Figure 1.--.

The Waffen-SS at first under different names such as the LAH and VT-SS participated in all the major campaigns of the NAZI Germany. It was the LAH that carried out the Night of the Long Knives supressing the SA. The SS-VT participated in all the pre-War actions, including the remilitarization of the Rhineland (March 1936), Austrian Anchluss (March 1938), the seuzure of the Sudetenland (October 1938), and invasion of Czechoslovakia (March 1939). The VT-SS at this time was small and poorly armed. The Wehermacht saw them as asphalt soldiers, meaning parade ground formations. They did, however, provide teeth to the Einsatzgruppen formed to hunt down anti-NAZIS and firmly implant German control. These were all unopposed actions, Hitler having successfully backed down the allies committed to British Prime Minister Chamberlain's Appeasement policies. The next target was Poland which prepared to fight and Hitler in fact actually wanted an armed conflict, although he did not really expect the British and French to declare war. In this atmpsphere, the SS-VT was given intensive military training and formed into combat-ready military units. Three SS-TV regiments (Standarten) were organized and ready for the invasion of Poland. In addition, elements of the SS-Totenkopfverbände (SS-TV), the Deaths Head formations created from guards and personnel of the SS concentration camp system participated as VT-SS unit. These units were proved not particularly proficient regiments. They demonstrated the savagery, if not yet the proficency, for which they became known throughout the War. They suffered relatively high casualties. Himmler alluded to their galentry. The Wehrmacht generals though they were poorly trained and led. They also complained that the VT-SS units were 'frigid if not hostile' to the Wehrmacht units. Some Whermacht officers were horrified with their savergy. Hitler was impressed and dimissed charges against the VT-SS men. The VT-SS regiments which fought in Poland were expanded into brigades and eventually full divisions. This purely military branch of the SS was at first known as the Bewaffente-SS (Armed-SS) and eventially the waffen-SS with the same meaning. The Waffen-SS participated in all the major German military campaings of World War II beginning with the invasion of Poland (September 1939). The Waffen-SS played a more important role during the campaign in France (May-June 1940). The VT-SS had grown, then totaling about 125,000 men. They pressed the British at Dunkirk. During the campaign Waffen-SS commanders ordered the shooting of two groups of British POWs. There were survivors from both incidents so the British learned from an early stage the character of the SS and its military arm. It is after the campaign in France, the VT-SS was remamed the Waffer-SS. As the War continued the Waffen-SS grew and became an increasingly important component of the German miitary. Hitler launched Barbarossa (June 1941). It was designed as a short summer campaign. When the Red Army not only held before Lenningrad and Moscow,but launched a counterattack (December 1941), the character of the War changed dramatically as did the size and importance of the Waffen-SS. It was in the Soviet Union that the Waffen-SS assumed its important role would play its most important role. The SS emerged as a major part of the NAZI military force structure with some of its most powerful formations.

Pre-war Actions (1934-39)

What was to become the Waffen-SS at first funxtioned under different names such as the LAH and VT-SS without a unified command structure. They participated in all the major campaigns of NAZI Germany. The groups wee creeated with political violence in mind. It was no accident that the LAH personnel, at the time separate from the VT-SS, asembled by Himmler and Heydrich and provided arms by the Reichwehr, that carried out the brutal the Night of the Long Knives supressing the SA. The SS-VT participated in all the pre-War actions, including the remilitarization of the Rhineland (March 1936), Austrian Anchluss (March 1938), the seuzure of the Sudetenland (October 1938), and invasion of Czechoslovakia (March 1939). The VT-SS at this time was small and poorly armed. The Wehermacht saw them as asphalt soldiers, meaning parade ground formations. They did, however, provide teeth to the Einsatzgruppen formed to hunt down anti-NAZIS and firmly implant German control. We do not yet have details on the coordination, but Einstazgruppenat leadt later i the War has a major Waffen-SS component. These were all unopposed actions, Hitler having successfully backed down the allies committed to British Prime Minister Chamberlain's Appeasement policies.

War-time Actions (1939-45)

The next German target was Poland which prepared to fight and Hitler in fact actually wanted an armed conflict, although he did not really expect the British and French to declare war. In this atmpsphere, the SS-VT was given intensive military training and formed into combat-ready military units. Three SS-TV regiments (Standarten) were organized and ready for the invasion of Poland. In addition, elements of the SS-Totenkopfverbände (SS-TV), the Deaths Head formations created from guards and personnel of the SS concentration camp system participated as VT-SS unit. These units were proved not particularly proficient regiments. They demonstrated the savagery, if not yet the proficency, for which they became known throughout the War. They suffered relatively high casualties. Himmler alluded to their galentry. The Wehrmacht generals though they were poorly trained and led. They also complained that the VT-SS units were 'frigid if not hostile' to the Wehrmacht units. Some Whermacht officers were horrified with their savergy. Abwehr Chief Admiral Canaris wanted to raise the issue personally with Hitler, but was adbised strongly not to do so. It was was the beginning of his disaffection with the regime. Hitler for his part. was impressed and dimissed charges against the VT-SS men. The VT-SS regiments which fought in Poland were expanded into brigades and eventually full divisions. This purely military branch of the SS was at first known as the Bewaffente-SS (Armed-SS) and eventially the waffen-SS with the same meaning. The Waffen-SS participated in all the major German military campaings of World War II beginning with the invasion of Poland (September 1939). The Waffen-SS played a more important role during the campaign in France (May-June 1940). The VT-SS had grown, then totaling about 125,000 men. They pressed the British at Dunkirk. During the campaign Waffen-SS commanders ordered the shooting of two groups of British POWs. There were survivors from both incidents so the British learned from an early stage the character of the SS and its military arm. It is after the campaign in France, the VT-SS was remamed the Waffer-SS. As the War continued the Waffen-SS grew and became an increasingly important component of the German miitary. Hitler launched Barbarossa (June 1941). It was designed as a short summer campaign. When the Red Army not only held before Lenningrad and Moscow,but launched a counterattack (December 1941), the character of the War changed dramatically as did the size and importance of the Waffen-SS. It was in the Soviet Union that the Waffen-SS assumed its important role would play its most important role. The SS emerged as a major part of the NAZI military force structure with some of its most powerful formations.

Created: 6:05 PM 9/2/2014
Last updated: 6:05 PM 9/2/2014