Waffen SS troops

[Horizon]

Ok, I'm going to get flammed for this, but I'd like to ask if it is possible to keep just a little perspective on this topic?

Just yesterday, the website Europe 1 announced that on August 6, Heinz Barth, Obersturmfuhrer of "Der Fuhrer" regiment, 2nd SS "Das Reich" division, died quietly and peacefully in his own bed at his home. Now, while there are some idiots who will no doubt wear their black armbands and go into mourning, here is a little reminder of what Barth and his men did:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oradour-sur-Glane

My point is this: I simply don't understand the whole SS admiration/idolatry out there. YES they had neat uniforms, YES they had neat weapons, YES they wore all kinds of neat medals and decoration, YES were feared and respected by many, friend and foe alike..

I would also add YES, they also had the blood of millions on their hands. So while we can congratulate the SS on being very fashionable in clothing and technically proficient during WW2, lets not forget who they were and what their indoctrination required of them.

Over 60 pages on this thread devoted to the SS, hardly a single mention of their deeds behind the front. In my book, you're a super-trooper with loads of neat toys, until you go out of your way to deliberately kill civilians in the name of racial purification and/or retaliation. After that, you're nothing more than a murderer, and should be treated as such.

Shall we start a thread devoted solely to the crimes committed by the SS, or would it simply decend into another "...but look at that camo....Ooooh! So neat!"?

Ok, I'm ready to be torched.

You have the right to be outraged, and the duty to be outraged when NATO wipe out entire villages in Afghanistan "by mistake"....why the duty? because it is happening right now, before our eyes.
The day you have interests in history, you discover a never ending series of wars, genocides, tragedies, this is history like it or not.As for me not long ago I discovered articles about the Baltic states, and their fate under communism rule, I spare you the crimes committed, I realized how big events like those have gone unnoticed for a western Europe reader like me.I have been very moved by the Forest Brothers resistance movement, their courage, and our disdain, we are in 2007 and I just happened to learn this story!, they are immortals, their courage, their struggle.

Now the crimes committed by some units of the Waffen SS, are all know, and have been debated thousand times, the victims have been recognized and honored; the majority of the culprits sentenced.But the crimes of the Russians have vanished into missing, for many, until historians, victims, witnesses begin to speak, or new documents surface.The cold-war has formatted a corrected history on WW2, that suited the winners, where only Germans and Japanese were capable of atrocities.

The American use to say "left no man behind", I would say "left no unknown history behind", there are victims of war, civil war, today, and I can't stop thinking of them, this forum is a place where people from everywhere have a thought, discuss, engage in debates, because we care, yes we don't forget those who suffer, anywhere in the world.For most of us we could care less, living quiet life, not much to worrying, we do something if we speak for those not enjoying freedom of speech, we do something when we talk talks that should put us in prison in some places, we do something when we denounce torture, so those tortured are not muted, each day passing I realize my luck, enjoying freedom and democracy.

[gaijinsamurai]

mas36,
It seems like about every few weeks or so, someone rants on this thread about the fact that the Waffen SS symbolized Naziism, and were involved in numerous atrocities.
They, like you, are correct.
What took place at Malmedy and other places were crimes that were heinous and inexcusable. The men who perpetrated them were dishonorable criminals. Furthermore, they fought for an evil cause, even if they were drafted or had the intentions of fighting communism or defending their fatherland.
Most (I hope all) of us on this forum recognize that fact, and don't glorify the misery they helped inflict.
But, like has been pointed out, this is a section that deals with photos and military history. We have a section for political debates, and your views, while valid, would probably receive a better reception there.

[drakegoodman]

No offence (Horizon), but wrong forum - take it to "Political Discussion & Rants".

[Ngati Tumatauenga]

You have the right to be outraged, and the duty to be outraged when NATO wipe out entire villages in Afghanistan "by mistake"....

When, where and how did NATO or any other part of the coalition in Afghanistan "wipe out" an entire village?

Or, are you finger painting via your keyboard through the medium of your own fecal matter?

[SturmPionier]

Stop discussion, more posting pics

[MajorTom]

Those are Finns in the first picture with skulls in helmets. Look at the uniform.

Mas,

Please start a thread in politics forum titled "Waffen SS killing civilians in ww2"

Or better "Armies killing civilians through out the history".

It ll be a long and painful thread.

[Hans_EGC]

Exelent thread guys!!

I am looking for pictures of SS troops from Aserbaidschan. Can somebody help me? Thanks!

[Kreigsberichter]

Actually that kind of sleave shield was mostly used by Army volounteer units, and I have never heard anything about them being worn by SS units.

[Kreigsberichter]

Stop discussion, more posting pics

These are not SS but finnish soldiers.

[mikcem]

mas36,
It seems like about every few weeks or so, someone rants on this thread about the fact that the Waffen SS symbolized Naziism, and were involved in numerous atrocities.
They, like you, are correct.
What took place at Malmedy and other places were crimes that were heinous and inexcusable. The men who perpetrated them were dishonorable criminals. Furthermore, they fought for an evil cause, even if they were drafted or had the intentions of fighting communism or defending their fatherland.
Most (I hope all) of us on this forum recognize that fact, and don't glorify the misery they helped inflict.
But, like has been pointed out, this is a section that deals with photos and military history. We have a section for political debates, and your views, while valid, would probably receive a better reception there.

Well You really are a poor excuse for a Historian
You must not be aware of US troops shooting prisoners of war .
let me give you some examples (not that to wrongs dont make a right )
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biscari_Massacre
Now the numbers might just be a little confusing for youself and some idiot
mas36 So for your benefit I will give some details
Biscari Airfield Sicily in July 1943 74 Italian and 2 German POW were shot
When British War Correspondent Basil Liddel Hart had the temerity to ask why "Expediency" was his reply by a Colonel in General Pattons Staff .
Shall I go on ? Yes I will and remember we are only in Sicily at the moment and havent yet reached France
Buttera Airfield July/Aug 1943 60 German POW were shot dead
Gela Airfield Aug 1943 36 German POW Shot dead
Comisse 60-100 German POW shot dead
No One was tried or charged for these murders and I am not saying that the SS did not kill prisoners EVERY ARMY DID !
What I really dislike are poorly educated persons WHO LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES THROWING STONES

[Annihilator9112]

Stop discussion, more posting pics

what country are these?? are they the Waffen SS???

[theholeinthedonut]

Well You really are a poor excuse for a Historian
You must not be aware of US troops shooting prisoners of war .
let me give you some examples (not that to wrongs dont make a right )
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biscari_Massacre
Now the numbers might just be a little confusing for youself and some idiot
mas36 So for your benefit I will give some details
Biscari Airfield Sicily in July 1943 74 Italian and 2 German POW were shot
When British War Correspondent Basil Liddel Hart had the temerity to ask why "Expediency" was his reply by a Colonel in General Pattons Staff .
Shall I go on ? Yes I will and remember we are only in Sicily at the moment and havent yet reached France
Buttera Airfield July/Aug 1943 60 German POW were shot dead
Gela Airfield Aug 1943 36 German POW Shot dead
Comisse 60-100 German POW shot dead
No One was tried or charged for these murders and I am not saying that the SS did not kill prisoners EVERY ARMY DID !
What I really dislike are poorly educated persons WHO LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES THROWING STONES

PHAIL!!!! Big time PHAIL!! You do not even care to read the articles you link?Little Possum genius do you?
Btw. even if you 're completely right about that every army committed war crimes, it does not speak in your favor if you relativize those of the SS on to the level of those committed by the allied.

[Annihilator9112]

not all waffen SS are bad. the way "some" of you talk about them is as if every one of the waffen SS were evil and murderers.

[theholeinthedonut]

not all waffen SS are bad. the way "some" of you talk about them is as if every one of the waffen SS were evil and murderers.

I hope that was just a mistake...........because most of the Waffen SS WERE bad...at least I hope that only a minority is still alive.

[Kreigsberichter]

what country are these?? are they the Waffen SS???

German pre-war LSSAH. If Im not completly wrong it was taken at one of the airfields in Berlin, and I also belive I have read that Teddy Wisch is among that group (later commander of the LSSAH).

So it would be wrong to say that they are Waffen-SS as they where named that in 1940, before that they where just LSSAH, but then, as you probebly know, the LSSAH became a part of the Waffen-SS when it was created.