Changes

The Waffen-SS (Armed SS) began as Hitler's private army. It started as the SS-Stabswache Berlin, a small bodygruard 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 the 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 Low Countries 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) and McNab (2009)</ref>

The Waffen-SS (Armed SS) began as Hitler's private army. It started as the SS-Stabswache Berlin, a small bodygruard 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 the 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 Low Countries 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) and McNab (2009)</ref>

In late 1940, Hitler allowed Himmler to greatly expand the forces and open the ranks to Germanic foreign recruits. Further, the branch was re-named the Waffen-SS (Armed 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 late 1940, Hitler allowed Himmler to greatly expand the forces and open the ranks to Germanic foreign recruits. Further, the branch was re-named the Waffen-SS (Armed SS). Within 6 months this new SS division had over 150,000 soldiers. After the invasion of the Soviet Union in July 1941, the Germans were fighting a two-front war. The Waffen-SS became the elite infantry force of the fronts and given seperate control over their communications and reports to Hitler's headquarters. 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.

===Soldiers in Waffen SS===

===Soldiers in Waffen SS===

The Waffen-SS eventually organized 38 divisions comprising (at one time or another) about 800,000 soldiers; 25% were killed in battle.  They were never integrated into the Wehrmacht, and had a reputation for brutality, mistreatment and killing of prisoners and civilians, and war crimes.<ref> Wegner (1990)</ref>  In December 1944 on the Western Front during the "Battle of the Bulge" elements of the Waffen SS Leibstandarte Division shot between 86 and 100 Americans prisoners near Malmedy.<ref> Ater the war the colonel Joachim Peiper and 65 other SS soldiers were tried, convicted and imprisoned for war crimes; two were hung.  James J. Weingartner, ''Crossroads of Death: The Story of the Malmédy Massacre and Trial.'' 1979</ref>

The Waffen-SS eventually organized 38 divisions comprising (at one time or another) about 800,000 soldiers; 25% were killed in battle.  They were never integrated into the Wehrmacht, and had a reputation for brutality, mistreatment and killing of prisoners and civilians, and war crimes.<ref> Wegner (1990)</ref>  In December 1944 on the Western Front during the "Battle of the Bulge" elements of the Waffen SS Leibstandarte Division shot between 86 and 100 Americans prisoners near Malmedy.<ref> Ater the war the colonel Joachim Peiper and 65 other SS soldiers were tried, convicted and imprisoned for war crimes; two were hung.  James J. Weingartner, ''Crossroads of Death: The Story of the Malmédy Massacre and Trial'' (1979)</ref>

Huffman (2005) examines Waffen-SS soldiers and their experiences, actions, and importance during World War II. He explores the Waffen-SS in terms of ideology and indoctrination, everyday life and combat experiences, comradeship, battle front and home front influences, and connections between the " Frontgemeinschaft " (front community) and the " Volksgemeinschaft " (people's community). Huffman focuses on the Waffen-SS junior officers, NCOs, and enlisted men.  Waffen-SS soldiers experienced a "totality" of war as a concrete, lived, total experience, and thus the front experiences became normalized to a large extent. They were much better trained than regular army units, with  dangerous simulated combat exercise; it was rigorous, realistic and often brutal.<ref> Koethe (1994)</ref> Strong comradeship among the troops was important, and helped account for their strong cohesiveness and fighting strength. The Volksgemeinschaft and Frontgemeinschaft and the strong attendant home front and battle front influences were not just words; there was a reality of overall solidarity, and the Volksgemeinschaft and Frontgemeinschaft served for millions of Germans as structures around which to cast their belief systems and actions. The German civilian populace was militarized during the war, and the German military formations, especially the Waffen-SS, were greatly militarized.<ref>Huffman (2005)</ref>

Huffman (2005) examines Waffen-SS soldiers and their experiences, actions, and importance during World War II. He explores the Waffen-SS in terms of ideology and indoctrination, everyday life and combat experiences, comradeship, battle front and home front influences, and connections between the " Frontgemeinschaft " (front community) and the " Volksgemeinschaft " (people's community). Huffman focuses on the Waffen-SS junior officers, NCOs, and enlisted men.  Waffen-SS soldiers experienced a "totality" of war as a concrete, lived, total experience, and thus the front experiences became normalized to a large extent. They were much better trained than regular army units, with  dangerous simulated combat exercise; it was rigorous, realistic and often brutal.<ref> Koethe (1994)</ref> Strong comradeship among the troops was important, and helped account for their strong cohesiveness and fighting strength. The Volksgemeinschaft and Frontgemeinschaft and the strong attendant home front and battle front influences were not just words; there was a reality of overall solidarity, and the Volksgemeinschaft and Frontgemeinschaft served for millions of Germans as structures around which to cast their belief systems and actions. The German civilian populace was militarized during the war, and the German military formations, especially the Waffen-SS, were greatly militarized.<ref>Huffman (2005)</ref>