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Leibstandarte

Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, commonly abbreviated LSSAH, was the elite guard unit of the Schutzstaffel (SS) and the leading formation of the Waffen-SS in Nazi Germany. It originated in 1933 as Hitler’s personal bodyguard unit, established as the Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler, and gradually grew from a small ceremonial detachment into a combat-ready unit.

During the late 1930s the unit expanded and began to perform operational duties beyond ceremonial guard work.

In 1943 the Leibstandarte was reorganized as a full panzer division and renamed the 1st SS Panzer

After the war, the Waffen-SS was declared a criminal organization by the Nuremberg Trials, and many of

It
participated
in
early
campaigns,
including
the
invasions
of
Poland
and
Western
Europe,
and
served
as
part
of
the
SS
formations
attached
to
the
German
army.
Under
the
command
of
Sepp
Dietrich
for
much
of
its
existence,
the
regiment
developed
into
one
of
the
most
prominent
SS
formations.
Division
Leibstandarte
SS
Adolf
Hitler
(LSSAH).
As
a
division,
it
fought
on
multiple
fronts
during
World
War
II,
including
the
Eastern
Front,
the
Battle
of
Kursk,
and
the
Western
Front
during
the
Normandy
and
subsequent
campaigns.
The
unit
took
part
in
numerous
operations
across
occupied
Europe
and
the
Soviet
Union
and
was
known
for
its
heavy
combat
role
as
well
as
its
involvement
in
war
crimes
and
atrocities
associated
with
Waffen-SS
units.
its
members
were
tried
or
prosecuted
in
various
postwar
contexts.
The
LSSAH
remains
a
subject
of
historical
study
for
its
role
as
an
elite
military
formation
within
the
Nazi
regime
and
for
its
involvement
in
wartime
crimes.