The Waffen-SS had approximately 600,000 of those members in their ranks.[56] The Waffen-SS had grown from three regiments to over 38 divisions during World War II, and served alongside the Heer (regular army) but was never formally part of it.[57] In comparison, by the end of the war the Allgemeine-SS only had a little over 40,000 men still in its ranks.[58]