Is there a more infamous group in recent history than the Schutzstaffel (SS)?
Originating in 1925 as a minor security squad for NSDAP gatherings, it quickly evolved into a central and notorious force within Nazi Germany. Throughout the Nazi regime, the SS stood as the primary agent of security, mass surveillance, and state terror in Germany and its occupied regions.
Here are 16 things you may not know about the SS...
The SS was founded in April 1925 and was initially formed to serve as Adolf Hitler's personal bodyguard unit.
Originally, the SS consisted of just 8 individuals, but this grew to around 800,000 members at its peak
Members were required to take an oath of personal loyalty to Adolf Hitler, signifying their commitment to the Fuhrer above all else.
The first commander of the SS was a chap called Julius Schreck. He was such a fan of Hitler he often wore a fake moustache to look like his idol.
Prospective members had to prove that they were of Aryan descent, typically dating back to 1750 or earlier. This involved providing extensive genealogical records to demonstrate their lineage.
Members were initially forbidden from marrying without consent, which was granted only if their fiancées met similar racial purity standards.
A thorough background check was conducted on all candidates to ensure they had no criminal record and that their character aligned correctly with the principles of the NSDAP - of which membership was a pre-requisite
On 6th January, 1929, Hitler named Heinrich Himmler commander of the SS, which at the time had close to 300 members
The SS was a complex organisation with numerous branches and departments across security, intelligence, military, racial purity, and administrative roles.
While the SS was predominantly male, there were small numbers of female auxiliaries, known as SS-Helferinnen, in non-combat roles.
Around 1.5million men served within the Waffen-SS during the war
By 1945, volunteers and conscripts from approximately 30 countries had served in various SS units - amounting to upwards of 500,000 men
The SS controlled and operated over 1,200 concentration camps of various sizes by the end of the Second World War.
The SS Einsatzgruppen (mobile killing units) were responsible for the mass murder of approximately 2 million people, mostly Jews.
The SS was formally disbanded after the surrender of Germany in May 1945 and declared a criminal organisation
From 1946 to 1949, about 1,000 SS members suspected of committing war crimes at Auschwitz were extradited to Poland, mostly from the American occupation zone in Germany. Charges were brought against 673 people, including 21 women
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