The 1st SS Division started out as a small detachment for the personal protection of Adolf Hitler (Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler). It would later transform into an elite fighting force within the new Waffen SS. During WWII, this unit would see action on all fronts with the exception of Afrika.

With leaders such as Sepp Deitrich, Joachen Peiper, Kurt Meyer, Max Wunsche and more, the unit became a fearsome opponent to any that it encountered. They were often used as "fire brigades" that moved from hotspot to hotspot. Later, when used within an SS Panzer Corps, they would spearhead offensives in France, Belgium, and the last in Hungary. Finally in 1945, the remnants of the division surrendered to the allies in Austria.

Formed in 1933 as Stabwache Adolf Hitler with 120 men. Retitled as Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler (LAH) on November 9th, 1933. Expanded to a full regiment, then to brigade size before becoming a full division during 1942. Became an armored division at this time, and received it's final full designation on October 22nd, 1943.

The Leibstandarte saw heavy combat in Poland in September 1939 and advanced into the Netherlands during the initial stage of the Western Campaign, before shifting to the Dunkirk perimeter, and then advancing south into France.

During the invasion of the Soviet Union, Operation BARBAROSSA, it advanced with army groups south capturing Rostov during November 1941, and then settling into winter positions along the Ssambek River. Remaining in the east until early July 1942, the LAH moved to Normandy to reform as a Panzer-grenadier division, and returned to combat in the Ukraine in late January 1943.

After heavy defensive fighting near Kharkov, the division retreated to the southwest before participating in the counteroffensive that recaptured Kharkov and Belgorod by mid-March 1943. Partial success on the southern wing of the Kursk salient during early July 1943 was followed by a move to Italy later that month, where the division disarmed Italian Army units and fought partisans until late October.

The Leibstandarte then returned to the Ukraine fighting west of Kiev until being gradually withdrawn for reconsitution in Belgium. In June 1944, entered combat in Normandy, fighting near Caen, Mortain, and in the Falaise pocket.

The LAH was reformed in Germany during that Autumn, and again entered combat in mid-December 1944 during the Ardennes offensive. LAH participated in the successful SUDWIND offensive of late-February that destroyed the Gran Bridgehead. After partial success during the FRUHLINGSERWACHEN offensive of early March 1945, the LAH gradually withdrew into Austria, surrendering to American forces near Steyr in May of 1945.

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