I am sorry about the iron cross, but have you ever looked at Himmler's hand?

Feldmarschall GAG · #1 (**permalink**) December 22nd, 2003, 10:10 PM

Maybe he did not get an I ron cross, but Himmler was indeed the founder of the SS, and the greatest award [img] totenkopfring [/img]

an SS member could get (other than the iron cross, that could be deserved by anyone)was the Totenkopfring, wich he personally designed.

So here's the question: How did Himmler get his Totenkopfring??

Kai-Petri · #2 (**permalink**) December 23rd, 2003, 01:23 PM

I think Himmler himself gave it to himself as he was the only (?) person who could award it due to "special" requirements.

Friedrich · #3 (**permalink**) December 23rd, 2003, 03:42 PM

First, Himmler did not create the SS. But he made of it an élite and a state within the state and became the most powerful man in Germany.

And why was he awarded that ring? Because he created it and was who decided who was awarded it.

Paul_9686 · #4 (**permalink**) December 27th, 2003, 05:58 PM

Call it "privileges of rank", though, to give the Devil his due, I understand Himmler sweated and squirmed like crazy to win (just barely) his sports badge.

Yours,
Paul

Feldmarschall GAG · #5 (**permalink**) December 28th, 2003, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by General der Infanterie Friedrich H:
First, Himmler did not create the SS. But he made of it an élite and a state within the state and became the most powerful man in Germany.

And why was he awarded that ring? Because he created it and was who decided who was awarded it.

Feldmarschall GAG · #6 (**permalink**) December 28th, 2003, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by General der Infanterie Friedrich H:
First, Himmler did not create the SS. But he made of it an élite and a state within the state and became the most powerful man in Germany.

And why was he awarded that ring? Because he created it and was who decided who was awarded it.

He did'nt create the SS, he just changed its name, giving the Nationalsocialist party a private "army" wich was previously named SA, and was commanded by Ernst Röhm... who was killed (I think)on the Night of the long knives......

TheRedBaron · #7 (**permalink**) January 15th, 2004, 06:35 PM

No. The SA (Sturmabteilung) and the SS (ShutzStaffel) were two seperate organisations that sought power. The SA slipped into the shadows after Hitlers purge of their leaders by SS troops. The SA went on to form the basis of an army unit the Ferndenhalle (excuse the spelling). They were always two seperate entities.

PzJgr · #8 (**permalink**) January 15th, 2004, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Feldmarschall GAG:
He did'nt create the SS, he just changed its name, giving the Nationalsocialist party a private "army" wich was previously named SA, and was commanded by Ernst Röhm... who was killed (I think)on the Night of the long knives...... [/QB]

Sorry my friend. This is incorrect. The SA was not abolished after the execution of Ernst Rohm. The name of SS did not come about as a change derived from the SA. In fact the Victor Lutze took over Rohm's position.

http://www.skalman.nu/third-reich/sa-history.htm