What happened to the SS soldiers after World War II?

 After World War II, some SS soldiers were tried and either executed or imprisoned, while others escaped or were let go. After the Waffen-SS killed American prisoners of war in 1944, American troops were told to shoot any SS members they saw, even if they tried to surrender.

The Allies learned that the SS was targeting Jews and advised Jewish soldiers to change the religion on their dog tags or take them off. However, taking off the dog tags often made them look even more Jewish.

When Nazi Germany surrendered in 1945, Allied forces needed to identify SS soldiers who were surrendering. They mainly looked for the SS blood group tattoo, usually found under the left arm.

All German prisoners of war had to march without shirts and with their arms up so the Allies could check for SS tattoos. If they found one, the prisoner would be separated for questioning.

To avoid capture and punishment, many SS members destroyed their papers and any proof they were in the SS. Many ran west to surrender to the Western Allies instead of being caught by the Soviets. Some SS soldiers taken by the Soviets disappeared and were never seen again. This also happened to soldiers from other sides sometimes.

Many SS POWs were released because they had low ranks, didn’t know much about the Holocaust, or there was no evidence against them for war crimes.