In August 1939, Hitler placed the Leibstandarte and the SS-VT under the operational control of the German Army High Command. In spite of the swift military victory over Poland in September 1939, the regular army felt that the performance of the SS-VT left much to be desired; its units took unnecessary risks and had a higher casualty rate than the army. In its defense, the SS insisted that it had been hampered by having to fight piecemeal instead of as one formation, and was improperly equipped by the army to carry out its objectives. Himmler insisted that the SS-VT should be allowed to fight in its own formations under its own commanders, as military leaders tried to have the SS-VT disbanded altogether. Unwilling to upset either the army or Himmler, Hitler ordered that the SS-VT form its own divisions, but insisted the divisions would be under army command. However, Hitler resisted integrating the Waffen-SS into the army, as it was intended to remain the armed wing of the Party and to become an elite police force once the war was won.