The 4th SS Police Panzergrenadier Division began the Second World War as a formation of around 16,000 ordinary German policemen before becoming part of the Waffen-SS. After fighting in France and on the Eastern Front, the division was transferred to occupied Greece, where its soldiers conducted anti-partisan operations and collective reprisals against civilian communities.

In 1944, members of the division were responsible for a series of crimes at Kleisoura, Pyrgoi, Distomo, Ipati and other communities. Around 280 civilians were killed at Kleisoura, 327 at Pyrgoi, and at least 218 at Distomo, including dozens of children. As Germany retreated, the division fought through the Balkans, Hungary and Pomerania before its surviving members surrendered to American forces in May 1945.