R & A No. 3113.7 / Principal Nazi Organizations Involved in the ...

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Command* The IS.gradually developed £TW en r.rmy outside tha Army to aa
army above the Amy. Xey potäiiions in the Army administration were occupied
by high SS leaders, and ianortant field commands fell into the hands of SS
general 3 SS did not rr.erg.5 with the Armyj its status as en independent
unit remained untouch3d,
The ind< p.ndence of the SS was anchored, in part, in U.e Decree of 17
October 1939 2 «ml in «he subsequent Executive Decree of 17 April 1940« The
Ministerial Council for the JJe.fense of the Reich stipulated in these decrees
that member9 af ^he SSS including the SS Verfugungstruppen. »ere not sub.1
to the Jurisdiction of the Supreme Corns ltd of the Armed Forces in matters
perttlning to i.h3 jurisdiction of the Military Co;rts„ Instead, their oa
ware to be cated in the lame of tie R^lchsfuhrer-SS by the Hgu£tam£
SS Gericht, s Hain Office within the SS Supreme Command. Apa:t from this,
toe EafTeiWiS, by order or agreement, was subject to the SS Supreme Command
ia matters of recruitment, training, organization, promotions, supplies,
welfare, etc. >aa belcw). Only in matters of strategic or tactical employ­
ment in the field would the feffen-SS cone under the orders of the military
commander within a give», sector of the front. In such instances, Tfaffen-ffi
units would Ire incorporatea in the Armed Forces., The Allgggeine Heqrejr
«itteiluneei of 21 June 1913 ? lowever, stated explicitly 'tint the subordina­
tion of SS -ir.Ite under Wehrmacht command was to be understood as a tempox
arrangement only, Lasting no longer than the period during which SS or Police
1. RGBl* put I, p. 2107,
2. RGBl, parti, p. 65-
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