Waffen-SS - Trial by fire

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

As the outbreak of war neared, Himmler ordered the formation of several combat formations from the SS-Standartes (units of regimental size). The resulting three formations (the LSSAH, SS-VT and SS-TV) took place in the Invasion of Poland as well as Fall Gelb. During the campaign in the West, both the Totenkopf and LSSAH were implicated in atrocities. The overall performance of the Waffen-S ...

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 - Trial by fire

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

Many formations within the Waffen-SS were proven to have committed war crimes, most notoriously at Oradour-sur-Glane, Marzabotto and in the Malmedy massacre. Perhaps the most infamous of all SS formations were the Dirlewanger and Kaminski Brigades (later to become the 36.Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS and 29.Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (russische Nr.1) respectively. These formations, composed mostly of ex-Einsatzgruppen, released criminals and Russian Prisoners of War and commanded by the fanatical Nazis Oskar Dir ...

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 - War crimes and atrocities

Several formations within the Waffen-SS were proven to have committed war crimes, most notoriously at Oradour-sur-Glane, Marzabotto and in the Malmedy massacre. Perhaps the most infamous of all SS formations were the Dirlewanger and Kaminski Brigades (later to become the 36.Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS and 29.Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (russische Nr.1) respectively. These formations, composed mostly of ex-Einsatzgruppen, released criminals and Russian Prisoners of War and commanded by the fanatical Nazis Oskar ...

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 - War crimes and atrocities

As the Waffen-SS Order of Battle expanded, several divisions were seen as being elite. These divisions were characterised by extremely high unit morale and combat ability, as well as commitment to the Crusade against Bolshevism and the defense of the Fatherland. They also frequently benefited from the best available equipment. These divisions are referred to as the classic Waffen-SS divisions, and they include the LSSAH, Das Reich, Totenkopf, the multi-national Wiking, the Hohenstaufen ...

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 - Classic SS divisions

SS combat training consisted primarily of several months of intensive basic training with three objectives; physical fitness, small-arms proficiency and political indoctrination. The training was so intensive that one in three potentials failed to pass the course. After this basic training, the recruits would be sent to specialist schools (see Panzertruppenschule I) where they received further training in their chosen combat arm. As the war progressed and replacements were required more frequently, particularly after the expansion of the Waffen-SS following the success of the SS-Panzerkorps at Kharkov, the i ...

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 - Concept training

The original cadre of the Waffen-SS came from the Freikorps and the Reichswehr along with various right-wing paramilitary formations. Formed at the instigation of Heinrich Himmler, the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler was the first formation of what was to become the Waffen-SS. When the SA was rendered powerless in the Night of the Long Knives, many ex-SA men requested transfer to the SS, swelling its ranks and resulting in the formation of several new units including the SS-Verfügungstruppe (to become the SS Division Das Reich) and the SS-Totenkopfverbände (to become the SS Division To ...

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 - Early history; LSSAH SS-VT