the division was formed in january 1944, from 2 ss infantry brigade with the addition of a newly raised third regiment, waffen grenadier regiment 46 (latvian no. 6). simultaneously, the designations of the two other grenadier regiments were changed from 39 and 40 to 42 and 43 respectively. the commander of the ss brigade, ss-oberführer hinrich schuldt became the first commander of the division. after schuldt was killed in action on 15 march 1944, ss-standartenführer friedrich-wilhelm bock temporarily took command, being replaced on april 13 by ss-oberführer bruno streckenbach, who led the division until the end of war.