The SS-Standarte Germania was formed in 1934 as SS-Standarte 3 / VT around a cadre from Politische Bereitschaft Hamburg (Politische Bereitschaft SS 2). It was soon renamed SS-Standarte 2 / VT when Hitler ordered that SS-Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler not would be included in the numbering sequence. It was renamed SS-Standarte Germania at the Parteitag in Nuremberg 1936 when it also received its Deutschland Erwache standard.

It took part in the annexation of Austria and was responsible for the security during the Italian leader Benito Mussolini's visit to Germany. It took part in the annexation of Sudetenland attached to army units. It later served as a guard regiment in Prague, as Wach-Regiment des Reichsprotektors von Böhmen und Mähren, until July 1939.

It took part in the invasion of Poland attached to 14. Armee and following that campaign it was used to form SS-Division Verfügungstruppe (later renamed Das Reich).

Commanders

SS-Standartenführer Carl-Maria Demelhuber

Manpower strength

Jan 1935 526
Jan 1936 2.514
Jan 1937 2.509
Jan 1938 2.614
Dec 1938 2.494

Order of battle (Oct 1934)

I. Sturmbann
II. Sturmbann
III. Sturmbann
13. Minenwerfer-Sturm
14. Kradschützen-Sturm

Order of battle (Feb 1935)

Stäbe SS-Sturmbann x 3
SS-Schützen-Stürme x 9
SS-Kradschützen-Sturm
SS-Maschinengewehr-Stürme x 3
SS-Minenwerfer-Sturm
SS-Nachrichten-Züge SS-Sturmbann x 3
SS-Musikzüge SS-Sturmbann x 3
SS-Kraftfahrkolonnen x 3

Order of battle (Sep 1939)

Regiment Stab
I. Infanterie-Bataillon (mot)
II. Infanterie-Bataillon (mot)
III. Infanterie-Bataillon (mot)
13. Infanterie-Geschütz-Kompanie (mot)
14. Panzerabwehr-Kompanie (mot)
15. Kradschützen-Kompanie
Nachrichten-Zug
Kradschützen-Zug
Musikkorps

Notable members

Odilo Globocnik (Served in the unit during the invasion of Poland, SS-Obergruppenführer, later played an important part in the murder of the Jews in the occupied Poland)

Insignia

A special collar tab with the SS runes and the number 2 in the lower right corner was used by ranks up to SS-Obersturmbannführer.

SS-Mann wearing the SS-Standarte Germania collar tab

(Courtesy of Dave)

A cuff-title with the text "Germania" was also authorized.

Sources used

John R. Angolia - Cloth insignia of the SS
Dr. K-G Klietmann - Die Waffen-SS: eine Dokumentation
Michael Miller - Leaders of the SS & German police: Reichsführer-SS - SS-Gruppenführer
Andrew Mollo - Uniforms of the SS: Collected Edition
Michael Sharpe & Brian L Davis - Das Reich
Jacek Solarz - SS Verfügungstruppen 1939
Ulrich of England & Otto Spronk - Deutschland Erwache: History & Development of the Nazi Party and the "Germany Awake" Standards
Otto Weidinger - Das Reich I

Reference material on this unit

Otto Weidinger - Das Reich I