Paul Hausser

Paul Hausser, born Paul Falk on October 7, 1880, was a prominent German general and a key figure in the Waffen-SS, serving alongside Sepp Dietrich as one of its highest-ranking commanders. His military career began in the Prussian Army during World War I, where he demonstrated his leadership skills and rose to the rank of general in the inter-war Reichsheer.

After retiring from the Reichsheer, Hausser joined the SS and played a crucial role in the establishment of the Waffen-SS. Throughout World War II, he commanded troops in significant battles, including the Third Battle of Kharkov, the Battle of Kursk, and the Normandy Campaign, showcasing his strategic military acumen.

Following the war, Hausser became a founding member and the first spokesperson for HIAG, a veterans' organization formed in West Germany in 1951. This group, composed of former high-ranking Waffen-SS personnel, sought to rehabilitate the image of the Waffen-SS and restore its members' legal and economic rights through a comprehensive propaganda campaign.

Hausser authored two notable books that argued for the purely military role of the Waffen-SS, asserting that its soldiers were 'like any other.' Under his guidance, HIAG worked to reshape the narrative surrounding the Waffen-SS, portraying it as a pan-European force that fought honorably, a claim that has been widely disputed by mainstream historians.