Editing Schutzstaffel (section)

===Battle of France===
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101III-Weill-059-04, Metz, Heinrich Himmler neben Panzer.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|Himmler inspecting a {{Lang|de|[[Sturmgeschütz III]]|italic=no}} of the [[1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler|1st SS Panzer Division ''"Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"'']] in [[Metz]], France, September 1940]]
On 10 May 1940, Hitler launched the [[Battle of France]], a major offensive against France and the [[Low Countries]].{{sfn|Hellwinkel|2014|p=9}} The SS supplied two of the 89 divisions employed.{{sfn|Reitlinger|1989|p=147}} The LSSAH and elements of the SS-VT participated in the ground invasion [[German invasion of the Netherlands|of the Netherlands]].{{sfn|Stein|2002|p=61}} Simultaneously, airborne troops were dropped to capture key Dutch airfields, bridges, and railways. In the five-day campaign, the LSSAH linked up with army units and airborne troops after several clashes with Dutch defenders.{{sfn|Stein|2002|p=61}}

SS troops did not take part in the thrust through the [[Ardennes]] and the river [[Meuse]].{{sfn|Stein|2002|p=61}} Instead, the ''SS-Totenkopf'' was summoned from the army reserve to fight in support of ''[[Generalmajor]]'' [[Erwin Rommel]]'s [[7th Panzer Division (Wehrmacht)|7th Panzer Division]] as they advanced toward the [[English Channel]].{{sfn|Butler|2003|p=64}} On 21 May, the British launched an armoured counterattack against the flanks of the 7th Panzer Division and ''SS-Totenkopf''. The Germans then trapped the British and French troops in a huge pocket at [[Dunkirk]].{{sfn|Manning|1999|p=59}} On 27 May, 4 Company, ''SS-Totenkopf'' perpetrated the [[Le Paradis massacre]], where 97 men of the 2nd Battalion, [[Royal Norfolk Regiment]] were machine-gunned after surrendering, with survivors finished off with [[bayonet]]s. Two men survived.{{sfn|Sydnor|1977|p=93}} By 28 May the ''SS-Leibstandarte'' had taken [[Wormhout]], {{cvt|10|miles}} from Dunkirk. There, soldiers of the 2nd Battalion were responsible for the [[Wormhoudt massacre]], where 81 British and French soldiers were murdered after they surrendered.{{sfn|Weale|2012|p=251}} According to historian Charles Sydnor, the "fanatical recklessness in the assault, suicidal defence against enemy attacks, and savage atrocities committed in the face of frustrated objectives" exhibited by the ''SS-Totenkopf'' division during the invasion were typical of the SS troops as a whole.{{sfn|Sydnor|1977|p=102}}

At the close of the campaign, Hitler expressed his pleasure with the performance of the ''SS-Leibstandarte'', telling them: "Henceforth it will be an honour for you, who bear my name, to lead every German attack."{{sfn|Flaherty|2004|p=143}} The SS-VT was renamed the ''Waffen-SS'' in a speech made by Hitler in July 1940.{{sfn|Flaherty|2004|p=156}} Hitler then authorised the enlistment of "people perceived to be of related stock", as Himmler put it, to expand the ranks.{{sfn|Stein|2002|pp=150, 153}} Danes, Dutch, Norwegians, Swedes, and Finns volunteered to fight in the ''Waffen-SS'' under the command of German officers.{{sfn|Koehl|2004|pp=213–214}} They were brought together to form the new division ''[[5th SS Panzer Division Wiking|SS-Wiking]]''.{{sfn|Stein|2002|pp=150, 153}} In January 1941, the ''SS-Verfügungs'' Division was renamed ''SS-Reich'' Division (Motorised), and was renamed as the [[2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich|2nd SS Panzer Division ''"Das Reich"'']] when it was reorganised as a ''[[Panzergrenadier]]'' division in 1942.{{sfn|Mattson|2002|pp=77, 104}}