Though the abbreviation “SS” is generally recognized across the contemporary world, most people actually do not understand its origin. It comes from the name of the organization “Die Schutzstaffeln der NSDAP.” Currently there are two different translations into the Polish language: in the past “Protection Staff” was most often used; today, however, the dominant interpretation of the name is “Protective Echelon.”

The history of the origin of the SS is generally associated with the Stoßtrupp Adolf Hitler, established in 1923 and responsible for the personal protection of the Nazi Party leadership. In 1925, the SS was divided into several different security branches. However, following a series of changes in its structure, the SS finally became a unified organization, the Schutzstaffeln.

In 1929, the actual founder as well as organizer of the SS was Heinrich Himmler, appointed as its commander (Reichsführer). He was able to convince Hitler that specially conscripted and loyal troops would be able to provide a counterbalance to the numerous, yet undisciplined Storm Troopers (Sturmabteilungen, SA). In order to successfully accomplish this goal, Himmler greatly expanded the number of this organization’s members from an initial few hundred in the late twenties, to total of over 50,000 a decade later within the SS formations.

After the Nazis seized power in Germany, Himmler used the SS in the bloody suppression of the leaders of the SA (the so-called “Night of the Long Knives”) as well as subordinate police units, so that  SS men could be installed in the most important positions. Moreover, he also used the SS to create a system of concentration camps that mainly held both, political prisoners and Jews. In reality, the camps functioned parallel to the state judicial and penitentiary system. These camps played essential role in crippling opposition to the Nazis and in intimidating the general population.

As a result of the organizational changes within the SS at the end of the thirties, the orgaization crystallized into three primary formations: sentry units (SS-Totenkopfverbände—“Death’s Head Battalions,” which administered the concentration camps), Dispositional Troops, next the “Armed SS” (Waffen-SS—trained in a similar manner as the military, then fighting at the front in the SS divisions, corps, and even army), and “General SS” (Allgemeine-SS), which was a kind of reserve for the above: SS-Totenkopf and Waffen-SS. Between these branches there was a considerable fluctuation of personnel. For this reason,at least several hundred SS were redeployed from Auschwitz to the frontline units. On the other hand, many Waffen-SS, as a result of injury or wounds and not fully capable of military service, were transferred to the camp to watch over the prisoners. Perhaps the most famous of them was SS-Hauptsturmführer Josef Mengele, who had served in the military 5th SS Panzer Division Totenkopf. As a result of wounds, he was declared unfit to serve on the front and at his own request transferred to Auschwitz in May 1943.