| SS-Hauptamt (SS-HA) | |
 Vehicle command flag for SS Main Office | |
 SS logo | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 30 January 1935 |
| Preceding agencies |
|
| Dissolved | 8 May 1945 |
| Jurisdiction |  GermanyOccupied Europe |
| Headquarters | Prinz-Albrecht-Straße,Berlin |
| Minister responsible | |
| Agency executive |
|
| Parent agency |  SS |
| Child agencies | |
TheSS Main Office (German:SS-Hauptamt;SS-HA) was the central command office of theSchutzstaffel (SS) inNazi Germany until 1940.
The office traces its origins to 1931 when the SS created the SS-Amt to serve as an SS Headquarters staff overseeing the various units of theAllgemeine-SS (General SS). In 1933, after theNazi Party came to power, the SS-Amt was renamed theSS-Oberführerbereichen and placed in command of all SS units withinNazi Germany. Its leaders were Ernst Bach (December 1932 to June 1933),Siegfried Seidel-Dittmarsch (June 1933 to February 1934) andCurt Wittje (from February 1934).[1] This agency then became the SS-HA on January 30, 1935. The organization oversaw theAllgemeine-SS,concentration camps, theSS-Verfügungstruppe (Special-purpose troops), and theGrenzschutz (Border Control regiments).[1]
During the late 1930s, the power of the SS-HA continued to grow becoming the largest and most powerful office of the SS, managing nearly all aspects of the paramilitary organization. This included the SS officer schools (SS-Junker Schools), physical training, communication, SS garrisons, logistics and support.[1] Shortly after the outbreak ofWorld War II in Europe, theSS-Verfügungstruppe expanded rapidly becoming theWaffen-SS in 1940. By this time, the office of theSS-Hauptamt could no longer administer the entire SS organization. As a result, the SS-HA was downsized losing much of its pre-war power to theSS Führungshauptamt (SS Leadership Main Office; SS-FHA) and the main offices of theAllgemeine-SS, such as theReich Security Main Office.[2]
Recruiting members for the Waffen-SS was handled through the SS-HA and its chief, Berger. This caused overlapping jurisdiction and friction with the SS-FHA.[3] Berger's SS-HA had a problematic relationship with the SS-FHA, which was responsible for organising, training and equipping the Waffen-SS. The SS-FHA wanted the Waffen-SS to be a small elite corps, but Berger and Himmler knew thatAdolf Hitler needed as many divisions as possible, even if that meant some Waffen-SS formations would be of lesser quality.[4] During the early war years, to meet the high casualty rates and expansion ofWaffen-SS field divisions, members of theAllgemeine SS were used for compulsory recruitment drives by the SS-HA for both the Waffen-SS and theSS-Totenkopfverbände. The General SS members were especially seen as well suited for duty at theNazi concentration camps andextermination camps.[5] From 1942, forward, other personnel working for SS organisations were also drafted into the Waffen-SS to meet its manpower needs.[5]
In 1940 theSS-Hauptamt remained responsible for SS administrative matters such as manpower allocation, supplies, personnel transfers, and promotions. The SS-HA had 11 departments (Ämter or Amtsgruppen):[6]
The SS-HA was technically subordinate to thePersonal Staff Reichsführer-SS, but in reality it remained autonomous.
| No. | Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Wittje, CurtSS-Gruppenführer Curt Wittje (1894–1947) | 12 February 1934 | 14 May 1935 | 1 year, 91 days | [7] |
| 2 |  | Heissmeyer, AugustSS-Obergruppenführer August Heissmeyer (1897–1979) | 14 May 1935 | 9 November 1939 | 4 years, 179 days | [7] |
| 3 |  | Berger, GottlobSS-Obergruppenführer Gottlob Berger (1896–1975) | 1 December 1939 | 8 May 1945 | 5 years, 180 days | [7] |
After the end of World War II in Europe, members of the SS-HA were charged withwar crimes andcrimes against humanity.Gottlob Berger, its former chief was arrested in May 1945 and tried in 1949. The trial against Berger and his co-defendants commenced on 6 January 1948,[8] and ended on 13 April 1949.[9] Berger was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment, but received credit for the four years during which he had been in custody awaiting trial.[10] Berger was released fromLandsberg prison in 1951.[11]
