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Heinz · 12-11-2003, 06:43 PM

My understanding is the SS were political troops under Himmler. They were not favored by the Wehrmach and an interesing overview of some of this friction is given in "Berlin: the Downfall 1945" by Anthony Beevor. It is a must read for WWII fans. Beevor indicates many SS regiments were foreign troops who espoused the Nazi philosophy and when the Allies were winning, had nowhere to run to. The SS Nordlund was Swedish, SS Nederland was Dutch, and SS Charlemagne French. He illustrates the regulars feelings toward the SS in a quote from a young Luftwaffe flak helper who asked a companion on May 2 when they were spending their last free night in the Shultheiss brewery why he was hearing gunfire, the response "Come around back, the SS are shooting themselves, you have got to see this."

This does not seem to explain the SS tank Battalions which seem to have been well led and well equiped. But it does explain the large number of out of the mainstream weapons issued by the army to the SS.

12-11-2003, 06:43 PM	#12
Heinz User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Greenville SC Posts: 1,004 Thanks: 377 Thanked 411 Times in 180 Posts	My understanding is the SS were political troops under Himmler. They were not favored by the Wehrmach and an interesing overview of some of this friction is given in "Berlin: the Downfall 1945" by Anthony Beevor. It is a must read for WWII fans. Beevor indicates many SS regiments were foreign troops who espoused the Nazi philosophy and when the Allies were winning, had nowhere to run to. The SS Nordlund was Swedish, SS Nederland was Dutch, and SS Charlemagne French. He illustrates the regulars feelings toward the SS in a quote from a young Luftwaffe flak helper who asked a companion on May 2 when they were spending their last free night in the Shultheiss brewery why he was hearing gunfire, the response "Come around back, the SS are shooting themselves, you have got to see this." This does not seem to explain the SS tank Battalions which seem to have been well led and well equiped. But it does explain the large number of out of the mainstream weapons issued by the army to the SS.