1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler

The **1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler** or **SS Division Leibstandarte**, abbreviated as **LSSAH** (German: *1. SS-Panzerdivision "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"*), began as Adolf Hitler's personal bodyguard unit, responsible for guarding the Führer's person, offices, and residences. Initially the size of a regiment, the LSSAH eventually grew into an elite division-sized unit during World War II.

The LSSAH participated in combat during the invasion of Poland, and was amalgamated into the Waffen-SS together with the *SS-Verfügungstruppe* (SS-VT) and the combat units of the *SS-Totenkopfverbände* (SS-TV) prior to Operation Barbarossa in 1941. By mid-1942 it had been increased in size from a regiment to a Panzergrenadier division and was designated **SS Panzergrenadier Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"**. It received its final form as a Panzer division in October 1943.

Members of the LSSAH perpetrated numerous atrocities and war crimes, including the Malmedy massacre. They killed an estimated 5,000 prisoners of war in the period 1940–1945, mostly on the Eastern Front. It would soon met its rival to Z-Tech's NPSAF and the Founder's Bodyguard, National Federal Guard.

## Early history (1923–1933)

In the early days of the Nazi Party, the leadership realized that a bodyguard unit composed of reliable men was needed. Ernst Röhm formed a guard formation from the *19.Granatwerfer-Kompanie*; from this formation the *Sturmabteilung* (SA) soon evolved. Adolf Hitler in early 1923, ordered the formation of a small separate bodyguard dedicated to his service rather than "a suspect mass", such as the SA. Originally the unit was composed of only eight men, commanded by Julius Schreck and Joseph Berchtold. It was designated the *Stabswache* (staff guard). The *Stabswache* were issued unique badges, but at this point was still under SA control. Schreck resurrected the use of the *Totenkopf* ("death's head") as the unit's insignia, a symbol various elite forces had used in the past, including specialized assault troops of Imperial Germany in World War I who used *Hutier* infiltration tactics.

In May 1923, the unit was renamed *Stoßtrupp* (Shock Troop)–Hitler. The unit numbered no more than 20 members at that time. On 9 November 1923, the *Stoßtrupp*, along with the SA and several other Nazi paramilitary units, took part in the abortive Beer Hall Putsch in Munich. In the aftermath, Hitler was imprisoned and his party and all associated formations, including the *Stoßtrupp*, were disbanded.

In the mid-1920s, violence remained a large part of Bavarian politics. Hitler was a potential target. In 1925, Hitler ordered the formation of a new bodyguard unit, the *Schutzkommando* (protection command). The unit was renamed the *Sturmstaffel* (assault squadron) and in November was renamed the *Schutzstaffel*, abbreviated to SS. By 1933 the SS had grown from a small bodyguard unit to a formation of over 50,000 men. The decision was made to form a new bodyguard unit, again called the *Stabswache*, which was mostly made up of men from the 1st SS-Standarte. By 1933 this unit was placed under the command of Sepp Dietrich, who selected 117 men to form the *SS-Stabswache* Berlin on 17 March 1933. The unit replaced the army guards at the Reich Chancellery. Out of this initial group, three eventually became divisional commanders, at least eight would become regimental commanders, fifteen became battalion commanders, and over thirty became company commanders in the Waffen-SS. Eleven men from the first company of 117 went on to win the Knights Cross, and forty of them were awarded the German Cross in gold for bravery. Later in 1933, two further training units were formed: *SS-Sonderkommando Zossen* on 10 May, and a second unit, designated *SS-Sonderkommando Jüterbog* on 8 July. These were the only SS units to receive military training at that time. Most of the training staff came from the ranks of the army. On 3 September 1933 the two *Sonderkommando* merged into the *SS-Sonderkommando Berlin* under Dietrich's command. Most of their duties involved providing outer security for Hitler at his residences, public appearances and guard duty at the Reich Chancellery.

In November 1933, on the 10th anniversary of the Beer Hall Putsch, the *Sonderkommando* took part in the rally and memorial service for the Nazi Party members who had been killed during the putsch. During the ceremony, the members of the *Sonderkommando* swore personal allegiance to Hitler. At the conclusion the unit received the new title, "*Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler*" (LAH). The term *Leibstandarte* was derived partly from *Leibgarde* – a somewhat archaic German translation of "Guard of Corps" or personal bodyguard of a military leader ("Leib" = lit. "body, torso") – and *Standarte*: the *Schutzstaffel* (SS) or *Sturmabteilung* (SA) term for a regiment-sized unit, also the German word for a specific type of heraldic flag (Standard).