Soldiers Of Destruction By Charles W. Sydnor, Jr EickeS Cultiv

Soldiers Of Destruction By Charles W. Sydnor, Jr: EickeS Cultivation Of Elitism EICKES CULTIVATION OF ELITISM A sign declaring Barnard College ranks Number 1 in the Journal of Economic Educations, Fall 1997 Rankings of 40 ELITE Liberal Arts Colleges Economics Departments adorns the door of my dorm room. Although society emphasizes the attainment of elitism or status, it may not be aware that the doctrine of elitism and those who are labeled elite have been ingrained in society since childhood. Parents dedicate their energies and funds to provide the best opportunities for their children. And the childrens resulting future success becomes the reward for their parents determination. Similarly, in Soldiers of Destruction by Charles W. Sydnor, Jr., Theodore Eicke, the creator and commander of the Third SS Panzer Division Totenkopf, strives to instill upon his soldiers the elite character of their division. With the goal of instilling elitism in his soldiers, Eickes combination of uncompromising demand for obedience, talent for organization, and a gift for inspiring and leading men has given the Totenkopfdivision the reputation as one of the most powerful formations in the German armed forces. As a result of its uncompromising leader, Theodore Eicke, the SS Totenkopfdivision possessed a special character and demeanor even among the other SS divisions. First, Eickes doctrine of elitism was routed in the Nazi movement that he embraced with zeal and ferocity. This elitist mentality can be traced back to Eickes handling of the prewar concentration camps. Eickes conviction in the inferiority of the prisoners established the basis for his development of the standard concentration camp system as a place of forced labor, solitary confinement, and other established forms of abuse. In addition, Eicke wholeheartedly believed that the concentration camps were the only available and effective instrument for destroying these adversaries of the National Socials. These concentration camps were organized, and guarded by the militarized SS formations that Eicke himself had recruited. Since the fuhrer had given the SSTV-a racially select group of individuals-sole responsibility for guarding and running the camps, the SSTV constituted an elite within the elite structure of the SS. In other words, not only were the SSTV elite, but they were superiors to others within the elite SS structure. Seventeen to twenty years old, at least five feet ten inches tall, in perfect health, and of racially pure stock were the stipulations placed upon volunteers desiring acceptance into the newly formed SS Totenkopfverbande (25). These core requirements demonstrate what Eicke deemed fit for the division and what he envisioned as elite. And this idea of elitism per versed the Totenkopfdivision through Eickes orders, circulars and adamant memoranda that constantly attempted to convince the men they served the most important and finest formation in the SS. Therefore, Eicke sought to remove the stigma of the SSTV as jailor or prison guards for fear that it would damage their performance on the job. Eickes elitist belief marauded the Totenkopfdivision in all aspects of its operations. Awarding the men a sense of spirit and status allowed them to go and fight with courage, drive and perseverance. The men became very goal-orientated. The Totenkopfdivision faced the war with a set purpose and the view that they were the only ones able to perform the task fixed in their minds. Basically, they were conditioned to believe, by Eicke, if they can not do it, then no one can. Eicke amazingly fused his political fanaticism, elitism and camaraderie in order to give the soldiers a sense of their own uniqueness within the SS. First, Eicke set up several criteria or rules of selection for admission into the Totenkopfdivision. In order that he may set up his own elite formation, Eicke resisted Himmlers attempts to intervene in matters concerning enrollment and recruitment of soldiers in the SSTK (70). Searching for the perfect combination of administrative and military talents, Eicke gathered a reliable staff to advise him in his new command of the SSTK (46). In addition, except for Bertling and Montigny, all high officials had been hand-picked and trained by Eicke solely to help him build the division into the kind of formation the prewar SS Totenkopfdivision had been (53). Eicke also had problems with the composition of the men