The creation of the multinational European front line combat organization Waffen-SS was an event unique in history. Their racial aspects and implications were especially unique. Men of many nations joined together in the military establishment of a foreign country. Its members hoped to eventually see all Germanic nations united into one body. The pan-European theme and the anti-Communist struggle became the strongest single element of the Waffen-SS recruitment message to the non-Germans. To become a member, the candidate had to satisfy the following conditions, among others: Aryan descent proven to the year 1800 (1750 for officers), no dishonorable criminal convictions, physically healthy, confirmed by medical examination and pledge of unconditional loyalty to all superiors. A thorough series of physical and genealogical examinations and investigations were made on each applicant. Only after these were successfully concluded did the candidate officially become an Waffen-SS
Anwärter. Once the war commenced, the physical requirements were no longer strictly enforced. Non-Germanic units were not considered to be part of the SS, which maintained its racial criteria throughout the war, but rather were considered to be foreign nationals serving under the command of the SS. Top image: honor guard of the Leibstandarte SS lined up at the Königsplatz in München on November 9 1935 in commemoration of the failed coup d'état of 1923, known as the Beer Hall Putsch or the Hitler-Ludendorff-Putsch. Standing far left is the then SS-Hauptsturmführer
Theodor Wisch, who would become a great role model for his comrades in the future Waffen-SS. Rising through the ranks with the formation
Teddy Wisch became SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS in 1944. Photo by Adolf Hitler's official photographer, the Nazi politician Heinrich Hoffmann. U.S. National Archives. Middle image: a German instructor from SS-Regiment Germania with a French Waffen-SS volunteer at Sennheim in Alsace-Lorraine in 1943. Scan: Signal Magazine. c. Bundesarchiv. Bottom image: Dutch Waffen-SS media presentations and recruiting center on Dam Square in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, today a Swedish H&M store. Public domain.
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ReplyDeleteTo defend Western culture and civilization, hundreds of thousands of young men from all parts of Europe volunteered to defeat the world threat of Communism. For them, the Waffen-SS was the birth of a new Europe. First there was the German, then the Germanic, and finally the European Waffen-SS. The men of the European SS, as much as they admired Hitler and the German people, did not want to become Germans. They were men of their own people, and Europe was the gathering of the various peoples of the continent. European unity was to be achieved through harmony, not domination of one over the others.
ReplyDeleteThe Waffen SS is more than just a story about Germany. It's a story about Europe and the European people as well. Anyone with an interest in the period will appreciate this site.
ReplyDeleteFirst, I would like to say thanks for a great site. I enjoy military history and have read a great many books on Waffen-SS. This is one of the most well researched and organized sites in the field, but what about the many foreign volunteer units in the Wehrmacht? I believe they deserve to be mentioned here even though the topic is about the Waffen-SS. I found some information here, but not much.
ReplyDeleteInstead of standing up to fascist propaganda they embraced it. The SS set the world on fire and surrendered in their thousands when they knew the game was up. Were they not supposed to fight to the last man? Brave soldiers my ass.
ReplyDeleteDear Robert,
ReplyDeleteI am very glad I found this site and have been pouring over it for days. I initially came here to get a general idea of the Waffen SS. I have always been fascinated by the elite troops, be it Cezar legions, American paratroops or Waffen SS Panzer Divisions. Congratulations on a very informative website.
Steve