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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 ranks of the combined SS (German: Gesamt-SS) was that of Reichsführer-SS and Oberster Führer der SS; however, there was no Waffen-SS equivalent to these positions.[2]
Insignia | Title (English) |
German Army equivalent[3] | Approximate equivalents/translations during World War II | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Collar[4][5] | Shoulder[4][5] | Sleeve (parka)[5] |
U.S.[4][6] | UK[7] | ||
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-Assault section leader) |
Stabsfeldwebel | Sergeant major | Regimental sergeant major | |||
Various Depending on rank |
SS-Stabsscharführer (SS-Staff section leader)[lower-alpha 1] |
Hauptfeldwebel senior NCO e.g., Oberfeldwebel or Feldwebel, seldom Unterfeldwebel. |
— | (Company) Sergeant major | ||
SS-Hauptscharführer (SS-Head section leader) |
Oberfeldwebel | Master sergeant | Sergeant major | |||
SS-Standartenoberjunker OA (Officer aspirant) |
Fahnenjunker-Oberfeldwebel OA (Officer aspirant) |
|||||
SS-Oberscharführer (SS-Senior section leader) |
Feldwebel | Technical sergeant | Staff sergeant | |||
SS-Standartenjunker OA (Officer aspirant) |
Fahnenjunker-Feldwebel OA (Officer aspirant) |
|||||
SS-Scharführer (SS-Section leader) |
Unterfeldwebel | Staff sergeant | Sergeant | |||
SS-Oberjunker OA (Officer aspirant) |
Fahnenjunker-Unterfeldwebel OA (Officer aspirant) |
|||||
SS-Unterscharführer (SS-Junior section leader) |
Unteroffizier | Sergeant | Corporal | |||
SS-Junker OA (Officer aspirant) |
Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier OA (Officer aspirant) |
|||||
Enlisted ranks | ||||||
No equivalent[lower-alpha 2] | 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 first class | Senior private | |||
No insignia | SS-Schütze (SS-Rifleman) |
Soldat, Schütze, Grenadier | Private | Private |
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