The SS
The SS-Verfügungstruppe
The SS-Verfügungstruppe (SS-VT) was considered an armed wing of the Allgemeine-SS and, as such, a part of the Nazi party, rather than a part of the Wehrmacht. It was created in 1934, through the merging of various Nazi and other right-wing paramilitary formations.
Two SS-VT regiments were originally formed: SS-Standarte "Germania", in northern Germany; and SS-Standarte "Deutschland", in the south. Elements of the SS-VT were also incorporated into the SS-Leibstandarte "Adolf Hitler".
By late 1938 the various SS-VT units were partially subordinated to Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW), and, on 10 October, some of them were combined, to become the SS-Verfügungsdivision (V-Division), which was placed under the command of SS-Brigadeführer (lieutenant general) Paul Hausser.
Under Hausser the V-Division became an effective fighting force. It took part in the invasion of the Sudetenland, in 1938, and of Poland, in 1939. However, V-Division never fought as a single unit; instead, it was divided into smaller regiments and dispersed among the Wehrmacht Heer units.
After the invasion of France, in 1940, V-Division was renamed 'Das Reich'; and it, together with the other SS-VT units were placed under the command of the Kommandoamt der Waffen-SS, which was a newly-created office within the OKW. Thereafter, the SS-VT was known as the Waffen-SS and became, in effect, a fourth branch of the Wehrmacht - albeit an unconventional and semi-autonomous one.
The Waffen-SS
At the outset of World War II, the Waffen-SS (W-SS) was generally regarded as an elite military force. It owed this reputation more to the quality of its men and their training than to its weapons and equipment - which, in spite of popular misperceptions, ranged wildly in quality, from excellent to extremely third-rate.
The reputation of the Waffen-SS attracted not only the flower of Germany's youth, but young men from other countries, as well. Thus, in addition to the German units there were also SS-Freiwilligenverbände, formed of volunteers from countries and regions such as Albania, Armenia, Belgium, Bosnia, Britain, Bulgaria, Belarus, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Finland, Hungary, India, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, the Sudetenland, Sweden, Switzerland and Ukraine.
However, as the war continued and the demands on German manpower grew out of all proportion, Germany began to press young men, from occupied territories in Eastern Europe, into military service. Thus the term Freiwilligenverbände acquired ironic and pejorative associations.
The reputation of the Waffen-SS was further damaged by its willingness to field units composed of prisoners-of-war, criminals and 'military deliquents' - soldiers, who were found guilty of acts that would be considered criminal in civilian life. The most infamous of these units was probably 36.Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS, which was formed on 15 June 1940 at the instigation of Dr Oskar Dirlewanger - who was, himself, twice convicted as a child molester, prior to World War Two.
The 3rd Reich's development of disruptive pattern camouflage uniforms, for use by the Waffen-SS, was arguably the most significant advance in uniform design in the 20th Century. At least eight - and probably more - distinct patterns were eventually developed; and the innovations attempted and lessons learned, then, continue to influence the design of personal camouflage today.
How To Paint Waffen-SS Camouflage Uniforms
This is yet another of those many subjects that seem to have as many answers as there are painters. These methods, however, work for me, and give me camouflage uniforms I'm happy with.
I paint my figures from the inside out (and no, I don't bother with eyes), so I will show all the paint guides starting with an undercoated figure that has already had the assorted flesh tones applied. Since everyone has their own favourite for that, I'll restrict myself to saying that I paint the skin areas with GW Dwarf Flesh, put on a coat of flesh ink, drybrush with Dwarf Flesh, drybrush again with Bronzed Flesh and finish up (sometimes) with a final drybrush of Elf Flesh. I don't bother being particularly tidy, mainly as all "messes" are cleaned up by the subsequent layers of paint.
I'll be illustrating my camouflage "how-to" with figures as I would have them when reaching the point that I start painting the camouflaged item.
My main reference book for the various SS patterns is Europa Militaria 18: Waffen-SS Camouflage Uniforms & Post-War Derivatives. This little gem features models wearing a mixture of real and replica clothing, showing the various patterns off to best effect. These pictures are invaluable in trying to recreate the patterns in miniature. All replicas are clearly indicated, and usually shown with a real item in order to show how they differ.
Europa Militaria 18: Waffen-SS Camouflage Uniforms & Post-War Derivatives