From the pictures that I've seen of the SS in particular, the majority of them were good looking. Is that just a coincidence, or did Hitler prefer his men to be attractive? (I don't want this to sound like a weird question, but I've just been wondering.)
Now before you make any conclusions of the SS...take another look at the Wehrmacht! now there's an image that will send any enemy running for cover!
I think this is the SS, if it's not, then you (probably) win link ipernity: German soldiers showering at a railway station - 1940 - by Miss Magnolia Thunderpussy
Lets stop hijacking threads with off-topic pictures and comments and get back to the question posed in the OP.
Himmler was plain ugly . This being said, recruiting standards were high , newbies had to be tall strong and healthy. I don't know about the handsome aspect, but I'm sure that being walking propaganda for the Ayran race would be a "plus" for the future recruits. and Skorzeny?
A majority of the photos were probably from the Liebstandarte Adolf Hitler and there were higher standards at the beginning for members. Also, the Waffen SS had a rigorous physical training program to keep their members fit. Combine all that and you have the physical stature that Himmler wanted yet he himself did not have. But there were some seedy characters as well. Look at Oskar Dirlewanger and Bruno Gesche Not all SS members were handsome, just those who were used for propaganda.
As mentioned by others, there were health, race, and even height and dental hygenie standards in the beginning of the SS enlistee period. As they needed more "man-power" those requirements were relaxed until they even included those of non-Germanic background, i.e. Muslims. To start out though there were limits on tooth fillings (no more than two?), and overall health and fitness as well. Health men are generally more "attractive/good-looking" than those whose health is or has been neglected.
youth only from what I have found since the 60's now look at the administratvie forces within the ss overall..........what a bunch of losers. camp personell included in same, a bunch of low-life dregs
I didn't particularly mean the well-known SS soldiers were good-looking, although Otto Guensche was very nice looking... link http://lh6.ggpht.com/_ycWcOONdLok/SB1o3ixOYFI/AAAAAAAAZW4/cMUtBx_zyt4/s640/Otto%20G%C3%BCnsche.JPG I meant the random and anonymous young soldiers that you see in books; it is quite rare to see a really ugly one of those.
it's a matter of style you have ordered correspondance photographers amongst all the branches, what will you send back home as propaganda media for the Deutsche Wochenschau films ? surely early war till mid-43 it is the glamourous hero not the bewildered thug. as Ike mentions about class of height, blue eyes, Aryan blond hair this was also requirement for certain Heer units an even the Luftwaffe very early war. The Wehrmacht could not be an ugly machine existing amidst the horror of war...........so they thought
