The Waffen-SS (German: [ˈvafn̩ʔɛsˌʔɛs]; lit. 'Armed SS') was the combat branch of the Nazi Party 's paramilitary Schutzstaffel (SS) organisation. Its formations included men from Nazi Germany, along with volunteers and conscripts from both German-occupied Europe and unoccupied lands. [3]

The Waffen-SS (Armed SS) was created as the militarised wing of the Schutzstaffel (SS; "Protective Squadron") of the Nazi Party. Its origins can be traced back to the selection of a group of 120 SS men in 1933 by Sepp Dietrich to form the Sonderkommando Berlin, which became the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (LSSAH). [4]

Aug 16, 2015 · Between 1925 and 1945, the German Schutzstaffel (SS) grew from a mere eight members to over a quarter of a million Waffen-SS and over a million Allgemeine-SS members. The following list of SS personnel gives the names of persons who are counted among the organization's most famous, influential...

The Waffen-SS was the military branch of the SS in Nazi Germany. During World War II, they took part in most military campaigns.

Dec 18, 2009 · The Waffen-SS consisted of a cadre of combat troops who were involved with mass shootings, anti-partisan warfare and supplying guards for Nazi concentration camps.

The unit was disbanded in mid-1943 as the volunteers' two-year commitment had expired and the Finnish government was unwilling to allow more men to volunteer. In 1944-1945 a company sized unit of Finnish defectors recruited to the SS continued fighting alongside Germany.

Waffen-SS membership totaled several hundreds of thousands of men, and any generalization is fatuous. The Waffen-SS committed atrocities both on and off the battlefield. So occasionally did the Allied armies of World War II; and so, for that matter, have Western armies since 1945.

In December, 1940 Heinrich Himmler, head of the Schutzstaffel (SS), established the Waffen SS. This new army grew rapidly and within six months grew to over 150,000 men.

Nov 7, 2011 · The Waffen-SS, which is translated as "Armed-SS," was the military wing of the blackuniformed SS (Schutz Staffeln, or Defense Squads) and became the equivalent of regulararmy divisions.

Illustrated details of the Waffen-SS ranking system for enlisted men. Shows collar patches, shoulder tabs and sleeve insignia.