Waffen means weapons. Waffen-SS usually hyphenated was the armed militarized segment of the SS. Three of the top divisions were on a par with regular Army Armored divisions- but only Three- Liebstandarte, Das Reich, and Totenkopf. The Totenkopf- Death"s Head was a full-up Panzer division and was called in in such things as the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. It should be understood not all SS-men were of the Waffen-SS in fact there were Allgemeine ( generalized) SS personnel who were among usual police tasks as traffic control, security around sporting events such as the Olympics, photographers, cryptographers, etc. These were not strictly speaking Waffen-SS as these were unarmed jobs- as many police agencies have and need.
AnswerIn the sense that it is used in 'Waffen SS', the word 'waffen' simply means 'armed'. So, 'Waffen SS' means 'Armed SS'.
The term, Waffen-SS, means 'armed SS'. The Waffen-SS was a large paramilitary organisation under the strategic and tactical command of the Wehrmacht (German Armed Forces) but under the disciplinary command of the SS.
The name came into use during the opening months of World War Two, prior to which it was made up of formations of the Leibstandarde-SS 'Adolf Hitler', the SS-Verfugungstruppe, and SS-Totenkopfverbande.
Because the Wehrmacht had priority over recruiting, the Waffen-SS was only able to expand by recruiting foreign volunteers from Western and Eastern Europe. Accordingly, as the war progressed, Waffen-SS divisions were formed from western and eastern European volunteers in addition to existing German divisions. Non-German members of the Waffen-SS were not able to become members of the SS, and their Divisions were therefore termed 'Division der SS' or 'Freiwilligen Division der SS', never'SS Division'.
The Waffen-SS was the combat branch of the SS or security police. They were the best equipped combat troops of the German army.
Twelve Waffen SS units
No, most Waffen SS members were reluctant to admit their involvement after the war. Many were charged with war crimes after the war.
It was a Ukrainian division of the Waffen-SS.
No, the SS had a reputation for being kind to animals.
"Meine Ehre Heist Treue" (My Honour is Loyalty)
Richard Landwehr has written: 'Italien volunteers of the Waffen-SS' -- subject(s): Regimental histories, Waffen-SS, Waffen-SS. Waffen-Gebirgs-(Karstjaeger) Division, 24, Waffen-SS. Waffen-Grenadier-Division, 29, World War, 1939-1945 'The \\' 'Britisches Freikorps' -- subject(s): History, Regimental histories, Waffen-SS, Waffen-SS. Britisches Freikorps, World War, 1939-1945 'Italian Volunteers of the Waffen-Ss' 'Romanian volunteers of the Waffen-SS, 1944-1945' -- subject(s): Foreign enlistment, Military service, Voluntary, Voluntary Military service, Waffen-SS
Gerhard Fischer - Waffen SS - was born on 1922-11-12.
Hugo Ruf - Waffen SS - died on 1945-05-02.
Hugo Ruf - Waffen SS - was born on 1920-12-30.
"SS" in a church name stands for "Saints" in the plural like "SS Peter and Paul." It does not refer to steamship or to the Nazi Intelligence/security agency or the Waffen-SS.
Twelve Waffen SS units
No, most Waffen SS members were reluctant to admit their involvement after the war. Many were charged with war crimes after the war.
The Nazi Waffen were superior because of the flamethrower.
Mirdza Kate Baltais has written: 'The Latvian Legion in documents' -- subject(s): History, Regimental histories, Sources, Waffen-SS, Waffen-SS. Waffen-Grenadier-Division-SS, 15, World War, 1939-1945
Herbert Walther has written: 'Divisionen der Waffen-SS im Einsatz' -- subject(s): Campaigns, History, Regimental histories, Waffen-SS, World War, 1939-1945 'Der Fuhrer' 'Die 1. SS-Panzer-Division Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler' -- subject(s): History, Pictorial works, Regimental histories, Waffen-SS, Waffen-SS. SS-Panzer-Division Leibstandarte SS \Adolf Hitler,\ 1, World War, 1939-1945
It was a Ukrainian division of the Waffen-SS.
No, the SS had a reputation for being kind to animals.