Sixty-plus years later, does anyone accept the difference between the Waffen SS and the SS Einsatz Gruppen?
First, I am NOT a Germanophile, but I AM a student of military history, and my father fought the Nazis. Since I have read over 200 books on the subject of WW II, I think I have some insight into the German soldier. I will not dispute the SS Einsatz Gruppen were murderers, thieves, and manned the camps. The Waffen SS, conversely, were all volunteers just as our army now is, felt they were righting the wrongs of the Treaty of Versailles, were defending Western Culture, and were all ardent Anti-communists, drawing volunteers from France, Belgium, Norway, Luxembourg, Denmark, Spain, and even Russia, whom they invaded. Even our adored General Patton wanted to re-arm them and turn them back to attack the Russians. In fact, the Waffen SS was probably the finest fighting force ever assembled, for the most part performed honorably, and fought to the bitter end against impossible odds. Their battlefield accomplishments remain unparralelled to this day. So, the "loser" is always wrong?
Military - 4 Answers
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1 :
And your point is? A volunteer Nazi is still a nazi...only Jimmy Carter would feel differently.
2 :
I learned something by reading your post, but I still can't help but feel Nazis were still fundamentally wrong in what they did and my ancestry is German. If you look at it from a strategic standpoint, it sounds like a fine army, but an army is nothing when they fight for something that is against humanity.
3 :
They were on the wrong side, therefore they were crushed. Who cares how good they were. The only thing they really had going for them was momentum. Once they hit the brick wall called the ALLIES their fate was sealed. Just like radical Islam's fate is sealed. It can be no other way.
4 :
Waffen SS units took active part in many einsatzgruppen operations in Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine , and Russia. The SS cavalry Brigade massacred Jews found in the Pripyet Forest. the 1 SS Infantry Brigade supported various Einsatzgruppen operations and took part in the execution of 10 of thousands of Jews. Battalions of the SS Totenkopf division during the Polish campaign were the precursors of the EInsatzgruppen by performing mass executions of Polish intelligentsia, Priests and political leaders. While not all Waffen-SS units took part in the massacre of Jews or anyone esle they were still part of the Nazi apparatus of terror used to dominate Europe and elsewhere. As far as being an elite only a handful of the SS divisions one could consider elite. The remaining 2/3rds were average to below average in combat performance.
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