Ranks and insignia of the Waffen-SS
This table contains the final ranks and insignia of the Waffen-SS, which were in use from April 1942 to May 1945, in comparison to the Wehrmacht.[1] The highest rank of the combined SS (German: Gesamt-SS) was that of Reichsführer-SS; however, there was no Waffen-SS equivalent to this position.[citation needed]
Table[]
Insignia | Title (English) |
Army equivalent[2] | Approximate equivalents during World War II | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Collar[3][4] | Shoulder[3][4] | Sleeve (parka)[4] |
US[3][5] | UK[6] | |||
General ranks | |||||||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
SS-Oberst-Gruppenführer und Generaloberst der Waffen-SS (SS-Supreme group leader and colonel general of the Waffen-SS) |
Generaloberst | General | General | |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS (SS-Senior group leader and general of the Waffen-SS) |
General der Waffengattung | Lieutenant General | Lieutenant General | |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS (SS-Group leader and lieutenant general of the Waffen-SS) |
Generalleutnant | Major General | Major General | |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS (SS-Brigadier leader and major general of the Waffen-SS) |
Generalmajor | Brigadier General | Brigadier | |
Officer ranks | |||||||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
SS-Oberführer (SS-Senior leader) |
No army equivalent; equivalent to Kommodore in the Kriegsmarine. | Senior colonel | Colonel | |
![]() |
![]() |
SS-Standartenführer (SS-Standard leader) |
Oberst | Colonel | Colonel | ||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
SS-Obersturmbannführer (SS-Senior assault unit leader) |
Oberstleutnant | Lieutenant Colonel | Lieutenant Colonel | |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
SS-Sturmbannführer (SS-Assault unit leader) |
Major | Major | Major | |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
SS-Hauptsturmführer (SS-Head assault leader) |
Hauptmann/Rittmeister | Captain | Captain | |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
SS-Obersturmführer (SS-Senior assault leader) |
Oberleutnant | First lieutenant | Lieutenant | |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
SS-Untersturmführer (SS-Second/Junior assault leader) |
Leutnant | Second lieutenant | ||
Non-Commissioned Officer ranks | |||||||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
SS-Sturmscharführer (SS-Storm squad leader) |
Stabsfeldwebel | Sergeant major | Regimental sergeant major | |
Various Depending on rank |
![]() |
SS-Stabsscharführer (SS-Staff squad leader)[a] |
Hauptfeldwebel senior NCO e.g., Oberfeldwebel or Feldwebel, seldom Unterfeldwebel. |
N/A | (Company) Sergeant Major | ||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
SS-Hauptscharführer (SS-Head squad leader) |
Oberfeldwebel | Master Sergeant | Sergeant Major | |
![]() |
SS-Standartenoberjunker OA Officer Aspirant |
Fahnenjunker-Oberfeldwebel OA Officer Aspirant |
|||||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
SS-Oberscharführer (SS-Senior squad leader) |
Feldwebel | Technical sergeant | Staff sergeant | |
![]() |
SS-Standartenjunker OA Officer Aspirant |
Fahnenjunker-Feldwebel OA Officer Aspirant |
|||||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
SS-Scharführer (SS-Squad leader) |
Unterfeldwebel | Staff sergeant | Sergeant | |
![]() |
SS-Oberjunker OA Officer Aspirant |
Fahnenjunker-Unterfeldwebel OA Officer Aspirant |
|||||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
SS-Unterscharführer (SS-Junior squad leader) |
Unteroffizier | Sergeant | Corporal | |
![]() |
SS-Junker OA Officer Aspirant |
Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier OA (Officer Aspirant) |
|||||
Enlisted men | |||||||
No equivalent[b] | Stabsgefreiter | Administrative corporal | Lance corporal | ||||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
SS-Rottenführer (SS-Squad leader) |
Obergefreiter | Corporal | Lance corporal | |
![]() |
![]() |
SS-Sturmmann (SS-Assault man/Storm trooper) |
Gefreiter | Acting Corporal | Senior Private | ||
![]() |
![]() |
SS-Oberschütze (SS-Senior rifleman) |
Oberschütze | Private 1st class | Senior private | ||
No insignia | SS-Schütze (SS-Rifleman) |
Soldat, Schütze, Grenadier | Private | Private |
- Remarks
- SS-Bewerber (SS-applicant) and SS-Anwärter (SS-aspirant) were both removed as Waffen-SS ranks before 1941.[9]
See also[]
- Corps colours (Waffen-SS)
- Uniforms and insignia of the Schutzstaffel
- Ranks and Insignia of the German Army in World War II
- Comparative military ranks of World War II
- List of SS personnel
- Glossary of Nazi Germany
- Degen, the SS Sword
Notes[]
References[]
- Citations
- ^ Mollo 1992, pp. 88–89.
- ^ Bender & Taylor 1986, p. 112.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c War Department 1945.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Bender & Taylor 1986, pp. 121–127.
- ^ Zabecki 2014, pp. 1639–1940.
- ^ CIA 1999, p. 30.
- ^ Bender & Taylor 1986, p. 110.
- ^ Mollo 1992, p. 78.
- ^ Mollo 1992, p. 77.
- Bibliography
- Bender, Roger James; Taylor, Hugh Page (1986). Uniforms Organization and History of the Waffen-SS Vol 1 (6th ed.). San Jose, CA: R. James Bender Publishing. ISBN 0-912138-02-5.
- CIA (24 August 1999). "Records Integration Title Book" (PDF). Retrieved 11 December 2018.
- Mollo, Andrew (1992). Uniforms of the SS, Collected Edition Vol. 6. Windrow & Greene. ISBN 1-872004-67-9.
- War Department (15 March 1945). "Chapter IX: Uniforms, Insignia, and Individual Equipment". War Department Technical Manual TM-E 30-451. Plate XX–XXI.
- Zabecki, David T., ed. (2014). Germany at War: 400 Years of Military History. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1598849806.
External links[]
Categories:
- Nazi SS
- SS ranks
- Nazi paramilitary ranks
- Military insignia
- Waffen-SS