SS-Totenkopfverbände
SS-Totenkopfverbände (SS-TV) | |
SS-TV officers at Gusen concentration camp (October 1941) | |
Agency overview | |
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Formed | June 1934 |
Dissolved | 8 May 1945 |
Type | Paramilitary organisation |
Jurisdiction |
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Headquarters | SS Division Totenkopf c. 1942) |
Minister responsible |
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Agency executives |
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Parent agency | Schutzstaffel |
SS-Totenkopfverbände (SS-TV; lit. 'Death's Head Units'
The SS-TV originally created in 1933 was an independent unit within the SS, with its own command structure. It ran the camps throughout
At the outbreak of
Formation
After taking national power in 1933, the Nazi Party launched a new programme of mass incarceration of the so-called enemies of the state. Originally there were only wild camps in operation. Springing up in every town across Germany "like mushrooms after the rain" (Himmler's quote),[8] the early camps utilized lockable spaces usually without infrastructure for permanent detention (i.e. engine rooms, brewery floors, storage facilities, cellars).[9] Following the fall from power of the paramilitary Brownshirts of the SA during the NSDAP purge known as the Night of the Long Knives (30 June to 2 July 1934), the SS took control of the fledgling camp system.[10] The SS founded state-run concentration camps at Dachau, Oranienburg, and Esterwegen, which held the total of 107,000 'undesirables' already by 1935.[11]
On 26 June 1933,
In 1935, Dachau became the training center for the concentration camps service.
Further development
In 1935, as the concentration camp system within Germany expanded, groups of camps were organized into Wachsturmbanne (battalions) under the office of the Inspector of Concentration Camps who answered directly to the SS headquarters office and Heinrich Himmler. When the SS-Totenkopfverbände were formally established in March 1936, the group was organized into six Wachtruppen situated at each of Germany's major concentration camps. In April 1936, Eicke was named commander of the SS-Totenkopfverbände and the number of men under his command increased from 2,876 to 3,222; the Concentration Camps Inspectorate (CCI) was also provided official funding through the Reich's budget office, and Eicke was allowed to recruit future troops from the Hitler Youth based on regional needs.[18] In 1937, the Wachsturmbanne were in turn organized into three main SS-Totenkopfstandarten (regiments).
By 1936, Eicke had also begun to establish military formations of concentration camp personnel which eventually became the
Eicke in his role as the commander of the SS-TV, continued to reorganize the camp system by dismantling smaller camps. By August 1937 only Dachau,
By April 1938, the SS-TV had four regiments of three storm battalions with three infantry companies, one machine gun company and medical, communication and transportation units.[21] On 17 August 1938 Hitler decreed, at Himmler's request, the SS-TV to be the official reserve for the SS-VT;[22] this would over the course of the war lead to a constant flux of men between the Waffen-SS and the concentration camps. Himmler's intention was simply to expand his private army by using the SS-TV (as well as the police, which he also controlled) as a manpower pool. Himmler sought and obtained a further decree, issued on 18 May 1939, which authorized the expansion of the SS-TV to 50,000 men, and directed the army to provide it with military equipment, something the army had resisted.[16]
Invasion of Poland
"the object of war is . . . physically to destroy the enemy. That is why I have prepared, for the moment only in the East, my ‘Death's Head’ formations with orders to kill without pity or mercy all men, women, and children of
Polish descent or language. Only in this way can we obtain the living spacewe need."
—
During the German
At the beginning of war in Europe, the SS forces consisted of roughly 250,000 servicemen spread out across multiple branches,
From fall 1939 to spring 1940 a massive recruitment effort in Germany raised no fewer than twelve new TK-Standarten (four times the size of the SS-Verfügungstruppe) in anticipation of the coming attack on France. Both Eicke personally and his Totenkopf Division performed poorly during
The Totenkopf Division still had close ties to the camp service and its members continued to wear the Death's-Head as their unit insignia. They were known for brutal tactics, a result of the original doctrine of "no pity" which Eicke had instilled in his camp personnel as far back as 1934, together with the fact that the original Totenkopfstandarte had "trained" themselves. The Division's ineffectiveness in France, as well as its war crimes, can in part be explained by its personnel who were more thugs than soldiers. When first formed a total of 6,500 men from the SS-TV were transferred into the Totenkopf Division.[34] Over the course of the savage fighting in the East, the Division was twice effectively destroyed and recreated. Very few of the men who were part of the 1939 Standarten in Poland were still in the Division by 1945.
After the close of the
System of concentration camps
After Eicke was reassigned to combat duty, his Chief of Staff SS-
By 1941, prior to the "
During the war, almost half of the concentration camp officers served with the Waffen-SS combat divisions, including the Leibstandarte, Das Reich, Wiking, the Nord Division, and Totenkopf.[42] Some concentration camp officers served as division commanders in the Waffen-SS.[42] By October 1944 the Waffen-SS membership reached 800,000 and up to 910,000 men.[39]
Within the camps themselves, there existed a hierarchy of camp titles and positions which were unique only to the camp service. Each camp was commanded by a Kommandant, sometimes referred to as Lagerkommandant, who was assisted by a camp adjutant and command staff. The prison barracks within the camp were supervised by a Rapportführer who was responsible for daily roll call and the camp daily schedule. The individual prisoner barracks were overseen by junior SS-NCOs called Blockführer who, in turn had one to two squads of SS soldiers responsible for overseeing the prisoners. Within the extermination camps, the Blockführer was in charge of the prisoner Sonderkommando and was also the person who would physically gas victims in the camp's gas chambers.
The Jewish Sonderkommando workers in turn, were terrorised by up to around 100 mostly collaborator Trawniki men per camp, called Wachmannschaften (security guards or watchmen).[43]
The camp perimeter and watch towers were overseen by a separate formation called the Wachbattalion (guard battalion). The guard battalion commander was responsible for providing watch bills to man guard towers and oversaw security patrols outside the camp. The battalion was organized on typical military lines with companies, platoons, and squads. The battalion commander was subordinate directly to the camp commander.
Concentration camps also had supply and medical personnel, attached to the headquarters office under the camp commander, as well as a security office with Gestapo and
In addition to the regular SS personnel assigned to a concentration camp, there also existed a prisoner system of trustees known as Kapos who performed a wide variety of duties from administration to overseeing other groups of prisoners. The Sonderkommandos were special groups of Jewish prisoners who assisted in the extermination camps with the disposal of bodies and other tasks. The duty of actually gassing prisoners was, however, always carried out by the SS.
The Holocaust
In 1942 Glücks was increasingly involved in the administration of the
Already in 1943 the SS-TV units began to receive orders to conceal as much of the evidence of
By April 1945 many SS-TV had left their posts. Due to their notoriety, some removed their death head insignia to hide their identities. Camp duties were increasingly turned over to so-called "Auxiliary-SS", soldiers and civilians conscripted as camp guards so that the Totenkopf men could escape. However, many were arrested by the Allies and stood trial for war crimes at
Concentration camp personnel
From the SS-TV inception, Eicke fostered an attitude of "inflexible harshness" exercised by the masters. This core belief continued to influence SS guards in all concentration camps even after Eicke had taken over command of the SS Totenkopf Division. Recruits were taught to hate their enemies through tough training regimes and Nazi indoctrination.[49]
Within camps, guards subjugated the inmates in an atmosphere of controlled, disciplined cruelty. This environment of formalized brutality influenced some of the SS-TV's most infamous commandants including
In the last days of World War II, a special group called the "Auxiliary-SS" (SS-Mannschaft) was formed as a last-ditch effort to keep concentration camps running and allow regular SS personnel to escape. Auxiliary-SS members were not considered regular SS personnel, but were conscripted members from other branches of the German military, the Nazi Party, and the Volkssturm. Such personnel wore a distinctive twin swastika collar patch and served as camp guard and administrative personnel until the surrender of Germany.[49]
Profit
The SS, individually and collectively, benefited financially from the Holocaust. Slave labour at the camps was sold to private companies, or used to run lucrative SS-run industries,[51] while the cost of prisoner upkeep was minimal.[52] Himmler intended to make concentration camps into a profitable industry for the financial benefit of the SS. Wartime labour shortages meant that the concentration camps ended up as a significant labour source for all sectors of the German economy.[53] The property of murdered Jews was stolen and auctioned off to the German public.[54] Individual personnel at the camps often embezzled some of the stolen property for themselves, and some were charged for theft.[55]
Combat formations
- 1st TK-Standarte 'Oberbayern'. Formed 1937 at Totenkopf Division10/39.
- 2nd TK-Standarte 'Brandenburg'. Formed 1937 at Oranienburg. During the Polish invasion conducted so-called "security operations" behind the lines, which were operations of terrorizing and murdering the Polish civilian population.[26] Redesignated 2. SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment,[56] and assigned to the Totenkopf Division 10/39.
- 3rd TK-Standarte 'Thüringen'. Formed 1937 at Buchenwald. During the Polish invasion conducted so-called "security operations" behind the lines, which were operations of terrorizing and murdering the Polish civilian population.[26] Redesignated 3. SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment[56] and assigned to the Totenkopf Division, with some men forming the cadre of the 10. TK-Standarte, 11/39.
- 4th TK-Standarte 'Ostmark'. Formed 1938 at Vienna and Berlin. III Sturmbann Götze detached to form the core of 2. SS-Infanterie-Brigade5/41.
- SS-Wachsturmbann 'Eimann'. Formed 1939 at Danzig. During the Polish invasion conducted so-called "security operations" behind the lines, which were operations of terrorizing and murdering the Polish civilian population.[26] Dissolved 1940.
- TK-Reiter-Standarte. Formed 9/39 in Poland to conduct so-called "security operations" behind the lines, which were operations of terrorizing and murdering the Polish civilian population.SS-Kavallerie-Division 'Florian Geyer') 9/41.
- 5th TK-Standarte 'Dietrich Eckart'. Formed 1939 at Berlin and Oranienburg. Designated 5. SS-Infanterie-Regiment 2/41, assigned to 2. SS-Infanterie-Brigade 5/41.
- 6th TK-Standarte. Formed 1939 at Prague. Garrison duty in Norway 5/40. Designated 6. SS-Infanterie-Regiment 2/41, assigned to Kampfgruppe Nord (later 6. SS-Gebirgs-Division Nord) spring 41.[57]
- 7th TK-Standarte. Formed 1939 at Brno. Garrison duty in Norway 5/40. Designated 7. SS-Infanterie-Regiment 2/41, assigned to Kampfgruppe Nord (later 6. SS-Gebirgs-Division Nord) spring 41.[58]
- 8th TK-Standarte. Formed 1939 at Crakow. Designated 8. SS-Infanterie-Regiment 2/41, assigned to 1. SS-Infanterie-Brigade4/41.
- 9th TK-Standarte. Formed 1939 at Danzig. Reorganized (with elements of St. 12) into Standarte "K" (Kirkenes, Norway) 8-11/40, redesignated 9. SS-Infanterie-Regiment 2/41, assigned to Kampfgruppe Nord spring 41. Incorporated into SS-Regiment Thule 8/42.[59]
- 10th TK-Standarte. Formed 1939 at Buchenwald. Garrison duties in Poland 1940. Designated 10. SS-Infanterie-Regiment 2/41, assigned to 1. SS-Infanterie-Brigade 4/41.
- 11th TK-Standarte. Formed 1939 at Radom. Garrison duty in the Netherlands 5/40. Assigned to SS-Infanterie-Division (mot) Das Reichto replace the 2. SS-Infanterie-Regiment Germania 12/40 and redesignated 11. SS-Infanterie-Regiment.
- TK-Standarten 12-16 were raised in the winter of 1939–40, but disbanded the following summer, their personnel used to fill out other units.
See also
- German war crimes
- Generalplan Ost
- Glossary of Nazi Germany
- List of SS personnel
- Nazi gold
- Postenpflicht
Notes
- ^ Sydnor 1990, p. 34.
- ^ a b c d e McNab 2009, p. 137.
- ^ ISBN 1575882027.
- ^ a b Friedländer 2007, pp. 346–347.
- ^ McNab 2009, pp. 41, 134–144.
- ^ Rhodes 2007.
- ^ Niewyk & Nicosia 2011, p. 24.
- ^ Wachsmann 2015, p. 38.
- ^ Wachsmann 2015, pp. 38–45.
- ^ McNab 2009, p. 136.
- ^ Wachsmann 2015, p. 88.
- ^ a b Padfield 2001, p. 129.
- ^ Kershaw 2008, pp. 308–314.
- ^ Evans 2005, pp. 31–35, 39.
- ^ McNab 2009, pp. 136, 137.
- ^ a b Stein 1984, pp. 9, 20–33.
- ^ Evans 2005, p. 84.
- ^ Koehl 2004, p. 146.
- ^ Wegner 1990, pp. 112–113.
- ^ a b c Wegner 1990, pp. 91, 92.
- ^ Stein 1984, p. 24.
- ^ Stein 1984, p. 33.
- ISBN 978-0-415-48618-7.
- LCCN 76-3886.
- ^ Stein 1984, pp. 27, 28, 33, 34.
- ^ a b c d e f Sydnor 1990, p. 37.
- ^ Sydnor 1990, pp. 37–38.
- ^ Sydnor 1990, p. 43.
- ^ Semków 2006.
- ^ Stein 1984, pp. 28, 32–35.
- ^ a b Stein 1984, pp. 32–35.
- ^ Sydnor 1990, pp. 37, 44.
- ^ Sydnor 1990, p. 134.
- ^ Stein 1984, p. 259.
- ^ Stein 1984, p. 86.
- ^ Stein 1984, pp. 150, 153.
- ^ a b Weale 2012, p. 115.
- ^ Koehl 2004, pp. 182–183.
- ^ ISBN 025320884X.
- ^ Carmelo Lisciotto & H.E.A.R.T (2010), "WVHA", The SS Economic & Administrative Department and the Nazi Concentration camps, Holocaust Research Project.org
- ^ S. J. & H.E.A.R.T (2007), "Aktion Reinhard Balance Sheet", Assets delivered, Holocaust Research Project.org, pp. 744–770 – via US Chief of Counsel for Prosecution of Axis Criminality (1947), Nazi Conspiracy and Aggression. Supplement A.
- ^ ISBN 0764306367.
- ISBN 192963160X– via Google Books.
- ^ Weale 2012, pp. 140, 141.
- ISBN 9780465008490.
- ISBN 0-06-097468-0
- ISBN 0-253-21305-3– via Google Books preview.
- ^ Sydnor 1990, p. 311.
- ^ a b Höss 1974, pp. 89, 191, 263.
- ^ Friedman 1993, p. 81.
- ^ "SS and the Camp System". United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
- ISBN 9780706513288.
- ^ Berger 2002, p. 67.
- ^ "Causes and Motivations — United States Holocaust Memorial Museum". www.ushmm.org. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
- ^ Waschsmann 2015, p. 387.
- ^ a b c The title Totenkopf was retained by these three regiments to distinguish them from the three regiments of the SS-VT
- ^ Tessin 1965, p. 46.
- ^ Tessin 1965, p. 84.
- ^ Tessin 1965, p. 157.
References
- Berger, Ronald J. (2002). Fathoming the Holocaust: A Social Problems Approach. Transaction Publishers. p. 67. ISBN 978-0202366111.
- Evans, Richard J. (2005). The Third Reich in Power. New York: Penguin. ISBN 978-0-14-303790-3.
- ISBN 978-0-06-019043-9.
- ISBN 978-0313262210.
- )
- ISBN 978-0-393-06757-6.
- Koehl, Robert (2004). The SS: A History 1919–45. Stroud: Tempus. ISBN 978-0-75242-559-7.
- McNab, Chris (2009). The SS: 1923–1945. Amber Books Ltd. ISBN 978-1-906626-49-5.
- Niewyk, Donald L.; Nicosia, Francis R. (2012). USSR and the Einsatzgruppen. Columbia University Press. )
- ISBN 0-304-35839-8.
- Rhodes, Richard (2007). Himmler, Heydrich, and the Einsatzgruppen. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. Notes. )
- Semków, Piotr (September 2006). "Kolebka (Cradle)" (PDF). IPN Bulletin No. 8–9 (67–68), 152 Pages. Warsaw: ISSN 1641-9561. Archived from the original(PDF) on 17 September 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
- Stein, George H. (1984). The Waffen SS: Hitler's Elite Guard at War, 1939–1945. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press. ISBN 0-8014-9275-0.
- Sydnor, Charles (1990) [1977]. Soldiers of Destruction: The SS Death's Head Division, 1933–1945. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. ISBN 0691008531.
- Tessin, Georg (1965). Die Landstreitkräfte 6-14. Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939-1945 (in German). Vol. 3 (1st ed.). Frankfurt/Main: E.S. Mittler & Sohn.
- ISBN 978-1429943727.
- ISBN 978-0-451-23791-0.
- ISBN 0-631-14073-5.
Further reading
- Orth, Karin (2013) [2000]. Die Konzentrationslager-SS: Sozialstrukturelle Analysen und biographische Studien [The Concentration Camp SS: Social Structural Analysis and Biographical Studies] (in German). Wallstein Verlag. ISBN 978-3-8353-2030-7.