Formed in 1925 from fanatics loyal to Hitler
Huge organisation from 1934 onwards - By 1939, 240,000 members and 1 million members by 1944
Leader of the SS was Heinrich Himmler
Highly trained and loyal to Hitler, the SS had primary responsibility for destroying opposition and carrying out Nazi racial policies
SD was the internal security service of the SS
The Death's Head units looked after the concentration camps and the transportation and eventual murder of Jews
As it grew in power, the SS set up its own courts and carried out many activities similar to the Gestapo
Around 200,000 Germans were sent to concentration camps by these courts