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Mann (paramilitary rank)
Rank in the SS / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mann (English: "man" or "male"), was a paramilitary rank used by several Nazi Party paramilitary organizations between 1925 and 1945. The rank is most often associated with the Schutzstaffel (SS-Mann), but also was a rank of the SA, where Mann (SA-Mann) was the lowest enlisted rank and was the equivalent of a private.[1][2]
Mann | |
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![]() SS Gorget patch | |
![]() SS Shoulder insignia | |
Country | ![]() |
Service branch | ![]() ![]() Postschutz ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Formation | 1925 |
Abolished | 1945 |
Next higher rank | Luftschutzobertruppmann (RLB) Oberschütze (SS) Sturmmann (SA, NSKK & NSFK) Vormann (RAD & TN) |
Next lower rank | Bewerber Jungmann Anwärter Vollanwärter |
Equivalent ranks | Soldat Schütze |
![Thumb image](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Bundesarchiv_Bild_192-044%2C_KZ_Mauthausen%2C_SS-Mann.jpg/320px-Bundesarchiv_Bild_192-044%2C_KZ_Mauthausen%2C_SS-Mann.jpg)
In 1938, with the rise of the SS-Verfügungstruppe (later renamed the Waffen-SS), the SS changed the rank of Mann to Schütze, although it still retained the original SS rank of Mann for the Allgemeine-SS (general SS). The rank of Mann was junior to SS-Sturmmann.[1]
In most Nazi Party organizations, the rank of Mann held no distinctive insignia. Some groups, however, granted a minor form of rank insignia such as a blank collar patch or simple shoulder board to denote the rank of Mann.[3] (see right: SS rank insignia pattern from 1933)
Even lower ranks, e.g. Bewerber, Jungmann, Anwärter, Vollanwärter, were established in the mid-1930s as a recruit or candidate position, held by an individual seeking an appointment as a Mann in a Nazi Party paramilitary organization.[1]