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during the war on a mobile basis under the title Feldkommandostelle RfSS, or Field Headquarters of the Reichsführer-SS. It was by then organised like a military HQ and accompanied Himmler on his numerous tours of the occupied territories. Together with attached SS units including a signals section, an escort battalion and a flak detachment, the Feldkommandostelle eventually numbered over 3,000 men. Its special train, ‘Sonderzug Heinrich’, had fourteen carriages.
    At various times, the following offices and departments were part of, or directly subordinated to, the Persönlicher Stab RfSS and they give a general idea of the extent of its interests and influence:
1.
Pressestelle RfSS (Press Office of the RfSS)
 
This office handled Himmler’s personal press relations and also advised him regarding official SS publications and publicity.
2.
Hauptabteilung Auszeichnungen und Orden (Main Section for Awards and Decorations)
 
This main section advised the RfSS on all awards of orders, medals and decorations to SS men.
3.
Dienststelle ‘Vierjahresplan’ (Office for the Four Year Plan)
 
This was a liaison office between the RfSS and the economic Four Year Plan under Göring, to deal with those aspects of the Plan which touched upon SS interests and activities.
4.
Abteilung Wirtschaftliche Hilfe (Section for Economic Assistance)
 
This section provided financial and other assistance to SS men who had suffered material loss during the period of the struggle for power. It also loaned money to SS officers to enable them to purchase items of uniform and equipment and, in some cases, liquidated debts incurred by SS members.
5.
Kulturreferat (Cultural Office)
 
This was responsible for the direction of the cultural activities of the SS, including the Nordland Verlag publishing house and the porcelain works at Allach.
6.
Abteilung für Kulturelle Forschung (Section for Cultural Research)
 
This section was concerned with the antiquarian and archaeological aspects of German history. It encouraged exped-itions, excavations and research to support with actual historical or archaeological evidence the Nazi account of early German history.
7.
Ahnenerbe- Forschungs- und Lehrgemeinschaft (Society for the Research and Teaching of Ancestral Heritage)
 
This society existed to promote genealogical and biological research.
8.
Hauptabteilung Lebensborn (Fountain of Life Main Section)
 
This main section liaised with the Lebensborn Society, which looked after the welfare of SS mothers and children.
    In addition, the following special posts are examples of the types subordinated directly to Himmler. Those officers mentioned held the posts in 1944:
1.
SS Richter beim Pers. Stab RfSS (SS Legal Officer on the Staff of the RfSS)
 
SS-Standartenführer Horst Bender. Dealt with all legal and disciplinary matters coming to Himmler for a personal decision.
2.
Reichsarzt SS und Polizei (Chief SS and Police Medical Officer)
 
SS-Obergruppenführer Prof. Dr Ernst-Robert Grawitz. He was responsible for the general supervision of all the medical services of the SS and police, for medical research and training, and for the control and distribution of medical supplies and equipment.
3.
Chef Fernmeldewesen beim Pers. Stab RfSS (Chief of Communications on the Staff of the RfSS)
 
SS-Obergruppenführer Ernst Sachs. His function was to supervise the whole field of signals and communications in the SS and police.
4.
RfSS Pers. Stab Beauftragter für Jagd und Forstwesen (Representative for Hunting and Forestry on the Staff of the RfSS)
 
SS-Brigadeführer Hermann Müller. Müller was also President of the Reich Canine Society and Representative for Service Dogs (SS and Police) on the Pers. Stab.
    In short then, all SS activities, and everything which affected the SS, came within the jurisdiction of the Hauptamt Persönlicher Stab RfSS.
    The SS Hauptamt or SS-HA, the SS Central Office, was based