How come the German SS had foriegn nationals in there ranks?
1. The Nazi’s were very strong in their belief about the need to destroy the untermensch and subhumans of jews, gypsies and eastern europeans. They felt that communists had undermined Germany’s efforts in WW-2. There were, quite simply, a number of Dutch, Norwegians, Croat and especially Spanish who agreed with those values, especially the anti-communist part. Additionally, you had countries (like Finland) that had been invaded by the Russians and viewed their enemy’s enemy (Germany) as their ally. 2. Typically these non-Germans didn’t join German Waffen SS units (like Totenkopf or Das Reich) but instead went into national units like the Blue Legion (Spain). The Wiking Division is the only Waffen SS I’m aware of that included Germans and many other nationalities as well. There was even a British Frei Corps. 3. Given the bloodbath on the Eastern Front, the Germans needed bodies. When they got desperate, they even went to conscription (rather than just volunteers). 4. Why did foreigners
