Nazi Terror The Schutzstaffel

What was the Schutzstaffel?  It was a semi- military organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party, the name which translates into protection squad; the Schutzstaffel was abbreviated SS

Beginnings of the SS  The SS was created in 1920 as a small unit of members of the NSDAP who provided security at Nazi party meetings and provided protection for Adolf Hitler

Growth of the SS  In 1929 Heinrich Himmler became the leader of the SS; under his leadership, the SS grew to one of the most powerful and largest organizations in the Nazi empire

What was required to become a member of the SS?  The SS was a highly elite unit; all prospects were selected on their racial purity, and loyalty to German and the Nazi party.  Only those with pure German Aryan ancestry was eligible to join the SS  This required proof of racial purity; those with any Jewish ancestry were not eligible for SS inclusion

Loyalty  Each SS officer was required to swear an oath of loyalty to Adolf Hitler (NOT Germany); total loyalty and obedience until death was expected!

What were the symbols of the SS?  The SS was most easily identified by the sinister-appearing, lightning-bolt style SS

Additional symbol identification?  To further the sinister reputation of the SS, it used the deathshead (skull & crossbones), often worn on the uniforms of SS personnel

What did the SS members wear?  Members of the SS wore black uniforms of many different styles; the constant on the uniforms was the swastika, lightning-bolt SS, and the deathshead

More SS Uniforms  The SS on the collar lapels, deathhead on the front of the hat, and swastika armbands

Expansion of the SS  The SS (with thousands of members) under Himmler expanded into different branches; one was the Waffen-SS, which were special units of highly trained, polished soldiers who fought during World War II

SS Expansion  In 1934, Hitler gave the SS power and control over all concentration camps; until 1945, the SS guarded and commanded all concentration, and later, death camps throughout the Nazi empire

Impact of Terror  Until the fall of the Nazis, the SS served as Hitler’s main instrument of terror throughout the Third Reich (Hitler’s empire)

The SS after World War II  The SS was responsible for many crimes against humanity during World War II, and was declared a criminal organization by the International Military Tribunal (courts) after the war

Aftermath of the SS  After the war, the SS was officially banned in Germany; members of the SS were hunted, captured, and put on trial after the war and charged with crimes against humanity; this hunt for former SS members continues even today!

The SS today?  Neo-Nazi groups throughout the world associate themselves with what the SS stood for; terror and racial purity; as such, the SS symbol is commonly used and displayed by these groups