Waffen-SS

Waffen SS formations from "Aryan" nations were called SS-Divisions whereas volunteer formations from "non-Aryan" nations were given the title Division der SS. 1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler SS Division Das Reich (previously SS Division Verfügungstruppe, SS Division Deutschland, SS Division Reich; later SS Panzergrenadier Division Das Reich, 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich) SS Division Totenkopf (later SS Panzergrenadier Div ...

See also:

List of German divisions in WWII, List of German divisions in WWII - Name elements not usually translated, List of German divisions in WWII - Army, List of German divisions in WWII - Panzer Divisions, List of German divisions in WWII - Light Divisions, List of German divisions in WWII - Infantry Series Divisions, List of German divisions in WWII - Mountain Divisions, List of German divisions in WWII - Ski Division, List of German divisions in WWII - Cavalry Divisions, List of German divisions in WWII - Landwehr Divisions, List of German divisions in WWII - Artillery Divisions, List of German divisions in WWII - Named Fortress divisions, List of German divisions in WWII - Named Training Divisions, List of German divisions in WWII - Field Replacement Divisions, List of German divisions in WWII - Navy, List of German divisions in WWII - Naval Infantry Divisions, List of German divisions in WWII - Luftwaffe, List of German divisions in WWII - Hermann Göring Divisions, List of German divisions in WWII - Airborne Divisions, List of German divisions in WWII - Field Divisions, List of German divisions in WWII - Training Divisions, List of German divisions in WWII - Anti-Aircraft Divisions, List of German divisions in WWII - Waffen-SS

Read more here: » List of German divisions in WWII: Encyclopedia II - List of German divisions in WWII - Waffen-SS

The Waffen-SS ("Armed Protective Squadron") was the combat arm of the Schutzstaffel. Headed by Heinrich Himmler who was ranked Reichsführer-SS (National Leader of the SS), the Waffen-SS saw action throughout the Second World War. After humble beginnings as a protection unit for the NSDAP leadership, the Waffen-SS eventually grew into a force of thirty-eight combat divisions comprising over 950,000 men, and including a number of elite units. In the Nuremberg Trials, the Waffen-SS was condemned as part of a criminal organisation ...

Including:

• Waffen-SS - Early history; LSSAH SS-VT
• Waffen-SS - Concept training
• Waffen-SS - Trial by fire
• Waffen-SS - Classic SS divisions
• Waffen-SS - Foreign volunteers and conscripts
• Waffen-SS - War crimes and atrocities

Read more here: » Waffen-SS: Encyclopedia - Waffen-SS

Himmler, wishing to expand the Waffen-SS, advocated the idea of SS controlled foreign legions. The Reichsführer, with his penchant for medieval lore, envisioned a united European 'crusade', fighting to save old Europe from the 'Godless bolshevik hordes'. While volunteers from regions which had been declared Aryan were approved almost instantly, Himmler eagerly pressed for the creation of more and more foreign units. In late 1940, the creation of a multinational SS division, the Wiking, was authorised. Command of the division w ...

See also:

Waffen-SS, Waffen-SS - Early history; LSSAH SS-VT, Waffen-SS - Concept training, Waffen-SS - Trial by fire, Waffen-SS - Classic SS divisions, Waffen-SS - Foreign volunteers and conscripts, Waffen-SS - War crimes and atrocities

Read more here: » Waffen-SS: Encyclopedia II - Waffen-SS - Foreign volunteers and conscripts

Wehrmacht (listen) ▶ (help·info) was the name of the armed forces of Germany from 1935 to 1945. The Wehrmacht of World War II was comprised of the army (das Heer), the navy (die Kriegsmarine), the air force (die Luftwaffe). Waffen-SS ("SS in arms") units were occasionally subordinated to the Wehrmacht. Wehrmacht - Background. The German word Wehrmacht (literally "defence force") was ...

Including:

• Wehrmacht - Background
• Wehrmacht - History
• Wehrmacht - Command structure
• Wehrmacht - War years
• Wehrmacht - Rebellion
• Wehrmacht - War crimes
• Wehrmacht - Prominent members
• Wehrmacht - After World War II
• Wehrmacht - Reference

Read more here: » Wehrmacht: Encyclopedia - Wehrmacht

The 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division was raised near Poitiers, France in October 1943. It was formed from scratch, with the majority of its original cadre coming from replacement units and conscripts, many of Romanian extraction. The division was granted the honour-title Götz von Berlichingen. The name referred to the 15th century German Knight who had, after losing his right hand in battle, worn an iron prosthetic hand. In keeping with this, the divisions emblem was to be a clenched iron fist. SS-Obersturmbannführer Otto Binge over ...

See also:

17th SS Panzergrenadier Division Götz von Berlichingen, 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division Götz von Berlichingen - Formation and Training, 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division Götz von Berlichingen - Battles for Normandy, 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division Götz von Berlichingen - Metz and the Saar, 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division Götz von Berlichingen - Refit and Nordwind, 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division Götz von Berlichingen - West Wall - End of the War, 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division Götz von Berlichingen - War Crimes, 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division Götz von Berlichingen - Commanders, 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division Götz von Berlichingen - Order of Battle

Read more here: » 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division Götz von Berlichingen: Encyclopedia II - 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division Götz von Berlichingen - Formation and Training

When in 1933 Hitler gained, and set on a massive program of rearmament, no one could have predicted the scope, intensity, and duration of the armed conflict that would follow in just a few short years. The worst pessimists in the West predicted a fairly short war of extermination based on the use of poison gases, delivered by aerial bombardment or by other means. The optimists in the West also predicted a short war given what they thought to be the equality of forces of the nations surrounding Germany. When Panzer divisions struck out across ...

See also:

History of Germany during World War II, History of Germany during World War II - Foreword, History of Germany during World War II - Start of the War, History of Germany during World War II - North Africa, History of Germany during World War II - South Eastern Europe, History of Germany during World War II - Soviet Union, History of Germany during World War II - The first major defeats, History of Germany during World War II - Italian Armistice, History of Germany during World War II - Defeat in the East the Invasion of Normandy and final defeat, History of Germany during World War II - Sources

Read more here: » History of Germany during World War II: Encyclopedia II - History of Germany during World War II - Foreword

List of German divisions in WWII - Panzer Divisions. 1st Panzer Division 2nd Panzer Division 3rd Panzer Division 4th Panzer Division 5th Panzer Division 6th Panzer Division (previously 1st Light Division) 7th Panzer Division (previously 2nd Light Division) 8th Panzer Division (previously 3rd Light Division) 9th Panzer Division (previously 4th Light Division) 10th Panzer Division 11th Panzer Division 12 ...

See also:

List of German divisions in WWII, List of German divisions in WWII - Name elements not usually translated, List of German divisions in WWII - Army, List of German divisions in WWII - Panzer Divisions, List of German divisions in WWII - Light Divisions, List of German divisions in WWII - Infantry Series Divisions, List of German divisions in WWII - Mountain Divisions, List of German divisions in WWII - Ski Division, List of German divisions in WWII - Cavalry Divisions, List of German divisions in WWII - Landwehr Divisions, List of German divisions in WWII - Artillery Divisions, List of German divisions in WWII - Named Fortress divisions, List of German divisions in WWII - Named Training Divisions, List of German divisions in WWII - Field Replacement Divisions, List of German divisions in WWII - Navy, List of German divisions in WWII - Naval Infantry Divisions, List of German divisions in WWII - Luftwaffe, List of German divisions in WWII - Hermann Göring Divisions, List of German divisions in WWII - Airborne Divisions, List of German divisions in WWII - Field Divisions, List of German divisions in WWII - Training Divisions, List of German divisions in WWII - Anti-Aircraft Divisions, List of German divisions in WWII - Waffen-SS

Read more here: » List of German divisions in WWII: Encyclopedia II - List of German divisions in WWII - Army

The 9. SS-Panzer-Division Hohenstaufen was formed, along with its sister formation 10. SS-Panzer-Division Frundsberg, in France in February 1943. The division was mainly formed from RAD conscripts. Originally, Hohenstaufen was designated as a Panzergrenadier division, but in October 1943 it was promoted to full Panzer Division status. At its formation, Hohenstaufen was commanded by SS-Obergruppenführer Willi Bittrich. The title Hohenstaufen came from the Hohenstaufen dynasty, a Germanic noble family who pr ...

See also:

9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen, 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen - Formation / Eastern Front, 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen - Western Front - Normandy, 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen - Arnhem, 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen - Refitting and the Ardennes Offensive, 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen - Hungary - Operation Frühlingserwachen, 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen - Commanders, 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen - Order of Battle

Read more here: » 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen: Encyclopedia II - 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen - Formation / Eastern Front

13th Waffen Mountain Division of the SS Handschar 1st Croatian - Formation and Training. In the fall of 1942, SS Reichsfuhrer Heinrich Himmler and SS-General Gottlob Berger approached Hitler with the proposal to raise a Bosnian Moslem SS division. Himmler thought that Moslem men would make perfect SS soldiers, as Islam "promises them Heaven if they fight and are killed in action." According to Chris Bishop, "Himmler convinced himself that Balkan Muslims were neither Slavs nor Turks, but were really Aryans who had ...

See also:

13th Waffen Mountain Division of the SS Handschar 1st Croatian, 13th Waffen Mountain Division of the SS Handschar 1st Croatian - History, 13th Waffen Mountain Division of the SS Handschar 1st Croatian - Formation and Training, 13th Waffen Mountain Division of the SS Handschar 1st Croatian - Service, 13th Waffen Mountain Division of the SS Handschar 1st Croatian - Commanders, 13th Waffen Mountain Division of the SS Handschar 1st Croatian - Order of Battle

Read more here: » 13th Waffen Mountain Division of the SS Handschar 1st Croatian: Encyclopedia II - 13th Waffen Mountain Division of the SS Handschar 1st Croatian - History

In the earliest days of the NSDAP, it was realised by the leaders that bodyguard units comprising trustworthy and loyal men would be a wise development. Ernst Röhm formed a guard formation from the 19.Granatwerfer-Kompanie, and from this formation the Sturmabteilung (SA) soon evolved. Adolf Hitler, realising the potential threat that the SA had presented, in early 1923 ordered the formation of a bodyguard for himself. The tiny unit, originally formed by only Julius Schreck and Joseph Berchtold, was designated the Stabswache. The guar ...

See also:

Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler - Lineage, Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler - Early history 1923-1933, Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler - Trial by fire – Leibstandarte expands, Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler - Early war campaigns, Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler - Brigade status – Balkans, Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler - Barbarossa, Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler - Kharkov, Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler - Kursk, Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler - Italy, Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler - Eastern Front, Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler - Normandy, Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler - Orders of battle, Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler - Infanterie-Regiment mot Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler - April 1941 - Operation Marita

Read more here: » Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler: Encyclopedia II - Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler - Early history 1923-1933

While the predominant number of war crimes were attributed to Nazi organizations like the Schutzstaffel (SS), a number of Wehrmacht officers were charged with war crimes at the end of the war. In particular, OKW commander-in-chief Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel and chief of operations staff Alfred Jodl were indicted and tried for war crimes by the International Military Tribunal at Nuremburg in 1946. Both were convicted of all charges, sentenced to death and executed by hanging. The International Military Tribunal's judgement, however, ...

See also:

Wehrmacht, Wehrmacht - Background, Wehrmacht - History, Wehrmacht - Command structure, Wehrmacht - War years, Wehrmacht - Rebellion, Wehrmacht - War crimes, Wehrmacht - Prominent members, Wehrmacht - After World War II, Wehrmacht - Reference

Read more here: » Wehrmacht: Encyclopedia II - Wehrmacht - War crimes

As an Allied attack on Europe loomed, the local French Resistance increased its activities in order to occupy the German forces and hinder communications. 2nd SS Panzer Division 'Das Reich' was ordered to make its way across country to the fighting in Normandy. Along the way it came under constant attack and sabotage from the French Resistance. Allegedly, SS soldiers were further angered by finding atrocities committed by some resistance; in particular, a German ambulance in which all the wounded had been killed and the driver and assistants tied to the cab before the vehicle was set on fire. No record of thi ...

See also:

Oradour-sur-Glane, Oradour-sur-Glane - Events, Oradour-sur-Glane - Nazi practices of repression, Oradour-sur-Glane - Post-war outcomes, Oradour-sur-Glane - Today

Read more here: » Oradour-sur-Glane: Encyclopedia II - Oradour-sur-Glane - Events

Nazi organizations National Socialist German Workers Party Sturmabteilung Schutzstaffel Hitler Youth Lebensborn National Socialist Motor Corps Nazism in history Early Nazi Timeline Beer Hall Putsch Nuremberg rally Third Reich Night of the Long Knives Nur für Deutsche Nazi concepts Glossary of the Third Reich National Socialist Program Racial policy of Nazi Germany Führerprinzip Lebensraum V ...

Including:

• Nazism - Ideological theory
• Nazism - Nazi Theory
• Nazism - Nazi mysticism
• Nazism - Key elements of the Nazi ideology
• Nazism - Nazism and romanticism
• Nazism - Ideological competition
• Nazism - Support of anti-Communists for Fascism and Nazism
• Nazism - Nazism and Persians
• Nazism - Economic practice
• Nazism - Effects
• Nazism - Backlash effects
• Nazism - People and history
• Nazism - Nazism in relation to other concepts
• Nazism - The role of the nation
• Nazism - Factors which promoted the success of Nazism
• Nazism - Nazi / Third Reich terminology in popular culture
• Nazism - Holy sites

Read more here: » Nazism: Encyclopedia - Nazism

The Ustaše (often spelled Ustashe in English; singular Ustaša or Ustasha) was a Croatian far-right organisation put in charge of the Independent State of Croatia by the Axis Powers in 1941, in which they pursued nazi/fascist policies. The Ustaše were subsequently expelled by the communist Yugoslav partisans in 1945. At the time of their founding in 1929, the Ustaše were nationalist political organisations that committed terrorist acts. When they came to power in WWII, they also had military formations ( ...

Including:

• Ustaše - Victims
• Ustaše - History
• Ustaše - Before WWII
• Ustaše - World War II
• Ustaše - After the war
• Ustaše - Concentration camps
• Ustaše - Ideology
• Ustaše - Symbols
• Ustaše - Connections with the Catholic Church
• Ustaše - Neo-Ustašism

Read more here: » Ustaše: Encyclopedia - Ustaše

The Schutzstaffel ▶ (help·info) ("defense squadron"), or SS, was a large paramilitary organization that was a principal component of the Nazi party. The SS was led by Heinrich Himmler from 1929 until it was disbanded in 1945 with the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. The Nazis regarded the SS as an elite unit, the Party's "praetorian guard", with all SS personnel selected on racial and ideological grounds. The SS was distinguished from the ...

Including:

• Schutzstaffel - History
• Schutzstaffel - Origins
• Schutzstaffel - Development
• Schutzstaffel - Fall of the SS
• Schutzstaffel - Postwar activity
• Schutzstaffel - SS leaders
• Schutzstaffel - The SS before World War II
• Schutzstaffel - 1925–1928
• Schutzstaffel - 1929–1931
• Schutzstaffel - 1931–1933
• Schutzstaffel - 1933–1934
• Schutzstaffel - 1934–1936
• Schutzstaffel - 1936–1939
• Schutzstaffel - Austrian SS
• Schutzstaffel - The SS during World War II
• Schutzstaffel - SS and Police Leaders
• Schutzstaffel - Headquarters offices
• Schutzstaffel - General SS
• Schutzstaffel - Waffen-SS
• Schutzstaffel - Concentration camp service
• Schutzstaffel - Special action groups
• Schutzstaffel - Order Police
• Schutzstaffel - SS Medical Corps
• Schutzstaffel - SS and police courts
• Schutzstaffel - Helferin Corps
• Schutzstaffel - Future visions

Read more here: » Schutzstaffel: Encyclopedia - Schutzstaffel

The Nazis viewed activities of resistance movements (which often did use guerrilla tactics) as terrorism, and they regarded members of resistance movements as terrorists. They found it difficult to deal with a "faceless", ununiformed enemy, which would not hesitate to attack unarmed German occupation staff (who were easier targets), striking without warning and subsequently vanishing by blending into a civilian crowd. They believed that there would be scores of German lives saved for every presumed or actual "terrorist" (ie. Resistance fight ...

See also:

Oradour-sur-Glane, Oradour-sur-Glane - Events, Oradour-sur-Glane - Nazi practices of repression, Oradour-sur-Glane - Post-war outcomes, Oradour-sur-Glane - Today

Read more here: » Oradour-sur-Glane: Encyclopedia II - Oradour-sur-Glane - Nazi practices of repression

The Anschluss[1] (German: connection, or political union), also known as the Anschluss Österreichs, was the 1938 inclusion of Austria into "Greater Germany" by the Nazi regime. The events of March 12, 1938, were the first major steps in Adolf Hitler's long-desired expansion of Germany. The Anschluss followed the return to Germany of the Saar region, which had been under the control of the League of Nations for 15 year ...

Including:

• Anschluss - Situation before the Anschluss
• Anschluss - The Anschluss of 1938
• Anschluss - Hitler's first moves
• Anschluss - Schuschnigg announces a referendum
• Anschluss - German troops march into Austria
• Anschluss - Reactions and consequences of the Anschluss
• Anschluss - Legacy of the 1938 Anschluss
• Anschluss - The Anschluss: annexation or union?
• Anschluss - The appeal of Nazism to Austrians
• Anschluss - The Second Republic
• Anschluss - The Historical Commission and outstanding legal issues
• Anschluss - Austrian political and military leaders in Nazi Germany
• Anschluss - Notes

Read more here: » Anschluss: Encyclopedia - Anschluss

The Ardennes Offensive, which was actually known to the Germans as Operation Wacht Am Rhein, was also known as Second Battle of the Ardennes and popularly known as the Battle of the Bulge, started in late December 1944 and was the last major German offensive on the Western Front during World War II. The German army had intended to split the Allied line in half, capturing Antwerp and then proceeding to sweep north to encircle and destroy four Allied armies, thus as Hitler believed, forcing the Weste ...

Including:

• Battle of the Bulge - Background
• Battle of the Bulge - Lead-up
• Battle of the Bulge - Drafting the offensive
• Battle of the Bulge - Planning
• Battle of the Bulge - Initial German assault
• Battle of the Bulge - Operation Stösser
• Battle of the Bulge - Operation Greif
• Battle of the Bulge - Malmédy massacre
• Battle of the Bulge - The assault of Kampfgruppe Peiper
• Battle of the Bulge - St. Vith
• Battle of the Bulge - Bastogne
• Battle of the Bulge - Allied counteroffensive
• Battle of the Bulge - Germans strike back
• Battle of the Bulge - Allies prevail
• Battle of the Bulge - Aftermath
• Battle of the Bulge - The battle in popular culture
• Battle of the Bulge - Footnotes

Read more here: » Battle of the Bulge: Encyclopedia - Battle of the Bulge

Camouflage is the method which allows an otherwise visible organism or object to remain indiscernible from the surrounding environment. Examples include a tiger's stripes and the battledress of a modern soldier. Camouflage is a form of deception. The word camouflage comes from the French word 'camoufler' meaning 'to disguise'. Camouflage - Natural camouflage. In nature, there is a strong evolutionary pressure for animals to blend into their environment or conceal their shape; for prey animals to avoid preda ...

Including:

• Camouflage - Natural camouflage
• Camouflage - Military camouflage
• Camouflage - Ship camouflage
• Camouflage - Theory of camouflage

Read more here: » Camouflage: Encyclopedia - Camouflage

In military science, the term commando can refer to an individual, a military unit, or a raiding style of military operation. In certain contexts, the term commando is synonymous with elite light infantry or "special forces". However they should be distinguished from special forces units which specialise in antiterrorism and/or extended, long range ground-level reconnaissance and patrol missions, behind enemy lines (such as the British Special Air Service). Commando - Elite soldiers. Commandos are ge ...

Including:

• Commando - Elite soldiers
• Commando - History
• Commando - After 1945
• Commando - Other points
• Commando - Trivia

Read more here: » Commando: Encyclopedia - Commando