The Waffen-SS was the armed division of Hitler's Schutzstaffel. These soldiers were commonly seen within cities, operating on special orders from the SS. The SS recruited men who either joined the Nazi Party during its beginning, or from Hitler Youth candidates who were worthy. These Waffen-SS units would be responsible for a majority of war crimes, mostly situations where they had to rustle Jewish people out of and into ghettos. They followed orders with strict obedience and many of them hesitated to think what they were doing was wrong. German squad leaders would lead their men into completing their tasks. They usually commanded troops with a sidearm.