The Waffen-SS was the armed division of Hitler's Schutzstaffel. The SS recruited men who either joined the Nazi Party during its beginning, or from Hitler Youth candidates who were worthy. Around 1944, Johann Georg Otto Schick's Dot 44 pattern was introduced into the Waffen-SS uniform line. Eichenlaubmuster, or the "Oak Leaf" pattern, was the first variant of the Dot 44 pattern. The Waffen-SS used this pattern to their advantage in the right terrain, striking by surprise with the elements around them. The best Waffen-SS troops were sometimes put into elite Panzer units. Panzer crewmen were required to operate tanks on the battlefield. A tank usually consisted of 3-5 people, depending on the class of the tank. Famous tanks like the Tiger I and Panzer IV would need at least 4 people to operate fully. These crewmen were usually equipped a sidearm.