Special Sub-Topic: The SS Click Here To Play: The SS

Who was the first leader of the SS?

Julius Schreck. Schreck became the first commander of the SS when it was formed as a protection squad for Nazi leaders at rallies. At that stage it was sometimes referred to as 'Stosstruppe Adolf Hitler'. A little later also became Hitler's chauffeur. Schreck later died from meningitis in 1936 and at his state funeral Hitler gave his eulogy.

Who was the commander of the Totenkopfverbaende (Death's Head units)?

Theodor Eicke. Eicke is best known for having personally executed SA Chief Ernst Roehm. In 1934 Eicke took command of Dachau and made changes that included: establishing new guarding provisions, which included strict obedience of orders, as well as tightening disciplinary and punishment regulations for prisoners, which were later adopted by all of the Third Reich concentration camps.

What was the name of the SS newspaper?

Das Schwarze Korps. All SS members were required to read it and encourage others to read it as well.

This SS commander took control of the SS HitlerJugend Division when Fritz Witt was killed by an allied naval bombardment. He led the division during the costly fighting around Caen. Who was he?

SS-Brigadeführer Kurt Meyer. "Panzermeyer" and his division escaped through the Falaise Pocket but was wounded and captured by Belgian partisans. He was eventually turned over to the British as a prisoner of war.

Which SS Division is infamous for the massacre of 642 French civilians in the village of Oradour-sur-Glane?

SS Division Das Reich. Very few of the soldiers of the Das Reich division were actually punished for the massacre.

On January 30, 1943 this man took control of the RSHA (Reich Security Main Office) after Heydrich was assasinated. Who was he?

Ernst Kaltenbrunner. Kaltenbrunner was tried for war crimes convicted by the Nuremberg Tribunal in 1946. He was convicted and executed.

What was the name of a post-war organization of former SS members?

Odessa. The Odessa was an agency made up of former ss members that helped smuggle wanted Nazis out of Europe after the war.

This SS commander was in command of the SS Panzerkorps and withdrew his forces from Kharkov (disobeying Hitler's direct orders). Who was he?

Paul Hausser. He had retired from the army in 1932 but a little later Heinrich Himmler, who needed experienced generals, persuaded him to join the SS. Paul Hausser and his troops were able to recapture Kharkov in March of 1943. On January 28th 1945 he took command of Heeresgruppe "G" until he was removed from his post after an argument with Hitler. He died in 1972 at the age of 92.

Formed in December of 1940 this SS Division initially was called Germania but its name was changed later on. What SS division was it?

Wiking. The "Wiking" Division was a motorized Waffen SS unit that was comprised of foreign volunteers. It first saw action in the Ukraine on the Eastern Front. Its first commander was SS-Obergruppenführer Felix Steiner. It surrendered to American forces in Fürstenfeld, Austria on 9 May.

The 'Kripo' (Kriminalpolizei - criminal investigation police) was put under the control of this SS Gruppenführer until he was executed for the July 1944 plot to assassinate Hitler. Who was he?

Artur Nebe & Arthur Nebe. He was executed by being hanged with piano wire, on March 21, 1945.