Totenkopf losses

The Totenkopf's defensive victory cost it another 1000 dead, but the northern sector of the Eastern Front had again been stabilized. But during October the German divisions in the northern sector, including the Totenkopf, were too weak to launch major offensive operations. A growing problem now was the large bands of partisans that were harassing German rear areas. The heavily forested terrain around Lake Ilmen provided great cover for the partisans, who struck at night and melted back into their sanctuaries. Eicke launched his men on "cleansing operations", in which many civilians were shot and scores of villages burnt to the ground in retaliation for partisan attacks.

The winter snows now descended on the Totenkopf's sector, freezing the German advance against Leningrad. In six months of heavy fighting the division had suffered 8993 casualties, almost half of its strength.

The Polizei Division

The Polizei Division was also committed to action during the drive on Leningrad. It was not fully motorized, so took a number of weeks to catch up with Manstein's panzers. It participated in the battle for the Luga Line in early August, supporting the 3rd Motorized Division, and in the defensive battles around Lake Ilmen.

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