30.09.2007 22:54

In Germany from autumn 1936 to May 1945. As part of the Wehrmacht, there was a completely unique military organization - the SS Troops (Waffen SS), which were part of the Wehrmacht only operationally. The fact is that the SS troops were not the military apparatus of the German state, but were an armed organization of the Nazi Party. But since the German state, since 1933, has become an instrument for achieving the political goals of the Nazi Party, the German armed forces also carried out the tasks of the Nazis. That is why the SS troops were operationally part of the Wehrmacht.

To understand the SS rank system, you need to understand the essence of this organization. Many believe that the SS Troops are the entire organization of the SS. However, the SS troops were only a part of it (although the most visible). Therefore, the table of ranks will be preceded by a brief historical background. I recommend that in order to understand the SS, first read the historical background on the SA.

In April 1925, Hitler, concerned about the growing influence of the leaders of the SA and the aggravation of contradictions with them, instructed one of the commanders of the SA, Julius Schreck, to create the Schutzstaffel (literal translation "protection squad") in abbreviated form - SS. To this end, it was supposed to allocate in each SA Hundert (SA hundred) one SS Gruppe (SS branch) in the amount of 10-20 people. The newly created SS divisions within the SA were destined for a small and insignificant role - the physical protection of the top leaders of the party (a kind of bodyguard service). On September 21, 1925, Shrek issued a circular on the creation of SS units. At this time, there was no need to talk about any structure of the SS. However, the SS rank system was immediately born, however, these were not titles yet, but job titles. At this time, the SS was one of the many structural divisions of the SA.

SS ranks from IX-1925 to XI-1926

* Read more about rank encoding .

In November 1926, Hitler begins the secret separation of SS units from the SA. For this, the position of SS Obergruppenfuehrer (SS Obergruppenführer) is introduced, i.e. senior leader of the SS groups. Thus, the SS received dual control (through the SA and directly through its own line). Josef Berthtold becomes the first Obergruppenführer. In the spring of 1927 he is replaced by Erhard Heiden.

SS ranks from XI-1926 to I-1929

The code*
	SS Mann (SS Mann)
	SS Gruppenfuehrer (SS Gruppenführer)

In January 1929, Heinrich Himmler (H. Himmler) was appointed head of the SS. SS begins to grow rapidly. If in January 1929 there were only 280 SS men, then by December 1930 there were already 2727 of them.

At the same time, an independent structure of SS units appeared.

Hierarchy of SS divisions from I-1929 to 1932

Rotten
Scharen	abteilung (branch)
Truppen	zug (platoon)
Stuerme	company (company)
Sturmbanne	battalion (battalion)
standard	regiment (regiment)
Abschnitt	besatzung (garrison)

Note:Speaking about the equivalence of SS units (SS organizations (!), Not SS Troops) to army units, the author means the similarity in numbers, but not in tasks, tactical mission and combat capabilities

The rank system also changes accordingly. However, these are not titles, but positions.

SS rank system from I-1929 to 1932

The code*	Names of ranks (positions)
	SS Mann (SS Mann)
	SS Obergruppenfuehrer (SS Obergruppenführer)

The last title was awarded to A. Hitler. It meant roughly the following "Supreme Leader of the SS."

This table clearly shows the influence of the SA rank system. In the SS at this moment there are no formations like Gruppe or Obergruppe, but there are ranks. They are worn by the highest leaders of the SS.

In the middle of 1930, Hitler forbade the SA to interfere in the activities of the SS with an order that said "... no SA commander has the right to give orders to the SS." Although the SS still remained within the SA, in fact it was independent.

In 1932, the largest division of the Oberabschnitte (Oberabschnitte) was introduced into the structure of the SS and SS structure takes on its completion. Please note that this is not about the SS troops (they still do not exist), but about a public organization that is part of the Nazi Party, and all SS men are engaged in this activity on a voluntary basis in parallel with their main labor activity (workers, shopkeepers , artisans, unemployed, peasants, small employees, etc.)

Hierarchy of SS divisions since 1932

SA subdivision name	Equivalent to an army unit….
Rotten	there is no equivalent. Approximately - a cell of 3-5 people.
Scharen	abteilung (branch)
Truppen	zug (platoon)
Stuerme	company (company)
Sturmbanne	battalion (battalion)
standard	regiment (regiment)
Abschnitt	besatzung (garrison)
Oberabschnitte	kreise (military district)

The rank table takes on the following form (although it is still more job titles than titles):

SS rank system from 1932 to V-1933

The code*	Names of ranks (positions)
	SS Mann (SS Mann)
	SS Rottenfuehrer (SS Rottenführer)
	SS Sharfuehrer (SS Scharführer)
	SS Truppfuehrer (SS Truppführer)
	SS Sturmfuehrer (SS Sturmführer)
	SS Sturmbannfuehrer (SS Sturmbannführer)
	SS Standartenfuehrer (SS Standartenführer)
	SS Gruppenfuehrer (SA Gruppenführer)
	SS Obergruppenfuehrer (SS Obergruppenführer)
	Der Oberste Fuehrer der Schutzstaffel. (Der Oberste Fuhrer der Schutzstaffel)

The last title was worn only by A. Hitler. It meant roughly the following "Supreme Leader of the SS."

On January 30, 1933, Field Marshal Hindenburg, President of Germany, appoints A. Hitler Reich Chancellor, i.e. power in the country passes into the hands of the Nazis.

In March 1933, Hitler ordered the formation of the first armed formation of the SS, the Leibstandarte-SS "Adolf Hitler" (LSSAH). It was a company of Hitler's bodyguards (120 people). From now onSS is divided into two parts:

1.Allgemeine-SS - general SS.
2.Leibstandarte-SS - armed formation of the SS.

The difference was that membership in the SS was voluntary, and the SS men were engaged in SS affairs in parallel with their main activities (workers, peasants, shopkeepers, etc.). And those in the Leibstandarte-SS, being also members of the CC, were already in the service (not in the state, but in the service of the Nazi Party), received uniforms and salaries from the NSDAP. Members of the CC, being people personally devoted to Hitler (Himmler took care of the selection of such people in the CC), after the Nazis came to power, they began to be appointed to key posts in the state apparatus, starting with the heads of the district post office, police, telegraph, railway stations, etc. up to the highest government positions. Thus, the Allgemeine-SS began to gradually turn into a source of the state's administrative personnel, at the same time including a number of state institutions. Thus, the original role of the CC as a purely security unit was emasculated, and the CC quickly turned into the political and administrative basis of the Nazi regime, becoming a supranational organization, an organization that supervises the activities of state institutions in the interests of the Nazis. With the beginning of the creation of concentration camps by Himmler, concentration camp guard units were separated from the rapidly growing Leibstandarte-SS. The organization of the SS now began to consist of three components:

1.Allgemeine-SS - general SS.
2.Leibstandarte-SS - armed formation of the CC.

The previous scale of ranks was not enough and on May 19, 1933 a new scale of ranks was introduced:

SS rank system from May 19, 1933 to October 15, 1934

The code*	Names of ranks (positions)
	SS Mann (SS Mann)
	SS Sturmann (SS Sturmann)
	SS Rottenfuehrer (SS Rottenführer)
	SS Sharfuehrer (SS Scharführer)
	SS Truppfuehrer (SS Truppführer)
	SS Obertruppfuehrer (SS Obertruppführer)
	SS Sturmfuehrer (SS Sturmführer)
	SS Sturmhauptfuehrer (SS Sturmhauptfuehrer)
	SS Sturmbannfuehrer (SS Sturmbannführer)
	SS Standartenfuehrer (SS Standartenführer)
	SS Oberfuehrer (SS Oberführer)
	SS Gruppenfuehrer (SA Gruppenführer)
	SS Obergruppenfuehrer (SS Obergruppenführer)
	Der Oberste Fuehrer der Schutzstaffel. (Der Oberste Fuhrer der Schutzstaffel)

On the night of June 30, 1934, the SS, on the orders of Hitler, destroy the top of the SA. After that night, the role of the SA in the political life of the country was reduced to zero, and the role of the SS increased many times over. On July 20, 1934, Hitler finally removed the SS from the structure of the SA and gave it the status of an independent organization within the framework of the NSDAP. The role of the SS in the life of the country continued to grow, there were many who wanted to join this now powerful organization, and on October 15, 1934, Himmler again changed the SS rank scale. New ranks SS-Bewerber and SS-Anwarter are introduced, the first for an applicant for entry into the SS and the second for a person undergoing candidate experience. The names of some titles have changed. A title is introduced specifically for Himmler SS Reichsfuehrer (SS Reichsführer).

This scale lasted until 1942. There was no official division into privates, non-commissioned officers, officers, generals in Allgemeine-SS. This, as it were, emphasized the SS camaraderie and equality. The same scale of ranks until 1936 was used in the Leibstandarte "Adolf Hitler" and in parts of the concentration camp guards

General ranks of the SS from 15.X.1934 to 1942

The code*	Names of ranks (positions)
	SS Bewerber (SS Bewerber)
	SS Anwarter (SS Anwarter)
	SS Mann (SS Mann)
	SS Sturmann (SS Sturmann)
	SS Rottenfuehrer (SS Rottenführer)
	SS Sharfuehrer (SS Scharführer)
	SS Obersharfuehrer (SS Oberscharführer)
	SS Obersturmfuehrer (SS Obersturmführer)
	SS Sturmbannfuehrer (SS Sturmbannführer)
	SS Oberturmbannfuehrer (SS Obersturmbannführer)
	SS Standartenfuehrer (SS Standartenführer)
	SS Oberfuehrer (SS Oberführer)
	SS Brigadenfuehrer (SS Brigadenführer)
	SS Gruppenfuehrer (SA Gruppenführer)
	SS Obergruppenfuehrer (SS Obergruppenführer)

From October 1936, on the basis of the Leibstandarte-SS, the creation of the SS troops (Waffen SS) began. From that time on, the SS finally acquires its three main components:
1.Allgemeine-SS - general CC.
2. Waffen SS - CC troops.
3.SS-Totenkopfrerbaende - parts of the guards of concentration camps.

Moreover, the Allgemeine-SS actually merges with the state apparatus, some institutions of the state become departments and departments of the Allgemeine-SS, and the SS troops and the guards of concentration camps, in the view of many modern readers, merge into a single whole. Hence the fallacy of the idea that the SS is the SS Troops, especially since since 1936 they and the guards of the concentration camps receive their own system of ranks, which differs from the general SS. The idea that the SS troops were engaged in the protection of concentration camps is also erroneous. The camps were guarded by specially created units called SS-Totenkopfrerbaende, which were not part of the SS Troops. The very structure of the Waffen SS units was not general SS, but of an army model (squad, platoon, company, battalion, regiment, division). There were no permanent formations larger than a division in the Waffen SS. More about SS divisions can be found on the Arsenal website .

Ranks of the Waffen SS and SS-Totenkopfrerbaende from X-1936 to 1942

The code*		Names of ranks
	Mannschaften	SS Schutze (SS Schutze)
		SS Sturmann (SS Sturmann)
		SS Rottenfuehrer (SS Rottenführer)
	Unterfuehrer	SS Unterscharfuehrer (SS Unterscharführer)
		SS Sharfuehrer (SS Scharführer)
		SS Obersharfuehrer (SS Oberscharführer)
		SS Hauptscharfuehrer (SS Hauptscharführer)
	Untere Fuehrer	SS Untersturmfuehrer (SS Untersturmführer)
		SS Hauptsturmfuehrer (SS Hauptsturmführer)
	Mittlere Fuehrer	SS Sturmbannfuehrer (SS Sturmbannführer)
		SS Standartenfuehrer (SS Standartenführer)
		SS Oberfuehrer (SS Oberführer)
	Hoehere Fuehrer

Why the generals of the Waffen SS added the words "... and general ... of the police" to the general SS title, the author does not know, but in most of the primary sources available to the author in German (official documents) these ranks are called that way, although the SS men remaining in the Allgemeine-SS have general ranks did not have this supplement.

In 1937, four officer schools were created in the Waffen SS, the students of which had the following ranks:

In May 1942, the ranks SS-Sturmscharfuehrer and SS-Oberstgruppenfuehrer were added to the SS rank scale. These were the last changes to the SS rank scale. Three years remained before the end of the thousand-year Reich.

General ranks of the SS from 1942 to 1945.

The code*	Names of ranks (positions)
	SS Bewerber (SS Bewerber)
	SS Anwarter (SS Anwarter)
	SS Mann (SS Mann)
	SS Sturmann (SS Sturmann)
	SS Rottenfuehrer (SS Rottenführer)
	SS Unterscharfuehrer (SS Unterscharführer)
	SS Sharfuehrer (SS Scharführer)
	SS Obersharfuehrer (SS Oberscharführer)
	SS Hauptscharfuehrer (SS Hauptscharführer)
	SS Sturmscharfuehrer (SS Sturmscharfuehrer)
	SS Untersturmfuehrer (SS Untersturmführer)
	SS Obersturmfuehrer (SS Obersturmführer)
	SS Hauptsturmfuehrer (SS Hauptsturmführer)
	SS Sturmbannfuehrer (SS Sturmbannführer)
	SS Oberturmbannfuehrer (SS Obersturmbannführer)
	SS Standartenfuehrer (SS Standartenführer)
	SS Oberfuehrer (SS Oberführer)
	SS Brigadenfuehrer (SS Brigadenführer)
	SS Gruppenfuehrer (SA Gruppenführer)
16a	SS Obergruppenfuehrer (SS Obergruppenführer)
16b	SS-Oberstgruppenfuehrer (SS Oberstgruppenfuehrer)
	SS Reichsfuehrer (SS Reichsführer) Only G. Himmler had this title
	Der Oberste Fuehrer der Schutzstaffel. (Der Oberste Fuhrer der Schutzstaffel) Only A. Hitler had this title

Waffen SS and SS-Totenkopfrerbaende ranks from V-1942 to 1945

The code*		Names of ranks
	Mannschaften	SS Schutze (SS Schutze)
		SS Oberschutze (SS Oberschutze)
		SS Sturmann (SS Sturmann)
		SS Rottenfuehrer (SS Rottenführer)
	Unterfuehrer	SS-Unterscharfuehrer (SS Unterscharführer)
		SS Sharfuehrer (SS Scharführer)
		SS Obersharfuehrer (SS Oberscharführer)
		SS Hauptscharfuehrer (SS Hauptscharführer)
		SS-Sturmscharfuehrer (SS Sturmscharfuehrer)
	Untere Fuehrer	SS Untersturmfuehrer (SS Untersturmführer)
		SS Obersturmfuehrer (SS Obersturmführer)
		SS Hauptsturmfuehrer (SS Hauptsturmführer)
	Mittlere Fuehrer	SS Sturmbannfuehrer (SS Sturmbannführer)
		SS Obersturmbannfuehrer (SS Obersturmbannführer)
		SS Standartenfuehrer (SS Standartenführer)
		SS Oberfuehrer (SS Oberführer)
	Hoehere Fuehrer	SS Brigadenfuehrer und der General-maior der Polizei (SS Brigadenführer und der Major General der Polizei)
		SS Gruppenfuehrer und der General-leutnant der Polizei
16a		SS Obergruppenfuehrer und der General der Polizei (SS Obergruppenführer und der General der Polizei)
16b		SS-Oberstgruppenfuehrer und der General-oberst der Polizei

At the final stage of the war, the activities of SS organizations ceased with the occupation of this territory by the Red Army or Allied forces. Formally, the activities of the SS were terminated, and the organization itself was dissolved in the fall of 1945 on the basis of the decisions of the Potsdam Allied Conference on the denazification of Germany. By the verdict of the international tribunal in Nuremberg in the autumn of 1946. The SS was recognized as a criminal organization, and membership in it a crime. However, only top leaders and part of the middle SS personnel, as well as soldiers and officers of the SS Troops and concentration camp guards, were subjected to real criminal prosecution. They were not recognized as prisoners of war when taken prisoner, and they were treated like criminals. From the camps of the USSR, convicted soldiers and officers of the SS troops were released under an amnesty at the end of 1955

Wehrmacht rank insignia
(Die Wehrmacht) 1935-1945

SS troops (Waffen SS)

Rank insignia for junior and middle managers
(Untere Fuehrer, Mittlere Fuehrer)

Recall that the SS troops were part of the SS organization. Service in the SS troops was not a public service, but was legally equated with such.

During their initial formation, the SS troops were created from members of the SS organization (Allgemeine-SS), and since this organization had a paramilitary structure and its own rank system, the SS troops (Waffen SS) adopted the general SS rank system when they were created (for more details, see the article "Troops SS" of the subsection "Ranks of Germany" of the section "Military ranks" of the same site) with minor changes. Naturally, the division into categories in the SS troops was not quite the same as in the Wehrmacht. If in the Wehrmacht military personnel were divided into privates, non-commissioned officers, non-commissioned officers with belts, chief officers, staff officers and generals, then in the SS troops, as in the SS organization in general, the term "officer" was absent. The SS soldiers were divided into members, sub-leaders, junior leaders, middle leaders and senior leaders. Well, if you want, you can say "... leaders" or "... Fuhrers."

However, these names were purely official, so to speak, legal terms. In everyday life and, to a large extent, in official correspondence, the phrase "SS officer" was still used, and quite widely. This was due, firstly, to the fact that the SS men, mostly from the lowest strata of German society, were very flattered to consider themselves officers. Secondly, as the number of SS divisions increased, it was no longer possible to equip them with officers only from among the members of the SS, and some of the Wehrmacht officers were transferred by order to the SS troops. And they really did not want to lose the honorary title of "officer".

The well-known SS black uniform was the uniform of the SS organization (Allgemeine-SS), but it was never worn by the SS troops, since it was abolished in 1934, and the SS troops were finally formed by 1939. However, members of the SS troops as members of the SS organization had the right to wear uniform of the general SS. The soldiers of the SS troops, transferred from the Wehrmacht, were not members of the SS organization and had no right to it.

Let us explain that in 1934 the black Allgemeine-SS uniform was replaced by the same cut, but light gray. She was no longer wearing a red armband with a black swastika. Instead, an eagle with outstretched wings sitting on a wreath with a swastika was embroidered in this place. One shoulder strap of a special type was replaced by two Wehrmacht types. The shirt is white with a black tie.

In the picture on the left (reconstruction): the uniform of the general SS arr. 1934 On the shoulders are two epaulettes with a pink lining (tanker). On shoulder straps, in addition to an asterisk, you can distinguish the golden monogram of the Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler division. On the collar are the insignia of the SS-Obersturmbannführer. An eagle is visible on the left sleeve and a black ribbon near the cuff, on which the name of the division should have been written. On the right sleeve there is a patch for a destroyed enemy tank and below the SS veteran's chevron (too large).
It follows that this is the tunic of the SS Obersturmbannführer of the SS troops, who is a member of the SS organization.

From the author. It turned out to be extremely difficult to find an image of the gray tunic of the general SS. There are as many black tunics as you like. I explain this only by the fact that the SS organization, which played such a significant role in bringing the Nazis to power in the twenties and early thirties, gradually began to acquire a nominal role by the mid-thirties. After all, the state in the ranks of the general SS was, so to speak, social activity along with the main work of a person. And with the advent of the Nazis to power, active members of the SS quickly began to occupy positions in the police, other government agencies, in the protection of concentration camps, where they usually wore other types of uniforms. And with the beginning of the creation of the SS troops, the remaining ones were sent there to serve. So few people wore this uniform by the end of the thirties. Although, if you look at the photographs of G. Himmler and his inner circle, taken in the second half of the thirties and later, then they are all in this gray uniform of the general SS.

The replacement of the black uniform of the general SS with gray continued until mid-1938, after which it was forbidden to wear it. The remains of a black uniform with torn badges and sewn green cuffs and collars during the war were issued to policemen in the occupied territory of the USSR.

The main uniform of the officers of the SS troops was a uniform similar to the uniform of Wehrmacht officers with the same rank insignia in the form of epaulettes, but on the collars instead of Wehrmacht buttonholes, SS officers wore insignia similar to the insignia on the collars of the open uniforms of the general SS. Thus, SS officers had rank insignia on their uniforms both in buttonholes and on shoulder straps. Moreover, these insignia (and the same ranks) were worn by officers of the SS troops, both who were members of the SS organization and who were not.

In the photo on the left (reconstruction): SS-Hauptsturmführer in the uniform of the SS troops. Edges on the cap in color according to the type of troops. Here white is infantry. The stars on the shoulder straps are erroneously golden in color. In the SS troops, they were silver. On the right sleeve there is a patch for a wrecked tank, on the left an SS eagle and a ribbon with the name of the division above the cuff.

Note that this is generally the uniform of the SS troops. Depending on the capacity in which this uniform is used, the headdress with it could be a cap of the shown sample, a steel helmet with attributes of the SS troops, or a field cap (cap, kepi).

The steel helmet was both a ceremonial headdress and utilitarian item at the front. The cap for the SS troops was introduced in 1942. and differed from the soldier's in that a silver flagellum passed along the edge of the lapel and along the top. Black cap model 1942. worn only with a black tank uniform.

In 1943, a kepi was introduced for all, which until then was worn only in the mountain troops. This headgear was considered the most suitable for field conditions, especially in cold weather and in winter, since the lapels could be unbuttoned and pulled down, thus protecting the ears and lower face from the cold. the officer's cap has a silver flagellum along the edge of the lapel and along the top.

From the author. One evil memoirist from the soldiers of the SS troops in his book claims that the officers of their regiment in full dress did not wear real heavy steel helmets (which soldiers were forced to wear), but made of papier-mâché. They were made of such high quality that the soldiers did not know about it for a long time and were surprised at the stamina and endurance of their officers.

The officers of the so-called "divisions under the SS" (Division der SS) had the same uniform and the same insignia, i.e. divisions formed from persons of other nationalities (Latvian, Estonian, Norwegian, etc.) and other volunteer formations ..
In general, these collaborators did not have the right to call themselves SS titles. Their ranks were called, for example, "Waffen-Untersturmfuehrer (Waffen-U ntersturmfuehrer). Or" Legions-Obersturmführer (Legions-Obersturmfuehrer.

From the author. So gentlemen from the Latvian and Estonian divisions, you are not SS men at all, but, henchmen, cannon fodder for Hitler. And you fought not for Latvia and Estonia free from the Bolsheviks, but for the right to be "Germanized" as the "Ost" plan determined this, while your other compatriots were supposed to be evicted to distant Siberia or simply destroyed.

But the commander of the so-called "RONA assault brigade" B.V. Kaminsky, when this brigade was included in the SS troops, was awarded the rank of SS brigadefuhrer and major general of the SS troops. The commander of the SS Volunteer Regiment "Varyag", a former captain of the Red Army (according to other sources, a former senior political instructor) M.A. Semenov had the rank of SS-Hauptsturmführer.

From the author. This is according to Soviet and modern Russian sources. I have not yet found confirmation in German sources.

The color of the uniform of the officers of the SS troops basically coincided with the color of the uniform of the Wehrmacht, but it was somewhat lighter, grayer and the green tint was almost invisible. However, in the course of the war, the attitude towards the color of the uniform became more and more indifferent. They sewed from the fabric that was available (from almost green to almost pure brown). And yet, in the SS troops, the process of simplifying the form and deteriorating its quality was slower and later than in the Wehrmacht.

The tank uniform and the uniform of the self-propelled artillery of the SS troops were also basically similar to the tank uniform of the Wehrmacht. Tankers wore black, field grey-colored self-propelled gunners. Buttonholes on the collar are similar to buttonholes on a regular gray field uniform. The collar lining, unlike the soldier's, is made of a silvery flagellum.

In the photo on the left (reconstruction): SS-Hauptsturmführer in a black tank uniform. The stars on the shoulder straps are erroneously golden in color.

Junior leaders and middle leaders in ranks up to and including SS-Obersturmbannführer wore rank insignia in the left buttonhole, and two in the right buttonhole. runes "zig" or have other signs (see the article on the insignia of SS soldiers).

In particular, in the 3rd Panzer Division "Totenkopf" (SS-Panzer-Division "Totenkopf"), instead of runes, they wore an SS emblem in the form of a skull embroidered with aluminum thread.

SS officers in the ranks of SS-Standartenführer and SS-Oberführer had rank insignia in both buttonholes. There are endless disputes regarding the rank of SS-Oberführer - is it an officer or general rank. In the SS troops, this is an officer rank above Oberst, but below Major General of the Wehrmacht

The buttonholes of SS officers were edged with a silver twisted cord. On black tank uniforms and gray self-propelled artillery uniforms, SS officers often wore buttonholes with pink (tankmen) or scarlet (gunners) piping instead of a silver cord.

In the picture on the right: SS-Untersturmführer buttonholes.

The officers of the 3rd Panzer Division "Totenkopf" (3.SS-Panzer-Division "Totenkopf") wore in the right buttonhole not two "zig" runes, but an emblem in the form of a skull (similar to the emblems of the Wehrmacht tankers). This exhausts the variety of signs in the right buttonhole. All other signs were worn only by officers of divisions "at the SS".

By the way, this division should not be confused with the so-called "Dead Head" (SS-Totenkopfrerbaende) units, which had nothing to do with the SS troops, but were part of the concentration camp guards.

The shoulder straps of SS officers were similar to the shoulder straps of Wehrmacht officers, but the lower lining was black, the upper one, forming, as it were, a piping, according to the color of the military branch. Senior officers had a double backing. The lower one is black, the upper one is the color of the military branch.

The colors of the type of troops in the SS troops were somewhat different from the Wehrmacht

*White-. Infantry. The same color is combined arms.
*Light gray -. The Central Office of the SS Troops.
*Black and white striped -. Engineering units and subdivisions (sappers).
*Blue -. Supply and support services.
*Scarlet -. Artillery.
*Brownish green -. Reserve service.
*Burgundy -. Legal service.
*Dark red - Veterinary service.
*Yellow golden -. Cavalry, motorized reconnaissance units.
*Green -. Infantry regiments of police divisions (4th and 35th SS divisions).
*Yellow lemon -. Communication and propaganda service.
*Light green - Mountain parts.
*Orange - Technical service and replenishment service.
*Pink-. Tankers, anti-tank artillery.
*Cornflower blue -. Medical service.
*Pink-reddish -. Geological Service.
*Light blue -. Administrative service.
* Raspberry -. Sniper in all branches of the military.
*Copper Brown - Exploration.

Until the summer of 1943, signs of belonging to certain units were to be placed on shoulder straps. These badges could be metal or embroidered with silver or gray silk thread. However, SS officers simply ignored this requirement and, as a rule, did not wear any letters on shoulder straps until the age of 43, when they were canceled. Perhaps only the officers of the 1st SS Panzer Division "Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler", proud of their belonging to the elite SS division, wore a special monogram. The signs were installed as follows:
A - artillery regiment;
And the Gothic one is a reconnaissance battalion;
AS / I - 1st artillery school;
AS / II - 2nd artillery school;
Gear wheel - technical part (repair parts);
D - Regiment "Deutschland";
DF - Regiment "Fuhrer";
E/ Gothic numeral - Recruitment point number...;
FI - Anti-aircraft machine gun battalion;
JS / B - officer school in Braunschweig;
JS/T - officer school in Tolz;
L - training parts;
Lira - bandmasters and musicians;
MS - school of military musicians in Braunschweig;
N - regiment Nordland;
Gothic P - anti-tankers;
Snake - veterinary service;
A snake wrapping around a rod - physicians;
US / L - non-commissioned officer school in Lauenburg;
US / R - non-commissioned officer school in Radolfzell;
W - Westland Regiment.

The stars could have dimensions with a square side of 1.5, 2.0 or 2.4 cm. And if the stars in the buttonholes were always 1.5 cm in size, then the officer chose the size of the stars on shoulder straps, based on the convenience of their placement. For example, on the pursuit of the SS-Obersturmführer, the asterisk is shifted down to make room for the monogram. And if there is no monogram or other emblem on the shoulder strap, then the asterisk is usually in the center of the shoulder strap.

So, the rank of an SS officer could be determined simultaneously by shoulder straps and buttonholes:

Untere Fuehrer (junior managers):

1.SS Untersturmführer (SS-Untersturmfuehrer) [administrative service];

2.SS Obersturmführer (SS-Obersturmfuehrer) [tank units]. On the chase is the monogram of the Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler division.

3. SS Hauptsturmführer (SS-Hauptsturmfuehrer) [communication units].

Mittlere Fuehrer;

4.SS-Sturmbannführer (SS Sturmbannfuehrer) [infantry];

5.SS Obersturmbannfuehrer (SS Obersturmbannfuehrer) [artillery];

6.SS-Standartenführer (SS Standartenfuehrer) [medical service];

7.SS Oberfuehrer (SS Oberfuehrer) [tank units].

The insignia in the buttonholes of the SS-Standartenführer and SS-Oberführer changed somewhat in May 1942. Please note that on the old buttonholes of acorns on the buttonhole of the Oberfuhrer there are three, and the Standartenfuehrer has two. In addition, the branches on the old buttonholes are curved, and later straight.

This is essential if you want to determine the period when a particular picture was taken.

A few words about the insignia of the 4th SS division.

It was formed in October 1939 from among the police under the designation "Police Division" (Polizei-D ivision) as an ordinary infantry division, and was not included in the SS divisions, although it was part of the SS troops. Therefore, its military personnel had police ranks and wore police insignia.

In February 1942 The division was officially assigned to the SS troops and received the name "SS Police Division" (SS-Polizei-Division). Since that time, the soldiers of this division began to wear the general SS uniform and SS insignia. At the same time, the upper substrate of officer epaulettes in the division was defined as grassy green.

In early 1943, the division was renamed the "SS Police Grenadier Division" (SS-Polizei-Grenadier-Ddivision).

And only in October 1943 the division received the final name "4th SS Police Motorized Rifle Division" (4.SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division).

So, from the moment of formation in October 1939 to February 1942, the insignia of the division:

Paired buttonholes of the Wehrmacht model on a grass-green color. The collar is brown with grass green piping. In general, this is the form of the German police.

Shoulder straps on a green backing.

From right to left:

1. Leutnant der Polizei
(Leutnant der Polizei)

2. Oberleutnant der Polizei
(Oberleutnant der Polizei)

3. Hauptmann der Polizei
(Hauptmann der Polizei)

4. Major der Polizei (Major der Polizei)

5. Oberstleutnant der Polizei

6.Oberst der Polizei (Oberst der Polizei).

It is worth noting that from the very beginning this division was commanded by a member of the SS organization SS-Gruppenführer and Police Lieutenant General Karl Pfeffer-Wildenbruch

On camouflage clothing, it was supposed to wear green stripes on a black valve on both sleeves above the elbow. One row of oak leaves with acorns meant a junior officer, two rows of a senior officer. The number of stripes under the leaves meant rank. The picture shows the patches of the SS-Obersturmführer. However, as a rule, SS officers ignored these patches and preferred to designate their rank by releasing a collar with rank insignia over their camouflage clothing.

An interesting remark by one of the Soviet veteran counterintelligence officers SMERSH: "... starting from the end of autumn 44, I repeatedly found carefully wrapped buttonholes, Wehrmacht shoulder straps in the pockets of killed or captured SS men. During interrogation, these SS men unanimously stated that they had previously served in The Wehrmacht and the SS were transferred by order by force, and the old insignia are preserved as a memory of their honest soldier's service.

In conclusion, it should be noted that there was no category of military officials in the SS troops. as in the Wehrmacht, Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine. All positions were filled by the SS. Also, there were no priests in the SS troops, because. Members of the SS were forbidden to practice any religion.

Literature and sources.

1.P. Lipatov. Uniform of the Red Army and the Wehrmacht. Publishing house "Technology-youth". Moscow. 1996
2. Magazine "Sergeant". Series "Chevron". No. 1.
3. Nimmergut J. Das Eiserne Kreuz. Bonn. 1976.
4.Littlejohn D. Foreign legions of the III Reich. Volume 4. San Jose. 1994.
5. Buchner A. Das Handbuch der Waffen SS 1938-1945. Friedeberg. 1996
6. Brian L. Davis. German Army Uniforms and Insignia 1933-1945. London 1973
7.SA soldiers. Assault detachments of the NSDAP 1921-45. Ed. "Tornado". 1997
8. Encyclopedia of the Third Reich. Ed. "Lockheed Myth". Moscow. 1996
9. Brian Lee Davis. Uniform of the Third Reich. AST. Moscow 2000
10. Website "Wehrmacht Rank Insignia" (http://www.kneler.com/Wehrmacht/).
11. Site "Arsenal" (http://www.ipclub.ru/arsenal/platz).
12. V. Shunkov. Soldiers of destruction. Organization, training, armament, Waffen SS uniform. Moscow. Minsk, AST Harvest. 2001
13. A.A. Kurylev. Army of Germany 1933-1945. Astrel. AST. Moscow. 2009
14. W. Boehler. Unoform-Effekten 1939-1945. Motorbuch Verlag. Karlsruhe. 2009

OFFICER RANKS IN FASCIST GERMANY

OFFICER RANKS IN FASCIST GERMANY, the Reichsführer SS corresponded to the rank of Field Marshal of the Wehrmacht;
Oberstgruppenführer - Colonel General;
Obergruppenführer - General;
gruppenführer - lieutenant general;
Brigadeführer - Major General;
standartenführer - colonel;
obersturmbannführer - lieutenant colonel;
Sturmbannführer - major;
Hauptsturmführer - captain;
Obersturmführer - Oberleutnant;
Untersturmführer - lieutenant.

encyclopedic Dictionary. 2009 .

See what "OFFICER RANKS IN FASCIST GERMANY" are in other dictionaries:

Officer ranks of the troops of the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition and the Axis during the Second World War. Not marked: China (Anti-Hitler Coalition) Finland (Axis countries) Designations: Infantry Naval Forces Air Force Waffen ... ... Wikipedia

SS BRIGADENFUHRER, see Officer ranks in fascist Germany (see OFFICER RANKS IN FASCIST GERMANY) ... encyclopedic Dictionary

HAUPTSHTURMFYURER SS, see Officer ranks in fascist Germany (see OFFICER RANKS IN FASCIST GERMANY) ... encyclopedic Dictionary

SS GRUPPENFührer, see Officer ranks in Nazi Germany (see OFFICER RANKS IN FASCIST GERMANY) ... encyclopedic Dictionary

OBERGRUPPENFUHRER SS, see Officer ranks in Nazi Germany (see OFFICER RANKS IN FASCIST GERMANY) ... encyclopedic Dictionary

Oberstgruppenführer SS, see Officer ranks in fascist Germany (see OFFICER RANKS IN FASCIST GERMANY) ... encyclopedic Dictionary

Obersturmbannführer SS, see Officer ranks in fascist Germany (see OFFICER RANKS IN FASCIST GERMANY) ... encyclopedic Dictionary

In addition to the insignia presented here, many others were used in the army, but this section lists the most important of them.

Commemorative signs

They were supposed to remind the military units of the traditions of the old Prussian army, which ended its existence in 1918. The newly formed military units of the Reichswehr were awarded such signs (since April 1922). and later, parts of the Wehrmacht. These signs were on caps, they were worn below the insignia (an eagle with a swastika). The presence of other signs is proved by photographs of that time. They were worn according to the charter on field caps.

In memory of the former famous Prussian regiments of Life Hussars No. 1 and 2. In the Reichswehr, this badge of honor was awarded to the 1st and 2nd squadrons of the 5th (Prussian) cavalry regiment. On February 25, 1938, according to the order of the OG, the traditions and powers of this badge were transferred to the headquarters with the corps of trumpeters and the 1st division of the 5th cavalry regiment. In accordance with the requirements of modern warfare, with the outbreak of hostilities, this cavalry regiment was first disbanded, and then a reconnaissance unit of an infantry division was formed on its basis. Not to be confused with the cavalry regiments of the 1st Cavalry Division, which is still preserved. Thus, the 12th and 32nd reconnaissance battalions, as well as parts of the 175th reconnaissance battalion, were formed from the 5th cavalry regiment. The servicemen of this unit continued to wear the "Dead Head" sign even further.

According to the order of June 3, 1944, the Sever Cavalry Regiment, formed earlier in the year, was renamed Cavalry Regiment No. 5. The regiment's employees were secretly allowed to wear the traditional Dead Head badge again, but without official approval. After a short time, they again received official permission to wear their former insignia.

Braunschweig sign "Dead Head"

This sign "Dead Head" dates back to 1809 from the "Black Detachment" of Duke Friedrich Wilhelm of Brauishweig-Ohls. The skull was longer than on the Prussian model and rested with the upper jaw on the crossbones. The sign was supposed to remind of the glorious military deeds of the former Braunschweig military units: Infantry Regiment No. 92 and Hussar Regiment No. 17, which during the years of the 1st World War were part of the 10th Army Corps. This badge of honor was awarded in the Reichswehr to the 1st and 4th companies of the 1st Brunswick Battalion of the 13th Infantry Regiment and the 4th Squadron of the 13th Prussian Cavalry Regiment.

By order of February 25, 1938, this badge was awarded to: the headquarters, the 1st and 2nd battalions and the 13th and 14th companies of the 17th infantry regiment. By the same order, the 2nd division of the 13th cavalry regiment received the right to wear this badge.

The corresponding order of February 10, 1939 was to replace the Braunschweig sign "Dead Head" with the Prussian model, but this order, like others of its kind, was hardly executed. Most of the soldiers of these units continued to wear the Brunswick model.

On the eve of September 1, 1939, the 13th cavalry regiment was disbanded and the 22nd, 30th were created on its basis. 152nd and 158th reconnaissance battalions, whose servicemen continued to wear the same commemorative badges.

On May 25, 1944, the cavalry regiment "South" formed the same year was renamed the 41st cavalry regiment, which retained the tradition - the right to wear the Brunswick sign "Dead Head". A little later, this right extended to all military personnel of the 4th Cavalry Brigade, which included this regiment. Only the 5th Cavalry Regiment of the same brigade continued to wear the Prussian Death's Head pattern.

Dragoon Eagle

In memory of the glorious victory of the 2nd Brandenburg Dragoon Regiment in the battle of Schwedt on the Oder in 1764, the Swedish Dragoon badge was established, later the name was changed to the Swedish Eagle.

In the Reichswehr, the sign "Swedish Dragoon" was first awarded to the 4th squadron of the 6th (Prussian) cavalry regiment. By 1930, the 2nd squadron also received this commemorative badge. Meanwhile, during the period of the Weimar Republic, the eagle lost its crown and ribbon with the motto: "With God for the Kaiser and the Fatherland." With the coming to power of Hitler in 1933, all this was returned. In the Wehrmacht, this badge was awarded to headquarters. 2nd and 4th squadrons of the 6th cavalry regiment. On October 1, 1937, the Swedish Eagle badge was received by the 3rd battalion of motorcyclists. When the 6th Cavalry Regiment was disbanded in August 1939, the Swedish Eagle badge began to be worn by the 33rd, 34th and 36th reconnaissance battalions created on its basis, as well as parts of the 179th reconnaissance battalion.

At the end of 1944, the 3rd Cavalry Brigade was awarded this badge, before only the Center Cavalry Regiment had been awarded it.

Buckles, The coat of arms of the 3rd Reich was also located on the buckle of the waist belt and field belt: the front army belt for generals with a gilded buckle.	Ceremonial army belt for officers with an aluminum buckle.
A stamped steel plate belt buckle produced after 1941.	Aluminum alloy belt buckle with grained outer surface

Badge of jaeger and mountain rifle units

For military personnel of mountain rifle units and divisions of rangers, as well as the 1st division of ski rangers, special signs were introduced. 11rn this, stamped metal signs were worn on headdresses, and embroidered sleeve patches on a tunic, uniform, etc.

Mountain Rifle Units (Mountain Rangers)

Since May 1939, an oval cloth badge was worn on the right shoulder of all types of uniforms. It was an edelweiss flower embroidered on fabric with white petals and yellow stamens, with a pale green stem and leaves. The flower was framed by a twisted climbing rope, embroidered with gray matte thread, with a silver-white crutch with a ring. The basis was an oval of dark blue-green cloth. There were two versions of this badge: the highest quality - silk, machine embroidery, and the lower quality, made of felt. There are references to badges embroidered entirely in pale green thread and copper-brown, also silk, machine-embroidered badges destined for the Afrika Korps.

On the cap, between an eagle with a swastika and a cockade, an edelweiss flower without a stem, made of white metal, leaned. On the left side of the mountain cap, and later on the military cap, there was a sign depicting an edelweiss with a stem and two leaves, made of matte white metal. There were also samples. made by hand embroidery.

Jaeger divisions

By order of October 2, 1942, a special Jaeger badge was introduced. Like the sleeve insignia of the mountain rangers, the huntsman badge with oak leaves was introduced to be worn on the upper part of the right sleeve of a zero tunic, uniform tunic or overcoat by all personnel of the chasseur divisions and chasseur battalions. It showed three green oak leaves and one green acorn on a small brown branch, all embroidered on an oval piece of dark green cloth, framed with pale green cord. This emblem is also available in two versions: a higher quality, machine embroidered with silk thread, and a lower quality, made of felt. Made of white metal, it was attached to the left side of the cap. This sign was worn like the edelweiss of the mountain rifle units.

The servicemen of the 1st Jaeger Regiment of the Brandenburg Division wore the badge of the Jaeger units. and the soldiers of the 2nd Chasseur Regiment of the same division received the sign of the mountain rifle units.

Ski Chasseur Troops

A special sign was introduced for the military personnel of the 1st Division of Ski Jaegers, which was formed in September 1943, first under the name of the 1st Brigade of Ski Jaegers, in August 1944. It had the same pattern and colors as the Jaeger sign, but in the center it contains two crossed copper-brown skis intertwined with green oak leaves. It was also worn on the right sleeve of the uniform by all the personnel of the rifle units who served in the ski units.

Non-commissioned officer and officer candidate of the 17th Grenadier Regiment. On his right sleeve, a special badge of mountain rangers is sewn, not according to the charter.	Mountain huntsman in dress uniform. An edelweiss flower without a stem is fixed on his cap.

Insignia of military branches

Ordinary and non-commissioned officers with a special education wore an embroidered badge on the right forearm of their tunic, uniform and overcoat. It was usually depicted with a symbol and a letter embroidered from zologisto-yellow wool on a round base of dark blue-green or gray fabric. See table 2.

Table 2. Insignia on the army chase
Special formation	Symbol or letter
pigeon mail specialist	Gothic "B"
Fortification builder, sergeant major	Gothic "Fb" (until 1936)
Fortification engineer, sergeant major	Gothic "Fp" (1936-1939)
Craftsman or mechanic in production	gear wheel (since 1938)
Pyrotechnician, artillery technician	Gothic "F"
radio operator	a bunch of three crossed lightning bolts
Gas protection non-commissioned officer	Gothic "Gu" (since 1943)
Supply non-commissioned officer	Gothic "C" (since 1943)
Blacksmith Mentor	horseshoe and star inside
Signaller, communications mechanic	Gothic "M"
Regimental saddle master	Gothic "Rs" (since 1935)
Medical personnel	serpent and wand of Aesculapius
Saddler	Gothic "S"
Army saddler, saddle master	Gothic "Ts"
Non-commissioned officer of the ammunition supply service	two crossed rifles
Technician for the construction of fortifications, sergeant major	Gothic "W" (since 1943)
Assistant Treasurer	Gothic "V"
Communication service personnel	zipper in oval
Helmsman (landing craft)	anchor and helm on top of it

Soldiers who completed combat training, but did not receive a referral to the appropriate unit, wore horizontal galloons and an insignia from 1935. They filmed after receiving the appointment.

The original flag-bearer's sleeve shield was established by the High Command of the German Army on June 15, 1898, but after 1919 this emblem was not used. On August 4, 1936, a new version of the original flag bearer and standard bearer sleeve shield was introduced. At first, it was intended to be worn on the right sleeve, in its upper part, only on service, field and uniform tunics, but not on the overcoat.

The last restriction, however, was then removed, and the overcoat was included in the list of uniforms that this shield could be sewn on. The sleeve shield served as a sign that distinguished the one who wore it as a linden, who occupied a special position in his military unit, namely as a standard bearer. The predominant color of the sleeve shield was the color of the branch of service of the standard bearer who wore it. It was sewn onto a dark blue-green fabric base.

Along with the insignia of specialists intended to be worn on the right sleeve, there was also a series of insignia that were supposed to be worn on the left sleeve. These were signs of signalmen, gunners of artillery guns and multi-barrel launchers of rocket artillery, as well as signs of steering boats. On the left sleeve of the tunic, uniform and overcoat, special signs were worn by the helmsmen of landing craft and communications personnel. Initially, they represented aluminum-colored embroidery or babbitt stamping on dark green oval-shaped fabric. In December 1936, the insignia of artillery gunners began to be made of golden yellow matte rayon. It was a vertical yellow projectile with a flame at the top, in a wreath of yellow oak leaves on an oval of dark green fabric. The badge was worn on the bottom of the sleeve. In February 1937, a special sign was introduced for smoke screen gunners. It was a white mine standing upright in a wreath of white oak leaves on an oval of dark green fabric. The badge was worn on the lower part of the right sleeve.

The output tunic of the chief sergeant major of the 7th battalion of the communications service with the sign of the standard bearer and the bearer of the standard on the right sleeve	Colonel Joachim von Stoltzmann of the 17th Infantry Regiment. He wore on his cap the Brunswick "Dead Head" badge, the traditional badge of his military unit.
It is noticeable that the soldier in the foreground of the picture has a double stripe on the sleeve of his field jacket corresponding to the rank of Haupt Sergeant Major.	Since 1939, non-commissioned officers who have undergone special training and occupy a full-time position have worn an aluminum-colored cord ring like that of this training. On the right in the picture is a saddler. It is noticeable that the gothic "S" in yellow on a mug of dark green fabric is in a ring of aluminum-colored cord. The badge was worn on the lower part of the right sleeve.
Detailed view of the "piston ring"

Technician for the construction of fortifications, sergeant major, non-commissioned officer of gas protection (since 1944), pyrotechnician, artillery technician, gunner.
Medical officer, with a silver flagellum edging (since 1939 for soldiers since 1944), medical service personnel without edging (since 1939), radio operator, smoke screen gunner.

Haupt sergeant major (company foreman) or cavalry guard, etc. was the non-commissioned officer who was responsible for the internal order in the company or headquarters. His rank reflected his position in the service and official function. Its distinguishing mark is a double stripe on both sleeves of the tunic at the bottom (on the cuffs of the sleeves). This band was informally called the "piston ring". The output tunic of the haupt sergeant of the 30th anti-tank division.	Parade tunic of a sergeant-major from the trumpeter detachment of the 8th Cavalry Rifle Regiment.	"Swallow's Nest" of a cavalry trumpeter, fringe trim of 64 elements is noticeable.

Swallow's Nest (shoulder badge of musicians)

Brass band musicians, drummers and buglers wore a special sign (the so-called "swallow's nest") on their uniform and uniform tunic, but not on their overcoat. These were special semicircular linings with galloons sewn on them, located symmetrically on the shoulders of the uniform tunic. On the uniform, this sign in the form of a crescent was sewn on the seam of the sleeve, on the uniform - it was fastened on hooks. Each such nest was attached to the shoulder of the jacket with five long metal hooks, located at an equal distance from each other on the inner curved surface of the "swallow's nest".

They were inserted into five loops corresponding to them, sewn at regular intervals into the shoulder seam of the tunic. It consisted of a cloth base in the color of the military branches with a piping or galloon on the edge. From September 1935, this sign began to consist of 7 vertical and horizontal galloons, while the new galloons became thinner than the previous ones. The following variants of swallow nests were distinguished: drummers - a gray border; musicians and trumpeters - a light scarlet galloon of u-mini color; battalion buglers - a light aluminum galloon with a fringe 7 cm long.

Parade and everyday cords-aglets

There were three types of different dress cords (also called aiguillettes) in the army: aiguillettes for officers, adyotait insignia, and riflemen's cords.

The adjutant's aiguillette was woven from brushed aluminum cords.	Generals and officials of the same rank wore gold-colored aiguillettes, otherwise their aiguillette did not differ from the officer's.
The aiguillettes introduced for army officers in 1935 replaced the Reichswehr ones. The new aiguillettes were distinguished by the presence of a second cord and a second curly tip. For officers, the aiguillette was made of a light-aluminum thread, for generals - from yellow-gold threads of rayon. Metal curly tips were of the appropriate color. The adjutant's aiguillettes looked the same and were worn by officers only while on duty as adjutant.	Uniform tunic of Lieutenant General Max Denerlein with a large sash block

Officer aiguillettes

They were introduced in the Reichswehr on July 22, 1922 and at first were worn only on ceremonial uniforms. The tourniquet and both loops were made of light silver or aluminum thread. The generals wore aiguillettes made of gold thread. It was attached to the officer's epaulette on one side and on the other to the 2nd and 3rd buttons of the uniform.

By order of June 29, 1935, a second cord was added and both bundles ended in a metal figured tip. Introduced on June 29, 1935, the officer's aiguillette is nothing more than an adornment of the dress and dress uniforms. There were silver and gold aiguillettes, shoulder straps, weaving, and those. What did Kapellmeisters wear when conducting? distinguished by red stitching in silvery cords. A long braided aiguillette and a double-folded underarm cord passed sospis through the right side to the chest. A wattle loop was thrown over the third button from the top of the uniform, and a bent cord encircled a pair of chest cords with figured tips that hung freely along the side. A short wattle hung below the chest cords, and was fastened to the second button. Under the epaulette there was a button or button for fastening a leather strap sewn to the junction of the cords and braided.

From July 9, 1937, officers began to wear an aiguillette for the dress uniform in the event that Hitler himself, the supreme commander of the Wehrmacht, was present at the parade. It was also supposed to be worn at parades dedicated to the Fuhrer's birthday. He was worn on ceremonial uniforms and on a specific occasion, for example, at ceremonial events, ceremonial marches, etc. However, aiguillettes were never worn on overcoats.

Adjutants' Axelbant

We are talking about insignia directly related to the official duties of the adjutant, who belonged to the command (staff) composition of the troops. For example, the adjutant of the headquarters of the regiment, battalion or company. Since 1935, a wide plait of two thin cords has been made from matte aluminum thread.

Axelbant assigned to adjutant generals. staff officers, worn in the line of duty. It consisted only of a breast wattle, covered in the middle by a loop of a sleeve cord, the ends of which came out from under the right shoulder strap on the chest with two tips hanging along the line of the armhole. The end of the aiguillette was fastened to the second button from the top of the uniform (or everyday tunic, field jacket, overcoat). He leaned to the right shoulder strap on one side and to the fringe button of his tunic on the other side. However, the aiguillette was worn only while the officer served as adyotant.

Axelbants for excellent shooting

In the Reichswehr, there were 10 initial stages of awards to shooters for excellent shooting. By order of January 27, 1928, there were 24 such steps. Soldiers and non-commissioned officers were awarded these awards for success in shooting from a carbine, rifle, light and heavy machine guns. as well as success in the development of mortar and artillery weapons (servicemen of mortar and artillery companies. These were matte galloons that were worn on the sleeve in the region of the left forearm.

By order of June 29, 1936, instead of these signs, an aiguillette was introduced for excellent shooting. When creating its sample, the traditions of the old army were used. The cord was made of threads of matte aluminum color, the matte sign with a pattern was stamped from aluminum alloy. There were 12 steps. for each of the 4 steps there corresponded a certain sign.

Another difference was the presence of acorns at the lower end of the cord. They were woven from threads of gold or aluminum color, the number of acorns corresponded to a row from 10 to 12 steps.

Signs for excellent shooting were worn on dress, uniform, weekend and guard uniforms, but not on overcoats. The end of the cord with the sign was fastened under the right epaulette with a button, the other end of the cord was fastened to the second button of the tunic or uniform.

Along with the factory ones, there were handmade aiguillettes, which differed from the standard in execution. Most of them were made of aluminum-colored threads. Over time, these deviations were approved, for example, aiguillettes for excellent shooting of artillerymen from December 16, 1936 received metal shells instead of acorns.

On October 17, 1938, a special badge for tankers was introduced. From the 1st to the 4th stage, the Pz.Kpfw.I tank was depicted on it under the Wehrmacht eagle. At the same time, the sign was framed by an oval of stylized caterpillar tracks. For steps from 5 to 8, the crown was made of oak leaves. The sign of steps 9 to 12 was the same. but it was made of gold-colored metal. To the lower end of the aglet of the tankers, shells made of aluminum or gold metal were hung for excellent shooting.

Finally, in January 1939, a new badge appeared for the first three steps for excellent shooting. It was the same as for steps 5-8, but had a narrower wreath.

The signs for the distinction of individual steps were in the form of shells for artillerymen, for the rest of the military branches - in the form of acorns. For steps 9-12 they were golden.	Axelbant "For excellent shooting" 1st degree. The top is heeled so-forged aluminum alloy. Pictured is a 1939 sample.	1. Three different signs for tank troops "For excellent shooting." From right to left: steps 1-4,5-8 and 9-12. 2. Three different signs for shooters "For excellent shooting" (January 1939 sample), which were attached to the aiguillette. From right to left: steps 1-4.5-8 and 9-12.

She was worn on a dress uniform and a uniform tunic, but only by order. This insignia was sewn onto the fabric of the uniform in the form of a block of zinc tin 4 cm wide. It was strengthened so that the block covered the patch.

The sequence of orders and insignia on the order block
The attached list shows the sequence in which various orders and insignia were worn on the order block. The attached instruction from 1943 differs from those issued in 1935 and 1937 primarily by the appearance of 6 new awards (these are numbers 2 and 38 in the list). This list concerns primarily the awards of all Wehrmacht soldiers, there may be some changes made at a later time. 1. Iron Cross sample 1914 and 1939 2. Military merit cross with swords (for military distinctions) and without swords. 3. Insignia "For caring for the German people" with swords on the ribbon. 4. Medal "For the care of the German people" with swords on the ribbon. 5. Medal "FOR THE WINTER CAMPAIGN IN THE EAST 1941-42" 6. Medal of Military Merit. 7. Royal Order of the House of Hohenzollern (Prussia) 8. Prussian Order of the Red Eagle 3rd or 4th class with swords. 9. Order of the Crown of Prussia, 3rd or 4th class. 10. Austrian Military Order of Maria Theresa. 11. Austrian Imperial Order of Leopold with military distinction. 12. Bavarian Military Order of Maskimilian Joseph. 13. Bavarian Military Order of the Red Cross. 14. Saxon Military Order of St. Henry. 15. Württemberg Order of Military Merit. 16. Baden Military Order of Merit Karl Friedrich. 17. Prussian Gold Cross of Military Merit. 18. Prussian military medal 1st and 2nd class. 19. Austrian Gold Medal "For Courage" 20. Bavarian gold and silver medals "For Bravery" 21. Saxon Gold Medal of the Order of St. Henry. 22. Wurttember Gold Medal of Military Merit. 23. Baden Military Merit Medal of Karl Friedrich. 24. Other orders and insignia for service in the 1st World War in a row of their kiass and within the same class a day after the award. 25. Honorary Cross of the 1st World War. 26. Austrian commemorative medal dedicated to the 1st World War. 27a. Commemorative coin of the war of 1864 276. Commemorative Cross 1866 27s. Commemorative coin of the war of 1870-71	28. Austrian military medal. 29th century South West Africa Commemorative Coin (colonial award) 296. Colonial commemorative coin. 29s. Commemorative coin of China (colonial award). 30. Silesian Badge of Merit (Silesian Eagle) 31. Medal "For Salvation" on a ribbon. 32a. Service badge of the Wehrmacht. 326. Austrian military service badge. 33 Other state awards and awards of the NSDAP according to their degree of significance and within the same level one day after the award. 34. Olympic merit award. 35. Commemorative medal March 13, 1938 36. Commemorative medal October 1, 1938 37. Medal in memory of the return of Memel. 38. Medal of Honor of the Western Wall. 39. German commemorative Olympic medal. 40. Badge of honor of the German Red Cross. 41. Order and badge of honor of the former German sovereign states in the row of their class and within the same class one day after the award. 42. Foreign orders and medals were arranged in a row as they were awarded.

On this order block, which was worn on all other types of uniforms. there were only sashes. They were located next to each other on a block 12-18 mm wide. It was made of aluminum sheet or plastic, sometimes even leather. Along with the traditional method of attaching sashes, the Bavarian method was also used, when the ribbons were stacked in twos and arranged one behind the other, due to which the entire block looked wider.

Lieutenant Colonel in a ceremonial tunic - a large order block on the left chest	Cavalier of the Knight's Cross, Major General Georg-Wilhelm Postel wore a small order block on a leather lining
Small order block of the participant of the 1st World War.	This splendidly decorated Major General wore two small sashes stacked on top of each other.
	Small sash with the Bavarian method of sashes

One of the most cruel and merciless organizations of the 20th century is the SS. Ranks, decals, functions - all this was different from those in other types and branches of the troops in Nazi Germany. Reichsminister Himmler brought together all the disparate guard units (SS) into a single army - the Waffen SS. In the article we will analyze in more detail the military ranks and insignia of the SS troops. And first, a little about the history of the creation of this organization.

Prerequisites for the formation of the SS

In March 1923, Hitler was concerned that the leaders of the Stormtroopers (SA) were beginning to feel their power and importance in the NSDAP party. This was due to the fact that both the party and the SA had the same sponsors, for whom the goal of the National Socialists was important - to carry out a coup, and they did not have much sympathy for the leaders themselves. Sometimes it even came to an open confrontation between the leader of the SA - Ernst Röhm - and Adolf Hitler. It was at this time, apparently, that the future Fuhrer decided to strengthen his personal power by creating a detachment of bodyguards - the headquarters guard. He was the first prototype of the future SS. They did not have ranks, but the insignia had already appeared. The abbreviation for headquarters guards was also SS, but it came from the German word Stawsbache. In every hundred SA, Hitler allocated 10-20 people ostensibly to protect high-ranking party leaders. They personally had to take an oath to Hitler, and their selection was carried out carefully.

A few months later, Hitler renames the organization Stosstruppe - that was the name of the shock units of the Kaiser's army during the First World War. The abbreviation SS nevertheless remained the same, despite the fundamentally new name. It is worth noting that the entire Nazi ideology was associated with a halo of mystery, historical continuity, allegorical symbols, pictograms, runes, etc. Even the NSDAP symbol - the swastika - was taken by Hitler from ancient Indian mythology.

Stosstrup Adolf Hitler - the strike force "Adolf Hitler" - acquired the final features of the future SS. They did not yet have their own titles, however, insignia appeared that Himmler would later retain - a skull on headdresses, a black distinctive color of the uniform, etc. The "dead head" on the uniform symbolized the willingness of the detachment to defend Hitler himself at the cost of his life. The basis for the future usurpation of power was prepared.

Emergence of Strumstaffel - SS

After the Beer Putsch, Hitler went to prison, where he spent until December 1924. The circumstances that allowed the future Fuhrer to be released after an armed seizure of power are still incomprehensible.

Upon his release, Hitler first of all forbade the SA to carry weapons and position itself as an alternative to the German army. The fact is that the Weimar Republic could only have a limited contingent of troops under the terms of the Versailles Peace Treaty after the First World War. It seemed to many that the armed units of the SA were a legitimate way to avoid the restriction.

At the beginning of 1925, the NSDAP was restored again, and in November, the "shock detachment". At first it was called Strumstaffen, and on November 9, 1925 it received its final name - Schutzstaffel - "cover squadron". The organization had nothing to do with aviation. This name was invented by Hermann Göring, a famous fighter pilot of the First World War. He liked to apply terms from aviation in everyday life. Over time, the "aviation term" was forgotten, and the abbreviation was always translated as "security units." It was headed by Hitler's favorites - Shrek and Schaub.

Selection in the SS

The SS gradually became an elite unit with good salaries in foreign currency, which was considered a luxury for the Weimar Republic with its hyperinflation and unemployment. All Germans of working age were eager to join the SS detachments. Hitler himself carefully selected his personal guard. Candidates were required to:

1. Age from 25 to 35 years.
2. The presence of two recommendations from current members of the CC.
3. Permanent residence in one place for five years.
4. The presence of such positive qualities as sobriety, strength, health, discipline.

New development under Heinrich Himmler

The SS, despite the fact that it was personally subordinate to Hitler and the Reichsführer SS - from November 1926 this position was occupied by Josef Berthold, was still part of the SA structures. The attitude towards the “elite” in the assault detachments was contradictory: the commanders did not want to have SS members in their detachments, so they shouldered various duties, such as distributing leaflets, subscribing to Nazi agitation, etc.

In 1929, Heinrich Himmler became the leader of the SS. Under him, the size of the organization began to grow rapidly. The SS turns into an elite closed organization with its charter, a mystical ritual of entry, imitating the traditions of medieval knightly Orders. A real SS man had to marry a "model woman." Heinrich Himmler introduced a new mandatory requirement for entry into the renewed organization: the candidate had to prove evidence of purity of lineage in three generations. However, that was not all: the new Reichsführer SS obliged all members of the organization to look for brides only with a “clean” genealogy. Himmler managed to nullify the subjugation of his SA organization, and then completely withdraw from it after he helped Hitler get rid of the SA leader, Ernst Röhm, who sought to turn his organization into a massive people's army.

The bodyguard detachment was transformed first into the Fuhrer's personal guard regiment, and then into the personal SS army. Ranks, insignia, uniforms - everything indicated that the unit was independent. Next, let's talk more about insignia. Let's start with the rank of the SS in the Third Reich.

Reichsfuehrer SS

At the head was the Reichsfuehrer SS - Heinrich Himmler. Many historians claim that he was going to usurp power in the future. In the hands of this man was control not only over the SS, but also over the Gestapo - the secret police, the political police and the security service (SD). Despite the fact that many of the above organizations were subordinate to one person, they were completely different structures, which sometimes even quarreled with each other. Himmler was well aware of the importance of a branched structure from different services concentrated in the same hands, so he was not afraid of Germany's defeat in the war, believing that such a person would be useful to the Western allies. However, his plans were not destined to come true, and he died in May 1945, biting a vial of poison in his mouth.

Consider the highest ranks of the SS among the Germans and their correspondence with the German army.

Hierarchy of the SS High Command

The insignia of the SS high command was that the buttonholes on both sides depicted Nordic ritual symbols and oak leaves. Exceptions - SS Standartenführer and SS Oberführer - wore an oak leaf, but belonged to senior officers. The more they were on the buttonholes, the higher the rank of their owner.

The highest ranks of the SS among the Germans and their correspondence with the land army:

SS officers

Consider the features of the officer corps. SS Hauptsturmführer and lower ranks no longer had oak leaves on their buttonholes. Also on the right buttonhole they had the coat of arms of the SS - a Nordic symbol of two lightning bolts.

Hierarchy of SS officers:

SS rank	Buttonholes	Compliance in the army
Oberführer SS	double oak leaf	No match
SS Standartenführer	single sheet	Colonel
Obersturmbannführer SS	4 stars and two rows of aluminum thread	Lieutenant colonel
Sturmbannführer SS	4 stars
SS Hauptsturmführer	3 stars and 4 rows of thread	Hauptmann
Obersturmführer SS	3 stars and 2 rows	Ober Lieutenant
Untersturmführer SS	3 stars	Lieutenant

I would like to immediately note that the German stars did not resemble the five-pointed Soviet ones - they were four-pointed, rather resembling squares or rhombuses. Next in the hierarchy are non-commissioned officer ranks of the SS in the Third Reich. More about them in the next paragraph.

non-commissioned officers

Hierarchy of non-commissioned officers:

SS rank	Buttonholes	Compliance in the army
Sturmscharführer SS	2 stars, 4 rows of thread	Staff sergeant major
Standartenoberjunker SS	2 stars, 2 rows of thread, silver piping	Chief sergeant major
SS Hauptscharführer	2 stars, 2 rows of thread	Oberfenrich
Oberscharführer SS	2 stars	Feldwebel
Standartenunker SS	1 asterisk and 2 rows of thread (differed in shoulder straps)	Fanejunker sergeant major
Scharführer SS		Unter sergeant major
Unterscharführer SS	2 strands at the bottom	non-commissioned officer

Buttonholes are the main, but not the only insignia of ranks. Also, the hierarchy could be determined by shoulder straps and stripes. The military ranks of the SS were sometimes subject to change. However, above we have presented the hierarchy and the main differences at the end of World War II.