Waffen-SS on the Western Front, 1940–1945

Ian Baxter

• Publisher: Pen & Sword Military
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN: 9781781591857
• eBook ISBN: 9781473829916
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Military & Maritime History
• Index: History

This book in the popular Images of War series covers the deeds of the Waffen-SS on the Western Front during the Second World War. With extensive text and in-depth captions with many rare and unpublished photographs it describes the fighting tactics, the uniforms, the battles and the different elements that went into making the Waffen-SS such an elite fighting unit. It traces how the Waffen-SS carefully built up their assault forces utilising all available reserves and resources into a ruthlessly effective killing machine. It depicts how this awesome military formation grew to be used in offensive and then in defensive battles, and provides much historical information and facts about the weapons and all the components that fought on Western Front. The reader learns how the Waffen-SS battled their way through the Low Countries and the Balkans. After D-Day they played a key role in Normandy and fought at Arnhem, in the Ardennes and shifted from one disintegrating part of the front to another in a drastic attempt to stabilise the crumbling war effort.The Waffen-SS on the Western Front 1940 1945 provides an excellent insight into one of the most effective fighting formations in military history.

Chapter One

Training for War

Between 1933 and 1939 the power of the SS grew considerably with thousands of men being recruited into the new ideological elite armed formation under the command of Heinrich Himmler. All early recruits were expected to meet very stringent criteria. Every volunteer had to be fit, have excellent racial criteria and produce a certificate of good behaviour from the police. During their tough training programme new recruits were indoctrinated with an almost fanatical determination to fight for the Fuhrer, even if it meant risking life and limb on the battlefield. Each recruit then left, displaying blind allegiance and joined one of the newly-created armed SS divisions where he would obey every order, even if it meant shooting prisoners and committing atrocities against civilians.

The initial training was carried out in various depots outside each SS Verfügungstruppe (SS Replacement Troop) regiment’s home town. The training programme was very tough and demanding. Out on the rifle ranges the recruits became used to their weapons, and once familiar they were taught infantry assault techniques that included charging at sandbags with fixed bayonets. Every instructor placed great emphasis on aggression on the battlefield, with an ardent determination to win at all costs. It was believed that this kind of training enhanced every recruit and instilled in them the drive to overcome their enemy through fighting skill and sustained physical endurance. Every candidate was pushed to the limits of tolerance. They were constantly sent on long marches with or without their kit, in order to develop stamina and endurance.

At least three times a week the trainees had to endure formal lectures covering policies of the Nazi Party, which included a very in-depth indoctrination in SS philosophy. The men were all ordered to follow Heinrich Himmler’s demand for blind and absolute obedience and learnt to treat those who were against the Reich with fanatical hatred. This included Jews, gypsies, homosexuals, the political Left and any other groups deemed to be inferior beings. By perpetually drilling the recruits to hate, they were able to infuse them with pitiless contempt and to not think twice about meting out severe punishments. The training in Nazi ideology was relentless. Not only did they learn about enemies of the state but were also indoctrinated into SS philosophy regarding racial superiority. These ideological teachings were aimed at producing men who ardently believed in the new Aryan Order. Regularly they had to attend lectures ful of anti-Semitism. On the bulletin boards inside the SS barracks and canteen there were often copies of the racist newspaper Der Stürmer. Such propaganda material was routinely circulated in order to ferment hatred and violence. As a result many of the new recruits became easily susceptible to anti-Semitic doctrine, especially the younger men.

In this manner, the SS was filled with men fully indoctrinated into fighting for their Fuhrer, regardless of their own fate. With anti-Semitism ingrained in their minds, every candidate would be willing to obey any order, even those involving the killing of prisoners and atrocities against civilians. Such was the strength of feeling manufactured against those who did not conform to the Aryan ideal.

At an SS training barracks in 1939. These troops are from the newly-created regiment known as Germania. In October 1939 the Deutschland, Germania and Der Führer regiments were organized into the SS-Verfügungs Division. These would soon form part of the infamous Das Reich Division.

Three photographs at an unidentified barracks: these SS troops are training, during which every trainee was pushed to the very limits of his endurance. These men were constantly sent on long foot marches with or without full kit, in order to develop stamina and endurance.

A group photograph of the SS at a training barracks with their commanding officers. In the early stages of SS recruitment every new volunteer had to conform to excellent racial features and produce a certificate of good behaviour from the police. Although the recruitment programme for the volunteers was very selective, the training was equally tough.

Two photographs showing an SS military procession: one shows them playing while at their home station in Germany; in the other the troops can be seen in a town. As a walking-out dress this uniform proved to be impressive when on parade bu...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Introduction
• Chapter One: Training for War
• Chapter Two: The Low Countries, France and the Balkans
• Chapter Three: The Western Front 1944–45
• Appendix I: Waffen-SS Weapons and Equipment
• Appendix II: Order of Battle: Western Front 1940
• Appendix III: Waffen-SS Order of Battle: Ardennes December 1944
• Appendix IV: Waffen-SS Divisions 1939–45