The Waffen-SS was the armed wing of the Schutzstaffel (SS), a paramilitary organization under the Nazi Party in Germany during World War II. Formed in 1939, it consisted of combat units that fought alongside the regular German army, the Wehrmacht. The Waffen-SS was known for its elite training and was involved in numerous battles across Europe. Members of the Waffen-SS were often recruited from various countries, including volunteers from occupied territories. The organization was implicated in war crimes and atrocities during the war, contributing to its controversial legacy. After the war, the Waffen-SS was declared a criminal organization at the Nuremberg Trials.