Alpine Miniatures 35302 WSS Schwimmwagen Crew Set 2 figures 1/35

The first paramilitary unit to have the abbreviation SS (German: Schutz Staffel) in its name was the personal protection of the dictator of the Third Reich called Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler, which was officially formed in 1933. Beginning in 1934, the SS was a formation independent. headed by Heinrich Himmler. Over time, more SS units were formed, including the SS-Totenkopfverbände and the SS-Verfügungstruppe. It is worth adding that the latter was trained similarly to regular Wehrmacht infantry units. On a relatively small scale, SS units were used in combat during the fighting in Poland in 1939 and in the French campaign in 1940. The first units intended from the beginning to fight on the front were created in the mid-1940s, giving them the name of the Waffen SS. At first they were recruited voluntarily, also from non-Germans, but over time compulsory recruitment began to be applied. Within the Waffen-SS many divisions of different combat value were formed. However, some of them (e.g. 1st SS Panzer Division LAH, 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich or 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend) can be considered elite units, with very high combat value. high and often equipped with the best equipment available. They demonstrated their considerable advantages not only on the Eastern Front (1941-1945), especially during the battles near Kharkiv in 1943, but also during the battles in France in 1944. Another thing is that the quality of the staff of these units was in many cases are debatable, and many Waffen-SS soldiers committed war crimes during World War II.

Panzergrenadier is a German term for a formation of panzer grenadiers, that is, infantry units trained to fight in close cooperation with their own tanks. This term was officially used in 1942, when infantry divisions were renamed grenadier divisions and motorized infantry divisions were renamed panzer grenadier divisions. It is worth adding that in the years 1937-1942 the Schützen Regiment was called infantry regiments that served in armored units. In theory, the basic equipment of the armored grenadier divisions was to be a half-track armored transport, especially the Sd.Kfz.251, but due to insufficient production, these infantry were often transported on trucks. As standard, an armored grenadier division consisted of three infantry regiments, two battalions in each regiment, and numerous support units, including anti-tank, anti-aircraft, sapper, and communications units. Self-propelled guns, such as the StuG III, were often used in these formations. It is worth adding that armored grenadier divisions were formed not only in the Wehrmacht, but also in the Waffen SS, for example, the Totenkopf Division or the Hohenstaufen Division.