SSO, SSEM and SA Files

 For some time now, we have managed to acquire the entire archive of SS officer personnel files (SSO), SS NCO and enlisted personnel files (SSEM), as well as SA personnel files. The reason for acquiring the SA files is that we need to cross-reference them, as many individuals served in the SA prior to joining the SS.

The SSO series has traditionally been cited as consisting of 909 rolls. That is actually incorrect: there are two additional special rolls dedicated to individual SS officers—one of which belongs entirely to Arthur Seyss-Inquart. Consequently, the true total for the A3343 SSO series is 911 rolls, not 909 as has always been claimed.

The A3343 SSEM collection comprises a total of 1,738 rolls. We had previously written this archive off, believing it mostly contained nothing more than a cover page and, at best, an indication of the replacement and training unit (AuE) to which a soldier was assigned. However, we have since changed our view, as many of these files are far more comprehensive than we initially thought.

I will get back to you regarding the SA archive at a later point.

With this, I dare say that alongside the Bundesarchiv, we hold the ABSOLUTELY largest archive in the world covering members of the SS. The reason we can state this with confidence is that we have downloaded everything available digitally from the Bundesarchiv, which also includes extensive files on members of the Allgemeinen-SS—records you will NOT find in the A3343 SSEM series.

Our main dilemma now is: who do we trade information with when we already have everything? Well, we don't have everything just yet, so if you happen to possess RuSHA files (preferably full rolls), please get in touch with us. Addition: We also miss some info from the Waffen-SS Archive, currently in Czech Republic, but in September we´ll start going there and extract what they hold. 

Under our "Archive" section, you will find an updated list of all the SSO files in our possession. We are currently in the process of creating a matching index for the SSEM files as well.

// Georg