“Asphalt Soldiers”: why the SS and Wehrmacht troops were at enmity with each other 

The table contains the ranks and insignia of the SS troops, as well as their comparison with other armed SS units and with the military ranks of the Wehrmacht during the Second World War. When comparing, it is necessary to take into account affiliation:

• SS
  (German:
  Schutzstaffel
  ),
• SS troops
  otherwise
  Waffen-SS
  (German
  die Waffen-SS
  , under the Nazis usually
  die Waffen-
  ).
  At first they were called "SS reserve troops". The name "Waffen-SS" (SS troops) was first used in the winter of 1939/40 (The earliest known document in which the concept of "Waffen SS" is applied is an order dated November 7, 1939, in which the "Waffen SS" appears in as a collective name for “armed SS and police ” [1]). At the Nuremberg trials, the SS troops were accused of war crimes.
• General SS
  (German:
  Allgemeine SS
  ) - one of the two main units of the SS (along with SS troops). The tasks of the “general SS” included mainly the implementation of administrative and economic functions in the territory of the Third Reich. Members of the “general SS” were not considered to be in military service in the Nazi Party and did not receive allowances or uniforms, but carried out their party duties in parallel with their main work.
• SA
  ,
  assault troops
  (German:
  Sturmabteilung
  ),
  stormtroopers
  ;
  also known as the " Brownshirts
  " (by analogy with the Italian "Blackshirts"). From members of the SA, the SS “Totenkopf” units were formed (engaged in guarding concentration camps), as well as the SS division “Horst Wessel” (the SA symbol was depicted on its buttonholes). In addition, the civil administration in the occupied territories was formed mainly from members of the SA. The SA detachments, greatly reduced in number, existed until 1945, by which time stormtroopers no longer played any role in politics. Perhaps this is why the Nuremberg trials did not recognize members of the SA (unlike members of the SS) as a criminal group.
• SD
  (German
  SD
  ) -
  security service of the Reichsführer SS
  (German
  Sicherheitsdienst des Reichsführers SS
  ).
  SD employees did not wear SS runes on their buttonholes, and shoulder straps were made according to the police model, with green edging and special braid for non-commissioned officers.

as well as the historical origin and succession of ranks in Germany from the beginning of November 1939 until the end of the Third Reich in 1945.

Some colors of the military branches

In March 1938, members of the Leibstandarte, Deutschland and Germany were allowed to replace shoulder straps with combined arms ones; as a result, the left buttonhole became redundant, since the rank began to be indicated by shoulder straps . On May 10, 1940, it was finally established for the SS troops that soldiers of the Leibstandarte and “reserve divisions” wear the SS rune badge on the right buttonhole, and exclusively rank insignia on the left; the exception was the Death's Head division, which was allowed to continue to wear the skull emblem on both sides. The pre-war buttonholes , which depicted SS runic insignia and skulls with numbers, letters and symbols, were banned "for reasons of secrecy" by an SS order of 10 May 1940 and replaced with the standard badges known today.

The title of Reichsführer SS in the Third Reich was held by two people - Heinrich Himmler and Karl Hanke (until 1934, “Reichsführer SS” meant a position, not a rank).

Special rules and exceptions existed for officer candidates, non-commissioned officers and SS cadets.

So, for example, in the SS the rank of Hauptscharführer

awarded usually to the acting sergeant major in an SS company, the commander of the third (sometimes second) platoon in a company, or was a rank used for non-commissioned officer rank personnel serving on SS headquarters or security services (such as the Gestapo and SD).
The title Hauptscharführer was also often used for concentration camp personnel and Einsatzgruppen personnel. SS-Hauptscharführer
was older than
SS-Oberscharführer
and younger than
SS-Sturmscharführer
, with the exception of the General SS, where Hauptscharführer was a junior rank, immediately after
SS-Untersturmführer
.

Rank Sturmscharführer

was established in June 1934, after the Night of the Long Knives. During the reorganization of the SS, the rank of Sturmscharführer was created as the highest rank of non-commissioned officers in the "Troops at the disposal of the SS" instead of the rank of Haupttruppführer used in the SA. In 1941, on the basis of the "Troops at the disposal of the SS", an organization of SS troops arose, which inherited the rank of Sturmscharführer from its predecessor.

Rank of Untersturmführer

in the SS, corresponding to the rank of lieutenant in the Wehrmacht, arose in 1934 from the position of head of the SS unit - troupe (German:
SS-Truppe
).
The troupe covered an urban area, a rural district, was about the size of an army platoon - from 18 to 45 people, consisted of three squads - balls (German SS-Schar
), headed by a troupführer (German
SS-Truppführer
) or an Untersturmführer (German
SS -Untersturmführer
), depending on the number. In the SS troops, the Untersturmführer, as a rule, held the position of platoon commander.

Color coding of military branches[edit | edit wiki text]

Colors of the military branches (German: Waffenfarben)

The German armed forces follow historical tradition. In the SS troops this tradition was largely preserved.

The table shows the colors of the insignia of the SS troops in 1935-1945.

What are the differences between the Gestapo, Wehrmacht, SA and SS troops?

In books and articles about Germany in the first half of the 20th century, those interested in European history often encounter discussions of the relationship between the secret state police (Gestapo), Wehrmacht soldiers, assault troops (SA), SS troops and the National Socialist German Workers' Party NSDAP (Nazi the consignment). All of these German organizations of the 1930s and 1940s had different roles, and each of them contributed to Hitler's rise to power and, as a result, in World War II. The specific role and functionality of each organization will be of interest to those who want to understand the military and political structure of Germany at that time.

The Nazi Party was a political party that, using a variety of tactics, from effective election campaigns to outright forceful seizure of power with the help of its own paramilitary forces, took control of all of Germany. The most famous leader of the Nazi Party was Adolf Hitler, who ultimately seized power in Germany and, in an effort to conquer neighboring states, started World War II. Germany became a one-party state in which the Nazi Party controlled the military, police, and government.

And although the idea of ​​a political party with its own armed forces may seem strange, the Nazi Party had two such units - the assault troopers (SA) and the SS troops. The first to appear were the SA, operating under the command of Ernst Röhm. However, the SA did not demonstrate complete loyalty to Hitler and challenged the authority of the German army. In 1934, the SA was replaced by the SS paramilitary forces loyal to Hitler. The SS had several units operating in Germany and the states it occupied. The SA and SS were members of the Nazi Party, and some of their representatives, who stood at the very origins of Hitler's rise, were fanatically devoted to him.

The Wehrmacht was the control center of the German armed forces and united three types of troops: ground, aviation and navy. Some people use the term "Wehrmacht" as a synonym for the German army, but this is incorrect. The organization was headed by the Supreme Command of the Wehrmacht. The role of the Wehrmacht was not much different from the armed forces of other countries, and was to conduct military operations against enemy forces and protect Germany from attack. Many of the high-ranking military leaders of the Wehrmacht also served in the SS (Waffen-SS). The Wehrmacht existed from 1935 to 1945, and was liquidated along with the German armed forces according to the signed treaty.

The Gestapo was the secret police of Nazi Germany. Gestapo officers were responsible for investigating crimes within the country, and were authorized to send people to prisons, concentration camps, torture prisoners, and engage in a wide range of other activities aimed at protecting the German state. The organization earned a bad reputation for its ruthlessness and cruelty, and the term “Gestapo” began to be widely used in relation to any cruel act. After Germany's defeat in the war, the organization was dissolved.

In 1955, the German military was reformed and its command structure became more decentralized. The German army and other armed units of the German forces were transformed into defensive forces, unable to carry out offensive actions. Names used during the Nazi era were changed or eliminated to avoid confusion with the terms. Modern German ground forces, navy and air force have a command structure open to members of all political parties. This makes an attempted takeover and military coup a much more difficult task compared to the situation in the 1930s, when Hitler's Nazi Party quietly took control of the entire state.

SS men from Western Europe

A popular statement associated with foreign volunteers of the SS troops is the thesis about the massive service in them of citizens of Western European countries who voluntarily went on the “Crusade against Bolshevism.” In historiography and memoir literature, Western Europeans are always singled out from the general mass of SS volunteers, considering them the most combat-ready and effective. Let's try to determine what role they played in the SS troops.

Western Europeans join the SS troops

At the dawn of the creation of the SS troops, the key problem was the lack of personnel for them. Reichsführer SS Heinrich Himmler had to literally fight to tear every German conscript out of the tenacious hands of the Wehrmacht command. At the end of the 30s, Himmler decided to recruit citizens of Western Europe from the “German peoples” - Scandinavians, Dutch, Flemings and Swiss.

Foreign SS volunteers. In the foreground is the Dane Per Sorensen, the future commander of the SS Danmark regiment, who died in the Battle of Berlin stabswache-de-euros.blogspot.com

Already on May 1, 1940, there were 694 foreigners in the SS troops, but recruitment really intensified after the Western Campaign. The fact that recruiting centers for SS troops were opened in the Reich-occupied countries of Western Europe, to which local volunteers began to come, still surprises many. Moreover, it often turned out that these volunteers had recently served in the national armies of their countries and fought against the Wehrmacht.

"Nordland", "Westland" and "Nordwest"

Counting on a large number of “German” volunteers, Himmler began to form special units for them. In the summer of 1940, two regiments appeared with the characteristic names “Nordland” and “Westland”. The first was intended for the Scandinavians, the second for the Dutch and Flemings. In addition, there was a semi-training SS regiment "Nordwest", originally planned for security service in Western Europe and also intended to receive volunteers from Europe. However, it quickly became clear that there were not enough volunteers to fully staff the regiments. At that time, the SS troops were recruited primarily by adventurers, adventurers, Nazi sympathizers who decided to serve in the victorious army before returning home as the new elite, and people trying to settle into life after the defeat of their countries.

A German instructor trains a foreign volunteer stabswache-de-euros.blogspot.com

A simple solution was found - the lack of personnel was compensated by attracting the Germans and Volksdeutsche. At the end of November 1940, the SS regiments “Nordland” and “Westland” were united into the SS division “Wiking”, adding to them another, purely German regiment - “Germany”.

In the European “pro-SS” narrative, the SS Viking division is almost always positioned as an exclusively foreign unit. However, the facts indicate that this is far from the case. Of the nearly 19,000 Viking men at the start of Operation Barbarossa, only 1,564 were foreigners (631 Dutch, 294 Norwegians, 216 Danes, 421 Finns, one Swede, one Swiss), and the rest were Germans and Volksdeutsche. Subsequently, this ratio remained almost the same: on September 19, 1941, 821 Dutch, 291 Norwegians, 251 Danes, 45 Flemings, 8 Swedes, as well as a separate Finnish battalion, served in Viking. As for the SS regiment "Nordwest", it was originally planned to recruit 2,500 Flemings and Danes, but on May 25, 1941, only 920 foreigners were in the regiment.

Creation of national legions

The outbreak of war against the Soviet Union gave Himmler a new political slogan of a “pan-European crusade against Bolshevism.”

. The invasion of the USSR intensified recruitment: for example, in “Nordwest” the number of volunteers more than doubled in two months - 2313 people in August 1941 (1400 Dutch, 805 Flemings and 108 Danes).

Another step that influenced the mood of Western Europeans was the creation of national volunteer legions under the slogan of the fight against communism. In fact, these were not SS troops in the generally accepted sense of the word, but, as Himmler put it in November 1941, “individual units under their own command.”

. In this way, the Germans hoped to attract volunteers who wanted to serve their country in a national rather than a German military unit.

SS mobilization point in Amsterdam stabswache-de-euros.blogspot.com

At the same time, the Germans took the simplest path. The SS regiment "Nordwest" was disbanded, dividing it into the Flemish and Dutch legions, and the Danes were brought into the "Danmark" volunteer corps. In addition, the Norwegian Legion was created. After about six months of training at the end of 1941 and the beginning of 1942, one after another, all these legions found themselves at the front.

Himmler's dreams of a "command of his own" for volunteers did not come true. Their commanders ended up only in the Danish Corps and the Norwegian Legion. The Flemish and Dutch legions were led by the Germans, which was due to the lack of competent senior officers (the Dutch) and officers in general (the Flemings) among these nationalities.

SS-Sturmbannführer Arthur Quist, commander of the Norwegian SS Legion wikipedia.org

It is interesting to compare the ratio of German and national composition in the volunteer legions. So, on January 9, 1942, there were 2,937 people in the Dutch SS Legion: 700 Germans, 2,207 Dutch and 26 Flemings; 66 officers, 331 non-commissioned officers and 2,536 enlisted men. At the same time, 40 officers were Germans, and 26 were Dutch. All non-commissioned officers, except two, were Germans. At the same time, there were 2,179 Dutch privates, 331 Germans, and 26 Flemings.

The Danish Corps, the Flemish and Norwegian legions as a whole were mono-national units without large infusions of German troops. Because of this, the number of Danmark personnel reached 1200 people, the Norwegian Legion - 1218, the Flemish Legion - 1114. Interestingly, the Danes and Norwegians had their own officers, and the Norwegian officers had experience in the war against the Germans in 1940.

Soldiers of the Norwegian Legion escort Soviet prisoners of war axishistory.com

In addition, foreigners continued to serve in the SS Viking division, and there were situations when they were sent to replenish purely German units. An incident became famous when nine Danish recruits, who did not have time to complete the necessary training, ended up in the SS Reich division and died in the first battle.

The volunteer legions performed well in battle - they had to operate in the difficult northern sector of the Eastern Front, near Leningrad. Perhaps the first foreigner to gain a heroic aura in the SS troops was the second commander of the Danish Corps, SS Sturmbannführer Christian von Schalburg, who died in battle in the summer of 1942.

Half-Russian Christian von Schalburg (left) with his son. On the right is another famous Danish volunteer Søren Kam, a future holder of the Knight's Cross wikipedia.org

The soldiers of the Norwegian Legion, which in 1941-1943 won a positive military reputation, also performed well. True, there were exceptions - it was here that perhaps the first case of desertion in the SS troops occurred: at the beginning of 1942, the Dane Ludwig Kuta and the Norwegian Asbjörn Bäckström went over to the side of the Red Army.

In general, the number of Western Europeans in the SS troops at the beginning of 1942 was not particularly impressive - only about 7,000-8,000 people, taking into account the separate Finnish battalion and reserve units. Moreover, in December 1941, the total number of SS troops was almost 200,000 people.

Finnish SS battalion

The Finnish SS battalion became an exception from all Western European units. This volunteer formation was created in June 1941 with the permission of the Finnish government from volunteers of the Finnish armed forces. A special protocol stipulated that the Finns would receive the status of representatives of a union state, would not participate in the war with Great Britain and would take an oath of allegiance to Hitler. The Soviet Union was identified as their main enemy. Volunteers signed a two-year contract. Interestingly, of the 1,409 Finns who passed through the battalion, only 20% were members of the Finnish pro-Nazi party, and 21 Finnish officers graduated from the SS officer school in Bad Tölz.

The last parade of the Finnish SS battalion before disbandment axishistory.com

The Finnish battalion became the 3rd battalion of the SS Nordland regiment (Norwegian Legion) of the SS Viking division, with which it went through the entire combat path of the division on the territory of the RSFSR (including in the Caucasus). By the summer of 1943, the Finns' contract had expired, and the Finnish government demanded the return of these battle-hardened volunteers. On July 11, the battalion was disbanded, and its soldiers joined the Finnish army. During the two years of the war, the losses of Finnish volunteers amounted to 256 people killed and 686 wounded. Later, in battles with the Red Army as part of the Finnish armed forces, 113 former members of the SS battalion were killed, and then six more in battles with the Germans at the end of 1944.

In 1943-1945, about a hundred Finns joined the SS troops - they served in various units and services. They did not form a national unit.

Reorganization and expansion of Western European SS units in 1943

The expansion of the SS troops, associated with the beginning of the formation of new divisions and brigades, including from Eastern Europeans, led to the reorganization of the existing Western European units. First of all, the SS Nordland regiment was withdrawn from the Viking SS division. On its basis they began to create the SS panzergrenadier division of the same name. It was supposed to be staffed by Danes, Norwegians and Swedes, as a result of which the Norwegian Legion and the Danish Volunteer Corps were disbanded, and their soldiers were sent to two new SS regiments “Norge” and “Danmark”, which were part of the new division.

At the same time, there were some problems with acquisition. For example, out of 700 people who at that time remained in the Norwegian Legion, only 300 agreed to continue the contract, and the rest were demobilized. They were joined by 250 Norwegians from the SS Viking division (out of 800 who served in the division in the spring of 1943). It was planned to fill the shortage of people by recruiting new volunteers in Norway - the country's Minister-President Vidkun Quisling expected that there would be at least 3,000 of them. But only 260 people were recruited, and as a result, 810 Norwegians served in the SS Nordland regiment. The shortage was traditionally filled by the Germans and Volksdeutsche. In the SS Danmark regiment the situation was better - 1280 Danes, to which were added almost 2000 Germans and Volksdeutsche. As a result, the SS Nordland division, which was conceived as a purely Scandinavian division, had a little more than 2,000 foreigners at the time of its creation. At the end of 1943, this number increased to 2,491 people.

The remaining Flemish and Dutch legions were reorganized into separate national brigades - “Langemarck” (2068 people on December 26, 1943) and “Netherland” (5417 people, of which 2230 were Dutch, on December 26, 1943).

Crew of the anti-tank gun of the Flemish SS assault brigade "Langemarck" kriegsberichter-archive.com

In addition, in the second half of 1943, the Wallonia Legion, numbering about 1,500 people, and the French Legion were transferred from the Wehrmacht to the SS troops. They were immediately reorganized into the SS assault brigades "Wallonia" and "Frankreich", respectively. In November 1943, the creation of the Italian Legion began, and in February 1944 it was deployed to the 1st Italian SS Brigade. At the same time, some Western Europeans continued to serve in various German units, but their number was insignificant.

Despite the increase in the number of personnel of Western European volunteer units, its total number at the end of 1943 remained small - approximately 12,000-13,000 people (not counting the Italians) with a total number of SS troops of about 500,000 people.

Massive growth of "European SS divisions"

The events of 1944 left little hope for a German victory. Moreover, at the moment of the greatest defeats of the Third Reich, there were many Western Europeans who were ready to voluntarily, with arms in hand, come to its defense. These were mostly collaborationists who sought to defend their ideals and understood that if Germany were defeated their fate would be unenviable. It was at the end of the war that the largest influx of volunteers from Western Europe into the SS troops occurred - for example, about five thousand Flemings alone signed up.

Soldier of the Flemish SS division "Langemarck" axishistory.com

At the end of 1944 and the beginning of 1945 there was a sharp increase in the number of SS divisions staffed by Western Europeans. Five Western European national SS brigades were deployed into the SS divisions “Netherland”, “Langemarck”, “Wallonia”, “Charlemagne” and the Italian one. In March 1945, another Dutch SS division appeared - Landsturm Netherlands, formed from scratch from local collaborators.

However, the deployment of divisions and the influx of recruits did not have a particularly significant impact on the total number of volunteer units. A characteristic feature of all these “last hour” divisions is the low number of personnel - usually it did not exceed 5000-7000 people, that is, it was comparable to a brigade. Another feature was the presence of a large number of German personnel in national units. Only the SS Division "Wallonia" was commanded by Walloon SS-Obersturmbannführer (later SS-Standartenführer) Leon Degrelle; the commanders of other foreign divisions were Germans.

Christian Peder Krüssing - professional military man, colonel of the Danish army, who became an SS Brigadefuhrer axishistory.com

At the same time, few of the Western European volunteers rose in rank above SS Sturmbannführer. The Western Europeans were one SS Brigadeführer (Danish Christian Krüssing), two SS Oberführers (Frenchman Edgar Poix and Swiss Eugen Corrodi von Elfenau) and one SS Standartenführer (Leon Degrelle). We deliberately excluded from this list Major General SS Brigadeführer Pietro Manelli, an inspector of Italian SS formations who was transferred to the SS troops from the army of the Italian Social Republic with his rank retained, as well as three or four Italian SS Standartenführers who ended up in the SS troops with him.

The greatest difficulties with the national officer corps were experienced by the two Dutch SS divisions, in which almost all senior command posts were occupied by Germans. In total, less than 300 Dutch officers served in the SS troops, the highest rank among them was Obersturmbannführer, and there were also several Dutch Sturmbannführers and Hauptsturmführers. These high ranks mostly belonged to “narrow specialists” and not to line officers. Thus, the only Dutch SS Obersturmbannführer was Johan van Heutz, who was born on October 1, 1882 and at the end of the war served as a doctor in the Indian SS Legion. Another senior Dutch officer, SS Sturmbannführer Martinus van Ayken (promoted 9 November 1943), served as a veterinarian in the 8th SS Cavalry Division. Of the Dutch SS Hauptsturmführers, the one that comes to mind first of all is 42-year-old Quintus de Veer, who on March 1, 1945 commanded the 2nd Division of the 23rd SS Artillery Regiment of the 23rd SS Division "Netherlands", being the only Dutch battalion-level commander in it. We also note that of the four Dutchmen who received the Knight's Cross, three were non-commissioned officers, and only one was an officer (SS Untersturmführer Hans Havik). At the same time, Havik served in the 4th SS Police Division, and not in any Dutch SS unit. As a result, most of the Dutch held positions in volunteer divisions no higher than company commander, and in rare cases, battalion commander.

Of course, the situation with officers was not so bad in all national units. Thus, in the 24th SS Danmark Regiment, the Danes occupied the positions of regimental and battalion commanders. And yet there were not enough Western European officers. This problem had to be solved by training the officer corps for foreign divisions, for which purpose special cadet classes for foreigners were created in SS officer schools. Harsh military realities did not allow this plan to be fully implemented.

At the end of the war, the SS troops had seven SS divisions, partially or fully staffed by Western Europeans, as well as a number of individual units (mainly companies and battalions).

Some statistics

We reflected the number of foreign volunteers from Western Europe in the SS troops in 1940-1945 in the table:

As you can see, in total only about 80,000 Western European volunteers passed through the SS troops in 1940-1945. Taking into account the total number of SS troops of approximately 1,000,000 people, this gives us 8% of their strength. Note that historiography usually cites larger numbers of volunteers from Western Europe - up to 140,000 people. These data are incorrect because they often include members of various paramilitary and security forces who had nothing to do with the SS troops.

Combat effectiveness of Western European volunteers

Without exception, all authors writing about foreign volunteers in the SS troops consider Western Europeans to be the most combat-ready among them. They are the main pride of European pro-SS historiography, and it is they who are talked about first of all when it comes to the volunteer movement. At the same time, historians treat the Slavs in the SS troops with distrust, and tolerate other Eastern Europeans and representatives of the Baltic peoples, but without much enthusiasm.

Is this admiration justified? The categorical fact is that, despite the lack of personnel, all these divisions were distinguished by high morale and perseverance. At the same time, in our opinion, the military successes of Western European volunteers are exaggerated by war and post-war propaganda. According to it, the SS Viking and Nordland divisions became the real personification of the European volunteer movement. Without detracting from the combat achievements of these formations, we note that they were always dominated numerically by the Germans, and not by foreigners, who were simply soldiers in the general ranks. Although many Western European volunteers fought steadfastly on the front, their combat results are not unusual and in no way surpass the achievements of the Germans, Volksdeutsche and other foreign SS volunteers (particularly Latvians and Estonians).

Leon Degrelle at the parade of the SS Walloon brigade in Charleroi in the spring of 1944. Behind him is Brigade Adjutant Roger Vastu axishistory.com

It is worth noting that all known “volunteer battles” took place at the final stage of the war, that is, during the period of German defeats of 1944-1945. Thus, the Walloons became famous after the Korsun-Shevchenko battle in the winter of 1944, overnight becoming heroes of propaganda. The propagandists preferred not to mention that they were frankly lucky there and the losses were enormous.

Another textbook example is the French in April 1945. When volunteers began to be recruited among the French SS men for hopeless battles in Berlin, the result exceeded expectations: the available transport was not enough for everyone. About 400 people were transported to Berlin in nine trucks and three cars: 320 French and several dozen Germans. The result was three “French Knight's Crosses” and the defeat of this detachment. At the same time, apart from the Berlin battles, there is nothing special to remember about the French SS men.

Now let’s analyze such an interesting point as the number of awards received by foreign SS volunteers. An interesting picture emerges here, for the sake of completeness we included in the table Latvians and Estonians, who, although not Western Europeans, were noted for their active service in the SS troops:

If we sum up the representatives of all Western European nations, we get 68,750 people with 1 Oak Leaves, 14 Knight's Crosses and 8 German Crosses in gold. Latvians and Estonians (90,000 people) have 1 Oak Leaves, 16 Knight's Crosses and 17 German Crosses in gold. Taking into account the difference in numbers, the result is approximately equal. Moreover, almost all the awards were received in 1944-1945, but SS units from representatives of the Baltic peoples began to form in the second half of 1942 (Estonians) and the beginning of 1943 (Latvians).

Let's consider another interesting aspect, namely the relationship between German and foreign personnel in the distribution of Knight's Crosses among SS volunteer divisions:

The table takes into account SS volunteer divisions, including Viking and Nordland, staffed by foreign volunteers, but not Volksdeutsche. The awards also included Knight's Crosses received by members of various volunteer brigades, which were later reorganized into divisions.

Notes: 1 - Dane Soren Kam; 2 - Dutchman Kaspar Sporck and Dane Egon Christofferson; 3 - Dutchmen Gerardus Moyomann and Dirk-Elsko Bruins, Dane Johannes Helmers. The table does not include the awards of the Estonian Alfons Rebane (awarded the Knight's Cross on February 23, 1944 as commander of the 658th Estonian Police Battalion), the Dutchman Hans Havik (platoon commander of the 4th SS Police Division, awarded the Knight's Cross on May 6, 1945) and the Latvian Voldemar Veissa (awarded the Knight's Cross on February 9, 1944 as a regimental commander in the 2nd Latvian SS Brigade).

It follows from the table that in the famous “Western European” SS divisions “Viking” and “Nordland”, Germans received more awards than foreigners, although the emphasis in all studies devoted to these divisions is on them. A similar situation was observed in the 23rd SS Division “Netherlands” - the Dutch received only 15% of the awards. The ratio is much better in the SS Division “Wallonia” - 100% of the Knight's Crosses were received by Walloons; in Charlemagne, the French received 75% of the Knight's Crosses, but all these advantages are negated by the small number of awards in these formations and the fact that in the case of the French they were awarded for only one battle.

With the above, we in no way want to say that Western European volunteers turned out to be unworthy opponents for Soviet soldiers. Knowing that the war would be lost, the European SS men dug into the ground with fanatical tenacity, holding back the onslaught of the Red Army. Their efforts were in vain.

Almost 80,000 Western European volunteers made a significant contribution to the development of the SS troops, but were not a significant component of them. Undoubtedly, the main role in the SS troops was played by the Germans and Volksdeutsche.

Sources and literature:

1. Bishop K. Foreign divisions of the Third Reich. Foreign volunteers in the SS troops 1940-1945. - M.: Eksmo, 2006
2. Semenov K. SS Troops. Soldiers are like everyone else. - M.: Yauza - Eksmo, 2004
3. Williamson G. SS - an instrument of terror. - Smolensk: Rusich, 1999
4. Hausser P. SS troops in action. // Hitler's Black Guard. - M.: Yauza - Press, 2008
5. Bender RJ, Taylor HP Uniforms, organization and history of the Waffen-SS. Vol.2. — RJ Bender Publishing, 1986
6. Lumsden R. Himmler's Black Order. A history of the SS 1923-1945. — Sutton Publishing, 2005
7. Rikmenspoel M. Waffen-SS Encyclopedia. — The Aberjona Press, Bedford, PA, 2004
8. Williamson G. Loyalty is my Honour. — Bramley Books, 1995

“Asphalt Soldiers”: why the SS and Wehrmacht troops were at enmity with each other

This article will focus on the Dirlewanger Sonderkommando. Which later grew to the size of a battalion, then turned into a regiment, then a brigade, and even almost became a division.

The basis of the German army on the fronts of World War II was made up of two types of troops: the Wehrmacht and the SS. The real warriors and punitive forces are the special services. They differed both in composition and in the tasks assigned to them.

Creation

The Wehrmacht and SS troops can fully be called the brainchild of Hitler, although their birth took place under different conditions. According to Hitler, the Wehrmacht was supposed to ensure the security of the Reich from the outside, and the SS from the inside. In April 1925, immediately after his release from prison, Hitler gave the order to create a personal guard, which initially included 8 people. At Goering's suggestion, the new "defense team" was named SS, an abbreviation for the aviation term "Schutzstaffel" ("cover squadron"). Initially, Hitler believed that SS units should not exceed 10% of the peacetime composition of the German army. In 1935, a new armed force of Germany, the Wehrmacht, was created on the basis of the Reichswehr. This is a historical term derived from the words “wehr” - “weapon, defense, resistance” and “macht” - “strength, power, authority, army”.

Structure

The SS was a heterogeneous formation, constantly increasing its size and expanding its sphere of influence. The SS was simultaneously a public organization, a security service, the administration of concentration camps, an army, and a financial and industrial group. It also included various secret organizations, including occult ones. The troops themselves - the Waffen-SS - during the war included 38 divisions. The structure of the Wehrmacht was extremely simple. The German armed forces consisted of the ground forces (Heer), navy (Kriegsmarine) and air force (Luftwaffe). The Wehrmacht was headed by the High Command.

Ideology

One of the founders of the Wehrmacht, German General Werner von Fritsch, was a believer and a convinced monarchist. He believed that, as far as possible, the army should be educated in the spirit of Christian values, and he tried to instill in his subordinates the traditions of Prussian officers. The NSDAP, which stood at the origins of the SS, on the contrary, was perceived as a substitute for religion. “We are the church,” Hitler declared in 1933. The awareness of belonging to the “master race,” according to Himmler, was supposed to shape the ideology of SS members.

Requirements

Until 1943, the SS was replenished by volunteers, while the Wehrmacht was content with those who remained. However, not all volunteers could serve in the elite SS troops. The selection was very tough. They accepted exclusively Germans between the ages of 25 and 35, for whom at least two members of the NSDAP could vouch. The candidate had to be "sane, disciplined, strong and healthy." Particular attention was paid to the reliability of the applicant. The SS troops predominantly included people from rural areas, as they were stronger and better able to withstand the hardships of field life.

Asphalt Soldiers"

The Wehrmacht leadership was not particularly enthusiastic about the appearance of SS reinforcement units, as it saw them as a direct competitor. The highest ranks of the Wehrmacht treated the SS command with a certain disdain, which consisted of former junior officers with relatively little military experience. Due to their constant participation in official events, the “SS men” acquired the offensive nickname “asphalt soldiers.”

Army generals convinced Hitler to ban the formation of separate SS divisions, as well as the possibility of them having their own artillery and recruiting soldiers through newspapers. However, in the event of war, Hitler reserved the right to lift these prohibitions. Passions ran high during the Balkan Campaign of 1941, when, in the heat of the struggle for the right to deliver a decisive blow, the SS men almost opened fire on Wehrmacht soldiers. It was only after the invasion of the Soviet Union that SS units earned the respect of the army. However, among Wehrmacht officers there was a belief that the participation of SS units in punitive actions against the civilian population inevitably leads to moral decay, loss of discipline and loss of combat effectiveness of the army.

Conflicts

There were enough situations that provoked conflicts and caused a split between the Wehrmacht and SS soldiers. For example, the commander of the German group in the Demyansk cauldron, General Walter von Brockdorff-Ahlefeld, openly sacrificed soldiers of the SS division and stubbornly protected army units. At the same time, Wehrmacht soldiers complained about poor supplies, in contrast to SS units. One of the officers wrote with resentment: “Himmler even made sure that the SS men received special food for Christmas, while we still ate horse meat soup.” The conflict between Lieutenant General Edgar Feuchtinger and the commander of the 25th SS Regiment, Standartenführer Kurt Mayer, which occurred at the beginning of the Normandy campaign, became widely known. Mayer was determined to attack the allied landing, while the general hesitated to make a decision. Based on the results of the investigation, the main reason for the incident was considered to be both Feuchtinger’s personal hostility towards Mayer and a generally envious attitude towards the SS troops, caused by their repeated successes.

Implementation

On June 29, 1944, a special event took place for the German army: SS Obergruppenführer Paul Hausser was appointed commander of the 7th Wehrmacht Army in Normandy. It should be noted that Hausser became the first “SS man” to receive such a position. Moreover, for Hitler, according to historians, the appointment of a representative of the SS was of fundamental importance. The next introduction of a high SS rank into the structure of the Wehrmacht occurred immediately after the assassination attempt on Hitler. On the afternoon of July 20, 1944, Heinrich Himmler was appointed commander-in-chief of the reserve army instead of General Friedrich Fromm, who was indirectly involved in the conspiracy.

Strength and losses

The total number of Wehrmacht troops at the beginning of World War II was 4.6 million people, and by June 22, 1941 it reached 7.2 million. According to Soviet data, as of June 26, 1944, Wehrmacht losses amounted to about 7.8 million people killed and captured. It is known that there were at least 700,000 captured by the Soviets, which means that the number of German soldiers killed was 7.1 million. Such a number of dead, approximately equal to the number of German troops at the beginning of the invasion of the USSR, should not be misleading, since during war, especially after significant losses in manpower, the ranks of the German army were replenished with recruits. During the entire war, according to Soviet data, at least 10 million Wehrmacht soldiers and officers fell.

It is difficult to determine what percentage of all dead German military personnel were SS troops. It is known that in December 1939 the number of SS personnel was 243.6 thousand people, and by March 1945 the number of “SS men” reached 830 thousand. The paradox is explained by the same replenishment of SS units at the expense of newly called up. According to German information, during the Second World War, the SS troops received approximately 10 times more recruits than the Wehrmacht army. According to the same data, the SS troops lost approximately 70% of their personnel throughout the war.

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Gebhardt, Karl

(Gebhardt, Karl), (11/23/1897 - 1948), one of the leaders of medicine in Germany, SS Gruppenführer and Lieutenant General of the SS troops, professor.

Born November 23, 1897 in Gottsbüren.

Received higher medical education.

In 1923 he was an active member of the Freikorps and took part in the Beer Hall Putsch of 1923.

In 1933 he joined the NSDAP, in 1934 - the SS.

Since 1933, the chief physician of the established hospital in Hohenlinchen.

Since 1938, G. Himmler's attending physician enjoyed his boundless trust and support.

Since 1939, consultant physician for the SS troops; since 1943, chief military clinical physician under the imperial SS doctor. He also served as president of the German Red Cross. He supervised experiments on prisoners of the Ravensbrück concentration camp. At the 1st American Military Tribunal in Nuremberg, in the case of doctors, he was found guilty of experiments on concentration camp prisoners with painful viruses, hypothermia, poisons, etc.

On July 19, 1947 he was sentenced to death.

Hanged on June 2, 1948.

Heydrich, Reinhard Tristan Eugen

(Heydrich, Reinhard Tristan Eugen), (1904 -1942), SS Obergruppenführer and General of Police, Chief of the Reich Security Main Office (RSHA), Deputy Imperial Protector of Bohemia and Moravia.

Born on March 7, 1904 in Halle in the family of the director of the conservatory. Received an excellent education.

In 1918 - 1919 Heydrich is a member of the National Association of Pan-German Youth - the "German National Youth League" in Halle.

In 1920 he joined the German People's Union for Defense and Offensive. In the same year, Heydrich became a liaison officer in the Lucius division, part of the volunteer detachments in Halle.

In 1921 he created a new association - the “German People's Youth Detachment”.

In the spring of 1922, Heydrich was accepted into the navy.

In 1931, after a scandalous love story with the daughter of a senior officer, the court of honor found Heydrich's behavior unworthy and recommended that he resign to avoid larger troubles.

In 1932, Heydrich joined the SS (No. 10 120), where Himmler drew attention to him and soon made him his closest assistant - in April 1934 he was appointed chief of the central Gestapo service.

In 1934, during the events of the Night of the Long Knives, Heydrich played a decisive role in the destruction of the Berlin stormtrooper organization. On June 17, 1936, he was appointed head of the Security Police (Zipo) and SD.

In 1940, Heydrich became president of the International Criminal Police Commission and in this position began organizing a system of German espionage in other countries. In 1941 he was awarded the rank of SS Obergruppenführer.

By this time, Heydrich had become manager of the concentration camp system; he created the first ghetto for Jews.

On September 27, 1941, Hitler appointed him Deputy Reich Protector of Bohemia and Moravia. At the Wannsee Conference held on January 20, 1942, Heydrich was appointed head of the program for the extermination of Jews.

On May 27, 1942, Heydrich was seriously wounded by members of the Czechoslovak Resistance movement.

Despite the urgent operation, Heydrich died on June 4, 1942.

Genzken, Karl Eduard August Hermann

(Genzken, Karl Eduard August Hermann), (1885-1957), SS Gruppenführer and Lieutenant General of the SS troops.

Born June 8, 1885 in Preetz.

In 1912 he was drafted into the medical service of the Navy. Participant of the 1st World War.

In 1919 he was demobilized and engaged in private medical practice.

In 1926 he joined the NSDAP (No. 39,913).

On November 5, 1936 he joined the SS (No. 207 954).

In 1934 he re-entered service in the Navy.

On March 1, 1936 he was transferred to the SS medical service.

Since 1940 - in the SS troops. Later appointed chief physician of the SS hospital in Berlin, and then director of the department for the supply of medical equipment and supervision of medical personnel in concentration camps.

Since 1942, head of the medical service of the SS troops.

At the trial of the American military tribunal in the case of doctors, he was found guilty of conducting anti-human experiments that led to the death of many prisoners.

On July 19, 1947 he was sentenced to life imprisonment.

On November 10, 1957 he died in Hamburg.

Goeth, Amon Leopold

(Goth, Amon Leopold), (1908 - 1960), war criminal.

Born in 1908 in Vienna. Son of a military journalist.

After finishing school he entered the University of Vienna.

In 1925 he joined the Nazi youth movement in Austria.

In 1930 he joined the NSDAP and the SS.

At the beginning of 1933, fleeing persecution by the authorities, he illegally crossed the Austro-German border and then became a courier between Munich and Vienna, transporting money, equipment and instructions to Austria. Participant in the assassination of Austrian Chancellor E. Dollfuss in 1934. He was arrested by the police, but managed to escape to Munich, where he worked for a newspaper for some time.

After the Anschluss of Austria, in October 1938 he returned to Vienna, where he served in various posts in the SS. With the outbreak of World War II, he was sent to Poland as part of the Einzatzgruppen, and then left in the occupation administration. One of O. Globocnik's closest collaborators.

From February 1943 to September 1944 he was the commandant of a large concentration camp near Krakow.

He led the liquidation of the Krakow ghetto on March 13, 1943, during which about 4 thousand Jews died.

In September 1943 he liquidated the Tarnow ghetto. He was distinguished by sadistic tendencies, incl. set his dog on prisoners.

In the fall of 1944 he was arrested on charges of embezzlement of public funds and corruption and sentenced to prison by an SS court.

In 1945 he was released by American troops and transferred to a prisoner of war camp. After the war he was sentenced to a long prison term.

Gille, Herbert Otto Wilhelm Hermann

(Gille, Herbert Otto Wilhelm Hermann), (1897, Gandersheim - 1966), commander of SS formations, SS-Obergruppenführer and general of the SS troops (11/9/1944).

Born March 8, 1897 in Ganderheim.

In 1910 he joined the ground forces. Participant of the 1st World War, Lieutenant.

In 1919 he was demobilized.

In December 1931 he joined the SS (No. 39,854) and on April 20, 1933 received the rank of SS Untersturmführer.

From June 1, 1939, he commanded an SS artillery division, with which he participated in the Polish and French campaigns.

From November 15, 1940, commander of the 5th SS Artillery Regiment. As part of the SS Viking division he fought on the Soviet-German front.

From June 20, 1942, commander of the artillery of the tank corps (1943), then successfully commanded a group near Rostov.

On May 1, 1943, he received the 5th SS Motorized Division "Wiking" from Steiner.

In October 1943, the division was reorganized into a tank division. In March - April 1944 he successfully defended Kovel against superior Soviet troops.

On November 19, 1944 he was awarded the Knight's Cross with oak branches, swords and diamonds.

On August 6, 1944, he was appointed commander of the IV SS Panzer Corps, with whom he distinguished himself in battles near Warsaw and Budapest.

In May 1945 he withdrew his corps to Austria, where on May 8, 1945 he surrendered to American troops.

Sentenced to 10 months in prison. Released in 1947.

Died on December 26, 1966 in Stemmen.

Hildebrandt,

Rigard Hermann
(Hildebrandt, Rigardt Hermann), (1897 - ?), one of the highest SS officers, SS Obergruppenführer and General of Police (1943).

Born on March 13, 1897 in Warms.

Son of the factory director. He received his education at the Universities of Cologne and Munich. Participant of the 1st World War, Lieutenant. For military distinction he was awarded the Iron Cross, 2nd class.

After demobilization, he worked as a financial journalist.

In 1922 he joined the NSDAP.

In 1928 he left for the USA, where he got married.

In 1928 he re-joined the party, Ortsgruppenleiter.

In 1930 he returned to Germany, head of the party region Winschelm/Uffenheim.

Since 1931, in leadership positions in the SS group “South” (Munich).

Since 1933, leader of the XXI Abschnitte SS (Lower Silesia).

On November 12, 1933 he was elected as a member of the Reichstag from Breslau.

Since November 1935, the head of the Oberabschnitte "Rhine-Western Scientific" institutes, which developed nationalist theories about the racial superiority of the Aryans. At the trial of the American Military Tribunal in the case of the racial institutions of the SS.

March 10, 1948 sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Himmler, Heinrich Leopold

(Himmler, Heinrich Luitpold), (1900 - 1945), one of the main political and military figures of Nazi Germany, Reichsführer SS.

Born on October 7, 1900 in Munich, in the family of a Bavarian teacher. He planned to become a professional soldier, but after graduating from military school he did not go to the front.

Himmler joined one of the units of the Volunteer Corps. He studied at the Faculty of Agriculture of the Technical Institute in Munich. Participated in the Beer Hall Putsch. At one time he was the personal secretary of Gregor Strasser.

In August 1925 he joined the NSDAP, restored by Hitler, and was appointed Gauleiter of Bavaria. In 1928 he married Margaret Boden.

On January 6, 1929, by order of Hitler, Himmler was appointed Reichsführer of the SS. Himmler sought to make the SS a continuation of the medieval traditions of chivalry. He developed a mystical ritual for joining the SS, assigning new ranks, and even a recommendation for SS members to marry “model wives.”

Since 1931, Himmler was creating his own secret service - the SD, at the head of which he put Heydrich.

In 1933, Himmler was appointed head of the Munich police. By order of Hitler, a concentration camp was created at Dachau.

On April 20, 1934, Goering appointed Himmler chief of the Prussian Gestapo.

On June 17, 1936, Hitler signed a decree appointing Himmler supreme leader of all German police services. All services of the German police, both paramilitary and civilian, came under his control. The SS troops were also created under the leadership of Himmler.

From 1943, Himmler became Reich Minister of the Interior, and after the failure of the July 1944 Plot, commander of the Reserve Army.

Beginning in the summer of 1943, Himmler, through his proxies, began to make contacts with representatives of Western intelligence services with the aim of concluding a separate peace. Hitler, who learned about this, on the eve of the collapse of the Third Reich, expelled Himmler from the NSDAP as a traitor and deprived him of all ranks and positions. After leaving the Reich Chancellery, Himmler headed for the Danish border, but on May 21, 1945 he was arrested by British military authorities and committed suicide by taking poison.

Globocnik, Odilo Lothar Louis

(Globocnik, Odilo Lothar Ludovicus), (1904 - 1945), SS Gruppenführer and Lieutenant General of Police, head of all “death camps” in Poland during the 2nd World War.

Born on April 21, 1904 in Trieste.

On March 1, 1931 he joined the NSDAP (No. 442 939).

On September 1, 1934 he joined the SS (No. 292,776).

He first announced himself in early 1938 during the Anschluss of Austria. He was appointed Gauleiter of Vienna, but his behavior in this post was so scandalous that he had to be demoted from his position in the SS.

In occupied Poland, he headed the Lublin police, was the founder of Beltsek, Majdanek and Sobibor - extermination camps in the vicinity of Lublin, as well as Treblinka.

Arrested in Austria by Allied forces in early May 1945.

On May 31, 1945 he committed suicide.

Gluck, Richard Heinrich

(Glücks, Richard Heinrich), (1889-1945), SS Gruppenführer and Lieutenant General of the SS troops, senior inspector of concentration camps, successor to Theodor Eicke.

Born on April 22, 1889 in Odenkirchen.

Participant of the 1st World War.

On March 1, 1930 he joined the NSDAP (No. 214 805).

On November 16, 1932 he joined the SS (No. 58,706).

In 1936 he was appointed to Eicke's department.

On February 21, 1941, Glück informed Himmler that he had found a suitable site for organizing the Auschwitz concentration camp. He was last seen at a naval hospital near Flesenburg. His further fate is unknown.

Gottberg,

Kurt von
(Gottberg, Curt von), (1896 - 1945), one of the leaders of the occupation regime in the USSR, SS Obergruppenführer and general of the SS troops and police.

Born on February 11, 1896 in Preussisch-Wilten.

On February 1, 1932 he joined the NSDAP (No. 948 753).

On July 20, 1932 he joined the SS (No. 45,923).

Served in command posts in the SS. After the occupation of the Soviet regions and the creation of the General Commissariat of Belarus, he was appointed head of the SS and police here. One of the closest assistants to General Commissioner V. Kube, organizer of the most brutal terror against Jews and civilians. He led Operation Cottbus (1942), during which about 9.5 thousand people suspected of belonging to partisans were killed. One of those responsible for the destruction of the population of Khatyn.

On September 27, 1943, after the murder of Cuba by Belarusian patriots, he assumed the duties of the general commissar and on the same day ordered the execution of about 300 hostages.

During 1943 - 1944 he continued to pursue a brutal occupation policy and a little later was appointed the highest leader of the SS and police of Central Russia.

At the end of 1944, after the evacuation of the occupied areas, he was appointed commander of the XII SS Army Corps.

Hoffman, Otto

(Hoffmann, Otto), (March 16, 1896 - December 31, 1982), one of the highest SS officers, SS Obergruppenführer and general of the SS troops and police.

In 1938 he headed the SS detachments in Dussan.

Since 1938 Member of the Reichstag.

From 1940 to 1943 he headed the SS Main Directorate for Race and Settlements (RuSHA). This department was key in implementing the Nazi racial policies, as well as in organizing the mass eviction of the population from occupied territories to make way for future German settlers. During Hoffmann's management of the RuSHA, further improvement and complication of the structure of racial institutions in Germany continued.

In July 1941, the Main Directorate of the Imperial Commissioner for the Consolidation of the German People and the Main Directorate for the Repatriation of Ethnic Germans (“Volksdeutsche Mittelstelle”), which had previously been subordinate to the RuSKhA, received the status of the Main Directorate. RuSHA retained mainly coordinating and “research” functions. In addition, RuSHA continued to work on issuing certificates of membership in the Aryan nation (including to SS members upon marriage, etc.).

In 1943 - 1945, the highest leader of the SS and police of the South-West. At the American Military Tribunal on Racial Institutions

March 10, 1948 sentenced to 25 years in prison. Released early.

Grabner, Ernst Maximilian

(Grabner, Ernst Maximilian) (executed in 1947), war criminal, SS Untersturmführer.

From June 18, 1940 to November 1, 1943, he headed the political department (Gestapo) of the Auschwitz concentration camp. He was in charge of deciding the fate of prisoners, incl. making a decision on the death penalty. Had unlimited power over the lives of prisoners. Initiator of the introduction of daily public executions in the camp. The SS officials who carried out the sentences of the political department were also subordinate to him: the main executor of Grabner’s decisions, Palitsch, personally shot about 25 thousand people before his arrest in 1943.

After the war, he was arrested and handed over to the Polish authorities.

On December 22, 1947, he was sentenced to death by the Supreme People's Tribunal in Krakow. Hanged.

Grawitz, Ernst-Robert

(Grawitz, Ernst-Robert), (1899 - 1945), doctor, war criminal, SS Obergruppenführer and general of the SS troops.

Born June 8, 1899 in Berlin.

On November 1, 1931 he joined the NSDAP (No. 1,102,844).

On March 29, 1932 he joined the SS (No. 27,483).

Since 1936, imperial SS and police doctor. Under his direct supervision and with his sanction, experiments were carried out in concentration camps, in which camp prisoners acted as “experimental material”. In addition, Grawitz supervised research work at various SS institutes. He headed the Main Directorate of the German Red Cross.

On April 24, 1945 he committed suicide.

During the trial of the American Military Tribunal in Nuremberg in the case of Nazi doctors, Grawitz's activities were assessed as criminal.

Graf, Ulrich

(Graf, Ulrich), one of Hitler's closest associates in the early years of the Nazi movement.

Born July 6, 1878 in Bachhagel. He worked as a miller and butcher. He was one of the founders of the NSDAP.

During the Beer Hall Putsch of 1923 in Munich he was seriously wounded.

In 1925 he became a member of the Munich city council, and in 1936 he was elected to the Reichstag from the Nazi Party.

During World War II he served in the SS with the rank of SS Brigadeführer.

Died in March 1950

Greifeldt, Ulrich Heinrich Emil Richard

(Greifeldt, Ulrich Heinrich Emil Richard), (1896 - February 1949), SS Obergruppenführer and General of Police (January 30, 1943).

Born on December 8, 1896 in Berlin.

On April 1, 1933 he joined the NSDAP (No. 1,667,407).

On June 18, 1933 he joined the SS (No. 72,909).

Soon after Himmler was appointed Reich Commissioner for the Consolidation of the German People on October 7, 1939, a department subordinate to him was formed (initially consisting of six departments) headed by Greifeldt.

In mid-July 1941, on the basis of the already existing apparatus, the Headquarters Directorate of the Imperial Commissar was created, which received the status of the Main Directorate in the SS system. Greifeldt was responsible for coordinating the work of both the Main Directorate of Race and Settlements and the Volksdeutsche Mittelstelle. First of all, the tasks of the administration included carrying out measures for the resettlement of ethnic Germans, expropriation of property for their needs in the occupied territories and its distribution among the German “colonizers,” which was carried out by the Central Land Office subordinate to Greifeldt. At the end of the war he was arrested by the Allies. At the trial of the American Military Tribunal in the case of racial institutions, the SS was sentenced on March 10, 1948 to life imprisonment.

Died February 6, 1949

Grunwald,

Adam
(Grünewald, Adam), (1902 - ?), war criminal, SS Sturmbannführer.

Born in 1902 in Frickenhausen. The son of a peasant. At the age of 8 I lost my father.

In 1919 he joined the Volunteer Corps. For a long time he could not find a job, but then he managed to enter the Reichswehr.

In April 1931, with the rank of sergeant major, he retired and joined the SA and by 1933 received the rank of SA Obersturmbannführer. After the “Night of the Long Knives” in 1934 he transferred to the SS.

During the war, he was for a long time the commandant of the Herzogenbusch concentration camp, which was created in the Netherlands.

Huber, Franz Joseph

(Guber, Franz Josef), (1902 - 1961), one of the leaders of the Gestapo, SS Brigadefuhrer.

In 1926 he joined the Munich political police (4th department). He was involved in issues of control over right-wing parties. On April 19, 1927, he was transferred to the criminal police, and, among other issues, was involved in the fight against the Nazi movement.

In 1933, among other employees of the political police, R. Heydrich transferred him to the Bavarian political police as secretary. Initially he worked in department II 1 C (Austria).

On April 24, 1934 he was transferred to the Gestapo, where he headed service II 1 C - reactionary forces, position and issues concerning Austria.

In 1935 he joined the SS, in 1937 - the NSDAP. One of the organizers of the preparations for the Anschluss of Austria.

After the Anschluss in 1938 he was transferred to Vienna to the post of chief of police. He led the investigation into the assassination attempt on A. Hitler by I. Elsner.

Since March 1942, inspector of the Security Police and SD in the central office of the Gestapo. One of G. Muller's closest collaborators and personal friend.

Since December 1, 1944, head of the Security Police and SD in Vienna.

Symbols of the SS Troops

We hope that we were able to cover, with the help of illustrations and descriptions, almost all the main variants of uniforms and insignia that were used in the SS units on the front line. It should be borne in mind that the variety of individual SS insignia, such as buttonholes or sleeve patches, represents a dark forest in the wilds of which researchers wandered.

Wartime regulations were very complex and often contradicted each other. Often they had a very distant relation to real life. Interruptions in the supply of insignia and symbols were common. It happened that their production was organized at the division level. There are descriptions and images of samples that never existed in reality, while other samples were produced and actually used without being officially introduced. This issue is even more confused by the huge number of counterfeits, the trade in which turned into a profitable business after the war. Therefore, in this book, for color illustrations, I used only those symbols, the use of which during the war is reliably confirmed by photographic material. At the same time, I am aware that genuine photographs were sometimes retouched in order to justify post-war forgeries. Therefore, all cases in which there is even the slightest reason for doubt are subject to careful examination.

SS Sturmbannführer Max Wünsche. Fighting in Russia in the ranks of the Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler, he made a dizzying career, becoming a regiment commander of the 12th SS Panzer Division Hitler Youth. He was subsequently seriously wounded in Normandy. His movie star appearance makes him easily recognizable in many wartime photographs. In this case, it is set off by the officer's version of the black SS tank uniform and a black shirt, purchased privately. The collar of the jacket, like that of all officers, is trimmed with silver edging.

When working on the color illustrations, we took some liberty to create “composite” images that combine details of uniforms and symbolism taken from various written and visual sources. This was done in order to display the largest number of options that existed. Therefore, sometimes one figure combines samples of clothing and symbolism that were used by two different people who served at the same time in the same unit. However, such a combination was not defined by the charter and is not recorded in photographs. What we really didn't do was add any symbolic details to the uniform unless they were captured in a photograph of a member of a particular unit.

There were a huge number of armed SS units. This does not allow us to provide a complete list of them in this - or any other - book. In this work we limited ourselves to listing the SS divisions in accordance with their serial numbers. In each case we also name the smaller formations that served as the basis for the formation of these divisions. At the end of each section, the main combat units of the division are given in their final form. In this regard, it must be remembered that the names and numbering of the regiments that were part of the divisions of the SS troops could change throughout the war.

SS Oberscharführer - platoon commander of the "Germany" regiment from the SS reinforcement units during the Western Campaign of 1940. At this time, automatic weapons were rare in SS units, and this soldier was armed with a rifle. The equipment is complemented by long-handled grenades, binoculars and a bag with a gas mask.

This aspect is discussed in great detail in Bender and Taylor's excellent multi-volume edition (see bibliography). Let's give just one example. The 1st equestrian standard of the SS formations “Totenkopf” received the official name 1. SS-Toten-kopf-Reiter-Standarte. In fact, it was formed outside the framework of the organization that was understood as the SS troops. However, later it was assigned to the linear units of the SS troops and renamed the 1st SS Cavalry Regiment (SS-Kavallerie-Regiment 7). And in December 1943, in connection with a general revision of the numbering system, it began to be briefly designated as the 15th SS Cavalry Regiment {SS-Kav. Regt. 15).

As of March 1945, the SS troops numbered more than 829 thousand people.

The situation with foreign regiments was no less difficult. The creation of a system of their designations plunged practitioners of the Aryan theory into complete frenzy. The name included not only the designation of nationality, type of troops and unit number, but also the degree of racial purity of the nationality whose representatives the unit consisted of. In addition, this “code” has undergone changes several times. Therefore, I would like to warn readers that delving into this topic may be dangerous for mental health. As an illustration, we present a complete list of the names of only one regiment - the senior infantry regiment of the 14th division.

A captured wounded teenager from the Hitler Youth division. He is wearing a 1944 camouflage SS uniform with four pockets. (Imperial War Museum)

Formed in September 1943 as the 1st (Galician) SS Volunteer Regiment [SS-Friwilligen-Regt. 1 (galizische)] it soon changed its name to the 1st SS Volunteer Grenadier Regiment (Galician Division) [SS-Friwilligen-Grenadier-Regt. 1 (galizische Div.)], and by the end of October 1943. became the 29th Volunteer Grenadier Regiment of the SS (Galician Division) [SS-Friwilligen-Grenadier-Regt. 29 (galizische Div.)]. January 1944 witnessed its transformation into the 29th SS Volunteer Grenadier Regiment (Galician No. 1) [SS-Friwilligen-Grenadier-Regt. 29 (Galizische No. 1)], and the metamorphosis that occurred at the end of June 1944 turned it into the 29th Grenadier Regiment of the SS troops (Galician No. 1) [Waffen-Grenadier-Regt. der SS 29 (galizische no. 1)]. In November 1944 Certain racial and political realities forced it to be renamed the 29th SS Grenadier Regiment (Ukrainian No. 1) [Waffen-Grenadier-Regt. der SS 29 (ukrainische no. 1)]. In April 1945 the entire division changed its name to the 1st Division of the Ukrainian National Army, which entailed another change in the names of the units that were part of it. This nervous itch about inventing new names for numerous SS formations had nothing to do with military affairs, and this book does not pay attention to it.

1939 Soldiers of the Heimwehr SS Danzig. Their helmets are covered with camouflage covers, but there are no overalls. It is worth noting the Y-shaped belt and buttonholes of the “Totenkopf” units, characteristic of the initial stage of the war. At the end of the Polish campaign, they were included in the 3rd Infantry Regiment of the SS Division "Totenkopf". At the same time, the cuff tape remained the same.

There is one aspect that has to do with symbolism that should be touched upon at least briefly. A citizen of Germany, or Reichsdeutsche, having entered military service in the SS troops, became a member of the SS organization. This means that he received the right to wear SS runes on his buttonholes. The beginning of the recruitment of foreign recruits raised the delicate question of their racial acceptability for the SS. Thus, the buttonholes of foreign units became dependent on the point of view of the racial purity of their owners, which was determined by the corresponding council of SS healers. Representatives of certain nationalities - Scandinavian or some Western European - were considered worthy of wearing runes.

Others could be considered Aryans only with some stretch. Therefore, their inclusion in the SS troops, caused by military necessity, did not imply their belonging to the SS itself. Real or imagined national symbols were placed on their buttonholes. The Volksdeutsche were the main support of the German nation outside the Reich. Their number amounted to many tens of thousands, scattered mainly throughout the territory of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire. While acceptable to the SS, they often served in units whose core composition was racially questionable. In such cases, they usually wore divisional buttonholes, and SS runes were placed on the chest.

In practical terms, all this gobbledygook means that the rules governing symbolism were not firm and constant. Accordingly, each individual unit should conduct its own research into the symbolism used in it. (Sometimes photographs show blank black buttonholes on the right side. This may indicate either that the SS unit was in transition, or that it belonged to the Security Police or SD. Since these organizations had their own insignia, such photographs require careful research.)

Volksdeutsche are ethnic Germans living outside the territory of the Third Reich (as opposed to the Reichedeuche).

It is impossible to ignore the problem of morality. Some people believe that the atrocities with which the name of the SS is associated makes any "technical" research by this organization immoral or even dangerous. And this brings the author to the sad realization of the fact that in any case, someone somewhere will vehemently object to everything he writes on this topic. Therefore, the author considers it necessary to briefly clarify his position on this issue.

The most prominent among European volunteer units was the Volunteer Legion "Netherlands". On the sleeve of this fighter is noticeable the blue, white and orange chevron of the Dutch Volunteers and a patch with the name of the legion crudely embroidered. In the original of this photograph, on the right buttonhole you can discern the runes of a “vertical wolf trap”. This unit showed its best side, fighting on the Baltic coast, first as part of the “Netherlands” brigade, and then as part of the 23rd SS “Netherlands” division.

There were several hundred thousand people in the ranks of the SS troops. This fact alone makes any generalization meaningless. At the same time, the legitimacy of a certain generalization based on indisputable historical evidence should be recognized. The SS troops were brutal both on and off the battlefield. But so did the Allied armies during World War II. And for that matter, the armies of Western countries were noticed in this even after 1945. Records of the actions of the SS troops bear some resemblance to the brutality that later took place during the wars in the colonies. They were the result of military stress, which was also superimposed by a general disrespect for the human qualities of the enemy and the civilian population. But in the SS troops this disrespect was deliberately reinforced by the official ideology. While some acts of cruelty were the result of the actions of individuals or small groups committed at a certain moment (and this happens in any army and in any war), there were also those acts of cruelty that were committed by large units and sanctioned by orders from above, being the means carrying out a certain policy. We know that Allied units sometimes shot prisoners. But the Western allies were not seen in the wholesale extermination of the population of this or that European village. The actions of the “Byzantine” SS formations, recruited from semi-barbarian peoples to conduct anti-partisan warfare, are extremely poorly documented. But this does not mean releasing them from general responsibility. Reichsdeutsche units were also guilty of some very heinous atrocities. Therefore, it would be acceptable to say that in terms of its scale, nature, degree of official sanction and the attitude that was cultivated in the ranks of the organization, the cruelty of the SS troops surpassed all known manifestations of it both on the part of the Allies and on the part of other German units. It must also be added that a “distinction” is usually made between the front-line units of the SS troops and such sinister organizations as the Einsatzgruppen and the Death’s Head units.

SS-Obergruppenführer Theodor Eicke, former head of the concentration camp inspectorate. He was one of those very few people associated with this inglorious organization of whom it can be said with satisfaction that they died on the battlefield. Eicke died on February 26, 1943, as commander of the SS division “Totenkopf”. In this photo you can see the general's buttonholes of the SS troops.

Many apologists of the SS organization rely on this “difference.” However, a detailed study leaves no trace of it. We can say that there was a division, but that at the same time it was a rather heterogeneous and loose formation. Taking all this into account, it must be remembered that many officers, privates and entire units of the SS troops have time and again demonstrated a high degree of courage, discipline and self-sacrifice, which cannot but command the respect of any soldier or historian. Although the ideas they defended cause justifiable indignation, the fighting qualities of these units remain unsurpassed. Steel strength and inflexibility turned them into a kind of “fire brigade”. They were transferred from one sector to another, trying to strengthen the collapsing fronts, or were used for suicidal counterattacks, which the SS men launched despite heavy losses. Their purely military qualities generate interest in them among subsequent generations. To deny this would be as absurd as turning a blind eye to the obvious crimes committed by them (which their apologists still do out of naivety or outright malice, trying to hide the dark sides of their activities).

The Einsatzgruppen was formed from military personnel of the SS troops, as well as employees of the SD and security police, and were engaged in the “cleansing” (i.e., mass destruction) of the occupied territories from inferior peoples and political opponents. The Einsatzgruppen were not part of the SS troops. SS “Totenkopf” formations were engaged in guarding concentration camps, and regular units of the SS troops were formed from their composition (just as SS troops were often transferred to guard concentration camps after being wounded).

SS chief Himmler was obsessed with the occult

The head of the SS, Heinrich Himmler, was obsessed with ancient German mythology and the occult. He planned to make Wewelsburg Castle the center of the Third Reich and the storage place for the Holy Grail, for the search of which he specially hired a writer. And as World War II was drawing to a close, Himmler gave the order to raze the cult site from the face of the earth. The "Security Squad" (Schutzstaffel) - the Nazi SS - is one of the most terrible organizations that has ever tormented humanity. First, a small paramilitary security unit appeared whose task was to protect Nazi leaders during their meetings and to use force to deal with their opponents. But the SS developed into the most powerful security apparatus in the country after the Nazi Party. The SS included the entire state police system of Germany and the countries it occupied during the Second World War. It was the SS units that were entrusted with the implementation of Adolf Hitler's racial policies, and they were also responsible for the concentration and death camps. They killed more than 11 million people, of whom six million were Jews. The SS also included the feared Gestapo secret police. The organization's tentacles also penetrated the structure of the armed forces, where the military wing of the Waffen-SS was formed, which became the fourth branch of the German army. The supreme leader of the SS was Heinrich Himmler. This man, responsible for many deaths, had an eccentric interest in mysticism, the occult and their symbols. Like many other Nazis, Himmler looked to ancient German history for evidence of the superiority of the Aryan race. The SS uniform was full of symbolic marks. For example, the SS logo itself in the form of two lightning bolts was taken from ancient runic writing. The Nazis established special SS holidays of pagan origin, such as the winter and summer solstice. In the early 1930s, Himmler found a cult location for meetings and secret rituals involving the elite of the deadly organization. But his plans for the ancient castle were much larger... 1934: evil moved into the castle The town of Wewelsburg, which gave the name to the local castle, is located about 50 km east of Dortmund. The castle stands in a green and shady area, but there is something gloomy about its ancient buildings. Three powerful towers are connected by a massive wall, inside there is a castle courtyard. The castle was built during the Renaissance. And in 1934, evil moved there. The head of the SS turned his attention to Wewelsburg after the Nazis seized power in the 1930s. Himmler considered this location ideal. The castle is in an area known as the center of the former lands of the leader Arminius, which was important to Himmler and the Nazis.

Insignia

The ranks of Waffen SS soldiers did not differ from the ranks of Wehrmacht employees: the differences were only in form. The uniform used the same distinctive insignia, such as shoulder straps and embroidered buttonholes . SS officers wore insignia with the symbols of the organization both on shoulder straps and in buttonholes.

The shoulder straps of SS officers had a double backing, the upper one differing in color depending on the type of troops. The backing was edged with a silver cord. On the shoulder straps there were signs of belonging to one or another unit, metal or embroidered with silk threads. The shoulder straps themselves were made of gray braid, while their lining was invariably black. The bumps (or “stars”) on the shoulder straps, designed to indicate the officer’s rank, were bronze or gilded.

The buttonholes featured runic “zigs” on one, and rank insignia on the other. The employees of the 3rd Panzer Division, which was nicknamed "Death's Head" instead of "zig", had an image of a skull, which was previously worn as a cockade on the cap of SS men. The edges of the buttonholes were edged with twisted silk cords, and for generals they were covered with black velvet. They also used it to line the general's caps .