Ian Baxter - Waffen SS on the Western Front: Images of War: Rare Photographs from Wartime Archives

First published in Great Britain in 2013 by
PEN & SWORD MILITARY
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Pen & Sword Books Ltd
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Copyright Ian Baxter, 2013

PAPERBACK ISBN: 978-1-78159-185-7
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The right of Ian Baxter to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in
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Contents

Introduction

T his book in the popular Images of War series covers the deeds of the Waffen-SS from its inception in the 1930s to war in the Low Countries, France, the Balkans, Yugoslavia, Greece, Italy and finally on the Western Front in 1944; and to the defence of the bombed and blasted ruins of the Reich during the last weeks and months of the war in 1945. This is a comprehensive illustrated study of the Waffen-SS in action and features action photographs of such famous divisions as the Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler, Das Reich, Totenkopf and a number of rare shots of the Polizei Division in action in all theatres of operations.

About the Author

Ian Baxter is a military historian who specializes in German twentieth-century military history. He has written more than forty books including Wolf: Hitlers Wartime Headquarters, Poland The Eighteen-Day Victory March, Panzers In North Africa, The Ardennes Offensive, The Western Campaign, The 12th SS.Panzer-Division Hitlerjugend, The Waffen-SS on the Western Front, The Waffen-SS on the Eastern Front, The Red Army At Stalingrad, Elite German Forces of World War II, Armoured Warfare, German Tanks of War, Blitzkrieg, Panzer-Divisions At War, Hitlers Panzers, Panzer Markings of World War Two, German Armoured Vehicles of World War Two, German Guns of the Third Reich and most recently The Last Two Years of the Waffen-SS At War, SS of Treblinka, Hss creator of Auschwitz, Auschwitz Death Camp, Battle of the Baltics, Battle for the Reich, Last Years of the German Army and Concentration Camp Guards. He has also written over 100 articles including Last Days of Hitler, Wolfs Lair, Story of the V1 and V2 Rocket Programme, Secret Aircraft of World War Two, Rommel At Tobruk, Hitlers War with his Generals, Secret British Plans to Assassinate Hitler, SS At Arnhem, Hitlerjugend, Battle Of Caen 1944, Gebirgsjager at War, Panzer Crews, Hitlerjugend Guerrillas, Last Battles in the East, Battle of Berlin, Destruction of Busses Ninth Army and many more. He has reviewed numerous military studies for publication and supplied thousands of photographs and important documents to various publishers and film production companies worldwide.

Chapter One

Training for War

B etween 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 Verfgungstruppe (SS Replacement Troop) regiments 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 Himmlers 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 Strmer. 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 Fhrer regiments were organized into the SS-Verfgungs Division. These would soon form part of the infamous Das Reich Division.