the men serving in the 3.SS throughout the war had no experience in the camps. However, the diversity and dynamic of it's personnel, and the stories associated therein, as well as the exploits of bravery alongside the sheer destruction and brutality displayed by the formation make it unique in not only the Second World War, but all of history.
For more information on our history please refer to our history page. For detailed accounts of the SS-Totenkopfdivision during and before World War Two, please read Soldiers of Destruction, by Charles Snydor.
DISCLAIMER: 2. Kompanie is a non-political organization We do not support naziism, or fascism. We are not associated with nor do we condone the actions of the Third Reich or the actual 3.SS Division.
