Joining SS

[beinbruch]

Was it possible for people to get into SS without any basic training?

I read about a business man who became a member of SS at a pretty high rank. He only had military training from WW1.

[coburg22]

Hello,

It sounds like the person you mentioned was given a Honorary Rank as a member of the Allgemeine-SS which was not uncommon for Businessmen, Senior NSDAP Leadership and members of Government. Basic training usually took place if someone was to join the pre-war SS-Verfugungstruppe. There are many books out there you can read regarding the SS that are very informative that cover before, during and after WWII.

Best,

James

[beinbruch]

Could an honorary member be active at the front or even work in a concentration camp?

Or was the title just for show

[j keenan]

Yes they could to both

[beinbruch]

Would anything on his uniform or badges or medals show he was an honorary member?

What rank would you imagine a business man producing things for the army would get in ss?

[Phil Nix]

Would anything on his uniform or badges or medals show he was an honorary member?

What rank would you imagine a business man producing things for the army would get in ss?

There was nothing in the uniform to show that a man was an Ehrenführer and a usiness man could have any rank depending on his senority in the business world
Phil Nix

[Derek]

Not altogether true Phil. An Ehrenführer originally wore an aluminium cufftitle bearing the inscription 'Ehrenführer' and on formal occasions sported a specially designed aiguillette. This practice did eventually die out and it became harder to identify an honorary member.
Derek

[beinbruch]

Could an honorary ss member be an officer in the wehrmacht?

[coburg22]

Hello Beinbruch,

The answer is yes. SS Honorary Officers came from just about every profession within the framework of the Third Reich. Heer Generalleutnant Graf Strachwitz who won the Diamonds was a SS-Standartenführer as well as several other high ranking officers. Once the war started, the Wehrmacht was flooded with members from both the SS and SA. You also have Ehrenfuhrer that had no SS number at all but were entitled to wear SS uniform such as Prof. Ferdinand Porsche who was a SS-Oberführer. The SA, NSKK and NSFK also had honorary members so this was not uncommon and most honorary members had full time occupations elsewhere and were not obligated to any duty as a Ehrenführer. What gave them Ehrenführer status in the first place was their position or influence they held in the Reich and therefore were looked upon with favoritism so it was only natural that a organization such as the SS would want the SS to be represented by that individual wearing their uniform.

Best,

James

[beinbruch]

Was the honorary members given a uniform, cap etc and were they required to wear it?

[von thoma]

An Ehrenführer originally wore an aluminium cufftitle bearing the inscription 'Ehrenführer' and on formal occasions sported a specially designed aiguillette.

The SS-Ehrenführer no had a special collar patch,with an Oak Leaf with three pips on each side,for a short time ?