Twelve years with hitler: a history of 1.kompanie leibstandarte ss adolf hitler 1933-1945 (Schiffer Publishing Ltd)

The original cadre of the later Waffen-SS was formed in March 1933 as the SS Headquarters Guard Berlin. From the first 117 volunteers emerged more than fifty senior SS officers, all of whom received high decorations for bravery in the 38 Waffen-SS divisions that were formed later.