On 1 September 1939, German troops attacked Poland. The Heimwehr Danzig took part under German Army command and in the process captured the Polish post office after fifteen hours; an event which Günter Grass dedicated a chapter of his novel "The Tin Drum" to. During the attacks, the German forces used ADGZ armoured cars, 75mm and 105mm artillery and flamethrowers against Polish forces armed with pistols, rifles, light machine guns and grenades. The SS-Heimwehr Danzig participated in the attack on the Danzig Westerplatte, and already was considered a part of the 3rd SS "Totenkopf" Division then forming under Theodor Eicke. Later, it provided coast guard services in Danzig.