Editing Schutzstaffel (section)

===Normandy landings===
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-263-1580-05, Atlantikwall, Soldaten der Legion "Freies Indien".jpg|thumb|right|Troops of the [[Indian Legion]] of the ''Waffen-SS'' guarding the [[Atlantic Wall]] in [[Bordeaux]], France, 21 March 1944]]
Alarmed by the raids on [[St Nazaire Raid|St Nazaire]] and [[Dieppe Raid|Dieppe]] in 1942, Hitler had ordered the construction of fortifications he called the [[Atlantic Wall]] all along the Atlantic coast, from Spain to Norway, to protect against an expected Allied invasion.{{sfn|Ford|Zaloga|2009|p=30}} Concrete gun emplacements were constructed at strategic points along the coast, and wooden stakes, metal tripods, mines, and large anti-tank obstacles were placed on the beaches to delay the approach of landing craft and impede the movement of tanks.{{sfn|Ford|Zaloga|2009|pp=54–56}} In addition to several static infantry divisions, eleven panzer and ''Panzergrenadier'' divisions were deployed nearby.{{sfn|Whitmarsh|2009|pp=12, 13}}{{sfn|Ford|Zaloga|2009|pp=60, 63, 122, 275}} Four of these formations were ''Waffen-SS'' divisions.{{sfn|Stein|2002|p=219}} In addition, the ''SS-Das Reich'' was located in [[Southern France]], the LSSAH was in Belgium refitting after fighting in the Soviet Union, and the newly formed panzer division ''[[12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend|SS-Hitlerjugend]]'', consisting of 17- and 18-year-old [[Hitler Youth]] members supported by combat veterans and experienced [[Non-commissioned officer|NCO]]s, was stationed west of Paris.{{sfn|McNab|2013|p=295}} The creation of the ''SS-Hitlerjugend'' was a sign of Hitler's desperation for more troops, especially ones with unquestioning obedience.{{sfn|Rempel|1989|p=233}}

The [[Normandy landings]] took place beginning on 6 June 1944. The [[21st Panzer Division (Wehrmacht)|21st Panzer Division]] under ''[[Generalmajor]]'' [[Edgar Feuchtinger]], positioned south of [[Caen]], was the only panzer division close to the beaches. The division included 146 tanks and 50 [[assault gun]]s, plus supporting infantry and artillery.{{sfn|Whitmarsh|2009|p=73}} At 02:00, ''[[Generalleutnant]]'' Wilhelm Richter, commander of the [[716th Static Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)|716th Static Infantry Division]], ordered the 21st Panzer Division into position to counter-attack. However, as the division was part of the armoured reserve, Feuchtinger was obliged to seek clearance from [[Oberkommando der Wehrmacht|OKW]] before he could commit his formation.{{sfn|Ford|Zaloga|2009|p=230}} Feuchtinger did not receive orders until nearly 09:00, but in the meantime, on his own initiative he put together a battle group (including tanks) to fight the British forces east of the [[Orne (river)|Orne]].{{sfn|Wilmot|1997|p=282}} ''SS-Hitlerjugend'' began to deploy in the afternoon of 6 June, with its units undertaking defensive actions the following day. They also took part in the [[Battle for Caen]] (June–August 1944).{{sfn|McNab|2013|p=297}} On 7–8 and 17 June, members of the ''SS-Hitlerjugend'' shot and killed twenty Canadian prisoners of war in the [[Ardenne Abbey massacre]].{{sfn|McNab|2009|p=73}}

The Allies continued to make progress in the liberation of France, and on 4 August Hitler ordered a counter-offensive ([[Operation Lüttich]]) from [[Vire]] towards [[Avranches]].{{sfn|Wilmot|1997|pp=399–400}} The operation included LSSAH, ''Das Reich'', [[2nd Panzer Division (Wehrmacht)|2nd]], and [[116th Panzer Division (Wehrmacht)|116th Panzer Divisions]], with support from infantry and elements of the [[17th SS Panzergrenadier Division Götz von Berlichingen|17th SS Panzergrenadier Division ''"Götz von Berlichingen"'']] under [[SS-Oberst-Gruppenführer|''SS-Oberstgruppenführer'']] [[Paul Hausser]]. These forces were to mount an offensive near [[Mortain]] and drive west through Avranches to the coast. The Allied forces were prepared for this offensive, and an air assault on the combined German units proved devastating.{{sfn|Stein|2002|pp=222–223}} On 21 August, 50,000 German troops, including most of the LSSAH, were encircled by the Allies in the [[Falaise pocket|Falaise Pocket]].{{sfn|Wilmot|1997|p=420}} Remnants of the LSSAH which escaped were withdrawn to Germany for refitting.{{sfn|McNab|2013|p=197}} [[Liberation of Paris|Paris was liberated]] on 25 August, and the last of the German forces withdrew over the [[Seine]] by the end of August, ending the Normandy campaign.{{sfn|Shirer|1960|pp=1085–1086}}