Schutzstaffel

From Metapedia

The Schutzstaffel (German for "Protective Squadron"), abbreviated Runic "SS" or SS (Latin), was a large security and paramilitary organization of the National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP) in Germany.

[edit] Background

The S.S. was established in 1925 as a personal guard unit for Party leader Adolf Hitler. "Die Schutz-Staffel der NSDAP" (shield squadron of the Party) Under the leadership of Heinrich Himmler between 1929 and 1945, the SS grew from a small paramilitary formation to become one of the largest and most powerful organizations in Germany. The Germans regarded the SS as an elite unit, the Party's "Praetorian Guard," with all SS personnel selected on the principles of racial purity and unconditional loyalty to the Party.

In contrast to the black-uniformed Allgemeine SS, the political wing of the SS, the military wing, the Waffen SS evolved into a second German army within the Wehrmacht, operating in tandem with the regular German army, the Heer. The Waffen SS gained a reputation as extraordinary soldiers.

The SS was distinguished from the German military, NSDAP party, and German state officials by its own SS rank structure, SS unit insignia, and SS uniforms. The all-black SS uniform was designed by SS-Oberführer Prof. Dr. Karl Diebitsch and Walter Heck (graphic designer) and made by Hugo Boss.

As the Party grew in political power, key government functions such as law enforcement were simply absorbed into the SS, while many SS organizations became the de facto government agencies. To maintain the political power of the Party, the SS was given authority to establish and run the Sicherheitsdienst (SD), the security and intelligence service, and the Geheime Staatspolizei (Gestapo).