The formative years --From Verfugungstruppe to Waffen SS: the first months of war -- Toward a military reputation: the Waffen SS in the western campaign -- From west to east: the development of the Waffen SS between the fall of France and the invasion of the Soviet Union -- Some military consequences of an ideology: the Waffen SS in Russia -- The west European SS: mobilization of foreign nationals -- The east European SS: mobilization of foreign nationals -- The Waffen SS comes of age -- To the bitter end: the Waffen SS and the defense of the Third Reich -- The tarnished shield: Waffen SS criminality -- Reprise and assessment