Changes

==Waffen-SS==

==Waffen-SS==

The Waffen-SS (Armed SS) began as Hitler's private army. It started as the SS-Stabswache Berlin, a small bodyguard unit under Josef "Sepp" Dietrich. It was renamed the Sonderkommando Berlin until Himmler renamed it again as the Leibstandarte (Bodyguard Regiment) Adolf Hitler (LSSAH). In September 1934, Adolf Hitler authorized the formation of a [[military]] wing of the Nazi Party in the SS; it was called the SS-Verfügungstruppe (Special Use Troops) or SS-VT. There were strict recruitment standards; both physically and racially. By September 1939, there were three SS-VT regiments, along with the Leibstandarte. During the 1939 fighting in [[Poland]], it was reported that the SS-VT units fought bravely but recklessly. The SS-VT units also fought in combat during the invasions of the [[Netherlands|Low Countries]] (les Pays Bas) and [[France]] in 1940. The performance of the units was of marked improvement on the battlefield, however, off the battlefield several atrocities occurred.<ref>Cook and Bender (1994); McNab (2009)</ref>

The Waffen-SS (Armed SS) began as Hitler's private army. It started as the SS-Stabswache Berlin, a small bodyguard unit under Josef "Sepp" Dietrich. It was renamed the Sonderkommando Berlin until Himmler renamed it again as the "Leibstandarte (Bodyguard Regiment) Adolf Hitler" (LAH) in November 1933. The unit provided protection for Hitler's residences and offices. Later in April 1934, Himmler had the SS initials added to the name to make it clear this was a Nazi Party based formation; thereafter, officially known as the "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler" (LSSAH).<ref>Cook and Bender (1994)</ref> In September 1934, Adolf Hitler authorized the formation of a [[military]] wing of the Nazi Party in the SS; it was called the SS-Verfügungstruppe (Special Use Troops) or SS-VT. There were strict recruitment standards; both physically and racially. By September 1939, there were three SS-VT regiments, along with the Leibstandarte. During the 1939 fighting in [[Poland]], it was reported that the SS-VT units fought bravely but recklessly. The SS-VT units also fought in combat during the invasions of the [[Netherlands|Low Countries]] (les Pays Bas) and [[France]] in 1940. The performance of the units was of marked improvement on the battlefield, however, off the battlefield several atrocities occurred.<ref>Cook and Bender (1994); McNab (2009)</ref>

In 1940, the military branch was renamed the Waffen-SS (Armed SS). The Leibstandarte Division (LSSAH) and SS-VT units already in service were folded into, and became part of, the Waffen-SS. That same year, Hitler allowed Himmler to greatly expand the forces and open the ranks to Germanic foreign recruits. Within 6 months this new SS branch had over 150,000 soldiers. After the invasion of the [[Soviet Union]] in June 1941, the Germans were fighting a two-front war. The Waffen-SS became the elite infantry force of the fronts and given separate control over their communications and reports to Hitler's headquarters. By June 1944, the SS had over 800,000 men in its ranks. However, the majority of those members were serving in the Waffen-SS, which numbered approximately 600,000, with the SS-Totenkopfverbände (Death's Head units) numbering only 24,000. However, at the [[Nuremberg Trials]], the entire Schutzstaffel organization was declared a criminal organization. The SS was also found to be the organization most responsible for the killing of millions of Jews and non-Jews in the Holocaust. Many high ranking SS officers were executed after being adjudicated guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity.<ref>Stein (1984); McNab (2009)</ref>   

In 1940, the military branch was renamed the Waffen-SS (Armed SS). The Leibstandarte Division (LSSAH) and SS-VT units already in service were folded into, and became part of, the Waffen-SS. That same year, Hitler allowed Himmler to greatly expand the forces and open the ranks to Germanic foreign recruits. Within 6 months this new SS branch had over 150,000 soldiers. After the invasion of the [[Soviet Union]] in June 1941, the Germans were fighting a two-front war. The Waffen-SS became the elite infantry force of the fronts and given separate control over their communications and reports to Hitler's headquarters. By June 1944, the SS had over 800,000 men in its ranks. However, the majority of those members were serving in the Waffen-SS, which numbered approximately 600,000, with the SS-Totenkopfverbände (Death's Head units) numbering only 24,000. However, at the [[Nuremberg Trials]], the entire Schutzstaffel organization was declared a criminal organization. The SS was also found to be the organization most responsible for the killing of millions of Jews and non-Jews in the Holocaust. Many high ranking SS officers were executed after being adjudicated guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity.<ref>Stein (1984); McNab (2009)</ref>