The SS - Page 4

Marcus Wendel · 04-08-2007, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by angeljoanes

SS are elite division, right?

It is not possible to make that kind of short assesment on the fighting skills of the WaffenSS, a few of the Waffen-SS units were equal to the best in the regular German Army (Heer), some were average and some where horribly bad.

"Waffen-SS Encyclopedia" by Marc Rikmenspoel is an excellent overview on the subject.

/Marcus

Harry Ree · 04-08-2007, 08:18 PM

I am sure that there is an abundance of historical account of this organisation which can be located by any amateur researcher of European history.

Start by reading the judgement of the International Military Tribunal at the Nuremberg Trials on the SS which declared it to be a criminal organisation.

P51fan · 21-01-2008, 11:37 PM

Hi, My first post here. My understanding was that as the war progressed and SS numbers began to dwindle it was really an act of desperation to accept "other" races. SS units were trying to maintain their military divisions while also operating various death camps.

Gotthard Heinrici · 22-01-2008, 09:49 AM

Exactly P51 fan. There is a perception that the Waffen SS were an elite fighting organisation where in truth only a few divisions ever got close to that.

Nellis kid · 25-01-2008, 12:43 PM

I do not belive this to be true.

waffen ss were a formidable force and loyal idialogical troops of the fuhrer.

To say that they were not a force to be rackoned with is absolute tosh!

Nellis kid · 25-01-2008, 12:49 PM

I have just read a post which states the ss had to look elsewhere than ayrian race to make up numbers at the end of the war.........the hanjar ss was a force that culled many of its lands and a proud muslim force of the ss. A large number of proud men....would you call them weak????

4th wilts · 25-01-2008, 01:19 PM

my mate fought in normandy,he reckons the ss he fought were no better than the normal german army.yours,lee.

Gotthard Heinrici · 25-01-2008, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nellis kid

I do not belive this to be true.

waffen ss were a formidable force and loyal idialogical troops of the fuhrer.

To say that they were not a force to be rackoned with is absolute tosh!

I dont think so. The Waffen SS indeed had formations that could consider to be elite and the SS divisions that faced the western Allies could be counted amongst these. But not all the formations were elite. Of the 38 formations only about 10 or 12 could even be regarded as strong fighting units, never mind elite. Tell you what, I'm the one that posted the Tosh so why not prove me wrong then?

4th wilts · 25-01-2008, 04:12 PM

my mate reckons a lot of ss blokes were shot,he knew what they were up to in the death camps.i know the waffen ss were diffent to that lot,but he did not care,to him they were all the same,animals.yours,lee.

T. A. Gardner · 25-01-2008, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nellis kid

I have just read a post which states the ss had to look elsewhere than ayrian race to make up numbers at the end of the war.........the hanjar ss was a force that culled many of its lands and a proud muslim force of the ss. A large number of proud men....would you call them weak????

Yes. The SS had great trouble training them to begin with. There was a high desertion rate in the unit during its training in France along with at least one major and several minor mutunies that had to be put down. Once the unit returned to the Balkans / Yugoslavia for anti-partisan duties it proved marginal in actual operations. As a combat unit 13th SS Hanshar proved worthless. That is, unless the original documents and every history of the unit I've ever seen is wrong......

21-01-2008, 11:37 PM	#33 (permalink)
P51fan Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ranger, TX Posts: 23	Hi, My first post here. My understanding was that as the war progressed and SS numbers began to dwindle it was really an act of desperation to accept "other" races. SS units were trying to maintain their military divisions while also operating various death camps. Last edited by P51fan; 07-02-2008 at 03:20 AM.

22-01-2008, 09:49 AM	#34 (permalink)
Gotthard Heinrici Ostfront is where its at! Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 3,497	Exactly P51 fan. There is a perception that the Waffen SS were an elite fighting organisation where in truth only a few divisions ever got close to that. __________________ *"The Eastern front is like a house of cards. If the front is broken through at one point all the rest will collapse."* - General Heinz Guderian "With amazement and disappointment, we discovered in late October and early November that the beaten Russians seemed quite unaware that as a military force they had almost ceased to exist." - General Blumentritt "In all my years as a soldier, I have never seen me fight so hard." Lieutenant General Wilhelm Bittrich - Commander of II SS Panzer Korps - (Commenting on the British Paratroopers at Arnhem) - September 1944 "Had Clark given more heed to Juin's views...the savage battles of Cassino would probably never have been fought and the venerable house of St Benedict would have been unscathed" Rudolf Böhmler - 1st Fallschirmjäger Division - 1944 (After the bombing of Monte Cassino)

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04-08-2007, 08:18 PM	#32 (permalink)
Harry Ree Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 595	I am sure that there is an abundance of historical account of this organisation which can be located by any amateur researcher of European history. Start by reading the judgement of the International Military Tribunal at the Nuremberg Trials on the SS which declared it to be a criminal organisation.

25-01-2008, 12:43 PM	#35 (permalink)
Nellis kid Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 10	I do not belive this to be true. waffen ss were a formidable force and loyal idialogical troops of the fuhrer. To say that they were not a force to be rackoned with is absolute tosh!

25-01-2008, 12:49 PM	#36 (permalink)
Nellis kid Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 10	I have just read a post which states the ss had to look elsewhere than ayrian race to make up numbers at the end of the war.........the hanjar ss was a force that culled many of its lands and a proud muslim force of the ss. A large number of proud men....would you call them weak????

25-01-2008, 01:19 PM	#37 (permalink)
4th wilts Discharged Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: wessex Posts: 1,043	my mate fought in normandy,he reckons the ss he fought were no better than the normal german army.yours,lee.

25-01-2008, 04:12 PM	#39 (permalink)
4th wilts Discharged Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: wessex Posts: 1,043	my mate reckons a lot of ss blokes were shot,he knew what they were up to in the death camps.i know the waffen ss were diffent to that lot,but he did not care,to him they were all the same,animals.yours,lee.

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