What does SS stand for in WWII?

The SS stood for the Schutzstaffel, which was a Nazi protection organization. Officially considered a paramilitary group, the SS were Adolf Hitler's protection and bodyguards, and later grew in order to carry out Hitler's wishes.

The SS were headed by Heinrich Himmler, who only recruited non-Jewish members. During World War II, the group had grown to over 250,000 members. They acted similar to a police force, investigating, policing and even rounding up people and taking them to concentration camps. Some of the camps were run by the SS. Himmler was captured near the end of the war by the Allied forces.