SS - one of the most sinister and frightening organizations of the XX century.Until now, it is a symbol of all the atrocities of the Nazi regime in Germany.At the same time, the phenomenon of the SS and the myths that go of its members, is an interesting subject for study.Many historians are still found in the archives of the German documents these "elite" of the Nazis.
We try to understand their nature.Insignia and titles SS today will be the main topic for us.
History
first time the acronym SS to indicate personal paramilitary guard unit was used by Hitler in 1925.
Nazi party leader has surrounded himself with guards before the Beer Hall Putsch.However, a sinister and special sense it acquired only after been re-recruited for the release from prison of Hitler.Then the rank of SS has been very stingy - had the place to be for a group of ten people who led the Fuehrer.
main goal of this organization is to protect the members of the National Socialist Party.Military ranks of the SS came much later, when formed the Waffen-SS.It was precisely those parts of the organization that we remember most clearly, because they fought on the front, among the ordinary soldiers of the Wehrmacht, although many stood out among them.Before that, though the SS was militarized, but "civil" organization.
Formation and activity
As mentioned above, the original SS - it's just a bodyguard of the Fuhrer and some other high-ranking members of the party.Gradually, however, the organization began to expand, and the first bell, heralding its future power, was the introduction of special SS-rank.We are talking about positions Reichsfuhrer, the then chief of a Fuehrer.
second important point in the rise of the organization was the permission to patrol the streets on a par with the police.This made the members of the CC is not just the guards.The organization has evolved into a full service monitoring procedure.
However, at that time the military ranks of the SS and the Wehrmacht still considered equal.The main event in the development of the organization may be called, of course, comes to the post of Reichsführer Heinrich Himmler.It was he who, being in parallel at the head of the SA, issued a decree, which did not allow anyone from the military giving orders to members of the SS.
At that time in the army in Germany this decision, of course, was made in arms.All the more so along with it immediately issued a decree that required to give all the best at the disposal of SS soldiers.In fact, Hitler and his closest associates provernuli ingenious scam.
Indeed, among the military class number of supporters of the National Socialist labor movement has been minimal, and therefore head of the party, to seize power, to understand the threat posed by the army.They needed a strong belief that there are people who take weapons on the orders of the Fuhrer and are ready to die, performing their tasks.So Himmler actually created a private army for the Nazis.
The main purpose of the new army
These people carried out the dirtiest and lowest in terms of morality, work.Under their responsibility were concentration camps during the war, members of the organization became the main actors in punitive sweeps.SS-rank appear in every crime committed by the Nazis.
final victory over the authority of the SS Wehrmacht was the emergence of the Waffen SS - later the military elite of the Third Reich.No general had no right even to subdue a member of the lowest rungs of the organizational ladder to the "security unit", although the title in the Wehrmacht and the SS were similar.
selection
To get to the party organization of the SS, had to comply with the set requirements and parameters.First of all, the title of SS-men received with absolutely Aryan appearance.Their age at the time of entry into the organization was to be 20-25 years.They had to have the "right" structure of the skull and completely healthy white teeth.More often than entry into the SS ended "service" in the Hitler Youth.
Ethnicity is one of the important parameters of selection as people are members of Nazi organizations, to become the future elite of German society, "equal among unequals."It is clear that the most important criterion was infinite devotion to the Fuhrer and ideals of National Socialism.
However, this ideology did not last long, or rather, almost completely collapsed with the advent of the Waffen-SS.During the Second World War in the private army of Hitler and Himmler started to recruit anyone who is presently known and desire to prove loyalty.Of course, the prestige of the organization were trying to save by assigning only the title of the newly adopted foreign Waffen SS and taking them to the main cell.After serving in the army like the person should have received German citizenship.
general "Aryan elite" during the war very quickly "run out", being killed on the battlefield and captured.In just the first four divisions were fully "equipped with" clean race, among whom, by the way, and find the legendary "Totenkopf".However, the 5th ("Viking") provided an opportunity to obtain the title of SS foreigners.
Division
most famous and sinister is, of course, the 3rd Panzer Division "Totenkopf".Many times, she completely disappeared, being destroyed.However, again and again revived.However, the division was not known because of this, and not because of any successful military operations."Dead Head" - is primarily an incredible amount of blood on the hands of the military.It is in this division is the highest number of crimes against the civilian population and against prisoners of war.Rank and title in the SS during the Tribunal did not play any role, because almost every member of the unit was able to "distinguish".
Second Division became the legendary "Viking", typed on Nazi wording "from relatives by blood and spirit of the people."They included volunteers from the Scandinavian countries, although their number was not going wild.Mainly SS-rank still worn only by the Germans.However, the precedent was created because "Viking" became the first division, where foreigners have been recruited.For a long time they were fighting in the south of the Soviet Union, the main place of their "exploits" was Ukraine.
"Galicia" and "Ron"
special place in the history of the SS division and takes "Galicia".This unit has been created by volunteers from western Ukraine.The motives of people with Galicia, who received the title of the German SS, were simple - the Bolsheviks came to their land a few years ago and had to repress a considerable number of people.In this division it was not so much of an ideological affinity with the Nazis and the Communists for the war, which many zapadnoukraintsy perceived as well as citizens of the USSR - the German invaders, t. E. As the executioners and murderers.Many were there from revenge.In short, the Germans were viewed as liberators from the Bolshevik yoke.
This view was typical not only for the residents of the Western Ukraine.29th Division "RONA" gave the title and shoulder straps SS Russians, who had previously tried to gain independence from the Communists.They come across there for the same reason that the Ukrainians - a thirst for revenge and independence.For many people joining the ranks of the SS seemed a real salvation broken after 30 years of Stalin's life.
At the end of the war, Hitler allies were already at the extreme, just to keep on the battlefield of people associated with the SS.The army began to gain just boys.A striking example of this - the division "Hitler Youth".
In addition, on paper, there are many and have not created departments, such as the one that was supposed to be Muslim (!). The ranks of the SS were sometimes even black. This is evidenced by the old photos.
Of course, when it came to this, the entire elite disappeared and the SS became a company under the leadership of the Nazi elite. Set "imperfect" men only shows, how desperate stayed Hitler and Himmler at the end of the war.
Reichsfhrer
most famous head of the SS was, of course, Heinrich Himmler. It was he who made of the protection of the Fuhrer's "private army" and has held the post of its head the longest. That figure is now largely mythical: clearly say where it ends fiction, and wherebegin facts from biographies of Nazi war criminal can not.
Thanks to the authority of the SS Himmler finally strengthened.The organization has become a permanent part of the Third Reich.SS-rank worn them, actually it made him commander of all personal army of Hitler.I must say, to his office, Henry approached very responsibly - personally inspected the camp, to carry out checks in the division, he participated in the development of military plans.
Himmler was really a Nazi ideological thought and the service of the SS his real vocation.The main purpose of life for him was the extermination of the Jewish people.Probably, the descendants of the victims of the Holocaust and the need to curse him more than Hitler.
Due to the impending fiasco and the increasing paranoia of Hitler, Himmler was charged with treason.The Fuhrer was convinced that his ally entered into an agreement with the enemy to save his life.Himmler lost all high positions and titles, and his place was to take a well-known party activist Karl Hanke.However, for the SS, he had no time to do anything as banal could not take office Reichsfuhrer.
structure
SS Army, like any other paramilitary forces, was severely disciplined and well-organized.
lowest value in this structure is the separation of the ball, SS, consisting of eight people.Three such military units formed troupes SS - by our standards this platoon.
was the Nazis and its counterpart company Sturm-SS, consisting of about a hundred people.He commanded them Untersturmführer, the title of which was the first and youngest among the officers.From Three of these units formed shturmbann SS, headed by becoming Sturmbannfuhrer (rank of major in the SS).
Finally, shtandar SS - the highest administrative-territorial organizational unit, an analogue of the regiment.
As you can see, the Germans did not have to reinvent the wheel too long to find the original structural solutions for their new army.They only picked up analogues of conventional military forces, giving them a special pardon, "the Nazi flavor."A similar situation exists with the titles.
Ranks Military ranks of the SS troops were almost completely analogous reasons Wehrmacht.
The youngest of all was the soldier who called Schuetze.Above it stood the analogue Corporal - shturmmann.So the title rose to Untersturmführer officer (Lieutenant), continuing to be mutated simple army ranks.They went in this order: rottenführer, Scharführer, Oberscharführer, Hauptscharfuhrer and shturmsharfyurer.
Thereafter began its work sostav.Vysshimi officer ranks were General (obergruppefyurer) of the armed forces, and Colonel-General, who bore the name oberstgruppefyurer.
They obeyed chief and head of the SS - Reichsfuehrer.In the structure of SS ranks no big deal, except that the pronunciation.However, the system is built in a logical and understandable army, especially if you put your head in the title and structure of the SS - then everything becomes all quite simple to understand and remember.
Insignia
rank and title in the SS is interesting to study the example of epaulettes and insignia.They are characterized by very stylish aesthetics and German does indeed appear in itself all that thinking about their achievements and purpose Germans.The main topic was the death and the ancient Aryan symbols.And if the title in the Wehrmacht and the SS did not differ, the same can not be said of the shoulder straps and stripes.So, what's the difference?
shoulder straps have enlisted is nothing special - the usual black stripe.The only difference - stripe.Junior officers had gone close, but their black shoulder straps okantovyvayut strip whose color depended on the rank.Beginning Oberscharführer, appeared in the epaulettes stars - they were huge in diameter and quadrangular.
But truly aesthetic pleasure can be obtained if we consider the distinctions Sturmbannfuhrer - in the form they resembled the Scandinavian runes and braided in a bizarre ligature, on top of which were placed the star.In addition, stripes, except for strips of oak leaves appear green.
general's epaulettes were performed in the same aesthetics, only had a golden color.
However, of particular interest for the collector who wants to understand the culture and the Germans of that time are various stripes, including the signs of division, which served as a member of the SS.It was also a "dead head" and crossbones, and the Norwegian arm.These patches are not required, however, they were in army uniform of the SS.Many members of the organization proudly wore them, confident they are doing the right thing, and that fate is on their side.
form
Initially, when the SS has just appeared, distinguished from ordinary party members "garrison" could be for neckties: They were black, not brown.However, due to the "elite", the requirements for appearance and isolation from the crowd of more and more increasing.
With the arrival of Himmler's organization became the main color black - Nazis wore caps, shirts, uniforms of this color.They added stripes with runic symbols and "dead head".
However, since the entry of Germany into the war proved that black is extremely stands on the battlefield, so the introduced gray military uniforms.It is not distinguished by anything other than colors and has the same strict style.Gradually grays completely replaced black.Form black was considered a purely ceremonial.
Conclusion
military ranks of the SS do not carry some sacred meaning.They - only a blueprint of military officers of the Wehrmacht, one might even say, a mockery of them.They say, "Look, we - the same thing, but to command us, you can not."
However, the difference from the usual SS army consisted not in their buttonholes, uniform and name ranks.The main thing is that there were members of the organization - is infinite devotion to the Fuhrer, which charges them with hatred and bloodlust.According to the diaries of German soldiers, they did not like "Hitler's dogs" because of their arrogance and contempt for all the people around.
The same attitude was to the officers - the only thing for which he suffered in the military members of the SS, so is this incredible fear of them.As a result, the rank of Major (Sturmbannführer in the SS it) has come to mean much more for Germany than the highest rank in a simple army.Leaders of the Nazi Party almost always sided with "their" during some vnutriarmeyskih conflict because they know that they can rely only on them.
Ultimately, not all criminals SS overtook justice - many of them fled to the South American country, changing names and hiding from the people to whom they are to blame - that is, on the whole civilized world.
