SS insignia

The insignia on the uniforms of SS members indicated the personal ranks of the SS, belonging to the branch of the SS troops, services, departments, etc. The system of buttonholes with the designation of ranks - so familiar from the film - was introduced in 1926. Moreover, the signs themselves were similar to those that existed in the Assault Detachments (SA) - at that time the SS was an integral part of the SA. The buttonholes themselves were black, while the insignia were white, silver, or grey. Privates, non-commissioned officers, as well as officers up to and including SS Obersturmbannführer, wore insignia only in the left buttonhole (in the right buttonhole they wore their standard number, with the exception of the 87th standard, whose members wore the image of edelweiss, and the 105th standard, where since 1939 they wore the image of elk horns), and officers from the Standartenführer - in both buttonholes. For SD and security police officers in the rank up to Obersturmbannführer, the right buttonholes were clean - the well-known double “zig” runes, which became the hallmark of the SS, were introduced in 1933, initially exclusively for the “SS Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler”, and then extended to all others German parts of the SS troops. The “belonging” of lavalier runes to the SS troops was taken into account. It just so happened that they were also worn on any field uniform of the SS and those who had nothing to do with the SS troops. In Moments, without exception, all employees of the RSHA are wearing black, gray, and field uniforms. wear double runes "zig", although the vast majority do not have the right to do so.

Beginning in May 1933, the SS men wore one epaulette on the right shoulder with a black uniform.

Shoulder straps were of six types, five of which indicated that their owner belonged to a certain category of ranks: SS-manns (private), sharführers (non-commissioned officers), junior, middle and senior command staff. At the same time, a specific rank in pursuit was not indicated. The shoulder strap of the sixth type was worn only by the Reichsfuehrer SS. Ranks were designated by insignia on the buttonholes in the form of a combination of soutache stripes and knobs (four-pointed stars) -not smooth cubes, like in a movie. On the left sleeve, the SD officers wore a sleeve patch in the form of a black diamond (for officers with a silver edging) and the letters "SD" - these are clearly visible in the film.

On the buttonholes, the ranks of the SS originally wore the following insignia:

Ordinary SS-manns had an empty buttonhole;

Sturmmann - two soutache strips;

Rottenführers - four soutache strips;

Unterscharführer - one bump;

Scarfuhrers - one bump and two soutache strips;

Oberscharführers - two knobs diagonally;

Hauptscharführer - two knobs and two soutache strips;

Sturmscharführer - two knobs and four soutache strips;

Untersturmführers - three knobs diagonally;

Obersturmführers - three knobs and two soutache strips;

Hauptsturmführers - three diagonal knobs and four soutache stripes;

Sturmbannführers - four bumps in the corners;

Obersturmbannführers - four knobs and two soutache strips;

Standartenführers - straight oak leaves diagonally with acorns at the handle;

Oberführers - double curved oak leaves;

Brigadeführers - double curved oak leaves and knobs;

Gruppenführer - triple curved oak leaves;

Obergruppenführer - triple curved oak leaves and knobs;

Reichsführer SS Heinrich Himmler wore a triple bunch of oak leaves on his buttonholes, surrounded by an open wreath of oak branches.

But not all of these insignia survived until 1945 unchanged. On April 7, 1942, a small reform was carried out, and their design at the highest command staff, starting with the SS Oberführer, changed somewhat. In this form, they already existed until the end of the war. Thus, the ranks up to and including the Standartenführer retained the old insignia, and senior officers received the following:

Oberführer - double straight oak leaves;

Brigadeführers - triple straight oak leaves with acorns in the gaps and at the junction;

Gruppenführer - triple straight oak leaves and knobs;

Obergruppenführer - triple straight oak leaves and two knobs;

Oberstgruppenführers (this title was introduced just at that time) - three straight oak leaves and three knobs.

In the film "Seventeen Moments of Spring" the authors could not do without errors in insignia, and in some cases it is simply impossible to explain why they were made. Most of the higher ranks (“generals”) in the film wear buttonholes of the 1942 model that are quite appropriate for the moment. An exception for completely unknown reasons was only the chief of Stirlitz - Walter Schellenberg. Already in the 1st series, in the scene of a meeting with Hitler, he appears in a black uniform with the insignia of the SS Brigadeführer, canceled in April 1942. At the same time, one cannot even assume that he retained the old insignia out of a whim - Schellenberg never wears such buttonholes for me, since he received his rank of SS Brigadeführer more than two years after the reform, namely on June 23, 1944!

Also, the wrong buttonholes are worn in the film by all the Obersturmbannführers - including Eisman and Holtoff - although they have four knobs on their buttonholes, as they should, but only one soutache strip(in general, this strip is somewhat strange, it seems that it is just a raised lower edge of the buttonhole). There were no such buttonholes at all - with four knobs, there were either no stripes at all (for Sturmbannfuehrers), or there were two stripes (for Obersturmbannfuehrers). Rolf in the movie buttonholes are the same as those of Holtoff, but in his description he is called Sturmbannführer(This is the 6th episode of the film).

Until now, teenagers in cinemas (or during a more thorough study of the topic from photographs on the net) catch an aesthetic buzz from the type of uniforms of war criminals, from the uniform of the SS. And adults are not far behind: in the albums of many older people, the famous artists Tikhonov and Armor show off in the appropriate attire.

Such a strong aesthetic impact is due to the fact that for the SS troops (die Waffen-SS) the form and emblem were developed by a talented artist, a graduate of the Hannover Art School and the Berlin Academy, the author of the cult painting "Mother" Karl Diebitsch (Karl Diebitsch). He collaborated with SS uniform designer and fashion designer Walter Heck on the final design. And they sewed uniforms at the factories of the then little-known fashion designer Hugo Boss (Hugo Ferdinand Boss), and now his brand is famous all over the world.

History of the SS uniform

Initially, the SS guards of the party leaders of the NSDAP (Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei - National Socialist German Workers' Party), like the stormtroopers of Rem (the leader of the SA - assault squads - Sturmabteilung), went in a light brown shirt plus breeches and boots.

Even before the final decision on the expediency of the existence of two parallel “advanced guard detachments of the party” and before the cleansing of the SA, the “imperial leader of the SS” Himmler continued to wear a black edging on the shoulder of a brown tunic to the members of his detachment.

The black uniform was introduced personally by Himmler in 1930. A black tunic of a sample of a military Wehrmacht jacket was worn over a light brown shirt.

At first, this tunic had either three or four buttons, the general appearance of the dress and field uniforms was constantly being refined.

When the black uniform designed by Diebitsch-Heck was introduced in 1934, only a red armband with a swastika remained from the time of the first SS detachments.

At first, there were two sets of uniforms for SS soldiers:

• front door;
• everyday.

Later, without the participation of famous designers, field and camouflage (about eight variants of summer, winter, desert and forest camouflage) uniforms were developed.

The distinctive features of the military units of the SS in appearance for a long time were:

• red armbands with a black edging and a swastika inscribed in a white circle ─ on the sleeve of the tunic of a uniform, jacket or overcoat;
• emblems on caps or caps ─ first in the form of a skull, then in the form of an eagle;
• exclusively for the Aryans ─ signs of belonging to the organization in the form of two runes on the right buttonhole, signs of military seniority on the right.

In those divisions (for example, "Viking") and individual units where foreigners served, the runes were replaced by the emblem of the division or legion.

The changes affected the appearance of the SS in connection with their participation in hostilities, and the renaming of "Allgemeine (general) SS" to "Waffen (armed) SS".

Changes by 1939

It was in 1939 that the famous "dead head" (a skull, made first of bronze, then of aluminum or brass) was transformed into the famous eagle on the cockade of a cap or cap.

The skull itself, along with other new distinctive features, remained part of the SS Panzer Corps. In the same year, the SS men also received a white dress uniform (white tunic, black breeches).

During the reconstruction of the Allgemein SS into the Waffen SS (a purely "party army" was reorganized into combat troops under the nominal command of the Wehrmacht General Staff), the following changes occurred with the uniform of the SS men, under which they were introduced:

• field uniform of gray (the famous "feldgrau") color;
• full dress white uniform for officers;
• black or gray overcoats, also with armbands.

At the same time, the charter allowed the overcoat to be worn unbuttoned on the top buttons, so that it would be easier to navigate in the insignia.

After the decrees and innovations of Hitler, Himmler and (under their leadership) Theodor Eicke and Paul Hausser, the division of the SS into police officers (primarily units of the "Dead Head" type) and combat units finally took shape.

Interestingly, the "police" units could only be ordered personally by the Reichsführer, but the combat units, which were considered the reserve of the military command, could be used by Wehrmacht generals. Service in the Waffen SS was equated with military service, and the police and security forces were not considered military units.

However, parts of the SS remained under the scrutiny of the supreme party leadership, as a "model of political strength." Hence the constant changes, even during the course of the war, in their uniforms.

SS uniform in wartime

Participation in military companies, the expansion of SS detachments to full-blooded divisions and corps gave rise to a system of ranks (not too different from the general army) and insignia:

• private (schutzman, colloquially just "man", "SS man") wore simple black shoulder straps and buttonholes with two runes on the right (left - empty, black);
• an ordinary “verified”, after six months of service (obershutze) received a “knob” (“asterisk”) of silver color on the shoulder strap of a field (“camouflage”) uniform. The rest of the insignia were identical to Schutzmann;
• the corporal (navigator) received a thin double silver stripe on the left buttonhole;
• the junior sergeant (Rottenführer) already had four stripes of the same color on the left buttonhole, and on the field uniform the “knob” was replaced with a triangular patch.

The non-commissioned officers of the SS troops (belonging to it is easiest to determine by the “ball” particle) received no longer empty black shoulder straps, but with a silver edging and included ranks from sergeant to senior sergeant major (headquarters sergeant major).

Triangles on the field uniform were replaced by rectangles of various thicknesses (the thinnest for the Unterscharführer, the thickest, almost square, for the Sturmscharführer).

These SS men had the following insignia:

• sergeant (Unterscharführer) ─ black shoulder straps with a silver edging and a small “asterisk” (“square”, “knob”) on the right buttonhole. The same insignia were in the "junker SS";
• senior sergeant (sharführer) ─ the same shoulder straps and silver stripes on the side of the “square” on the buttonhole;
• foreman (oberscharführer) ─ shoulder straps are the same, two stars without stripes on the buttonhole;
• warrant officer (hauptscharführer) ─ buttonhole, like a foreman, but with stripes, there are already two knobs on shoulder straps;
• senior warrant officer or sergeant major (Sturmscharführer) - shoulder straps with three squares, on the buttonhole the same two "squares" as the ensign, but with four thin stripes.

The last title remained quite rare: it was awarded only after 15 years of impeccable service. On the field uniform, the silver edging of the epaulette was replaced by green with the corresponding number of black stripes.

SS officer uniform

The uniform of the junior officers differed already in the shoulder straps of the camouflage (field) uniform: black with green stripes (thickness and number depending on the rank) closer to the shoulder and intertwined oak leaves above them.

• lieutenant (untersturmführer) ─ silver "empty" shoulder straps, three squares on the buttonhole;
• senior lieutenant (Obersturführer) ─ a square on shoulder straps, a silver stripe was added to the insignia on the buttonhole, two lines on the sleeve patch under the “leaves”;
• captain (hauptsturmführer) ─ additional lines on the patch and on the buttonhole, epaulette with two "knobs";
• major (Sturmbannführer) ─ silver "wicker" shoulder straps, three squares on the buttonhole;
• lieutenant colonel (oberbannshturmführer) ─ one square on a twisted pursuit. Two thin stripes under the four squares on the buttonhole.

Beginning with the rank of major, the insignia underwent minor changes in 1942. The color of the backing of the twisted epaulets corresponded to the type of troops, on the epaulet itself there was sometimes a symbol of a military specialty (a sign of a tank unit or, for example, a veterinary service). "Knobs" on shoulder straps after 1942 turned from silver into golden signs.

Upon reaching the rank above the colonel, the right buttonhole also changed: instead of the SS runes, stylized silver oak leaves were placed on it (single for the colonel, triple for the colonel general).

The remaining insignia of senior officers looked like this:

• colonel (Standartenführer) ─ three stripes under double leaves on a patch, two stars on shoulder straps, an oak leaf on both buttonholes;
• the unparalleled rank of oberführer (something like "senior colonel") ─ four thick stripes on the patch, a double oak leaf on the buttonholes.

Characteristically, these officers also had black and green "camouflage" shoulder straps for "field", combat uniforms. For commanders of higher ranks, the colors were no longer so “protective”.

SS general uniform

On the uniforms of the SS at the highest command staff (generals) there are already golden-colored epaulettes on a blood-red backing, with symbols of silver color.

The shoulder straps of the “field” uniform are also changing, since there is no need for special disguise: instead of green on a black field for officers, generals wear thin gold signs. Shoulder straps become gold on a light background, with silver insignia (with the exception of the Reichsführer uniform with a modest thin black shoulder strap).

The insignia of the high command on shoulder straps and buttonholes, respectively:

• major general of the SS troops (brigadeführer in the Waffen SS) ─ gold embroidery without symbols, double oak leaf (until 1942) with a square, triple leaf after 1942 without an additional symbol;
• lieutenant general (gruppenfuehrer) ─ one square, triple oak leaf;
• full general (Obergruppenführer) ─ two “bumps” and an oak leaf shamrock (until 1942, the bottom sheet was thinner on the buttonhole, but there were two squares);
• Colonel General (Oberstgruppenführer) ─ three squares and a triple oak leaf with a symbol below (until 1942, the Colonel General also had a thin sheet at the bottom of the buttonhole, but with three squares).
• The Reichsführer (the closest, but not exact analogue ─ "NKVD People's Commissar" or "Field Marshal General") wore a thin silver epaulette with a silver trefoil on his uniform, and oak leaves surrounded by a bay leaf on a black background in his buttonhole.

As you can see, the SS generals neglected (with the exception of the Reich Minister) the protective color, however, in battles, with the exception of Sepp Dietrich, they had to participate less often.

Insignia of the Gestapo

In the SD security service, the Gestapo also wore SS uniforms, the ranks and insignia practically coincided with the ranks in the Waffen or the Allgemein SS.

The employees of the Gestapo (later also the RSHA) were distinguished by the absence of runes on their buttonholes, as well as the obligatory badge of the security service.

An interesting fact: in the great TV movie Lioznova, the viewer almost always sees Stirlitz in, although at the time of the spring of 1945, the black uniform almost everywhere in the SS was replaced by a dark green "parade" more convenient for front-line conditions.

Muller could walk in an exceptionally black tunic ─ both as a general and as an advanced high-ranking leader who rarely goes to the regions.

Camouflage

After the transformation of security detachments into combat units by decrees of 1937, samples of camouflage uniforms began to enter the elite combat units of the SS by 1938. It included:

• helmet cover;
• jacket
• face mask.

Camouflage capes (Zelltbahn) appeared later. Trousers (breeches) before the appearance of reversible overalls in the region of 1942-43 were from the usual field uniform.

The pattern itself on camouflage overalls could use many "small-spotted" forms:

• dotted;
• under oak (eichenlaub);
• palm (palmenmuster);
• plane leaves (platanen).

At the same time, camouflage jackets (and then reversible overalls) had almost the entire required range of colors:

• autumn;
• summer (spring);
• smoky (black-gray polka dots);
• winter;
• "desert" and others.

Initially, uniforms made of camouflage waterproof fabrics were supplied to the Verfugungstruppe (disposition troops). Later, camouflage became an integral part of the uniform of the SS "target" groups (Einsatzgruppen) of reconnaissance and sabotage detachments and units.

During the war years, the German leadership was creative in creating camouflage uniforms: the finds of the Italians (the first creators of camouflage) and the developments of the Americans and the British, which were among the trophies, were successfully borrowed.

Nevertheless, one should not underestimate the contribution of German scientists themselves and scientists collaborating with the Hitler regime to the development of such famous camouflage brands as

• ss beringt eichenlaubmuster;
• sseichplatanenmuster;
• ssleibermuster;
• sseichenlaubmuster.

Professors of physics (optics) who studied the effects of the passage of light rays through rain or foliage worked on the creation of these types of colors.
Soviet intelligence knew less about the SS-Leibermuster camouflage overalls than allied intelligence: it was used on the Western Front.

At the same time (according to American intelligence), yellow-green and black lines were applied to the tunic and crest with a special "light-absorbing" paint, which also reduced the level of radiation in the infrared spectrum.

The existence of such paint in 1944-1945 is still relatively little known, it has been suggested that it was a “light-absorbing” (of course, partially) black fabric, on which drawings were later applied.

In the 1956 Soviet film "In the 45th Square" you can see saboteurs in costumes most reminiscent of the SS-Leibermuster.

In a single copy, a sample of this military uniform is in the military museum in Prague. So, there can be no question of any mass tailoring of the uniform of this sample; such camouflage patterns were produced so little that now they are one of the most interesting and expensive rarities of the Second World War.

It is believed that it was these camouflages that gave impetus to American military thought to develop camouflage clothing for modern commandos and other special forces.

Camouflage "SS-Eich-Platanenmuster" was much more common on all fronts. Actually "Platanenmuster" ("woody") is found in pre-war photos. By 1942, “reverse” or “reversible” jackets of the “Eich-Platanenmuster” coloring were massively supplied to the SS troops ─ autumn camouflage on the front, spring colors on the back of the fabric.

Actually, this tricolor, with broken lines of "rain" or "branches" combat uniforms are most often found in films about the Second World War and the Great Patriotic War.

The "eichenlaubmuster" and "beringteichenlaubmuster" camouflage patterns (respectively "oakleaf type "A", oakleaf type "B") were widely popular in the Waffen SS in 1942-44.

However, for the most part, capes and raincoats were mainly made from them. And the soldiers of the special forces already independently (in many cases) sewed jackets and helmets from capes.

SS form today

Favorably aesthetically solved black form of the SS is still popular today. Unfortunately, most often not where it is really necessary to recreate authentic uniforms: not in Russian cinema.

A small “blunder” of Soviet cinema was mentioned above, but with Lioznova, the almost constant wearing of black uniforms by Stirlitz and other characters could be justified by the general concept of the “black and white” series. By the way, in the colorized version, Stirlitz appears a couple of times in the "green" "parade".

But in modern Russian films on the theme of the Great Patriotic War, horror drives with horror in terms of reliability:

• the infamous 2012 film, "I Serve the Soviet Union" (about how the army fled, but political prisoners on the western border defeated SS sabotage units) ─ we watch SS men in 1941 dressed in something between "Beringtes Eichenlaubmuster" and even more modern digital camouflage;
• the sad picture “In June 1941” (2008) allows you to see SS men in full dress black uniform on the battlefield.

There are many similar examples, even the “anti-Soviet” joint Russian-German film of 2011 with Guskov “4 Days in May”, where the Nazis, in the 45th, are mostly dressed in camouflage from the first years of the war, is not spared from mistakes.

But the SS parade uniform enjoys well-deserved respect from reenactors. Of course, various extremist groups are also striving to pay tribute to the aesthetics of Nazism, and even those not recognized as such, such as relatively peaceful “Goths”.

Probably, the fact is that thanks to history, as well as the classic films "The Night Porter" by Cavani or "The Death of the Gods" by Visconti, the public has developed a "protest" perception of the aesthetics of the forces of evil. No wonder the leader of the Sex Pistols, Sid Vishers, often appeared in a T-shirt with a swastika; in the collection of fashion designer Jean-Louis Shearer in 1995, almost all toilets were ornamented with either imperial eagles or oak leaves.

The horrors of war are forgotten, but the feeling of protest against the bourgeois society remains almost the same - such a sad conclusion can be drawn from these facts. Another thing is the "camouflage" colors of fabrics created in Nazi Germany. They are aesthetic and comfortable. And therefore they are widely used not only for games of reenactors or work on personal plots, but also by modern fashion couturiers in the world of big fashion.

Video

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 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 the twenties and early thirties in bringing the Nazis to power, 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 (tank) or scarlet (gunners) edging 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.

Asterisks 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

SS-Mann/Schutze-SS- Private, shooter, grenadier, gunner
SS-mann (German SS-Mann) - the lowest military rank in the SS, SA and some other paramilitary organizations of Nazi Germany that existed from 1925 to 1945. Corresponded to the rank of private in the Wehrmacht.
In 1938, due to the increase in the SS troops, the rank of mann was replaced by the military rank of schutze (shooter), but the rank of mann was retained in the general SS.

Schutze (German: SS-Schütze, shooter) is an SS military rank that existed in the formations of the SS troops from 1939 to 1945, and corresponded to the rank of mann in the general SS.
The rank of Schutze has existed in the German armed forces since the First World War. It means "shooter" in German. By 1918, this title was awarded to machine gunners and some elite units (for example, the 108 Saxon Schutze Regiment). This rank was the lowest in the infantry. In other branches of the military, such ranks as gunner, pioneer, etc. corresponded to him.

Obermann- Obershutze (German SS-Oberschütze) - the military rank of the SS, used in the formations of the Waffen-SS from 1942 to 1945. Corresponded to the rank of obermann in the general SS.

For the first time the rank of Oberschutz was used in the army of Bavaria at the end of the 19th century. After the First World War, this rank appeared in the Reichswehr and in 1920 became an intermediate rank between the ranks of soldier and corporal. This rank was awarded to military personnel with significant military experience and skills, but who were still too early to give the rank of corporal.

In the US Army, this rank corresponds to private first class.

In the Waffen-SS, this title was awarded to servicemen with the rank of Schutze after 6 months of service.

Sturmmann- Sturmmann - rank in the SS and SA. Corresponded to the rank of corporal in the Wehrmacht.

In translation, the word sturmmann means "assault soldier". The title dates back to the First World War, when assault groups were created in advanced assault units (also called "shock troops") to break through enemy fortifications.

After the defeat of Germany in 1918, members of the paramilitary revanchist formations of the so-called "free corps", created from former military personnel who were dissatisfied with the results of the Versailles Treaty, began to be called stormtroopers.

Since 1921, paramilitary organizations (the future SA) have been created from the Sturmmanns to protect the Nazi Party and fight the leftist parties of the post-war period.

The title of Sturmmann was awarded after serving in the ranks of the SA from 6 months to 1 year with basic knowledge and abilities. Sturmmann is senior over the rank of mann, with the exception of the SS, where in 1941 the rank of obermann was introduced separately, and in the SS troops the rank of obershutze.

Rottenfuhrer- Rottenführer (German: Rottenführer, squad leader) - a rank in the SS and SA, which existed from 1932 to 1945. The Rottenführer in the SS troops corresponded in rank to the chief corporal in the Wehrmacht.

The Rottenführer commanded a detachment (Rotte) of 5-7 people and reported to the Scharführer (SA) or Unterscharführer (SS). The Rottenführer's buttonholes were two silver stripes on a black background.

The Hitler Youth also had the title of Rottenführer.

Unterscharfuhrer- Unterscharführer - a rank in the SS that existed from 1934 to 1945. Corresponded to the rank of non-commissioned officer in the Wehrmacht. The rank of Unterscharführer was created during the reorganization of the SS following the Night of the Long Knives, during which several new ranks were created to separate the SS from the SA.

The rank of SS-Unterscharführer was created from the old rank of SA Scharführer. After 1934, the rank of SS-Unterscharführer became equal to the rank of SA Scharführer.

The rank of Unterscharführer was the first non-commissioned officer rank in the SS. This title was the most common in the SS.

In the General SS, the Unterscharführer usually commanded a squad of seven to fifteen men. The title was also widely used throughout the Nazi security services such as the Gestapo, SD and Einsatzgruppen.

In the concentration camps, Unterscharführers usually held the position of blockführer, whose duty it was to keep order in the barracks. The blockfuhrer position is a symbol of the Holocaust, since it was the blockfuhrers, together with various Sonderkommandos, who carried out actions to suffocate Jews and other elements "undesirable" for the Third Reich with gas.

In the SS troops, the rank of Unterscharführer was one of the ranks of junior commanders at the company and platoon levels. The rank was also equal to the first candidate rank for officers of the SS troops - Junker SS.

Since the requirements for combat non-commissioned officers were higher than for non-commissioned officers of the general SS, applicants for this rank were subjected to observation and selection in the SS troops. During this time, the applicant was considered a candidate for Unterführer and received this rank after an appropriate assessment, training and examination.

Scharfuhrer- Scharführer - a rank in the SS and SA, which existed from 1925 to 1945. Corresponded to the rank of Unterfeldwebel in the Wehrmacht. The use of the rank of Scharführer can be traced back to World War I, when Scharführer was often referred to as a non-commissioned officer who commanded an assault group in special operations. As a position, it was used in the SA for the first time in 1921, and became a rank in 1928. The rank of Scharführer was the first non-commissioned officer rank in the SA. In 1930, a new rank of SA Oberscharführer was created for senior Scharführers.

The insignia of the Scharführer of the SS was at first the same as that of the SA, but was changed in 1934 with the reorganization of the SS rank structure following the Night of the Long Knives. At the same time, the old rank of SS Scharführer became known as SS Unterscharführer, and the SS Scharführer began to correspond to the title of SA Oberscharführer. The rank of SS Trouppführer was replaced by SS Oberscharführer and the new rank of SS Hauptscharführer. An even higher rank was introduced in the Waffen-SS - SS Sturmscharführer. In the SS troops, the Scharführer, as a rule, held the position of squad leader (crew, tank), or deputy platoon commander (headquarters squad leader).

The rank of Scharführer was also used by lesser known Nazi organizations; among others, the NSFC, the NSMK and the Hitler Youth.

Oberscharfuhrer- Oberscharführer - a rank in the SS and SA, which existed from 1932 to 1945. Corresponded to the rank of sergeant major in the Wehrmacht.

Initially, the ranks in the SS were identical to the ranks of the SA and the title of Oberscharführer was introduced into the SS at the same time as the SA. The rank of SS Oberscharführer was equal to that of the SA. However, after the Night of the Long Knives, this ratio was changed.

The SS rank system was reorganized and several new ranks were introduced that had no analogues in the SA. The rank of SS Oberscharführer "rose" and became equal to the rank of SA Trouppführer. The buttonhole for the SS rank was changed to have two silver squares, as opposed to one square with a silver stripe as in the SA.

In the SA, Oberscharführers were usually commanders of auxiliary platoons, in which the position of commander belonged to the regular category of non-commissioned officers.

After 1938, when the SS began to use a gray field uniform, SS Oberscharführers wore Wehrmacht sergeant epaulettes. In the SS troops, Oberscharführers acted as commanders of the third (and sometimes second) platoons of infantry, sapper and other companies, company foremen. In tank units, Oberscharführers were often tank commanders.

Hauptscharführer- Hauptscharführer - a rank in the SS that existed from 1934 to 1945. It corresponded to the rank of Oberfeldwebel in the Wehrmacht and was the highest non-commissioned officer rank in the SS organization, with the exception of the SS troops, where there was a special rank of Sturmscharführer. The rank of Hauptscharführer became a rank in the SS after the reorganization of the SS following the Night of the Long Knives. This rank was first awarded in June 1934, when it replaced the old rank of Obertruppführer, which was used in the SA.

In the SS, the rank of Hauptscharführer was usually assigned to an acting petty officer in an SS company, commander of the third (sometimes also second) platoon in a company, or was a rank used for non-commissioned officer rank personnel serving in the headquarters of the SS or security services (such as the Gestapo and SD ).

The rank of Hauptscharführer was also frequently used for concentration camp personnel and Einsatzgruppen personnel. SS-Hauptscharführer was older than SS-Oberscharführer and younger than SS-Sturmscharführer, with the exception of the General SS, where Hauptscharführer was the junior rank immediately below SS-Untersturmführer.

In the SS troops, Hauptscharführer was the second most senior rank of non-commissioned officer after Sturmscharführer. There was also the position of staffscharführer, which in its scope of duties corresponded to the position of a company or battalion foreman of the Soviet army.

Sturmscharfuhrer- Sturmscharführer - a rank in the SS troops, which existed from 1934 to 1945. It corresponded to the rank of staff feldwebel in the Wehrmacht and was the highest rank of SS non-commissioned officers. The rank of Sturmscharführer existed only in the SS troops, in the General SS the highest rank in this category was Hauptscharführer.

The title of Sturmscharführer was created in June 1934, after the Night of the Long Knives. During the reorganization of the SS, the rank of Sturmscharführer was created as the highest rank of non-commissioned officers in the "Troops at the disposal of the SS" instead of the rank of Haupttruppführer used in the SA.

In 1941, on the basis of the "Troops at the disposal of the SS", an organization of SS troops arose, which inherited the title of Sturmscharführer from its predecessor.

The title of Sturmscharführer should not be confused with the title of Staffscharführer, which corresponded to the position of a company foreman in the Soviet army.

Untersturmfuhrer- Untersturmführer - the rank in the SS, corresponded to the rank of lieutenant in the Wehrmacht.

The title arose in 1934 from the position of head of the SS Truppen (SS Truppen). Truppen (SS Truppen) covered an urban area, a rural district, in terms of numbers it was about an army platoon from 18 to 45 people and consisted of three sections (SS Sharen). This unit was led by SS Truppführer (SS-Truppfuehrer) or SS Untersturmführer (SS Untersturmfuehrer), depending on the size. In the SS troops, the Untersturmführer, as a rule, held the position of platoon commander.

Obersturmfuhrer- Obersturmführer - a rank in the SA and SS, corresponded to the rank of Oberleutnant in the Wehrmacht.

The title originated from the title of the deputy head of the SS Sturme (SS Stuerme). The structural unit of the organization of the SS Sturme (SS Stürme), which can be equated in size with an army company, consisted of three or four Truppen (SS Truppen), in size about a platoon. This subdivision geographically covered a small town, a rural area. In Sturm, there were from 54 to 180 people. In the SS troops, the obersturmführer, as a rule, held the position of platoon commander. Also, military personnel with this rank held a wide range of staff positions in the SS troops - officers for assignments, adjutants, heads of technical services, etc.

Hauptsturmfuhrer- Hauptsturmführer (German: Hauptsturmführer) - a special rank in the SS.

Of the three or four Troupes (SS Truppe) was composed Sturm (SS Sturm), which can be equated in size to an army company. This subdivision geographically covered a small town, a rural area. Sturm had between 54 and 180 men. Until 1934, that is, before the Night of the Long Knives, the head of the territorial division of the SS Sturm (SS Sturm) was called the Sturmführer (SS Sturmführer). After 1934, the rank was changed to Hauptsturmführer, meaning the same, and the insignia remained the same.

After the creation of the SS troops in 1936, the rank corresponded to the captain (hauptmann) of the Wehrmacht.
Accordingly, Hauptsturmführers in the SS troops, as a rule, held the positions of company commander, as well as a number of administrative and staff positions, such as regimental adjutant, etc. This title was worn by famous Nazi doctors August Hirt and Josef Mengele.

Sturmbannfuhrer- Sturmbannführer - rank in the SA and SS.

The title of Sturmbannführer was introduced into the structure of the SS in 1929 as a title of leaders. Then, from 1933, it was used as the rank of deputy leaders of the territorial divisions of the SS - Sturmbann (SS Sturmbann). The Sturmbann included four small units - the assault (SS Sturme), approximately equal in size to an army company (from 54 to 180 people), one medical unit, equal in size to an army platoon (Sanitätsstaffel) and an orchestra (Spielmannzug). The number of Sturmbann reached 500-800 people. Later, from October 1936, when creating the SS troops, it corresponded to the position of battalion commander and the rank of major in the Wehrmacht, as well as a wide range of staff and administrative positions, such as adjutant to the commander of the corps.

Obersturmbannfuhrer- Obersturmbannführer - rank in the SS and SA., corresponded to the rank of lieutenant colonel.

On May 19, 1933, he was introduced into the structure of the SS, as the title of leaders of the territorial divisions of the SS-Sturmbann (SS Sturmbann). The sturmbann (battalion) included four assaults (companies), small units, approximately equal in strength to an army company (from 54 to 180 people), one platoon of orderlies and a military orchestra group. The number of Sturmbann was 500-800 people. Since 1936, after the creation of the SS troops, it corresponded to the rank of lieutenant colonel of the Wehrmacht and the position of battalion commander, as well as a wide range of staff and administrative positions, such as division chief of staff.

The most famous historical figures who had this title
Otto Skorzeny is a famous saboteur who freed Mussolini.

Standardenfuhrer- Standartenführer (German: Standartenführer) - rank in the SS and SA, corresponded to the rank of colonel.

In 1929, this rank was introduced into the structure of the SS as the rank of leaders of the territorial divisions of the SS Standard (SS Standarte). Usually the Standarte was recruited from the SS members of a large city or two or three smaller cities. The Standard included three Sturmbann (SS Sturmbann), one reserve Sturmbann (from among senior SS members aged 35-45) and Spielmanzug (orchestra). The number of the standard (SS Standarte) reached 3500 people.

Since 1936, after the creation of the SS troops, the rank of Standartenführer corresponded to the rank of colonel and the position of regiment commander.

Oberfuhrer- Oberführer - a title introduced in the Nazi Party back in 1921. It was introduced into the structure of the SS organization (the so-called General SS) in 1932, as the title of head of the SS structural unit Abschnit (German: Abschnitt). Abshnit was named after the territory where it was located. Rather, it can be called a garrison than a brigade or division. Abshnite usually had three Standards (SS Standarte) and a number of special units (automobile, sapper, medical, etc.) in its composition. In the SS troops and police structures, SS Oberfuehrers in all types of uniforms, except for party uniforms, wore shoulder straps of Oberst (German: Oberst, Colonel) as well as SS Standartenfuehrers, but, contrary to common misconception, this rank could not be conditionally compared to the military rank of colonel. In reality, this rank was intermediate between the ranks of senior officers and generals and, theoretically, corresponded to the position of SS brigade commander, but in practice, as a rule, SS Oberfuehrers commanded Einsatzgruppen and "native" SS divisions, staffed by local nationalists and Nazis. In personal communication, SS Standartenfuehrers were usually referred to by other military and police officers as "colonels", while Oberfuehrers were called exclusively by the rank of SS.

The special rank of Oberführer as a headquarters officer was used in some paramilitary formations, for example, in the air raid warning service (German: Luftschutz-Warndienst) in the Reich air defense, assistance services (German: Sicherheits- und Hilfsdienst), etc.

Brigadeführer- Brigadeführer (German Brigadeführer) - a special rank of senior officials of the SS and SA.

Story

On May 19, 1933, he was introduced into the structure of the SS as the title of head of the main territorial divisions of the SS Oberabschnitt (SS-Oberabschnitt). This is the highest structural unit of the SS organization. There were 17 of them. It can be equated to an army district, especially since the territorial boundaries of each oberabshnit coincided with the boundaries of the army districts. Oberabshnit did not include a clearly defined number of Abshnites. This depended on the size of the territory, the number of SS formations stationed on it, and the population. Most often, there were three abshnits and several special formations in the oberabshnit: one communications battalion (SS Nachrichtensturmbann), one engineer battalion (SS Pioniersturmbann), one sanitary company (SS Sanitätssturm), an auxiliary reserve squad of members over 45 years old, or a women's auxiliary squad ( SS Helferinnen). Since 1936, in the SS troops, it corresponded to the rank of major general and the position of division commander.

The change in insignia of the highest Fuhrers (generals) of the SS in April 1942 was caused by the introduction of the rank of Oberstgruppenfuehrer and the desire to unify the number of stars on the buttonholes and on shoulder straps that were worn on all other types of uniforms, except for the party uniform, since with an increase in the number of units of the SS troops, more and more often arose problems with the correct recognition of SS ranks by ordinary Wehrmacht soldiers.

Starting from this SS rank, if its holder was appointed to a military (since 1936) or police (since 1933) service, he received a duplicate rank in accordance with the nature of the service:
SS Brigadeführer and Police Major General - German. SS Brigadeführer und der Generalmajor der Polizei
SS Brigadeführer and Major General of the SS Troops - German. SS Brigadeführer und der Generalmajor der Waffen-SS

Gruppenfuhrer- Gruppenführer - a rank in the SS and SA, since 1933 it corresponded to the rank of lieutenant general. Also - a special rank in a number of paramilitary formations.

It was introduced in September 1925 as the title (at first - the only one) of the head of the main division of the SS organization - the group (German SS-Gruppe). In the period from 1926 to 1936, it was the title of the top leaders of the territorial divisions of the SS organization - Abshnit (German: SS-Abschnitte), Oberabschnit (German: SS-Oberabschnitte). Since the creation of the SS troops, it corresponded to the rank of lieutenant general and the position of deputy army commander, corps commander. In the central office of the SS, this title corresponded to the position of the head of one of the departments (German: SS-Hauptamt). For example, the RSHA was led until his death in 1942 by SS Gruppenführer Reinhard Heydrich, and then by SS Obergruppenführer Ernst Kaltenbrunner. The change in insignia of the highest Fuhrers (generals) of the SS in April 1942 was caused by the introduction of the rank of Oberstgruppenfuehrer and the desire to unify the number of stars on the buttonholes and on shoulder straps that were worn on all other types of uniforms, except for the party uniform, since with an increase in the number of units of the SS troops, more and more often arose problems with the correct recognition of SS ranks by ordinary Wehrmacht soldiers.

In the event that the holder of this title was appointed to a military (since 1936) or police (since 1933) service, he received a duplicate title in accordance with the nature of the service:
SS Gruppenfuehrer and Police Lieutenant General - German. SS Gruppenführer und der Generalleutnant der Polizei
SS Gruppenfuehrer and Lieutenant General of the SS troops - German. SS Gruppenführer und der Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS

In particular, the aforementioned R. Heydrich bore the duplicate rank of police lieutenant general.

Obergruppenfuhrer- Obergruppenführer (German: Obergruppenführer) - rank in the SS and SA. In fact (conditionally) corresponds to the rank of general of troops (General der) in the Wehrmacht.

Introduced in November 1926, originally as the highest rank in the structure of the SS organization. Joseph Berchtold was the first to receive the title of Obergruppenführer. In the period from 1926 to 1936, it was used as the title of the highest leaders of the SS.

In the SA, this title was led by the "Obergrupp" (hence the name) - the largest formations, in terms of numbers approaching the "army groups" in wartime. Each "Obergrupp" included several "groups" (according to the number of those approaching the armies). The first to receive this title in the SA were Adolf Hünlein, Edmund Heines (deputy of E. Röhm), ​​Fritz von Krausser, Karl Litzman and Viktor Lutze. In 1934, August Schneidhuber and Herman Reshny received the title. During the Night of the Long Knives, many members of the senior leadership of the SA (except A. Hünlein, W. Lutze and K. Litzman) were executed, and the title was not awarded in the SA for several years, a new wave of title assignments followed in the years of the 2nd world war.

With the advent of the SS troops, this rank can only be conditionally equated with the later Soviet rank of colonel general, since in the Red Army this military rank corresponds to the position of army commander, and there are no intermediate ranks between lieutenant general and colonel general. However, the SS troops did not have formations larger than a division [source not specified 65 days]. Therefore, this title was worn either by divisional commanders, or by senior leaders of the central apparatus of the SS. For example, the SS Obergruppenführer was Ernst Kaltenbrunner.

The change in insignia of the highest Fuhrers (generals) of the SS in April 1942 was caused by the introduction of the rank of Oberstgruppenfuehrer and the desire to unify the number of stars on the buttonholes and on shoulder straps that were worn on all other types of uniforms, except for the party uniform, since with an increase in the number of units of the SS troops, more and more often arose problems with the correct recognition of SS ranks by ordinary Wehrmacht soldiers.

In the event that the holder of this title was appointed to a military (since 1939) or police (since 1933) service, he received a duplicate title in accordance with the nature of the service:
SS Obergruppenführer and Police General - German. SS Obergruppenführer und General der Polizei
SS Obergruppenführer and General of the SS Troops - German. SS Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS

In particular, the mentioned E. Kaltenbrunner had the duplicate rank of police general. Due to the sharp expansion of the SS troops in 1941-1942, some Gruppenfuehrers and Obergruppenfuehrers moved into the structure of the SS troops with duplicate police ranks.

The title of Obergruppenführer was given to 109 people, including 2 Hungarians (Feketehalmi and Ruskai). Helldorf was demoted and executed for participating in a conspiracy against Hitler, 5 people (Schwarz, Dalyuge, Dietrich, Hausser and Wolf) were promoted to Oberstgruppenführer.

Oberstgruppenfuhrer- Oberstgruppenführer - the highest rank in the SS since April 1942, with the exception of the title of Reichsführer SS (which was worn by Heinrich Himmler) and the title of "Higher SS Fuhrer" (German: Der Oberste Führer der Schutzstaffel), which was worn by Adolf Hitler from January 1929. Corresponded to the rank of Colonel General of the Wehrmacht. This title was worn by only four members of the SS:
April 20, 1942 - Franz Xaver Schwarz (1875-1947), SS-Oberstgruppenführer
April 20, 1942 - Kurt Daluege (1897-1946), SS Oberstgruppenführer and Police Colonel General.
August 1, 1944 - Joseph Dietrich (1892-1966), SS Oberstgruppenführer and Colonel General of the SS Panzer Troops.
August 1, 1944 - Paul Hausser (1880-1972), SS Oberstgruppenführer and Colonel General of the SS troops.

According to unconfirmed reports (there was no written order, there was an oral instruction from A. Hitler), on April 20, 1945, the rank of SS Oberstgruppenführer and Colonel General of the SS troops was also awarded to Karl Wolf (1900-1984).

The title was introduced as a result of a sharp increase in the staffing of the Waffen-SS in 1941-1942. When promoted to this rank of SS, its owner, in accordance with the procedure adopted for other general ranks of the SS, received a duplicate rank in accordance with the already existing rank:
SS Oberstgruppenfuehrer and Police Colonel General - German. SS Oberstgruppenführer und Generaloberst der Polizei
SS Oberstgruppenfuehrer and Colonel General of the Waffen-SS - German. SS Oberstgruppenführer und Generaloberst der Waffen-SS

Reichsfuhrer-SS- Reichsführer SS (German: Reichsführer-SS: "imperial leader of security units") - a special rank in the SS that existed from 1926 to 1945 (in 1925-1926 - Oberleiter SS). Until 1933, this was a position, and since 1934 it has become the highest rank in the SS.

Definition

"Reichsführer SS" was a title and position at the same time. The position of Reichsführer was created in 1926 by Josef Berchtold. Berchtold's predecessor, Julius Schreck, never called himself "Reichsführer" (the position was called "Oberleiter", that is, "chief leader"), but this position was assigned to him retroactively in later years. In 1929, after becoming Reichsführer-SS, Heinrich Himmler began to call himself that, instead of his usual SS title. This has become a precedent.

In 1934, after the Night of the Long Knives, Himmler's position became an official title. From that moment on, the rank of Reichsführer SS became the highest rank in the SS and corresponded to the rank of Field Marshal in the German army.

Reichsführer SS (in 1925-1926 - Oberleiter SS)
Julius Schreck (died 1936) - from 1925 to 1926, then in minor positions, posthumously promoted to SS Brigadeführer
Josef Berchtold (died 1962) - from 1926 to 1927
Erhard Heiden (killed in 1933) - from 1927 to 1929
Heinrich Himmler (committed suicide in 1945) - from 1929 to 29 April 1945
Karl Hanke (killed in captivity in 1945) - from April 29, 1945 to May 8, 1945

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The table contains the ranks and insignia of the SS troops, as well as their comparison with other armed units of the SS and with the military ranks of the Wehrmacht during World War II. When comparing, it is necessary to take into account belonging:

and the historical origins and succession of titles in Germany from the beginning of November 1939 to the end of the Third Reich in 1945.

In March 1938, members of the Leibstandarte, Deutschland and Germania regiments were allowed to replace SS shoulder straps with combined arms ones; as a result, the left buttonhole became superfluous, since shoulder straps began to indicate the title. On May 10, 1940, it was finally established for the SS troops that the soldiers of the Leibstandarte and "reserve divisions" wear a sign from SS runes on the right buttonhole, and only rank badges on the left; the exception was the Totenkopf Division, which was allowed to continue to wear skull emblems on both sides. The pre-war buttonholes, featuring SS runic insignia and skulls with numbers, letters and symbols, were banned "for reasons of secrecy" by an SS order of 10 May 1940 and replaced by the standard badges known today.

The title of Reichsfuehrer SS in the Third Reich had two people - Heinrich Himmler and Karl Hanke (until 1934 "Reichsfuehrer SS" meant a position, not a title).

Special rules and exceptions existed for officer candidates, non-commissioned officers and SS junkers.

So, for example, in the SS the title hauptscharführer was usually assigned to the acting petty officer in an SS company, commander of the third (sometimes second) platoon in a company, or was a rank used for personnel of non-commissioned officer rank serving in the headquarters of the SS or security services (such as the Gestapo and SD). The rank of Hauptscharführer was also often used for concentration camp personnel and Einsatzgruppen personnel. SS Hauptscharführer was older than Oberscharführer SS and younger than SS Sturmscharführer, with the exception of the General SS, where Hauptscharführer was the junior rank immediately following Untersturmführer SS.

Rank Sturmscharführer was established in June 1934, after the Night of the Long Knives. With the reorganization of the SS, the rank of Sturmscharführer was created as the highest rank of non-commissioned officers in the "Troops at the disposal of the SS", instead of the rank of Haupttruppführer, used in the SA. In 1941, on the basis of the "Troops at the disposal of the SS", an organization of SS troops arose, which inherited the title of Sturmscharführer from its predecessor.

Rank untersturmführer in the SS, corresponded to the rank of lieutenant in the Wehrmacht, arose in 1934 from the position of the head of the SS unit - the troupe (it. SS Troupe). The troupe covered the urban area, the rural district, in terms of numbers it was about an army platoon - from 18 to 45 people, consisted of three departments - balls (German. SS-Schar), headed by a Trouppführer (German. SS-Truppführer) or Untersturmführer (German. SS-Untersturmführer), depending on the population. In the SS troops, the Untersturmführer, as a rule, held the position of platoon commander.

Insignia			The rank of the SS troops	The corresponding ranks in the ground forces of the Wehrmacht (German. Heer)
Buttonhole	Shoulder strap	Mask. costume
Generals and marshals
			Reichsführer SS and Field Marshal of the SS SS-Reichsführer und Generalfeldmarschall der Waffen-SS )	Field Marshal General
			SS Oberstgruppenfuehrer and Colonel General of the SS troops (German. SS-Oberst-Gruppenführer und Generaloberst der Waffen-SS )	Oberst General
			SS Obergruppenführer and General of the SS Arms SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS )	General of the Armed Forces
			SS Gruppenführer and Lieutenant General of the SS Troops SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS )	Lieutenant General
			SS Brigadeführer and Major General of the SS Troops SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS )	Major General
officers
			oberführer (according to the rank of the SS troops) (German. SS-Oberführer)	No match
			Standartenführer (military and police officers) Standardenfuhrer)	Colonel (German) Oberst)
			Obersturmbannführer (German) SS-Obersturmbannfuhrer)	Lieutenant Colonel (Oberst Lieutenant) (German) Oberstleutnant)
			Sturmbannführer (German) SS-Sturmbannfuehrer)	Major
			Hauptsturmführer (German) SS-Hauptsturmführer)	Hauptmann/captain
			Obersturmführer (German) SS-Obersturmfuhrer)	Ober Lieutenant
			Untersturmführer (German) SS-Untersturmfuehrer)	Lieutenant
non-commissioned officers
			Sturmscharführer (German) SS-Sturmscharführer). In the Waffen-SS, unlike the SA, an even higher rank was introduced - SS Sturmscharführer.	Staff sergeant major
			Hauptscharführer (German) SS-Hauptscharführer). Rank hauptscharführer became a rank in the SS after the reorganization of the SS following the Night of the Long Knives. This rank was first awarded in June 1934, when it replaced the old rank of Obertruppführer, which was used in the SA. In the General SS, Hauptscharführer was the junior rank immediately below SS-Untersturmführer. In the SS troops, Hauptscharführer was the second most senior rank of non-commissioned officer after Sturmscharführer. There was also a position Staffscharführer, corresponding in its range of duties to the position of a company or battalion foreman of the Soviet army. In the SS, the rank of Hauptscharführer was usually assigned to an acting petty officer in an SS company, commander of the third (sometimes also second) platoon in a company, or was a rank used for non-commissioned officer rank personnel serving in the headquarters of the SS or security services (such as the Gestapo and SD ). The rank of Hauptscharführer was also frequently used for concentration camp personnel and Einsatzgruppen personnel.	Chief sergeant major
			Standartenoberjunker SS (German) SS-Standartenoberjunker)	Oberfenrich
			Oberscharführer (German) SS-Oberscharführer). After the Night of the Long Knives, the rank of SS Oberscharführer "rose" and became equal to the rank of SA Trouppführer. The buttonhole for the SS rank was changed to have two silver squares, as opposed to one square with a silver stripe as in the SA. The rank of SS Trouppführer was changed to SS Oberscharführer. In the SS troops, Oberscharführers acted as commanders of the third (and sometimes second) platoons of infantry, sapper and other companies, company foremen. In tank units, Oberscharführers were often tank commanders.	Feldwebel
			Standartenunker SS (German) SS-Standartenjunker)	Fanejunker - Feldwebel
			Scharführer (German) SS-Scharfuhrer). In 1934, with the reorganization of the SS rank structure following the Night of the Long Knives, the old SS Scharführer became SS Unterscharführer, and the SS Scharführer became SA Oberscharführer. In the SS troops, the Scharführer, as a rule, held the position of squad leader (crew, tank), or deputy platoon commander (headquarters squad leader).	Unter sergeant major
			Oberjunker SS (German) SS-Oberjunker)	Fenrich
			Unterscharführer CC (German) SS-Unterscharführer) In the SS troops, the rank of Unterscharführer was one of the ranks of junior commanders at the company and platoon levels. The rank was also equal to the first candidate rank for officers of the SS troops - Junker SS. The requirements for combat non-commissioned officers were higher than for non-commissioned officers of the general SS	non-commissioned officer
			Juncker SS (German) SS Junker) Initially, the junkers were equated in legal status with the SA Scharführer, then with the SS Unterscharführer.	Fanejunker - non-commissioned officer
privates
No match				Staff Corporal
			Rottenführer (German) SS-Rottenführer). The Hitler Youth also had the title of Rottenführer. In the Luftwaffe, there was the position of a rottenführer - the commander of a pair (leading) in fighter and attack aircraft.	Corporal
			Sturmmann (German) SS-Sturmmann). Rank Sturmmann was assigned after serving in the ranks of the SA from 6 months to 1 year with basic knowledge and abilities. Sturmmann is senior over the rank mann, with the exception of the SS, where in 1941 the title was introduced separately obermann, and in the SS troops - the title oberschutz.	corporal
			Oberschutze SS (German) SS Oberschuetze).	Chief soldier
			Mann SS (German) SS Mann). In 1938, due to the increase in the SS troops, the rank mann was replaced by a military rank Schutze(shooter) SS (German) SS Schuetze), but in the general SS the rank was preserved mann.	Soldier, schutz, grenadier.
Collar Anverter General SS			Candidate (German) SS Anwarter) Candidate for entry into the Waffen-SS before the start of the training and preparation process. With the start of training anverter title was automatically assigned Schutze.	No match
SS-Beverber pretender (German) SS Bewerber)					Wehrmacht volunteer

Color coding of the branch of service

White Flag of the 40th Panzergrenadier Regiment
Shoulder strap Oberführer (Standartenfuehrer) Waffen-SS Scarlet Artillery pennant of the SS Leibstandarte "Adolf Hitler"
Obersturmbannführer shoulder strap of the Waffen-SS veterinary service Carmine Tribunal and Prosecutor's Office burgundy Military Geological Service [check translation ! ] Light pink Automobile transport Pink (salmon color) Armored forces, including tank destroyers Pink
Shoulder straps of a sharführer-tanker of the SS troops Communications units, war correspondents, propaganda companies lemon yellow
Oberscharführer shoulder strap of the Waffen-SS Cavalry; motorized (1942-1945) and tank reconnaissance units; units with a cavalry background Gold
Obersturmführer shoulder strap of the Waffen-SS Field gendarmerie and special services Orange
Waffen-SS Unterscharführer shoulder strap Intelligence units (1938-1942) Light brown
Shoulder strap Hauptsturmführer Waffen-SS * Detachments "Dead Head"
* Concentration camp personnel Pale brown
Shoulder strap of a concentration camp Hauptscharführer Security Service poisonous green
Shoulder strap SD Sturmscharführer mountain troops Green
Shoulder strap of the Untersturmführer of the Waffen-SS Sonderführers and personnel of the reserve units dark green
Obersturmführer shoulder strap of the Waffen-SS Supply and transportation units, field mail Blue Shoulder strap of the Waffen-SS Hauptsturmführer Control Blue
Shoulder strap of the Waffen-SS Hauptsturmführer Sanitary Service Cornflower
Waffen-SS shoulder strap Engineering Troops The black
Shoulder strap Standartenführer Waffen-SS

Sources

• Adolf Schlicht, John R. Angolia. Die deutsche Wehrmacht, Uniformierung und Ausrüstung 1933-1945
  • Vol. 1: Das Heer (ISBN 3613013908), Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 1992
  • Vol. 3: Die Luftwaffe (ISBN 3-613-02001-7), Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 1999
• . Retrieved June 7, 2016. .
• . Retrieved June 7, 2016. .
• Cook, Stan and Bender, R. James. Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler - Volume One: Uniforms, Organization, & History. San Jose, CA: R. James Bender Publishing, 1994. ISBN 978-0-912138-55-8
• Hayes, A. SS Uniforms, Insignia and Accoutrements. Schiffer Publishing Ltd. 2000. ISBN 978-0-7643-0046-2
• Lumsden, Robin. A Collector's Guide To: The Allgemeine - SS Ian Allan Publishing, Inc. 2002. ISBN 0-7110-2905-9
• Mollo, Andrew. Uniforms of the SS Collected Edition Vol. 1-6. Motorbooks Intl. 1997. ISBN 978-1-85915-048-1

Write a review on the article "Ranks and insignia of the SS troops"

An excerpt characterizing the ranks and insignia of the SS troops

“You know, I think,” Natasha said in a whisper, moving closer to Nikolai and Sonya, when Dimmler had already finished and was still sitting, weakly plucking the strings, apparently in indecision to leave or start something new, “that when you remember like that, you remember, you remember everything , until you remember that you remember what was even before I was in the world ...
“This is metampsikova,” said Sonya, who always studied well and remembered everything. “The Egyptians believed that our souls were in animals and would go back to animals.
“No, you know, I don’t believe that we were animals,” Natasha said in the same whisper, although the music ended, “but I know for sure that we were angels there somewhere and here, and from this we remember everything.” …
- May I join you? - Dimmler said quietly approached and sat down to them.
- If we were angels, why did we get lower? Nikolai said. - No, it can't be!
“Not lower, who told you that it was lower? ... Why do I know what I was before,” Natasha objected with conviction. - After all, the soul is immortal ... therefore, if I live forever, so I lived before, lived for eternity.
“Yes, but it’s hard for us to imagine eternity,” said Dimmler, who approached the young people with a meek, contemptuous smile, but now spoke as quietly and seriously as they did.
Why is it so hard to imagine eternity? Natasha said. “It will be today, it will be tomorrow, it will always be, and yesterday was and the third day was ...
- Natasha! now it's your turn. Sing me something, - the voice of the countess was heard. - Why are you sitting down, like conspirators.
- Mother! I don’t feel like it,” Natasha said, but at the same time she got up.
All of them, even the middle-aged Dimmler, did not want to interrupt the conversation and leave the corner of the sofa, but Natasha got up, and Nikolai sat down at the clavichord. As always, standing in the middle of the hall and choosing the most advantageous place for resonance, Natasha began to sing her mother's favorite play.
She said that she did not feel like singing, but she had not sung for a long time before, and for a long time after, as she sang that evening. Count Ilya Andreevich, from the study where he was talking to Mitinka, heard her singing, and like a pupil in a hurry to go to play, finishing the lesson, he got confused in words, giving orders to the manager and finally fell silent, and Mitinka, also listening, silently with a smile, stood in front of count. Nikolai did not take his eyes off his sister, and took a breath with her. Sonya, listening, thought about what an enormous difference there was between her and her friend, and how impossible it was for her to be in any way as charming as her cousin. The old countess sat with a happily sad smile and tears in her eyes, occasionally shaking her head. She thought about Natasha, and about her youth, and about how something unnatural and terrible is in this upcoming marriage of Natasha to Prince Andrei.
Dimmler, sitting down next to the countess and closing his eyes, listened.
“No, countess,” he said at last, “this is a European talent, she has nothing to learn, this gentleness, tenderness, strength ...
– Ah! how I fear for her, how I fear,” said the countess, not remembering to whom she was speaking. Her maternal instinct told her that there was too much in Natasha, and that she would not be happy from this. Natasha had not yet finished singing, when an enthusiastic fourteen-year-old Petya ran into the room with the news that mummers had come.
Natasha suddenly stopped.
- Fool! she shouted at her brother, ran up to a chair, fell on it and sobbed so that she could not stop for a long time afterwards.
“Nothing, mother, really nothing, so: Petya scared me,” she said, trying to smile, but tears kept flowing and sobs squeezed her throat.
Dressed-up servants, bears, Turks, innkeepers, ladies, terrible and funny, bringing with them cold and fun, at first timidly huddled in the hallway; then, hiding one behind the other, they were forced into the hall; and at first shyly, but then more and more cheerfully and amicably, songs, dances, choral and Christmas games began. The countess, recognizing the faces and laughing at the dressed up, went into the living room. Count Ilya Andreich sat in the hall with a beaming smile, approving the players. The youth has disappeared.
Half an hour later, in the hall, among the other mummers, another old lady in tanks appeared - it was Nikolai. The Turkish woman was Petya. Payas - it was Dimmler, the hussar - Natasha and the Circassian - Sonya, with a painted cork mustache and eyebrows.
After condescending surprise, misrecognition and praise from those who were not dressed up, the young people found that the costumes were so good that they had to be shown to someone else.
Nikolay, who wanted to give everyone a ride on his troika along an excellent road, suggested that, taking ten dressed-up people from the yard with him, go to his uncle.
- No, why are you upsetting him, the old man! - said the countess, - and there is nowhere to turn around with him. To go, so to the Melyukovs.
Melyukova was a widow with children of various ages, also with governesses and tutors, who lived four miles from the Rostovs.
“Here, ma chere, clever,” said the old count, who had begun to stir. “Now let me dress up and go with you.” I'll stir up Pasheta.
But the countess did not agree to let the count go: his leg hurt all these days. It was decided that Ilya Andreevich was not allowed to go, and that if Luiza Ivanovna (m me Schoss) went, the young ladies could go to Melyukova's. Sonya, always timid and shy, began to beg Louisa Ivanovna more insistently than anyone else not to refuse them.
Sonya's outfit was the best. Her mustache and eyebrows were unusually suited to her. Everyone told her that she was very good, and she was in a lively and energetic mood unusual for her. Some kind of inner voice told her that now or never her fate would be decided, and in her man's dress she seemed like a completely different person. Luiza Ivanovna agreed, and half an hour later four troikas with bells and bells, screeching and whistling in the frosty snow, drove up to the porch.
Natasha was the first to give the tone of Christmas merriment, and this merriment, reflected from one to another, grew more and more intensified and reached its highest degree at the time when everyone went out into the cold, and talking, calling to each other, laughing and shouting, sat down in the sleigh.
Two troikas were accelerating, the third troika of the old count with an Oryol trotter in the bud; Nikolai's fourth own, with its low, black, shaggy root. Nikolay, in his old woman's attire, on which he put on a hussar, belted cloak, stood in the middle of his sleigh, picking up the reins.
It was so bright that he could see plaques gleaming in the moonlight and the eyes of the horses looking frightened at the riders rustling under the dark canopy of the entrance.
Natasha, Sonya, m me Schoss and two girls sat in Nikolai's sleigh. In the old count's sleigh sat Dimmler with his wife and Petya; dressed up courtyards sat in the rest.
- Go ahead, Zakhar! - Nikolai shouted to his father's coachman in order to have an opportunity to overtake him on the road.
The troika of the old count, in which Dimmler and other mummers sat, screeching with runners, as if freezing to the snow, and rattling with a thick bell, moved forward. The trailers clung to the shafts and bogged down, turning the strong and shiny snow like sugar.
Nikolai set off for the first three; the others rustled and squealed from behind. At first they rode at a small trot along a narrow road. While we were driving past the garden, the shadows from the bare trees often lay across the road and hid the bright light of the moon, but as soon as we drove beyond the fence, a diamond-shiny, with a bluish sheen, a snowy plain, all doused with moonlight and motionless, opened up on all sides. Once, once, pushed a bump in the front sleigh; the next sleigh and the following jogged in the same way, and, boldly breaking the chained silence, the sleigh began to stretch out one after the other.
- A hare's footprint, a lot of footprints! - Natasha's voice sounded in the frosty constrained air.
– As you can see, Nicolas! Sonya's voice said. - Nikolai looked back at Sonya and bent down to get a closer look at her face. Some kind of completely new, sweet face, with black eyebrows and mustaches, in the moonlight, close and far, peeped out of the sables.
"It used to be Sonya," Nikolai thought. He looked closer at her and smiled.
What are you, Nicholas?
“Nothing,” he said, and turned back to the horses.
Having ridden out onto the main road, greased with runners and all riddled with traces of thorns, visible in the light of the moon, the horses themselves began to tighten the reins and add speed. The left harness, bending its head, twitched its traces with jumps. Root swayed, moving his ears, as if asking: “Is it too early to start?” - Ahead, already far separated and ringing a receding thick bell, Zakhar's black troika was clearly visible on the white snow. Shouting and laughter and the voices of the dressed up were heard from his sleigh.
“Well, you, dear ones,” shouted Nikolai, tugging on the reins on one side and withdrawing his hand with a whip. And only by the wind, which seemed to have intensified against them, and by the twitching of the tie-downs, which were tightening and increasing their speed, it was noticeable how fast the troika flew. Nicholas looked back. With a shout and a squeal, waving their whips and forcing the natives to gallop, other troikas kept up. Root steadfastly swayed under the arc, not thinking of knocking down and promising to give more and more when needed.
Nikolai caught up with the top three. They drove off some mountain, drove onto a widely rutted road through a meadow near a river.
"Where are we going?" thought Nicholas. - “It should be on a slanting meadow. But no, it's something new that I've never seen before. This is not a slanting meadow and not Demkina Gora, but God knows what it is! This is something new and magical. Well, whatever it is!” And he, shouting at the horses, began to go around the first three.
Zakhar restrained his horses and turned his already frosted face up to the eyebrows.
Nicholas let his horses go; Zakhar, stretching his hands forward, smacked his lips and let his people go.
“Well, hold on, sir,” he said. - The troikas flew even faster nearby, and the legs of the galloping horses quickly changed. Nicholas began to take forward. Zakhar, without changing the position of his outstretched arms, raised one hand with the reins.
“You’re lying, master,” he shouted to Nikolai. Nikolai put all the horses into a gallop and overtook Zakhar. The horses covered the faces of the riders with fine, dry snow, next to them there was a sound of frequent enumerations and the fast-moving legs were confused, and the shadows of the overtaken troika. The whistle of skids in the snow and women's screams were heard from different directions.
Stopping the horses again, Nikolai looked around him. All around was the same magical plain soaked through with moonlight with stars scattered over it.
“Zakhar shouts for me to take the left; why to the left? Nikolay thought. Are we going to the Melyukovs, is this Melyukovka? We God knows where we are going, and God knows what is happening to us – and what is happening to us is very strange and good.” He looked back at the sleigh.
“Look, he has both a mustache and eyelashes, everything is white,” said one of the sitting strange, pretty and strange people with thin mustaches and eyebrows.
“This one, it seems, was Natasha,” Nikolai thought, and this one is m me Schoss; or maybe not, but this is a Circassian with a mustache, I don’t know who, but I love her.
- Aren't you cold? - he asked. They didn't answer and laughed. Dimmler was shouting something from the rear sleigh, probably funny, but it was impossible to hear what he was shouting.
“Yes, yes,” answered the voices, laughing.
- However, here is some kind of magical forest with iridescent black shadows and sparkles of diamonds and with some kind of enfilade of marble steps, and some sort of silver roofs of magical buildings, and the piercing screech of some kind of animals. “And if this is indeed Melyukovka, then it is even stranger that we drove God knows where, and arrived at Melyukovka,” thought Nikolai.
Indeed, it was Melyukovka, and girls and lackeys with candles and joyful faces ran out to the entrance.
- Who it? - they asked from the entrance.
“The counts are dressed up, I can see by the horses,” the voices answered.

Pelageya Danilovna Melyukova, a broad, energetic woman, in glasses and a swinging bonnet, sat in the living room, surrounded by her daughters, whom she tried not to let get bored. They quietly poured wax and looked at the shadows of the coming out figures, when steps and voices of visitors rustled in the front.
Hussars, ladies, witches, payas, bears, clearing their throats and wiping their frost-covered faces in the hall, entered the hall, where candles were hurriedly lit. Clown - Dimmler with the mistress - Nikolai opened the dance. Surrounded by screaming children, mummers, covering their faces and changing their voices, bowed to the hostess and moved around the room.
"Oh, you can't find out! And Natasha is! Look who she looks like! Right, it reminds me of someone. Eduard then Karlych how good! I didn't recognize. Yes, how she dances! Ah, fathers, and some kind of Circassian; right, how goes Sonyushka. Who else is this? Well, consoled! Take the tables, Nikita, Vanya. And we were so quiet!
- Ha ha ha! ... Hussar then, hussar then! Like a boy, and legs!… I can’t see… – voices were heard.
Natasha, the favorite of the young Melyukovs, disappeared together with them into the back rooms, where a cork was demanded and various dressing gowns and men's dresses, which, through the open door, received bare girlish hands from the footman. Ten minutes later, all the youth of the Melyukov family joined the mummers.
Pelageya Danilovna, having disposed of clearing the place for the guests and refreshments for the gentlemen and servants, without taking off her glasses, with a suppressed smile, walked among the mummers, looking closely into their faces and not recognizing anyone. She did not recognize not only the Rostovs and Dimmler, but she could not recognize either her daughters or those husband's dressing gowns and uniforms that were on them.
- And whose is this? she said, turning to her governess and looking into the face of her daughter, who represented the Kazan Tatar. - It seems that someone from the Rostovs. Well, you, mister hussar, in which regiment do you serve? she asked Natasha. “Give the Turk some marshmallows,” she said to the bartender who was scolding, “this is not forbidden by their law.
Sometimes, looking at the strange but funny steps performed by the dancers, who decided once and for all that they were dressed up, that no one would recognize them and therefore were not embarrassed, Pelageya Danilovna covered herself with a scarf, and her whole fat body was shaking from the irrepressible kind, old woman's laughter . - Sachinet is mine, Sachinet is mine! she said.
After Russian dances and round dances, Pelageya Danilovna united all the servants and gentlemen together, in one large circle; they brought a ring, a rope and a ruble, and general games were arranged.
After an hour, all the costumes were wrinkled and upset. Cork mustaches and eyebrows smeared over sweaty, flushed, and cheerful faces. Pelageya Danilovna began to recognize the mummers, admired how well the costumes were made, how they went especially to the young ladies, and thanked everyone for having so amused her. The guests were invited to dine in the living room, and in the hall they ordered refreshments for the courtyards.
- No, guessing in the bathhouse, that's scary! said the old girl who lived with the Melyukovs at dinner.
- From what? asked the eldest daughter of the Melyukovs.
- Don't go, it takes courage...
"I'll go," Sonya said.
- Tell me, how was it with the young lady? - said the second Melyukova.
- Yes, just like that, one young lady went, - said the old girl, - she took a rooster, two appliances - as it should, she sat down. She sat, only hears, suddenly rides ... with bells, with bells, a sleigh drove up; hears, goes. Enters completely in the form of a human, as an officer, he came and sat down with her at the device.
- BUT! Ah! ... - Natasha screamed, rolling her eyes in horror.
“But how does he say that?”
- Yes, like a man, everything is as it should be, and he began, and began to persuade, and she should have kept him talking to the roosters; and she made money; – only zarobela and closed hands. He grabbed her. It's good that the girls came running here ...
- Well, what to scare them! said Pelageya Danilovna.
“Mother, you yourself guessed ...” said the daughter.
- And how do they guess in the barn? Sonya asked.
- Yes, at least now, they will go to the barn, and they will listen. What do you hear: hammering, knocking - bad, but pouring bread - this is good; and then it happens...
- Mom, tell me what happened to you in the barn?
Pelageya Danilovna smiled.
“Yes, I forgot…” she said. “After all, you won’t go, will you?”
- No, I'll go; Pepageya Danilovna, let me go, I'll go, - said Sonya.
- Well, if you're not afraid.
- Louise Ivanovna, can I have one? Sonya asked.
Whether they played a ring, a rope or a ruble, whether they talked, as now, Nikolai did not leave Sonya and looked at her with completely new eyes. It seemed to him that today only for the first time, thanks to that cork mustache, he fully recognized her. Sonya really was cheerful that evening, lively and good, such as Nikolay had never seen her before.
“So that’s what she is, but I’m a fool!” he thought, looking at her sparkling eyes and a happy, enthusiastic smile, dimpled from under her moustache, which he had not seen before.
"I'm not afraid of anything," said Sonya. - Can I do it now? She got up. Sonya was told where the barn was, how she could stand silently and listen, and they gave her a fur coat. She threw it over her head and looked at Nikolai.
"What a beauty this girl is!" he thought. “And what have I been thinking about until now!”
Sonya went out into the corridor to go to the barn. Nikolai hurriedly went to the front porch, saying that he was hot. Indeed, the house was stuffy from the crowded people.
It was the same unmoving cold outside, the same month, only it was even lighter. The light was so strong and there were so many stars in the snow that I didn’t want to look at the sky, and real stars were invisible. It was black and dull in the sky, it was fun on the ground.
"I'm a fool, a fool! What have you been waiting for until now? Nikolay thought, and, running away to the porch, he walked around the corner of the house along the path that led to the back porch. He knew that Sonya would go here. In the middle of the road stood stacked fathoms of firewood, there was snow on them, a shadow fell from them; through them and from their side, intertwining, the shadows of old bare lindens fell on the snow and the path. The path led to the barn. The chopped wall of the barn and the roof, covered with snow, as if carved from some kind of precious stone, gleamed in the moonlight. A tree cracked in the garden, and again everything was completely quiet. The chest, it seemed, was breathing not air, but some kind of eternally young strength and joy.
From the girl's porch, feet pounded on the steps, a loud creak creaked on the last one, on which snow had been applied, and the voice of the old girl said:
“Straight, straight, here on the path, young lady. Just don't look back.
“I’m not afraid,” Sonya’s voice answered, and along the path, in the direction of Nikolai, Sonya’s legs screeched, whistled in thin shoes.