The Waffen-SS (1)

The military branch of the Nazi SS security organisation grew from only a handful of battalions at the outbreak of war in 1939 to hundreds of thousands of troops in dozens of divisions.

In the 1920s, a group was formed within the SA to serve as Hotler's bodyguard. They became known as the SS - Schutz Staffeln, or "protection squads". This work covers the first five Waffen-SS divisions, including the famous SS Panzer Division "Wiking".In the early 1920s, a tiny group was formed within the SA to serve as Hitler's personal bodyguard. Originally labelled the 'Stosstruppe Adolf Hitler', they later became known as the SS - Schutz Staffeln, or 'protection squads'. From these humble beginnings, the SS rose to a nominal strength of 38 divisions of over 800,000 men by 1945, representing a sizeable portion of Germany's land forces and more importantly a quarter of her tank forces and a third of her mechanised infantry. This first of four titles covers the first five Waffen-SS divisions, including the famous SS Panzer Division 'Wiking'.