Description: In this book the author traces the evolution of the fighting arm of the Schutzstaffel from being a tiny personal bodyguard of Adolf Hitler in the 1920’s to an army of nearly one million at its peak in 1944. He shows how Hitler increasingly came to rely on his ‘SS’ men when he felt the other services let him down as they became the ‘Firebrigade’ being rushed from one trouble spot to another, exacting a terrible toll of lives in retreat as it had during the advances in the early days of the war.  It demonstrates how, the members of the foremost divisions were amongst the toughest fighting troops the world has ever seen, who remained faithful throughout to their motto ‘Loyalty is my honour’.