The Waffen-SS they were the combat corps of the SS (Schutzstaffel ). Directed by Heinrich Himmler , the Waffen-SS was created as a protection unit for the Nazi Party and later became a fighting force during World War II. Most members of the Waffen-SS had a small tattoo on the inside of the left arm with the blood type (A, B, AB and O) . Thus, the blood type could be quickly identified in case of having to give a transfusion to an unconscious soldier or one who was not wearing his identification tag (Erkennungsmarke ).
Tattoo-A
What was an advantage in battle turned out to be a disadvantage when the war ended. The Allies used the tattoos to track down, and judge, members of the Wafen-SS. Some tried to "erase the traces of the crime" by burning the tattoo but, in the end, it turned out to be more obvious than a "sworn confession".
WaffenSS
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