The Security Division was formed 1 Sep 1941 from the 2. Infantry Division. It was stationed in northern Ukraine and Belorussia where it was used to fight the partisans along with a mix of German, Hungarian and Baltic troops.

It requested armoured vehicles, but when those requests were turned down, they built a kind of armoured train that was used on the Zinsk-Gomel line with some success, possibly inspired by the German No 25 armoured train that operated in the same area. It also had a fighter squadron and an observation squadron assigned to the division, used both for observations and attacks on the partisan units.

Armour arrived to the division 27 June 1942 in the form of an armoured car company (equipped with six OA vz. 30 cars) commanded by Lieutenant Gas that was assigned to the Combined Reconnaissance Group, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Kmicikiewic.

Following an ambush that killed eight Slovak soldiers, a group (named Perun) commanded by First Lieutenant Kleinert was sent from the 102. Regiment to Maloduse. The fighter squadron attacked the village and when the Perun group arrived it gathered some civilians (women, children and old men) and had them shot in retaliation. Officers from the Combined Reconnaissance Group (most of whom were anti-fascists) became witness to these events and reported them to the HQ, but were reprimanded for "hindering the fight against the partisans" by Colonel Pilfousek, commander of the division and very pro-German (he later joined the Waffen-SS).

The first tanks, a company of LT-40s, finally arrived 30 Aug and was spilt between the 101 and 102 Regiments, though it was primarily used to protection of the HQ.

The Combined Reconnaissance Group was given a large area near Chojnik to patrol in Sep 1942 and soon entered an unofficial armistice with the partisans. Colonel Pilfousek very soon became aware of this and reported it to Ministry of Defence, Lieutenant Colonel Kmicikiewic responded to the allegations that he would only fight against soldiers and he was replaced by Lieutenant Colonel Veselý. The Combined Reconnaissance Group now becan attacking the partisans again, ending a brief period of peace.

The Armoured Car Company suffered heavy losses during the winter and when it was sent back to Slovakia 12 Jan 1943, it only had one useable car. The LT-40 tanks were sent back to Slovakia 13 Apr 1943 and a company of LT-38 tanks arrived 29 Dec 1942.

The division now began to suffer from a lot of defections, including some of the leading officers of the 101. Regiment, and an independent partisan group made up of Slovakians, almost 1.000 men strong and commanded by Captain Nálepka, was formed. The HQ requested that the division would be transferred out to prevent a further detoriation of the morale and on 1 Aug 1943 it was redesignated 2. Infantry Division and transferred to Italy.

Commanders

Colonel Malár (1 Sep 1941 - 19 Nov 1941)
Colonel Kuna (19 Nov 1941 - June 1942)
Colonel Pilfousek (June 1942 - 1 Aug 1943)

Order of battle (Nov 1942)

HQ
   Staff Company
   Supply Column (mot)
   Military Police Detachment
101. Security Regiment
Staff Company
   2 x Security Battalion
   3 x Rifle Company
     Machine Gun Company
  Anti-Tank Company
  Infantry Gun Platoon
  Reconnaissance Detachment
102. Security Regiment
  Staff Company
  2 x Security Battalion
    3 x Rifle Company
    Machine Gun Company
  Anti-Tank Company
  Infantry Gun Platoon
  Reconnaissance Detachment
Feldersatz Battalion
Reconnaissance Battalion
   2 x Cavalry Squadron
31. Artillery Regiment
   Signals Platoon
   2 x Artillery Battalion
    Signals Platoon
    3 x Battery
Pioneer Battalion
   3. Pioneer Company
  11. Railroad Pioneer Company
1. Signals Battalion
  Telephone Company
  Radio Company
505. Light Supply Column (mot)
506. Light Supply Column (mot)
2. Bakery Detachment
2. Butcher Detachment
2. Infantry Park
2. Motor Park
52. Artisan Company
2. Field Hospital
2. Medical Company
2. Ambulance
2. Veterinary Company
2. Field Post Office

Sources used

Mark W. A. Axworthy - Axis Slovakia: Hitler's Slavic Wedge, 1938-1945
Charles K. Kliment & Bretislav Nakládal - Germany's First Ally: Armed forces of the Slovak state 1939-1945
George F. Nafziger - The German Order of Battle: Waffen SS and other units in World War II

Reference material on this unit

- None known at this time -