In the earliest days of the NSDAP, it was realised by the leaders that bodyguard units composed of trustworthy and loyal men would be a wise development.
Ernst Röhm formed a guard formation from the 19.Granatwerfer-Kompanie, and from this formation the
Sturmabteilung (SA) soon evolved. Adolf Hitler, realising the potential threat that the SA had presented, in early 1923 ordered the formation of a bodyguard for himself. The tiny unit, originally formed by only eight men (and commanded by
Julius Schreck and
Joseph Berchtold), was designated the
Stabswache (Staff Guard). The guards of the
Stabswache were issued uniforms that showed their difference from the SA (despite the fact that at this stage the
Stabswache still was under overall SA control). Schreck resurrected the use of the
Totenkopf (skull) as insignia, which had been a symbol used by various élite forces throughout the
Prussian kingdom and the later
German Empire.
Julius Schreck and the men of the Stoßtrupp
Adolf Hitler, 1923.
Soon after its formation, the unit was renamed
Stoßtrupp Adolf Hitler. On November 9, 1923, the
Stoßtrupp, along with the SA and several other NSDAP paramilitary units, took part in the abortive
Beer Hall Putsch in Munich. In the aftermath of the putsch, Hitler was imprisoned and the NSDAP and all associated formations, including the
Stoßtrupp, were officially disbanded.
Shortly after Hitler's release in 1924, he ordered a new bodyguard unit formed, again called the
Stabswache, but this time it did not fall under SA control. In 1925, the
Stabswache was renamed as the
Schutzstaffel, abbreviated
SS. By March 1933, the SS had grown from a tiny personal bodyguard unit to a formation of over 50,000 men. The decision was made to form a new bodyguard unit, picking the most capable and trustworthy SS men to form its cadre.
On 17 March 1933, the
SS-Stabswache Berlin was formed, under the command of
Josef 'Sepp' Dietrich, Hitler's personal bodyguard. Dietrich hand-picked 120 men to form the
SS-Stabswache. The unit was based at the
Alexander Barracks in
Berlin. Later in 1933, the formation was redesignated
SS-Sonderkommando Zossen and a second unit of 120 men, designated
SS-Sonderkommando Jüterbog was raised. The two Sonderkommandos provided guards for the NSDAP hierarchy, functioned as training cadres for the SS, and for a short time acted as auxiliary police units.
In September 1933, the two Sonderkommandos were merged into the
SS-Sonderkommando Berlin. In November 1933, on the 10th anniversary of the Beer Hall Putsch, the
Sonderkommando took part in the rally and memorial service at the
Feldherrnhalle, erected in the place where many NSDAP members had fallen during the putsch. All members of the
Sonderkommando then swore personal allegiance to Hitler himself. To conclude this ceremony, the
Sonderkommando received a new title,
Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler.
1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Early SS
