Initially a small bodyguard unit under the auspices of the SA, the Schutzstaffel (SS; Protection Squadron) grew to become one of the largest and most powerful groups in Nazi Germany. Led by Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler from 1929, the SS had over a quarter million members by 1938. Himmler initially envisioned the SS as being an elite group of guards, Hitler's last line of defence. The Waffen-SS, the military branch of the SS, evolved into a second army. It was dependent on the regular army for heavy weaponry and equipment, and most units were under tactical control of the High Command of the Armed Forces (OKW). By the end of 1942, the stringent selection and racial requirements that had initially been in place were no longer followed. With recruitment and conscription based only on expansion, by 1943 the Waffen-SS could not longer claim to be an elite fighting force.
Initially a small bodyguard unit under the auspices of the SA the Schutzstaffel (SS; Protection Squadron) grew to become one of the largest and most powerful groups in Nazi Germany Led by Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler from 1929 the SS had over a quarter million members by 1938 Himmler initially envisioned the SS as being an elite group of guards Hitler's last line of defence The Waffen-SS the military branch of the SS evolved into a second army It was dependent on the regular army for heavy weaponry and equipment and most units were under tactical control of the High Command of the Armed Forces (OKW) By the end of 1942 the stringent selection and racial requirements that had initially been in place were no longer followed With recruitment and conscription based only on expansion by 1943 the Waffen-SS could not longer claim to be an elite fighting force