Creation of the Waffen SS, SS-VT to Das Reich including Totenkopf, Leibstandarte AH, Sepp Dietrich

SUPPORT THE CHANNEL and get access to exclusive film footage Episode 112 A number of my uploads cover the beginning of a sensational 1941 combat diary from a platoon leader in the SS formation that would become the 2. SS PzD Das Reich. This video covers some background content of the unit before operation Barbarossa. This rare color footage was taken in 1938 in Innsbruck, Austria, or the province that was called Ostmark during the 3rd Reich. In addition to providing general security for the NSDAP, the Schutzstaffel or SS, also had the representative responsibilities of taking part in Nazi party political events, parading, guarding monuments and ceremonial duties during visits from foreign representatives. These responsibilities were important to the Nazi party however to most in the German military the SS were nothing more than stylish pavement pounders. This didn’t sit well with the para-military organization’s leader Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler. In 1934 the SS Verfügungstruppe, or SS-VT, was formed with the intention of it becoming the combat troops of the Nazi party. Himmler even dreamed of it eventuallyeven replacing the Wehrmacht. During a Reichstag speech given on March 16, 1935 Hitler made the formation of the SS-VT public which undoubtably made many of the army generals nervous. After all, only about a year earlier with the night of the long knives and the assassination of Ernst Röhm was the SA finally cut down to size. The professional army had supported...