The infamous Schutzstaffel (SS) began as a small bodyguard unit for Adolf Hitler and other Nazi leaders. Between 1929 and 1945, under the direction of Heinrich Himmler, it became one of the most powerful groups in Nazi Germany and the foremost force behind the Holocaust. By the outbreak of World War II, it was a vast collection of Nazi fanatics with personal loyalty to Hitler.
The SS was divided into two parts: the Allgemeine SS (General SS) and the Waffen-SS (Armed SS). The Waffen-SS is often considered an elite element of Nazi Germany's armed forces, as well known for its battlefield accomplishments as its widespread war crimes. In reality, many Waffen-SS units had poorer training than their army counterparts during the beginning of the war and suffered high casualties. But by the time Hitler invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941, many of these units had become formidable formations. As the war turned against Germany, Himmler's insistence on racially "pure" SS membership was superseded by Germany's incessant need for manpower. By the end of the war, the Waffen-SS included conscripts of any background.
Waffen-SS: Hitler's Army at War by military historian Adrian Gilbert (Challenge of Battle) is the first single-volume, comprehensive history of the Waffen-SS written in the past 50 years. Gilbert goes into great detail on unit leadership, makeup and movements, making this book more appropriate for military history buffs than general readers. However, for those with an interest in World War II, Waffen-SS is fascinating reading. --Tobias Mutter, freelance reviewer