1st SS-Standarte

The 1st SS-Standarte was a regimental command of the ''Allgemeine-SS'' and one of the units in the General-SS order of battle.

History

The unit was formed on 1 August 1928. It was reorganized from previous ''Schutzstaffel'' (SS) units, known as ''SS-Gaus''. Based in Munich, the 1st SS ''Standarte'' was charged with protection of top Nazi Party leaders, including Adolf Hitler. Its first commander was Josef "Sepp" Dietrich. For most of its existence, the command was known by the honor title "Julius Schreck". Schreck had been the co-commander of the first ''Stabswache'' bodyguard unit for Hitler in 1923 and later the first leader of the SS.

By 1929, Hitler had re-formed a personal bodyguard unit known as the ''Stabswache'', which would eventually become the nucleus of the future 1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler. At this stage, the ''Stabswache'' and the 1st SS ''Standarte'' were practically one and the same. By 1930, however, Dietrich began to be seen strictly as the commander of the ''Stabswache'', with the day-to-day running of the 1st ''Standarte'' handled by then SS-'' Standartenführer'' Heinrich Höflich.

When Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in 1933, Dietrich traveled with the Führer to Berlin to set up a new SS-Guard for the German leader. It was mostly made up of men from the 1st SS-Standarte. The unit replaced the army guards assigned to protect the Chancellor of Germany. Dietrich went on to command the new unit known as the "SS-Stabswache Berlin". Later it became known as the ''SS-Sonderkommando Berlin''. In November 1933, the ''Sonderkommando'' received the title ''Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler'' (LAH). Finally, Himmler modified that title to ''Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler'' (LSSAH) on 13 April 1934.

In the summer of 1933, leadership of what remained of 1st ''Standarte'' in Munich was taken over by SS-''Standartenführer'' Emil Wäckerle. By the Night of the Long Knives in 1934, the SS had solidified itself with new headquarters' in Berlin. The 1st SS ''Standarte'' lost most of its operational importance and became a unit attached to the Munich Nazi Party headquarters, known as the " Brown House" for which the SS was in charge of security.

The next commander of the 1st SS ''Standarte'', after the Night of the Long Knives, was Julian Scherner, later known as the SS and Police Leader of Krakau, who was depicted in the Steven Spielberg film ''Schindler's List''. After Scherner's tour as the ''Standarte'' commander, leadership passed through two more leaders, until eventually command was assumed by SS-''Standartenführer'' Erich Buchmann, who held the command until the fall of Nazi Germany in 1945.

Order of battle

* ''SS-Oberabschnitt Süd'' (SS Division South)
* First SS-Abschnitt (1st SS District)
* 1st-SS ''Standarte'' (1st SS Regiment)

Commanders

* SS-''Sturmführer'' Josef Dietrich (August 1, 1928 – September 18, 1929)
* SS-''Oberführer'' Heinrich Höflich (September 18, 1929 – February 10, 1933)
* SS-''Standartenführer'' Emil Wäckerle (February 10, 1933 – November 9, 1933)
* SS-''Standartenführer'' Johann Maier (November 9, 1933 – January 1, 1934)
* SS-''Obersturmführer'' Julian Scherner (January 1, 1934 – January 9, 1935)
* SS-''Sturmbannführer'' Hans Butchner (January 9, 1935 – November 9, 1936)
* SS-''Obersturmbannführer'' Willibald Fleichmann (November 9, 1936 – October 1, 1937)
* SS-''Standartenführer'' Erich Buchmann (October 1, 1937 – May 8, 1945)

See also

* Standarte (Nazi Germany)

References

Citations

Bibliography

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{{Allgemeine-SS

Nazi SS