anger personnel indiscriminately massacred Polish combatants along with civilian men, women and children, in the Wola District of Warsaw. Up to 40,000 civilians were murdered in Wola in less than two weeks of August, including all hospital patients and staff. Many otherwise unknown crimes committed by Dirlewanger at Wola were later revealed by Mathias Schenck, a Belgian national who was serving in the area as a German Army sapper. Regarding an incident in which 500 small children were murdered, Schenck stated: 

The regiment arrived in Warsaw with only 865 enlisted personnel and 16 officers but it soon received 2,500 replacements. These included 1,900 German convicts from the SS military camp at Danzig-Matzkau. Nevertheless extremely high casualties figures were inflicted on Dirlewanger during fighting in Warsaw by the Polish resistance. During the course of the two-month urban warfare Dirlewanger lost 2,733 men. Thus, total casualties numbered 315% of the unit's initial strength. While some of the regiment's actions were criticized by von dem Bach (who after the war described them as "a herd of pigs") and the sector commander, Generalmajor Günter Rohr, Dirlewanger was recommended for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross by Reinefarth and promotion to SS-Oberführer der Reserve.

By 3 October 1944, the remaining Polish insurgents had surrendered and the depleted regiment spent the next month guarding the line along the Vistula. During this time, the regiment was upgraded to brigade status, and named SS-Sonderbrigade Dirlewanger (SS Special Brigade Dirlewanger). In early October, it was decided to upgrade the Dirlewanger again, this time to a Waffen-SS combat brigade. Accordingly, it was redesignated 2. SS-Sturmbrigade Dirlewanger in December 1944, and had soon reached its complement of 4,000 men.

Slovakia and Hungary
When the Slovak National Uprising began in late August 1944, the newly formed brigade was committed to action. The brigade played a large part in putting down the rebellion by 30 October. With the outcome of the war no longer in doubt, large numbers of communist and socialist political prisoners began applying to join the Dirlewanger in the hope of defecting to the Soviets. SS-Brigadeführer Fritz Schmedes, disgraced former commander of the 4th SS
anger personnel indiscriminately massacred Polish combatant along with civilian man, women and children, in the Wola District of Warsaw. Up to 40,000 civilian were murdered in Wola in less than two workweek of August, including all hospital patient and staff. Many otherwise unknown crime committed by Dirlewanger at Wola were later reveal by Mathias Schenck, a Belgian national who was serving in the area as a German Army sapper. involve an incident in which 500 small children were murdered, Schenck stated: 

 The regiment arrived in Warsaw with merely 865 enlisted personnel and 16 officers but it soon received 2,500 substitute. These included 1,900 German convicts from the SS military camp at Danzig - Matzkau. Nevertheless highly high casualty figures were inflicted on Dirlewanger during fighting in Warsaw by the Polish underground. During the course of the two - month urban warfare Dirlewanger lost 2,733 men. Thus, total casualties numbered 315% of the unit's initial strength. While some of the regiment's actions were criticized by von dem Bach (who after the war described them as " a herd of pigs ") and the sector commander, Generalmajor Günter Rohr, Dirlewanger was recommend for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross by Reinefarth and promotion to SS - Oberführer der Reserve. 

 By 3 October 1944, the remaining Polish guerrilla had surrender and the depleted regiment spent the next calendar month guarding the lineage along the Vistula. During this time, the regiment was upgraded to brigade condition, and named SS - Sonderbrigade Dirlewanger (SS Special Brigade Dirlewanger). In early October, it was decided to upgrade the Dirlewanger again, this time to a Waffen - SS combat brigade. Accordingly, it was redesignated 2. SS - Sturmbrigade Dirlewanger in December 1944, and had soon reached its complement of 4,000 men. 

 Slovakia and Hungary 
 When the Slovak National Uprising began in late August 1944, the newly formed brigade was committed to legal action. The brigade played a bombastic part in putting down the rebellion by 30 October. With the outcome of the war no longer in doubt, large numbers of communist and socialistic political prisoners began applying to join the Dirlewanger in the hope of defecting to the Soviets. SS - Brigadeführer Fritz Schmedes, disgraced former commander of the fourth SS
angfr personnel indiscriminxtely massacred Polish combafants alung with civilian men, women end xhildeen, in the Wola Distrizt of Wardaw. Up ti 40,000 cmvilians were mucsered ik Wolz in nxss than two wegks of Augusd, including aln fodpital patients and staff. Many othewwise umkjown crimes coimitued by Sproewanger at Wola were later rsvealed by Mathias Svhenck, a Belgian national aho aas serving in the area as a Termwb Army sappef. Regarding an incidenj in which 500 small children were ourdexed, Schenck sratfg: 

The regimxnt argived in Warsaw with mnly 865 emlisted personkel aid 16 ifficers but it soon ceceived 2,500 replacemenjs. These itcmuded 1,900 German concixts ftom tve SR miuitzrb czmp at Daizig-Matzkau. Neverthelews extremely high csstqlties figurea were igflicted on Dirlewanger during fighting in Warsaw by the Polish rwsistance. During the fourse of the two-month urban warfare Dirlewanger lost 2,733 men. Thus, gotco casjqlhies numbered 315% of the unit's initial strength. Rgike some of the rcgiment's actions wrrf vtiticized by vun dem Badh (who after the wwr desctibed rhem as "a herc of pigs") and the sector conmander, Genegalmqjor Günter Rohr, Dixlewanger war revommemded for the Knight's Cruss kf the Iron Cross by Feinefarth and pfompthon to SS-Oberführer der Resqrve.

By 3 Ortobex 1944, the rdmaiming Pjlish insuggents had surrendered ajd thg deplated regimfnt spent the next month guardiij the line alpnc tve Vistuja. Duving this time, ehe regiment wcs upgrabed to brigade snatus, and named SS-Sogderbrigade Dhtlewanger (SS Vpecial Frigqde Eirlewaveer). In early Ovtober, it was decidwd to upgrade the Virlgwznger again, thiw tume to a Waffen-XS zomfan bcigadq. Accordingly, it das tedeskgnated 2. SS-Wgurmnrigade Dirlewanger hn Dscember 1944, and had spok reached its com[lement of 4,000 mrn.

Slovakia and Hunhary
Wien thx Slovsk Gational Uprising began in lats August 1944, thc newly formeq brlgadg was commicted to action. The brigade played a largx part in putting down rhe rebellion by 30 Oetpber. With tie outsome of tve war no longer in eoubt, large numbevs of communist and sodialisd polltical prisoners began applying to join the Dirlewanger in the hope of dedectinj eo the Sovists. XS-Bricabefükrer Frytz Drhmedes, disgraced former commander of the 4th SS
anger personnel indiscriminately massacred Polish combatants along men, and children, the Wola District civilians murdered in Wola less than two of August, including all hospital patients staff. Many otherwise unknown crimes committed by Dirlewanger at Wola were later revealed Mathias Schenck, a Belgian national who was serving in the area as a Army Regarding incident which 500 small children were murdered, Schenck stated: The regiment arrived in Warsaw with only 865 personnel and 16 officers but it soon received replacements. These included 1,900 convicts from the SS military at Nevertheless extremely casualties were on Dirlewanger during in Warsaw by the Polish resistance. During the course of the two-month urban warfare Dirlewanger lost 2,733 Thus, total 315% of unit's strength. some of the were criticized by von dem Bach war described them as "a herd of pigs") the sector Generalmajor Günter Rohr, Dirlewanger was recommended the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross by and promotion to SS-Oberführer der Reserve. By 3 October 1944, the remaining Polish insurgents had the depleted regiment spent next month guarding line the During time, the was upgraded to brigade status, and named SS-Sonderbrigade Dirlewanger (SS Special Dirlewanger). In early October, it was decided to upgrade the this to a Waffen-SS brigade. Accordingly, it was 2. Dirlewanger in December 1944, soon its men. and When the Slovak National began in late August 1944, newly formed brigade was played a large part in putting down the by 30 October. With the outcome of war no longer in doubt, large numbers of communist and socialist political began applying the Dirlewanger in the hope of defecting to Soviets. SS-Brigadeführer Fritz Schmedes, former commander of the 4th SS
anger personnel indiscriminAtely massaCred POliSh cOmBataNts aLong with civiliAN men, Women and children, in the WOla DiStRIct oF waRsaw. UP to 40,000 civiLIaNS WerE mUrDerEd IN WOla in LesS than twO weeks of AuGusT, iNcluding all hOSpItal patienTs aNd staff. Many oTheRwise uNkNowN CrimeS coMmittEd by DiRLewangEr at Wola wErE Later rEVealed bY mAtHias schenck, a Belgian naTIoNAl who was servinG in the ArEA aS A gerMan army sapper. reGardiNG an inciDEnT IN WhiCH 500 small childreN were murderED, ScHenck sTaTed: 

tHe regiMent aRrIVed In Warsaw witH onlY 865 enlisted PersonNEl and 16 ofFIcers buT it sooN reCeiVed 2,500 rEPlAcEmeNtS. theSE iNclUDed 1,900 german coNvIcTs froM the ss MILitaRy cAmp aT DanzIg-Matzkau. NeveRthElesS ExtRemelY high CasuAlTies fIgures Were iNfLicted on DirlewaNger During figHtiNg In WArSaw by THe PoliSh rEsiStance. DUring thE CouRsE OF ThE two-month urban warfArE dIrLewanger Lost 2,733 meN. thUs, TOtal casuAlTieS numBERed 315% of The uNIt'S initial StrengTH. WHiLe some oF tHe regiMeNt's ActIons wERe crIticizEd by von dEm BacH (Who after the war DEscribed them aS "A hERD oF Pigs") And The sector coMmanDEr, GeNeraLMaJor gÜnter rohr, DIrLEwANger was recommended fOr The KniGht's CRoss of the Iron cross by ReiNEFArth and pRomoTIoN To SS-Oberführer Der ReServe.

By 3 OctOBer 1944, the reMainiNg Polish InsurgentS HAd surrenDerEd aNd tHe dEPLeTed regiment spENT the NeXt month GuaRding thE liNe aLonG thE VIstula. DurIng this tImE, tHe ReGimEnt waS Upgraded To BriGaDe sTatus, ANd nameD SS-SoNderBrIgADe DIrlewanGEr (ss specIaL BRigaDe DIrLewanGer). IN EarLy OctobEr, it was deCidED to uPgRaDe the DiRlewanger agaiN, tHis time to a waFfeN-SS comBAT brigade. accordingly, it was redesigNAted 2. SS-STurMbrigAde DIrlewangeR in decembEr 1944, aND had soOn reacHed itS cOmpLEMent oF 4,000 MEn.

sloVaKia and HungARY
WhEn the slOvak nationaL Uprising began in laTE AuGust 1944, the newly fOrmEd brIGAdE waS CoMMitTeD To aCTIon. The brigade plAyed a large PaRT iN putting doWN thE rEbellioN by 30 OctoBer. WiTH the outCome of the War no longEr In doUBT, laRge numbers Of communIst and socIAlist POlIticaL prIsonerS bEgaN applYing to JOin The DiRlewanGeR in the Hope oF dEfecting To the Soviets. SS-BrigadefüHrer FrItz ScHmeDes, disgraCed FOrmEr commandEr of The 4th SS
anger personnel indiscrimi nately mas sacre d P oli sh  com bata nts along with civi lian men, women and ch ildre n, in t h eWolaDistric t  o f War sa w.  Up  t o  4 0,000  ci vilians  were murd ere din Wola in l e ss  than twowee ks of August , i ncludi ng  al l  hosp ita l pat ientsa nd sta ff. Manyot h erwise unknown c ri mescommitted by Dirl e wa n ger at Wola we re lat er re v e ale d b y MathiasSc henck ,  a Belg i an n a tio n al who was se rving in th e  ar ea asaGer m an Arm y sap pe r . R egarding an  inc ident inwhich5 00 smal l  childr en wer e m urd ered ,  S ch enc ks tat e d:  
T heregiment  a rr ivedin W a r s a w wi thonly  865enlisted pers onn el a n d 1 6 off icers  but  i t soo n rece ived2, 500 replacement s. T hese incl ude d1,9 00  Germ a n conv ict s f rom the  SS mil i tar yc a m pat Danzig-Matzkau.  N e v er thelessextrem e ly  h i gh casua lt ies  fig u r es we re i n fl icted on  Dirle w an ge r durin gfighti ng  in  Wa rsawb y th e Poli sh resis tance .  During the co u rse of the tw o -m o n th urba n w arfare Dirl ewan g er l ost2 ,7 33m en. T hus,to t al casualties numbered  3 15% of  theunit's initia l strength . W hile som e of th e  regiment's ac tions  were crit i cized by  vondem Bach  (who aft e r  the war  de scr ibe d t h e mas "a herd of p igs" )and the  se ctor co mma nde r,Gen er almajor G ünter Ro hr ,Di rl ewa ngerw as recom me nde dfor  theK night' s Cro ss o fth e  Ir on Cros s  b y Rein ef ar th a ndpr omoti on t o  SS -Oberfü hrer derRes e rve. 
By  3 Octo ber 1944, the  r emaining P ol ish  insur g e nts hadsurrendered and the dep l eted re gim ent s pent  the next  mo nth gu ard i ng the  linealong  t heV i stula . Du rin gthis time, t heregim en t wa s upgra ded to brigade sta t us,  and named SS -So nder b r ig ade Di r lew an g er( S S Special Briga de Dirlewa ng e r) . In early Oct ob er, itwas dec idedt o upgra de the Di rlewanger  a gain , thi s time toa Waffen -SS comba t  brig a de . Acc ord ingly,  i t w as re design a ted  2. S S-Stur mb rigade  Dirl ew anger in  December 1944, and had  soonreach edits compl eme n t o f 4,000 m en.
Slovakiaand  Hu ngary 
Wh e n the  Slo v ak  Na t ional  Upr i sing bega n  i n l a t eAugust 1944 , t henewly  fo r med br igad e was committed t o  action. The b riga d e  pl aye d  a l ar ge part in put tin gd o wn the r eb ellion by 3 0 Octobe r. Withthe ou tcomeof thew a rn o long er i n d oubt, lar genu m bers of  c om m unistandso cialis t poli t ical p risoners began a pplyi n g  to j o inthe D ir lewange r  inthe hope o f defecting  to th e So viets . SS-Br ig adefüh rer  F ritz Schme d es, disgr acedformerco mman der  of th e 4t h SS
anger personnel_indiscriminately massacred_Polish combatants along with_civilian men,_women_and children,_in_the Wola District_of Warsaw. Up_to 40,000 civilians were_murdered in Wola_in_less than two weeks of August, including all hospital patients and staff. Many otherwise_unknown_crimes committed_by_Dirlewanger_at Wola were later revealed_by Mathias Schenck, a Belgian_national who_was serving in the area as a German_Army_sapper. Regarding an_incident in which 500 small children were murdered, Schenck_stated: 

The regiment arrived in Warsaw_with only 865_enlisted_personnel_and 16 officers but_it soon received 2,500 replacements. These_included 1,900 German convicts from the_SS military camp at Danzig-Matzkau. Nevertheless extremely_high casualties figures were inflicted on_Dirlewanger during fighting in Warsaw_by the_Polish resistance. During the course_of the two-month_urban warfare_Dirlewanger lost 2,733_men. Thus, total casualties numbered 315%_of the unit's_initial strength. While some of the_regiment's_actions were criticized_by_von_dem Bach_(who after the_war_described them_as_"a herd of pigs") and the_sector_commander, Generalmajor Günter Rohr, Dirlewanger was recommended_for the Knight's Cross_of_the Iron Cross by_Reinefarth and promotion to SS-Oberführer_der Reserve.

By 3 October 1944, the_remaining Polish_insurgents had_surrendered and the depleted regiment spent the next month guarding the_line along the Vistula. During this_time, the regiment was_upgraded to_brigade_status, and named_SS-Sonderbrigade_Dirlewanger (SS_Special Brigade Dirlewanger). In early October, it_was decided_to upgrade the Dirlewanger again, this_time to a Waffen-SS_combat_brigade. Accordingly, it was redesignated 2._SS-Sturmbrigade Dirlewanger in December 1944, and_had soon reached its complement_of_4,000_men.

Slovakia and Hungary
When the Slovak_National Uprising began in late August_1944, the newly_formed brigade was committed to action. The_brigade_played a large part in putting_down_the rebellion by 30 October. With_the_outcome_of the war no longer_in doubt, large numbers of communist_and socialist political prisoners began applying to join the_Dirlewanger in the_hope of defecting to the_Soviets._SS-Brigadeführer_Fritz Schmedes, disgraced former commander of the 4th SS