The Schutzstaffel (SS), originally conceived as Hitler’s personal bodyguard, evolved into one of the most feared and brutal organizations of the Nazi regime. Under the leadership of Heinrich Himmler, the SS expanded into a vast network responsible for genocide, espionage, and terror. But how did this elite force come to be, and what dark truths lie behind its origins?
Here are 10 disturbing facts about the SS and its rise to power.
Table of Contents
- The SS Began as a Small Bodyguard Unit
- Heinrich Himmler Transformed It Into a Monstrous Force
- The SS Was Meant to Be the Nazi Elite
- The Night of the Long Knives Cemented Their Power
- They Ran the Concentration and Death Camps
- The SS Had Its Own Secret Intelligence Service
- They Recruited Foreigners to Fight for the Nazis
- The SS Conducted Gruesome Medical Experiments
- They Plundered Europe’s Wealth and Art
- Many SS Members Escaped Justice After the War
1. The SS Began as a Small Bodyguard Unit
The SS (Schutzstaffel, or “Protection Squadron”) was originally formed in 1925 as a small, elite group tasked with protecting Adolf Hitler and other high-ranking Nazi officials. Initially, it was just a subdivision of the SA (Sturmabteilung, or “Storm Troopers”), the Nazi Party’s paramilitary wing.
However, under Heinrich Himmler’s leadership, the SS grew in power and influence, eventually surpassing the SA in importance. By the time Hitler became Chancellor in 1933, the SS had already begun its transformation into a ruthless instrument of terror.
2. Heinrich Himmler Transformed It Into a Monstrous Force
Heinrich Himmler, a former chicken farmer, became the Reichsführer-SS in 1929 and turned the organization into a fanatical, racially pure elite force. He implemented strict racial and ideological requirements for membership, ensuring that only those deemed “Aryan” could join.
Under Himmler, the SS expanded into multiple branches, including the Gestapo (secret police), the Waffen-SS (combat troops), and the Totenkopfverbände (concentration camp guards). His vision was to create a “New Order” where the SS would rule over a racially purified Europe.
3. The SS Was Meant to Be the Nazi Elite
Unlike the SA, which was a mass paramilitary organization, the SS was designed to be an exclusive brotherhood. Members had to prove their Aryan ancestry back to 1750 and undergo rigorous ideological training.
The SS also developed its own mystical and pseudo-religious rituals, including oath-swearing ceremonies and occult-inspired symbolism (such as the Totenkopf, or “Death’s Head” insignia). Himmler even modeled the SS after medieval knightly orders, believing they were the modern-day Teutonic Knights.
4. The Night of the Long Knives Cemented Their Power
In June 1934, Hitler ordered the SS to purge the SA leadership in what became known as the Night of the Long Knives (Röhm Purge). The SS, led by Reinhard Heydrich, assassinated Ernst Röhm and hundreds of SA members, eliminating any threat to Hitler’s authority.
This massacre solidified the SS’s dominance over the Nazi Party and marked the beginning of its unchecked power. Shortly after, Hitler declared the SS independent from the SA, making it answerable only to him.
5. They Ran the Concentration and Death Camps
The SS was directly responsible for the Holocaust and the systematic murder of millions. The Totenkopfverbände (SS Death’s Head Units) oversaw the concentration camps, while the Einsatzgruppen (mobile killing squads) carried out mass shootings in Eastern Europe.
Later, under Operation Reinhard, the SS established extermination camps like Auschwitz, Treblinka, and Sobibor, where gas chambers were used for industrialized genocide.
6. The SS Had Its Own Secret Intelligence Service
The Sicherheitsdienst (SD), led by Reinhard Heydrich, was the SS’s intelligence agency. It spied on political enemies, Jews, and even high-ranking Nazis to ensure ideological purity.
The SD later merged with the Gestapo to form the RSHA (Reich Main Security Office), which coordinated the Final Solution.
7. They Recruited Foreigners to Fight for the Nazis
Despite their obsession with racial purity, the SS recruited non-Germans into the Waffen-SS to bolster their ranks. Volunteers from Scandinavia, the Netherlands, Belgium, and even Muslim Bosnians fought alongside Nazi forces.
These foreign SS units were often fanatically loyal and participated in war crimes, including the massacre of civilians.
8. The SS Conducted Gruesome Medical Experiments
SS doctors like Josef Mengele conducted horrific experiments on prisoners in Auschwitz and Dachau. Victims were subjected to freezing, poison, sterilization, and surgical mutilation—all in the name of “racial science.”
Many of these experiments had no scientific value and were simply acts of sadistic cruelty.
9. They Plundered Europe’s Wealth and Art
The SS looted billions in gold, art, and valuables from occupied Europe. Operation Reinhard not only exterminated Jews but also stole their possessions, which were funneled into Nazi coffers.
Himmler even planned to build a “Germanic Vatican” at Wewelsburg Castle, filled with stolen treasures.
10. Many SS Members Escaped Justice After the War
Despite the Nuremberg Trials, thousands of SS members evaded punishment. Some fled to South America (like Josef Mengele), while others were recruited by Western intelligence agencies due to their anti-communist expertise.
Organizations like ODESSA and Die Spinne helped war criminals escape, ensuring that many SS perpetrators never faced justice.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What was the main purpose of the SS?
The SS began as Hitler’s bodyguard but evolved into a state-within-a-state, controlling security, intelligence, and genocide operations.
How was the SS different from the Gestapo?
The Gestapo was the secret police, while the SS was a broader organization that included military, police, and ideological branches.
Did all SS members know about the Holocaust?
While not all were directly involved, the SS as an organization was central to the Holocaust, and most members were complicit in some way.
Are there still SS members alive today?
A few very old former SS members may still be alive, but most have died. Some war criminals lived in hiding for decades.
Why did the SS recruit foreigners?
As Germany’s manpower dwindled, the SS recruited foreign volunteers who shared Nazi ideology or were anti-communist.
Conclusion
The SS was not just a military or police force—it was the embodiment of Nazi terror. From its humble beginnings as a bodyguard unit to its role in the Holocaust, the SS’s history is one of fanaticism, brutality, and unchecked power. Even after the war, many of its members escaped justice, leaving a dark legacy that still haunts history today.
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