Changes

==History==

==History==

Although the Nazis came to power in 1933, the Nazi Party created the SS in 1925, as [[Adolf Hitler]]'s personal bodyguard (Stabswache or Staff Guard). The SS was originally only a sub-branch of the [[Brownshirts|SA]]. It was a small exclusive group who only had loyalty to Adolf Hitler, not the Nazi Party, such as the SA. [[Heinrich Himmler]] was the fourth leader of the SS, having obtained command in January 1929. He went on to become its longest and most influential leader. By the time he took over in 1929, it was made up of only 280 men. By 1933 Himmler had expanded its ranks to 52,000.

Although the Nazis came to power in 1933, the Nazi Party created the SS in 1925, as Adolf Hitler's personal bodyguard (Stabswache or Staff Guard). The SS was originally only a sub-branch of the [[Brownshirts|SA]]. It was a small exclusive group who only had loyalty to Adolf Hitler, not the Nazi Party, such as the SA. Heinrich Himmler was the fourth leader of the SS, having obtained command in January 1929. He went on to become its longest and most influential leader. By the time he took over in 1929, it was made up of only 280 men. By 1933 Himmler had expanded its ranks to 52,000.

[[Image:THE_SS.jpg|right|300px]]

[[Image:THE_SS.jpg|right|300px]]

==Waffen SS==

==Waffen SS==

In 1939 the SS was key to the invading forces of Eastern Europe. The SS was given control over communications on the battlefield and secret missions. In December of 1940, they decided to make a branch of the SS, called the Waffen SS. Within 6 months this new SS division had over 150,000 soldiers. Instead of using regular and elite SS soldiers on the front, the Waffen was now the elite infantry force of the fronts and given control over communications. By June of 1944 the SS had over 800,000 men: Hitler's bodyguard 200,000, the Waffen SS 594,000, and the Death's Head units 24,000. However, at the [[Nuremberg Trials]], the Schutzstaffel was declared a criminal organization and many of its leaders were executed.

In 1939 the SS was key to the invading forces of Eastern Europe. The SS was given control over communications on the battlefield and secret missions. In December of 1940, they decided to make a branch of the SS, called the Waffen SS. Within 6 months this new SS division had over 150,000 soldiers. Instead of using regular and elite SS soldiers on the front, the Waffen was now the elite infantry force of the fronts and given control over communications. By June of 1944 the SS had over 800,000 men: Hitler's bodyguard 200,000, the Waffen SS 594,000, and the Death's Head units 24,000. However, at the [[Nuremberg Trials]], the Schutzstaffel was declared a criminal organization and many of its leaders were executed.