The Schutzstaffel, or SS, began as a small protection squad for Nazi Party meetings but grew into a major paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. Under the leadership of Heinrich Himmler from 1929-1945, the SS was responsible for building the Nazi ideology and carrying out many crimes against humanity during World War II. As the Third Reich expanded, the SS numbers grew substantially and they became a parallel army to the Wehrmacht, sometimes fighting alongside them but also indoctrinated in Nazi ideology and responsible for running the concentration camps. When plotters attempted to assassinate Hitler in 1944, they sought to neutralize the SS because as an elite devoted fighting force under fanatical leadership,
2. WHAT WAS THE SCHUTZSTAFFEL?
• What was their purpose?
• What was their role during in the Third Reich?
• Why did the plotters of the assassination attempt try to
neutralize them?
3. WHAT WERE THEY?
“Protection Squadron”
• It was a major paramilitary organization
under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party
(NSDAP).
4. WHAT WAS THEIR
PURPOSE?
It began at the end of 1920 as a small,
permanent guard unit made up of NSDAP
volunteers to provide security for Nazi Party
meetings in Munich.
Later in 1925, Heinrich Himmler joined the
unit which had by then been reformed and
renamed the "Schutz-Staffel".
5. WHAT WAS THEIR
PURPOSE?
Under Himmler's leadership (1929–45), it
grew from a small paramilitary formation to
one of the largest and most powerful
organizations in Nazi Germany.
Built upon the Nazi ideology, the SS under
Himmler's command was responsible for many
of the crimes against humanity during
World War II
6. WHAT WAS THEIR ROLE
DURING THE THIRD REICH?
They were a paramilitary organization that
began as Hitler’s personal guard. Their
numbers grew considerably into a parallel army,
sometimes fighting along the Wehrmacht.
They were indoctrinated under Nazi ideology
and were some of the most devout followers.
They were also responsible for the
concentration camps.
7. WHY DID THE PLOTTERS OF THE ASSASSINATION
ATTEMPT TRY TO NEUTRALIZE THEM?
Parallel Army
• As Wehrmacht officers their
intention was to avoid a civil war,
by capturing the leaders of the SS.
• They were an elite fighting force.
• Wehrmacht officers disliked the
SS deeply.
Devotion to Hitler
• Because SS men were blind
followers of Hitler and NAZI
ideology, their reaction was
feared due to this fanatism.
• Himmler could use this “army” to
put himself in power should the
Führer die.
