Female auxiliaries in the Waffen-SS were divided into two categories: SS Auxiliaries (
SS-Helferinnen), female personnel trained at the Reichsschule-SS für SS-Helferinnen in Oberehnheim, Alsace; and SS War Auxiliaries (
SS-Kriegshelferinnen), all other auxiliary female personnel employed by the SS permanently or temporarily. A member was called an
SS-Helferin or
SS-Maiden interchangeably, and was typically between 17 and 30 years of age. They were employed as telephonists, teleprinter operators, and radio operators. Selected female personnel were promoted to NCO or Officer ranks after successfully passing special training courses.
