Abstract

Prospective SS recruits had to prove their “racial” purity and superiority through strenuous admissions and training procedures. Among other things, they had to demonstrate their exceptional physical and mental toughness. On a purely aesthetic basis, Himmler (right) preferred tall, blond, “Nordic” types for the SS. He himself corresponded little to this physical ideal.

Heinrich Himmler Trains for the Reich Sport Badge in Silver (1936)

Source

Source: Heinrich Himmler training for the Reich Silver Sports Badge, here running with an SS man. Unknown photographer.
bpk-Bildagentur, image number 30002827. For rights inquiries, please contact Art Resource at requests@artres.com (North America) or bpk-Bildagentur at kontakt@bpk-bildagentur.de (for all other countries).

Recommended Citation

Heinrich Himmler Trains for the Reich Sport Badge in Silver (1936), published in: German History in Documents and Images, <https://germanhistorydocs.org/en/nazi-germany-1933-1945/ghdi:image-1911> [March 28, 2025].

Group Photo of an SS Wedding on the Grounds of the Main Office for Race and Settlement (1936)

Heinrich Himmler during an Inspection of the Dachau Concentration Camp (March 1938)

Hermann Göring names Heinrich Himmler Deputy Chief and “Inspector of the Prussian Political Police” (April 20, 1934)

SS Marriage Order (December 31, 1931)