Modeled after the Loggia dei Lanzi in Florence, it was commissioned in 1841 by King Ludwig I of Bavaria to honor the tradition of his army. The structure in the picture is the famous Feldherrnhalle (Field Marshals’ Hall), a monumental loggia on the Odeonsplatz in Munich. During the 1930s officer candidates had to provide certified evidence of Aryan heritage, dating back to the 1750s. The racial requirements for SS officers were even more stringent. For instance, enlistees in the Leibstandarte (Life Guard), Hitler’s own personal bodyguard regiment, had to be between 23 and 35 years of age, 5’11″ (180 cm) in height, of Deutsche Blut (German blood), and with no history of criminal behavior or alcoholism. He ordered that all recruits be subject to strict physical requirements and “genealogical investigation” before acceptance. Himmler imagined the SS not only as an elite military force but also the embodiment of racial purity. This is the blood oath engraved on their dress daggers and on their uniform belt buckles.Īnother distinguishing feature of the SS was its racial composition. SS officers and soldiers swore an oath of loyalty to Hitler, promising “absolute allegiance” the SS motto was Meine Ehre Heisst Treue ( My honor is Loyalty). Perhaps the most obvious was its fanatical loyalty to Hitler and to Nazi racial and political values. The SS was different from the Wehrmacht (regular army) in several respects. I vow to you and to the leaders that you set for me, absolute allegiance until death. The SS loyalty oath was as follows: “I vow to you, Adolf Hitler, as Führer and chancellor of the German Reich, loyalty and bravery. Annual midnight swearing-in of Nazi SS troops, Feldherrnhalle, Munich, 1938.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |