Organization of the SS Totenkopf Standarten

25,000 men would have provided the personnel for at least a dozen infantry regiments, but by combining concentration camp guards and Allgemeine-SS men with Volksdeutsche, SA and NSKK men, and youths too young for military service, sufficient manpower was produced by 1939 for a complete infantry division (SS-Totenkopf-Division) and fifteen regiments together with their replacement units.

After the conclusion of the Polish campaign the SS-Totenkopf-Standarten were used to secure occupied Poland, thus freeing army units for the planned campaigns of 1940. Thereafter they served in Norway, Holland and the Protectorate as garrison troops.

Prior to the invasion of Russia the primary role of the Totenkopf-Standarten was changed from that of police troops to providing additional units for the field formations of the Waffen-SS.

1 SS-Totenkopf-Standarte, later Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 1, formed in autumn 1939 with H.Q. and three battalions as part of SS- Totenkopf- Division.

2 SS-Totenkopf-Standarte, later Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 2, formed in autumn 1939 with H.Q. and three battalions as part of SS- Totenkopf- Division.

3 SS-Totenkopf-Standarte, later Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 3, formed in autumn 1939 with H.O. and three battalions (personnel for which came in part from former 3 SS-Totenkopf-Standarte 'Thuringen') as part of the SS- Totenkopf- Division. It also absorbed the infantry from the former SS-Heimwehr-Danzig.

4 SS- Totenkopf-Standarte/4. SS- Standarte/SS-I nfanterie- Regiment 4 (mot) with H.Q. and two battalions derived from former 4. SS- Totenkopf-Standarte 'Ostmark' together with a new III.battalion. The regiment was motorised on 12 September 1940, and in summer 1941 became part of SS-Brigade (mot) 2, until December 1941 when it was transferred to SS-Division 'Reich'. On 20 April 1942 it provided H.Q. and II.battalion for schnelles SS-SchutzenRegiment 'Langemarck'. Remainder of regiment was disbanded in autumn 1942.

5 SS- Totenkopf-Standarte/5. SS-Standarte / SS-Infanterie - Regiment 5 (mot) with H.Q., I.battalion and cadre of II.battalion from former 2. SS- Totenkopf-Standarte 'Brandenburg' and new II. and III.battalions. Served in SS-Brigade (mot) 2 in summer 1941 and was disbanded in September 1941 with personnel transferring to SS-Infanterie-Regiment 9, SS-Division 'Nord', SS-Division 'Reich', and SS- Kavallerie- Brigade.

6 SS- Totenkopf-Standarte/6. SS-Standarte / SS -Infanterie- Regiment 6 (mot), with I.battalion drawn from 1.;3. SS-Totenkopf Standarte 'Thuringen'. The II. and III.battalions incorporated personnel from 1. SS- Totenkopf-Standarte 'Oberbayern'. When the I.battalion was transferred to SS-Totenkopf Division it was replaced by 11./7. SS-Totenkopf-Standarte, and when the II.battalion absorbed the III.. and new III.battalion was formed only to be transferred to 13.SS- Totenkopf-Standarte. The replacement III.battalion was transferred to the new 14.SS- Totenkopf-Standarte, instead of accompanying the rest of the regiment to Norway in spring 1940. Its place was then taken by II./Totenkopf- Rekruten-Standarte. The regiment was motorised in February 1941 and dissolved on 4 June 1942, providing a basis for SS-Gebirgs-Jager-Regiment 6 (later 11) 'Reinhard Heydrich' in SS- Division 'Nord'.

7 SS- Totenkopf-Standarte/7. SS-Standarte/ SS-I nfanterie- Regiment 7 (mot) formed late 1939 with H.Q. and three battalions (II.battalion was formerly I./Totenkopf-Rekruten-Standarte). 15 January 1941 became part of SS- Kampfgruppe 'Nord', and in February 1941 it was motorised. Later the regiment became SS Gebirgs-Jager- Regiment 7 (later 12 'Michael Gaissmair)'.

8 SS- Totenkopf-Standarte/8. SS-Standarte / SS-I nfanterie- Regiment 8 (mot) formed early in 1940 with H.O. and three battalions It was motorised on 12 September 1940 and on 1 May 1941 formed part of SS-Brigade (mot) 1. In January 1944 it became PanzerGrenadier- Regiment 39.

9 SS- Totenkopf-Standarte/9. SS- Standarte / SS-I nfanterie- Regiment 9 (mot) formed winter 1939 with H.Q. and three battalions.In April 1940 the original lI.battalion became 1./14. SS-Totenkopf Standarte and was replaced by 11./7. SS-Totenkopf-Standarte. It was motorised on 12 September 1940 and disbanded on 15 November 3, 1940 with exception of one battalion stationed in Prague which became SS- Totenkopf-Wachbataillon Prag. HQ. and remaining elements transferred to SS-Totenkopf-Standarte K (Kirkenes) which then assumed number 9.

10 SS- Totenkopf-Standarte/1 O. SS- Standarte/SS-I nfanterie- Regiment 10 (mot) formed in 1940 with H.Q. and two battalions derived from 3. SS-Totenkopf-Standarte 'Thuringen' and later a new III.battalion. It was motorised on 12 September 1940 and in May 1941 formed part of SS-Infanterie-Brigade (mot) 1. In January 1944 it became SS- Panzer-Grenadier- Regiment 40.

11 SS-Totenkopf-Standarte/11. SS-Standarte/SS-I nfanterie- Regiment 11 (mot) formed in early 1940 with HO and three battalions.It was motorised on 12 September 1940 and in November 1940 placed under command of SS-V- Division as a motorised infantry regiment. On 1 November 1941 it was disbanded with personnel going to SS-Infanterie-Regiment 3 'Deutschland' and 4 'Der Fuhrer'.

12 SS-Totenkopf-Standarte formed early in 1940 with H.Q. and three battalions and disbanded on 15 August 1940 with personnel going to SS-Totenkopf-Standarten 6 and 7 and II./SS- TotenkopfStandarte 'K'.

13 SS-Totenkopf-Standarte formed in late 1939 with H.Q. and two battalions derived from 5. SS-Totenkopf-Standarte 'Dietrich Eckhardt' and IIl.battalion formerly 111./6. SS-Totenkopf-Standarte it was disbanded on 15 August 1940 with III.batallion and band passing to 9. SS- Totenkopf-Standarte and other personnel to SS-Totenkopf-Standarten 4, 6,7, 8, and 11.

14 SS-Totenkopf-Standarte/14. SS- Standarte/SS-I nfanterie- Regiment 14 (mot) formed 24 April 1940 with H.Q. and three battalions.I. (formerly 11./9. SS-Totenkopf-Standarte), II. (formerly 111./6. SSTotenkopf-Standarte), and III. (formerly IV./SS- Totenkopf-Rekruten Standarte'. It was motorised on 12 September 1940 and in April 1941 became part of SS- Brigade (mot) 2. On 30 June 1941 it was disbanded with its I.battalion becoming Sonderbataillon Kommandostab RFSS: while other elements were transferred to SS-Infanterie-Regiment 9, Begleit-Bataillon RFSS and NachrichtenKompanie Kommando Stab RFSS.

15 SS-Totenkopf-Standarte/15. SS-Standarte/SS-I nfanterie- Regiment 15 (mot) formed early in 1940 with H.O. and three battalions.It was moto.rised on 12 September 1940, and in April 1941 formed part of SS-Brigade (mot) 2. It was disbanded on 2 November 1940 with its I.battalion continuing as Totenkopf-Wachbataillon Oranienburg.

16 SS-Totenkopf-Standarte was formed on 24 April 1940 with H.O.and three battalions from III. and remnants of I. and IV./SS- TotenkopfRekruten-Standarte. It was disbanded on 15 August 1940, with its Volksdeutsche and other personnel going to 10. SS- Totenkopf Standarte, others to 8 and rest to 15. SS-Totenkopf-Standarte.

17 SS- Totenkopf-Standarte was planned but not raised. SS. Totenkopf-Standarte K (Kirkenes) was formed in winter 1940-1 (1).batallion was formed in August 1940, and III. in February 1941), by the expansion of SS-Sonderbataillon Reitz by two more battalions and regimental elements. On 18 February 1941 it became the second SS-Infanterie-Regiment 9 (mot) (the first was disbanded on 15 November 1940), and in April 1941 became part of SS-Kampfgruppe 'Nord'. In July 1942 it was transferred to the SS-Totenkopf-Division as schnelles SS-Infanterie-Regiment 9 'Thule'.

1 SS-Totenkopf-Reiterstandarte was formed early in 1940 and expanded into two regiments which in the summer of 1941 became parts of SS-Kavallerie-Brigade as SS-Kavallerie-Regimenter 1 and 2.

2 SS- Totenkopf-Reiterstandarte formed by the expansion of 1. SS- Totenkopf- Reiterstandarte.

SS. Totenkopf-RekrutenStandarte ('Oberbayern') was formed late in 1939 with H.Q. and four battalions drawn from the pre-war 1. SS-Totenkopf-Standarte 'Oberbayern'. In early 1940 it was broken up with elements going to form other units as follows:part of SS-Brigade (mot) 2. It was disbanded on 2 November 1940 with its I.battalion continuing as Totenkopf-Wachbataillon Oranienburg.

16 SS-Totenkopf-Standarte was formed on 24 April 1940 with H.Q.and three battalionsfrom III. and remnants of I. and IV./SS- Totenkopf Rekruten-Standarte. It was disbanded on 15 August 1940, with its Volksdeutsche and other personnel going to 10. SS- Totenkopf Standarte, others to 8 and rest to 15. SS-Totenkopf-Standarte.

17 SS- Totenkopf-Standarte was planned but not raised.55. Totenkopf-Standarte K (Kirkenes) was formed in winter 1940-1 (1).batallion was formed in August 1940, and III. in February 1941), by the expansion of SS-Sonderbataillon Reitz by two more battalions and regimental elements. On 18 February 1941 it became the second SS-Infanterie-Regiment 9 (mot) (the first was disbanded on 15 November 1940), and in April 1941 became part of SS-Kampfgruppe 'Nord'. In July 1942 it was transferred to the SS-Totenkopf-Division as schnelles SS-Infanterie-Regiment 9 'Thule'.

1 SS-Totenkopf-Reiterstandarte was formed early in 1940 and expanded into two regiments which in the summer of 1941 became parts of SS-Kavallerie-Brigade as SS-Kavallerie-Regimenter 1 and 2.

2 SS- Totenkopf-Reiterstandarte formed by the expansion of 1. SS- Totenkopf- Reiterstandarte.

SS. Totenkopf-RekrutenStandarte ('Oberbayern') was formed late in 1939 with H.Q. and four battalions drawn from the pre-war 1. SS-Totenkopf-Standarte 'Oberbayern'. In early 1940 it was broken up with elements going to form other units as follows:Remnants of I.battalion went to 16. SS-Totenkopf-Standarte.lI.battalion became 111./6. SS-Totenkopf-Standarte.111.battalion became part of 16. SS-Totenkopf-Standarte.IV.battalion became 111./14. SS-Totenkopf-Standarte, with remnants going to 16. SS- Totenkopf-Standarte.V.battalion of pre-war Standarte was disbanded in 1939.

SS-Totenkopf-Unterfuhrerschule Lublinitz was formed In 1939 and broken up in June 1940.

SS-HauptreitschuleMunchen was transferred to SS-Totenkopfverbande on 14 September 1939, and was placed at the disposal of the SS-Totenkopf-Rekruten-Standarte as part of its 9. (Ersatz) Schwadron.

Remnants of I.battalion went to 16. SS-Totenkopf-Standarte.lI.battalion became 111./6. SS-Totenkopf-Standarte.111.battalion became part of 16. SS-Totenkopf-Standarte.IV.battalion became 111./14. SS-Totenkopf-Standarte, with remnants going to 16. SS- Totenkopf-Standarte.V.battalion of pre-war Standarte was disbanded in 1939.

SS-Totenkopf-Unterfuhrerschule Lublinitz was formed In 1939 and broken up in June 1940.

SS-HauptreitschuleMunchen was transferred to SS-Totenkopfverbande on 14 September 1939, and was placed at the disposal of the SS-Totenkopf-Rekruten-Standarte as part of its 9. (Ersatz) Schwadron.

Andrew Mollo, "Uniforms of the SS" Vol.7, Historical Research Unit, 1976

History of the General SS

In the early days of Nazism. Hitler was surrounded by the unwieldy SA. He realised the necessity of organising a more dedicated elite personal guard.This guard should not be large. but it had to consist of men of proven calibre of Nordic blood, and of good character.

They had to act as bodyguard and spearhead. They had to protect both himself and important members of his party while they travelled around Germany furthering the cause of Nazism.

In March 1923 the embryo SS consisted of just two men. Joseph Berchtold and Julius Schreck who called themselves the STABSWACHE (Staff Guard). Two months later a new unit the STOSSTRUPP ADOLF HITLER (Adolf Hitler Shock Troop) was formed and commanded by Joseph Berchtold.

After the abortive putsch of the 9th November 1923, in which a number of Nazis were killed. Hitler was imprisoned and the NSDAD banned.

Hitler, looking back on the period immediately after his release from Landsberg in December 1924, described the early days of the SS.

"Being convinced that there are always circumstances in which elite troops are called for, I created in 1922-23 the 'Adolf Hitler Shock Troops'. They were made up of men who were ready for revolution and knew that some day things would come to hard knocks. When I came out of Landsberg everything was broken up and scattered in sometimes rival bands. I told myself then that I needed a bodyguard. even a restricted one, but made up of men who would be enlisted without conditions,even to march against their own brothers, only twenty men to a city (on condition that one could count on them absolutely) rather than a dubious mass. It was Maurice, Schreck, and Heiden who formed in Munich the first group of toughs, and were thus the origin of the SS; but it was with Himmler that the SS became an extraordinary body of men, devoted to an ideal, loyal to death".

In April 1925. Hitler ordered his chauffeur and personal bodyguard Julius Schreck, to raise a new shock troop. A few weeks later it was named the SCHUTZSTAFFEL or Protection Squad or SS. The new SS was to be organised on a national basis. Each major city was called upon to provide one leader and ten of its best men.

When Heinrich Himmler was made Reichsfuhrer-SS with the rank of SS Oberfuhrer in January 1929, the SS was under the overall command of the SA and numbered less than 280 men. By 1930 the SS numbered 2727 men. In June 1932 when Bruening's decree banned the SA the SS had grown to 30,000 or approximately 10% of the SA. On the 30th January Hitler became Chancellor and the SS had secretly recruited 52,000 more members.

The assassination on June 30th 1934 of the Chief-of-Staff of the SA, Ernst Rohm, and the decree of the 26th July that recognised the part the SS had played in the purging of the SA and promoted it to the status of an independent organisation within the NSDAP, was the turning point in the struggle for supremacy over the SA.

Himmler set about implementing his theories of a racially and ideologically elite force and the SS entered its second phase of rapid expansion. By the outbreak of the second World War the ALLGEMEINE-SS (General SS) numbered some 240,000 part-time members who were kept in readiness in case of internal strife by a small regular staff. Members of the General SS were called up for service in the Armed Forces or Armed SS to such an extent that many General SS units survived in name only. Towards the end of the war the General SS barely exceeded 40,000 men, most of whom were staff and officials of the Reichsfuhrung-SS and the Main offices.

DER WERDEGANG ZUM SS-MANN - How one became an SS man

After establishing his SS suitability and fitness, a Hitler Youth became an SS-Bewerber (Applicant) at the age of 18. On the Reich's Party Day of the same year he was accepted as an SS-Anwarter (Candidate) and given an SS identity card. After a short probationary period he took the oath of allegiance to Adolf Hitler.

As an SS Candidate, and during his first year's service, he was expected to win both the SA-Wehrabzeichen (SA Military Badge) and the Deutsche Reichsportabzeichen (Sports Badge in Bronze). At the age of 19 or 19+ depending on when his age group was called, he went into the Labour Service and then into the Armed Forces.

If after two years he decided not to remain in the Armed Forces as a noncommissioned officer candidate or as a regular, he returned to the SS, still as a candidate. Before final acceptance in the SS he was given special philosophical training, being thoroughly instructed in the principles of the SS, especially the marriage order and code of honour of the SS. On the 9th November, after his return from the Armed Forces, and subject to fulfilling all the special requirements, the SS candidate was finally accepted as an SS man.

On the 9th November he was given the right to wear the SS dagger, and vowed at this ceremony, that he and his relations would for ever observe the basic laws of the SS. From that day on it was his right and duty, as was law in the SS, to defend his honour, according to the code of honour of the Black Corps.

As an SS man he remained in the active General SS until he was 35 years of age, when upon application he was placed on the SS Reserve. When he was 45 years of age he passed into the Stammabteilung.

Andrew Mollo, "Uniforms of the SS", Volume 1, Allgemeine-SS 1923-1945, Historical Research Unit, 1968

Allgemeine SS Headgear

General SS (Allgemeine SS) Headgear

THE EARLIEST official headdress of the Allgemeine SS consisted of a black SA style "coffee can" cap (Tuchmutze). Three versions of this cap exist, the fittings dependent upon the rank of the wearer.

The basic cap, including visor, was covered in black wool and possessed a set of stylized, non-serviceable ear flaps which were cut or scalloped in the front. Insignia consisted of an early pattern M-29 Party eagle in silver metal which closely resembled the early SA style "pointed wing" eagle. The skull was the pattern associated with the 1st and 2nd Leib-Hussar squadrons of the Imperial Army, i.e. a silver metal form with a jawless skull resting on crossed bones. The eagle was affixed to the hat front above the scalloped edge of the side panels; the skull was mounted where buttons would have existed had the side panels been functional.

The enlisted versions of this cap (SS-Mann to Obertruppfuhrer) lacked piping. The chinstrap was of black leather with black painted buckles and fittings, and was secured to the sides of the cap by two black painted plain buttons.

SS ranks from Sturmfiihrer to Obersturmfiuhrer wore the same style cap, though the crown of the hat was piped in interwoven black and white cloth cords.

SS leaders from the rank of Standartenfuhrer to the highest levels wore the same style cap, though the crown was piped in twisted silver cord to indicate rank.

Fittings (i. e. chinstrap, side buttons) on the early "coffee can" cap remained the same for all grades. Officer caps generally were of better quality than those issued to lower ranks.

SS VISOR CAPS

During the period 1933-34, the distinctive SA style cap was phased out of the Allgmeine SS and a general purpose visor cap was introduced. This cap confored style to Army patterns and indicated rank by the use of piping and chincord straps.

The earliest of these visor caps appeared about 1933 and were issued to enlisted personnel from the rank of SS-Mann to Obertruppfuhrer. The crown of this particular cap was of black woolen cloth with black cap band and polished black leather visor. Fittings included a black leather chinstrap (SA style), black enameled or lacquered buckles and plain side bottons.

Insignia consisted of the early pattern SS/SA visor cap eagle which was positioned on the front central seam of the cap below the crown. Mounted to the band was the Hussar-style skull. Insignia was of natural aluminum metal and secured by the use of pins or prongs to the cap.

The leather or fiber visor had a raised convex border along, its leading edge for strength. The cap crown was piped in white as were also the top and bottom edges of the hat band.

In 1936 a "saddle" formed SS visor cap was introduced and was soon worn with the dress and undress uniform by all ranks. This field service hat differed in some particulars from the earlier visor cap, notably in its use of piping, band material, and insignia.

The enlisted style SS service cap, worn from 1936 to 1945, was of black cloth with the crown and leading edges of the cap band piped in white cotton. The cap was issued with a black leather chinstrap secured to the body of the cap by black painted metal side buttons; buckles and fittings were of black painted or enameled metal. The insignia consisted of the M-36 pattern SS eagle which had a full body, wide, outstretched wings, and which stood on a wreath enclosing a swastika. This eagle was mounted below the crown on the central seam of the visor cap by the use of prongs or pins.

The skull was also altered during this period. Instead of the old style Hussar skull, the new emblem consisted of a full-jawed skull resting on crossed bones. The skull displayed a three-quarters view to the right and was secured to the cap's band by prongs.

The visor was of black leather or fiber reinforced by the convex ridge along its leading edge, and finally it became the standard SS visor cap worn by all ranks from SS-Mann to Hauptscharfuhrer.

Officer service caps differed only in those qualities which were reserved to indicate officer rank. Officer cap bands were of black velvet instead of cloth. Allgemeine SS personnel from Untersturmfuhrer to Standartenfuhrer utilized white piping on the cap body. However, in place of the leather chinstrap, one of twisted aluminum braid was worn which was secured to the cap body by the use of pebbled aluminum buttons sewn or affixed on to the cap.

The insignia remained the same as that for lower ranks though finished in matte silver.

Allgemeine SS ranks from Oberfuhrer to Reichsfuhrer wore the same style officer cap but piped in silver wire and with braided aluminum chincord. Buttons were pebbled aluminum and the insignia was matte silver.

During the war all Allgemeine SS personnel wore a visor hat with a field-grey wool top (identical to the Waffen SS model). All other aspects were the same as the regular black topped version.

ALLGEMEINE SS WHITE VISOR CAP

SS personnel with the rank of Untersturmfuhrer and up were permitted to wear a white-topped visor cap with the summer service uniform. The white linen top of the The earliest pattern "fatigue" cap worn by units of the Allgemeine SS consisted an Imperial style Feldmutze patterned after the undress caps of enlisted ranks in Imperial Army.

Made of black woolen cloth, this cap was piped in white along its crown and the edges of the lower band and possessed an early style metal SS-SA "pointed wing, eagle and a Hussar style skull. The cap was cylinderical in form and was worn for fatigue duty.

Initial Allgemeine SS overseas caps were worn by the SS-Verfugungstruppen who would later evolve into the Waffen SS. This cap was brown or earth-grey in appearance and made of wool with a button mounted on the front. The side of the cap bore an embroidered early M-29 "pointed wing" eagle which was sewn to the panel.

A new pattern of the SS overseas cap was introduced about 1934 which consisted black wool on cloth and bore a button of silver-colored metal on the front bearing the traditional SS skull in raised relief; A cloth embroidered eagle mounted on triangular black patch was sewn to the left side of the cap. After 1938 the eagle was altered to the later SS pattern. This hat was worn only by enlisted ranks, and later, in a grey version, served the Waffen SS as one form of an overseas cap.

ALLGEMEINE SS TRADITIONAL CAP

A special SS "coffee can" cap was retained for commemorative and traditional occasions and was patterned after the early 1932 cloth cap. It differed only in its use of M-36 SS insignia.

Tom Shutt: "Dress and Field Service Hats of the Third Reich", H.S.M. Publications, 1981