Editing Waffen-SS (section)

====First divisions====
In October 1939, the ''Deutschland'', ''Germania'', and ''Der Führer'' regiments were reorganised into the ''[[2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich|SS-Verfügungs-Division]]''. The {{lang|de|Leibstandarte}} remained independent and was increased in strength to a reinforced motorised regiment.{{sfn|Flaherty|2004|p=149}} Hitler authorised the creation of two new divisions: the [[3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf|SS ''Totenkopf'' Division]], formed from militarised ''Standarten'' of the ''SS-Totenkopfverbände'', and the [[4th SS Polizei Panzergrenadier Division|Polizei Division]], formed from members of the national police force.{{sfn|Flaherty|2004|pp=149–150}} Almost overnight the force that the OKW had tried to disband had increased from 18,000 to over 100,000 men.{{sfn|Flaherty|2004|p=150}} Hitler next authorised the creation of four motorised artillery battalions in March 1940, one for each division and the {{lang|de|Leibstandarte}}. The OKW was supposed to supply these new battalions with artillery, but was reluctant to hand over guns from its own arsenal. The weapons arrived only slowly and, by the time of the [[Battle of France]], only the {{lang|de|Leibstandarte}} battalion was up to strength.{{sfn|Flaherty|2004|p=151}}