What is leibstandart?

Leibstandarte or Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler was a German regimental-sized unit of the Schutzstaffel (SS) that served as the personal bodyguard of Adolf Hitler during his public appearances. It was founded on March 17, 1933, soon after Hitler came to power, and grew from a small unit of 120 men to a powerful military force of over 5,000 men by the end of World War II. The Leibstandarte fought on many fronts during the war, including Poland, France, the Balkans, and the Eastern Front. They were notorious for their brutality, fanaticism and loyalty to Hitler, and were involved in many war crimes and atrocities. Many high-ranking officials in the Leibstandarte were convicted of war crimes at the Nuremberg Trials, and the unit was disbanded in 1945.