Inside the SS

The film investigates Hitler’s private army, created in 1925 from a pool of volunteers. Those volunteers were subjected to an intense programme of propaganda designed to mould them into loyal soldiers. Their ultimate aim was to join what they believed to be a superior racial elite.

"Hitler's Evil Elite" is a documentary episode that examines a specific facet of Nazi Germany. The programme focuses on the private army organised by Adolf Hitler, aiming to give viewers a clear picture of how the force was created and the ideas that underpinned it. It presents the material in a factual, straightforward style for the audience. The documentary explains that the army originated in 1925 when Hitler assembled a group of volunteers to build his own armed force. These men joined of their own accord, motivated by the prospect of belonging to a distinguished group. Their recruitment formed the significant initial core of a unit that would later operate as Hitler's private militia in Germany. Once recruited, the volunteers were subjected to intense propaganda. The documentary notes that this propaganda formed a central part of their training, aiming to reshape beliefs and secure deeply unwavering loyalty to Hitler and the Nazi cause itself. The constant exposure to such messaging was intended to forge a cohesive, ideologically aligned fighting force. The ultimate aim for these recruits, as outlined in the episode, was to become part of a racial elite. The programme explains that the army presented itself as a select group destined to embody the Aryan ideal, offering its members the prospect of an elevated status within the Nazi hierarchy. This aspiration defined the identity and purpose of the force.