The Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler
" We are the best, because the best is expected of us "
Beginning as the personal bodyguard to Adolf Hitler the SS was a very important element of the
National Socialist organization. In the early 1920's some 200 men
were recruited to form the " Stosstruppe Adolf Hitler "
which was responsible for Hitlers personal safety and to keep
order during public meetings. This group was later expanded to
become the " Schutz Staffell " ( Protection squad ) or the SS which in 1929 came under the command of
Reichsführer Heinrich Himmler. ln 1933 with the growing threat to
Adolf Hitlers life a new form of "Elite" bodyguard was
created and was given the title SS LEIBSTANDARTE ADOLF HITLER or SS LAH.
Originally consisting of 120
handpicked pure "Aryan" men the recruits swore
themselves body and soul to their Führer. Their commander was
one of Adolf Hitler's best friends and one time personal bodyguard Josef
"Sepp"
Dietrich.
The
SS LAH were the only SS unit to wear white leatherwork during parades and as
much of their training consisted of parade ground drill they were nick named
" The Asphalt Soldiers ", a term which was soon proved to be misjudged
as their intense training made them fearless in combat. As General Eberhard von
Mackensen wrote : " Every division wishes it had the Leibstandarte as its
neighbour, as much during the attack as the defence. Its inner discipline, its
cool daredevilry, its cheerful enterprise, its unshakeable firmness in a crisis
... its exemplary toughness, its camaraderie ( which deserves special praise ) ,
all these are outstanding and cannot be surpassed ". By 1936 the SS LAH had developed into 2 fully armed regiments and by
1939 had 3700 trained men. In the same year they took part in the
invasion of Poland and after the Dutch and French campaigns of
1940 the Leibstandarte was expanded to Brigade strength and its title was slightly altered to LEIBSTANDARTE
SS ADOLF HITLER. After taking part in the
Balkan campaign ( April 1941 ) the unit was officially designated SS DIVISION LEIBSTANDARTE ADOLF
HITLER. In
July 1941 the LSSAH
took part in the invasion of Russia and it was during this
campaign that the Waffen SS (Armed
or fighting SS )and
in particular the LSSAH
earned their reputation for their ferocity during battle. The
eagerness of the Waffen SS for
combat coupled with their fanaticism bordered on the reckless and
during the opening stages of World War II many Waffen SS were killed in action.
The
Leibstandarte became known as " The Führers Fire
Brigade ", plugging gaps and routing the enemy where the
normal German army divisions failed to hold. In 1942 Hitler
decreed that his guard should receive the title " SS PANZER GRENADIER DIVISION LEIBSTANDARTE
ADOLF HITLER ". After a short rest and refit in France the
Leibstandarte returned to Russia in the spring of 1943 where it
took part in the great tank battle at Kursk. After once again
suffering heavy casualties the Division was sent to Northern
Italy where it helped disarm the Italian army. It was during 1943
that the Division was given its final title"I. SS Pz. Div. LEIBSTANDARTE ADOLF
HITLER". From November 1943 until April 1944 the
Leibstandarte continued to fight In Russia where it suffered
appalling losses when it broke out of encirclement at Skala. ln
1944 the Division was resting and refitting in Belgium when, in June, the Western Allies landed at
Normandy. The Leibstandarte was
sent to France where it saw heavy action in the Caen sector and
was once again surrounded, this time at Falaise. Before it broke
out and returned to Northern Germany the Division was reduced to
an armoured strength of only thirty tanks.
In December 1944 the
Leibstandarte, fighting as part of the Sixth SS Panzer Army, took part in Germany's last
great offensive, the Ardennes campaign " Wacht am
Rhein " (better known as the Battle of the Bulge). Due to lack
of fuel, Allied air superiority and unfavorable weather
conditions the offensive, although giving the Allies a bloody
nose, failed. In March 1945 the division was transferred to
Hungary to stem the tidal wave of Russian armies sweeping in from
the East. The Leibstandarte, fighting with desperation to defend
the soil of greater Germany, finally capitulated to American
forces at Steyr in Austria, May 1945.
Some interesting facts about the LSSAH:
The LSSAH were the only SS unit to wear white leatherwork during parades.
LSSAH Panzer NCO's wore Silver tress (Litzen) on their tank uniforms. No other SS tank unit did this.
The LSSAH were never issued with or wore "'44 Dot/Pea Dot" uniforms (The SBG only wear them when portraying other units I.e. an Arnhem scenario)