I will post information about the
Waffen-SS from Wikipedia and other links.
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The Waffen-SS
[PHOTO SOURCE: http://www.germaniainternational.com/waffenss12.html]
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Waffen-SS
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Active
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1933–45
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Country
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Nazi Germany
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Allegiance
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Adolf Hitler
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Branch
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Schutzstaffel
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Type
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Size
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38 Divisions
and many minor units at its peak (approx. 1,000,000)
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Part of
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Garrison/HQ
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Motto
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Meine Ehre heißt Treue
(My Honour is Loyalty) |
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Colors
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Black, White, Red
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Engagements
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Commanders
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Ceremonial chief
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Heinrich Himmler
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Notable
commanders |
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The
Waffen-SS (German pronunciation: [ˈvafən.ɛs.ɛs], Armed SS) was
created as the armed wing of the Nazi Party's
Schutzstaffel
(SS, "Protective Squadron"), and gradually developed into a
multi-ethnic and multi-national military force of Nazi
Germany.
The
Waffen-SS grew from three regiments to over 38 divisions during World
War II, and served alongside the Heer (regular army) but was never
formally part of it. Adolf Hitler resisted integrating the Waffen-SS into
the army, as it was intended to remain the armed wing of the Party and to
become an elite police force once the war was won. Prior to the war, it was
under the control of the SS Führungshauptamt (SS operational command
office) beneath Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler. Upon mobilization its tactical control was given to the High
Command of the Armed Forces (Oberkommando der Wehrmacht).
Initially
membership was only open to people of Germanic "Aryan"
origin, who were said to be the Herrenvolk
(master race), according to Nazi racial ideology. The rules were
partially relaxed in 1940, although groups considered by Nazis to be
"sub-human" like ethnic Poles or Jews remained excluded. Hitler
authorized the formation of units composed largely or solely of foreign volunteers and
conscripts. Foreign SS units were made up from recruits in Albania,
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium (both Wallonia and Flanders), Bulgaria,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Galicia, Georgia, Hungary, India, Ireland,
Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania,
Russia (including Cossack and Tatar, Turkic SSR Republics), Slovakia, Slovenia,
Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, Independent State of Croatia, Asian Regiment, Arab
Regiment, USA (15-20 volunteers) and a small number of British troops.
At
the post-war Nuremberg trials the Waffen-SS was condemned as a
criminal organisation due to its connection to the Nazi Party and involvement
in numerous war crimes. Waffen-SS veterans were denied many of the rights
afforded to veterans who had served in the Heer (army), Luftwaffe
(air force) or Kriegsmarine (navy). An exception was made for
Waffen-SS conscripts sworn in after 1943, who were exempted because of their involuntary servitude.
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