Interview with Gerhard Treppner, veteran of the feared 𐓏𐓏 -Panzer Division 'Totenkopf'

Ulm, Germany, 1990
Thanks for agreeing to meet me Herr Treppner. First I would like to ask, what brought you to the Waffen-SS?

Gerhard: It is quite simple really, Germany was at war and all young, fit men had to serve the nation in some form. I chose to volunteer instead of being drafted and friends had already gone before me. I chose to enlist in the former Waffen-SS and liked communications; I was accepted and then sent to training. The Totenkopf Division took me in and sent me to the radio school at Nuremberg.

From there I was posted to the Panzer regiment of the division and issued the black uniform. It was seen back then as a very elite status, to be in the Panzers was likened to the knights of old. The new steed was the Panzer. I joined the communication battalion and would send orders to the Panzers. I even rode in the command Panzers a few times.