The history of the SS from the Schutzstaffel to the Waffen-SS. From the very beginning, Adolf Hitler wanted only the best men for his Schutzstaffel. A few years later, the SS wreaked havoc in the concentration camps and killed men, women, and children during the war. What drove the willingness to join this community and abandon all humanity? What motivated soldiers of horror, like Himmler or Heydrich? How deeply rooted were the "ordinary" SS and the Waffen-SS in German history? British military historian Gordon Williamson provides detailed answers in his work, describing the rise of the ambitious men during the Blitzkrieg, the relationship between the SS and the Wehrmacht, and their downfall.

• Over 220 color and black-and-white photos
• Featuring over 150 biographies of the most important SS members.