Ranks in the German army 1941 1945. Military officials of the quartermaster departments
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.
SS troops at their initial formation 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 "SS Troops" of the subsection "Ranks of Germany "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 well as in the SS organization in general, the term "officer" was absent. SS soldiers were divided into members, sub-leaders, junior leaders, middle leaders and top 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. Commander of the SS Volunteer Regiment "Varyag" former captain 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 "Police grenadier division SS" (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 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 of 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, all the Obersturmbannführers in the film, including Eisman and Holtoff, wear the wrong buttonholes, 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).
The SS troops belonged to the SS organization, service in them was not considered a state service, even if it was legally equated with such. The military uniform of the SS soldiers is quite recognizable around the world, most often this black uniform is associated with the organization itself. It is known that the uniforms for the SS during the Holocaust were sewn by prisoners of the Buchenwald concentration camp.
History of the SS military uniform
Initially, the soldiers of the SS troops (also "Waffen SS") dressed in a gray uniform, extremely similar to the uniform of the attack aircraft of the regular German army. In 1930, the very well-known black uniform was introduced, which was supposed to emphasize the difference between the troops and the rest, to determine the elitism of the unit. By 1939, the SS officers received a white full dress uniform, and from 1934 a gray one was introduced, intended for field battles. The gray military uniform differed from black only in color.
In addition, the SS servicemen relied on a black overcoat, which, with the introduction of a gray uniform, was replaced by a double-breasted one, respectively, in gray. High-ranking officers were allowed to wear an overcoat unbuttoned on the top three buttons so that colored distinctive stripes. Following the same right (in 1941) received the holders of the Knight's Cross, who were allowed to demonstrate the award.
The women's uniform of the Waffen SS consisted of a gray jacket and skirt, as well as a black cap with the image of an SS eagle.
A black ceremonial club tunic with the symbols of the organization for officers was also developed.
It should be noted that in fact the black uniform was the uniform of the SS organization specifically, and not the troops: only SS members had the right to wear this uniform, the transferred Wehrmacht soldiers were not allowed to use it. By 1944, the wearing of this black uniform was officially abolished, although in fact by 1939 it was used only on solemn occasions.
Distinctive features of the Nazi uniform
The SS uniform had a number hallmarks, which are easily remembered even now, after the dissolution of the organization:
- The SS emblem in the form of two Germanic runes "zig" was used on uniform insignia. Runes on uniforms were only allowed to be worn by ethnic Germans - Aryans, foreign members of the Waffen SS were not allowed to use this symbolism.
- "Dead Head" - at first, a metal round cockade with the image of a skull was used on the cap of SS soldiers. Later it was used on the buttonholes of the soldiers of the 3rd tank division.
- A red armband with a black swastika on a white background was worn by members of the SS and stood out significantly from the black dress uniform.
- Image of an eagle with outstretched wings and a swastika (former coat of arms Nazi Germany) eventually replaced the skulls on the cap badges and began to be embroidered on the sleeves of the uniform.
The camouflage of the Waffen SS differed from the camouflage of the Wehrmacht in its pattern. Instead of the conventional pattern design with applied parallel lines, creating the so-called "rain effect", wood and plant patterns were used. Since 1938, the following camouflage elements of the SS uniform have been adopted: camouflage jackets, reversible helmet covers and face masks. On camouflage clothing, it was necessary to wear green stripes indicating the rank on both sleeves, although for the most part this requirement was not respected by the officers. In the campaigns, a set of stripes was also used, each of which denoted one or another military qualification.
SS uniform insignia
The ranks of the Waffen SS soldiers did not differ from the ranks of the Wehrmacht employees: there were differences only in form. The uniforms used the same decals like shoulder straps and embroidered buttonholes. SS officers wore insignia with the symbols of the organization both on shoulder straps and in buttonholes.
The shoulder straps of SS officers had a double backing, the upper one differed in color depending on the type of troops. The backing was edged with a silver cord. On shoulder straps there were signs of belonging to one or another part, metal or embroidered with silk threads. The shoulder straps themselves were made of gray galloon, while their lining was invariably black. The bumps (or "stars") on the shoulder straps, designed to denote the rank of an officer, were bronze or gilded.
On the buttonholes, runic "ridges" were depicted on one, and insignia by rank on the other. The employees of the 3rd Panzer Division, which was nicknamed the "Dead Head" instead of "zig", had an image of a skull, which was previously worn as a cockade on the SS caps. Along the edge of the buttonholes, they were edged with twisted silk cords, and the generals were covered with black velvet. They also knocked out the general's caps.
Video: SS form
If you have any questions - leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them.
Rank table
armies of the german empire
(Deutsches Reichscheer)
1901
This article discusses the system of military ranks of the so-called. The Second German Empire (zweite Deutsches Reich) existed from 1871 to 1918. The first German Empire was formed during the collapse of the Holy Roman Empire and perished during the era of the Napoleonic Wars in 1806. Between 1806 and 1871 there was no unified German state.
The Second German Empire was not a unitary state, but was an alliance of German states that had a certain degree of independence, including in the military field. This left its mark on the organization of the German army. In the field of military ranks in some army structures, depending on which of the German Lands this structure belongs to, there could be differences in the name of the ranks and their number. These differences will be specified in the text.
It is possible that before 1914 this system of ranks underwent some changes, but in general, the article provides an opportunity to navigate the rank system of the German army during the First World War.
Everyone who in one way or another belonged to the German army was divided into sharply different groups:
1. Military personnel (Militaerpersonen),
2.Military officials (Militaerbeamte),
3. Civilian officials in the military department (Zivilbeamte der Militarverwaltung).
Military personnel included those who performed the duties of a combatant army service in infantry, cavalry, artillery, sapper units, as well as doctors and musicians.
All support personnel, except for doctors, musicians, artillery and technical service specialists and ammunition specialists, belonged to military officials. These are employees of clothing, food, veterinary, convoy services, construction specialists, priests, lawyers, pharmacists, and weapons repairmen.
All clerical workers of large headquarters, service (non-medical) personnel of hospitals, service personnel of the barracks fund, technical personnel of military factories, personnel of horse repair factories, etc. belonged to civilian officials of the military department.
The military personnel, in turn, were divided into:
*.Lower ranks (Mannschaften)
a. Soldiers (Gemeinen)
b. Gefreyters (Gefreite)
*. Non-commissioned officers (Unteroffizieren).
*.Officers (Offiziere)
a. Subaltern officers (Subaltern-Offiziere).
b. Captains and captains (Hauptleute und Rittmeister).
in. Staff officers (Stabsoffiziere).
*. Generals (Generale).
Military officials were divided into two categories:
1. Junior military officials (untere Militaer-Beamte)
2. Senior military officials (obere Militaer-Beamte).
The former, in terms of their official position, were equated with non-commissioned officers, the latter with officers. However, military officials occupied a lowered position in the hierarchy of ranks. Thus, senior military officials were higher than soldiers and non-commissioned officers, but lower than officers. Junior military officials, although they were equated with non-commissioned officers, did not dominate the soldiers.
Civilian officials of the military department were generally outside the hierarchy of ranks.
The army was recruited with soldiers on the basis of the law on universal conscription of 1871. During the period of compulsory service, a soldier could rise in rank only one step. those. become a gefreiter.
The non-commissioned officers of the army were recruited from among the soldiers who had served their compulsory service and passed the appropriate training, or from civilian youth who had graduated from non-commissioned officer schools. Non-commissioned officers served 4 years or more.
The army was staffed with officers from among the graduates of the cadet corps who had passed extra education in a military school, as well as young people who have the appropriate education and have been trained in military schools and passed the officer's exam.
There were no class restrictions, and at the same time, for any promotion in rank or transition to a higher high category it was required by their service to confirm their suitability and pass the appropriate exam.
From the author. Obviously, the high professional and combat qualities of the non-commissioned officers and officers of the German army are explained as a complex multi-stage system career development, and the fact that, in general, in Germany, unlike Russia, a simple soldier was considered not as a person standing on the lowest rung of social status, but as "a citizen who was entrusted with the high honor of wearing the uniform of the German army."
The non-commissioned officer was already a man standing very high on the social ladder. Upon his discharge from the army, he was guaranteed a high pension and prestigious positions in the local administration. We can say that a non-commissioned officer was valued in Germany in society higher than in Russia a chief officer.
Social status German officer can be conditionally equated with the position of Russian generals.
Infantry
In the German army, infantry was divided into line infantry and light infantry. Line infantry soldiers were named according to their specialty:
Grenadier - grenadier.
Musketier - musketeer.
Fusilier - fuselier.
Schuetze - Schütze.
From the author. It is difficult to explain such different names for the same specialty - an infantryman. Obviously, this is due to the traditional names of infantry soldiers coming from past centuries in various German lands.
In light infantry, ordinary soldiers were called:
Jaeger - Jaeger.
In the guards infantry, the soldiers were called:
Garde du Korps - garde du corps.
In addition, in the infantry units there were ordinary soldiers who had the ranks:
Trainsoldat - trainsoldat or Traingemeiner - trainmeiner. This is a convoy soldier.
Sanitaetssoldat - Sanitaetssoldat. This is a nurse.
The last two are not musicians, but signalmen. There were soldiers in the regimental bands with the same ranks, but those trumpeters and drummers are musicians.
In the divisions in the respective units there were ordinary soldiers with the following ranks:
Telegraphist - telegrapher.
Krankenwarter - krankenwörter (medical assistant).
Oekonomiehandwerker - economirhandwerke (soldier of the rear units). Handwerker is a person who knows some kind of craft and works in this area.
Militaerbaesker -militerbacker (military baker)
Line Infantry
| The code* | Category | Name of rank |
| 1 | Gemeine (lower ranks) | by specialty (see above) |
| 2 | Gefreite (gefreiters) | Gefreiter (gefreiter) |
| 3 | ||
| 4 | Sergeanten (sergeant) | |
| 5a | ||
| 5 B | Feldwebel - Feldwebel | |
| 8a | Leutnant (leutnant) | |
| 8b | Obereutnant (oberleutnant) | |
| 9 | Hauptleute und Rittmeister (captains and captains) |
Hauptmann (hauptmann) |
| 10 | Stabsoffiziere (headquarters officers) |
Major (major) |
| 11 | ||
| 12 | Oberst (oberst) | |
| 14 | Generale (generals) |
Generalmajor (major general) |
| 15 | ||
| 16 | General der Infanterie (General der Infanterie) | |
| 17 | Generaloberst (Generaloberst) | |
| 18 | Generalfeldmarschall (Generalfeldmarschall) |
* Read more about rank encoding.
Light Infantry
| The code* | Category | Name of rank |
| 1 | Gemeine (lower ranks) | Jaeger (jaeger) |
| 2 | Gefreite (gefreiters) | Gefreiter (gefreiter) |
| 3 | Unteroffiziere (non-commissioned officers) | Oberjaeger (guardian) |
| 4 | Sergeanten (sergeant) | |
| 5a | Vize-Feldwebel (vice-feldwebel) | |
| 5 B | Feldwebel - Feldwebel | |
| 8a | Subaltern-Offiziere (subaltern-officers) | Leutnant (leutnant) |
| 8b | Obereutnant (oberleutnant) | |
| 9 | Hauptleute und Rittmeister (captains and captains) |
Hauptmann (hauptmann) |
| 10 | Stabsoffiziere (headquarters officers) |
Major (major) |
| 11 | Oberstleutnant (Oberstleutnant) | |
| 12 | Oberst (oberst) |
Cavalry
Cavalry soldiers, depending on the type of cavalry, were named according to their specialty:
Kuerassier - cuirassier.
Ulan - uhlan
Dragoner - dragoner (i.e. dragoons).
Husar - hussar.
schwerer Reiter - Schwerer Reiter (heavy cavalry cavalryman).
Karabinier - carabinieri,
Gardereiter - gardereiter (guards cavalryman)
Jaeger zu Pferde - jaeger zu pferde (horseman)
Grenadier zu Pferde grenadier zu pferde (horse grenadier)
In addition, there were ordinary soldiers in the cavalry who had the ranks:
Trainsoldat - trainsoldat or Traingemeiner - trainmeiner. This is a convoy soldier.
Sanitaetssoldat - Sanitetsoldat. This is a nurse.
Trommler - trommler. This is the drummer
Hornisten - hornist. This is a trumpeter.
Krankenwarter - krankenwerter (medical assistant).
Oekonomiehandwerker - economirhandwerker (soldier of the rear units).
Cavalry except horsemen
| The code* | Category | Name of rank |
| 1 | Gemeine (lower ranks) | by specialty (see above) |
| 2 | Gefreite (gefreiters) | Gefreiter (gefreiter) |
| 3 | Unteroffiziere (non-commissioned officers) | Unteroffiziere (non-commissioned officer) |
| 4 | Sergeanten (sergeant) | |
| 5a | ||
| 5 B | Wachtmiester - (wachtmeister) | |
| 8a | Subaltern-Offiziere (subaltern-officers) | Leutnant (leutnant) |
| 8b | Obereutnant (oberleutnant) | |
| 9 | Hauptleute und Rittmeister (captains and captains) |
Rittmeister (rittmeister) |
| 10 | Stabsoffiziere (headquarters officers) |
Major (major) |
| 11 | Oberstleutnant (Oberstleutnant) | |
| 12 | Oberst (oberst) | |
| 14 | Generale (generals) |
Generalmajor (major general) |
| 15 | Generalleutnant (Generalleutnant) | |
| 16 | General der Kavallerie (General der Kavallerie) |
equestrian
| The code* | Category | Name of rank |
| 1 | Gemeine (lower ranks) | Jaeger zu Pferde - Jaeger zu Pferde |
| 2 | Gefreite (gefreiters) | Gefreiter (gefreiter) |
| 3 | Unteroffiziere (non-commissioned officers) | Oberjaeger zu Pferde - amulet zu pferde |
| 4 | Sergeanten (sergeant) | |
| 5a | Vize-Wachtmiester (Vice-Wachtmeister) | |
| 5 B | Wachtmiester - (wachtmeister) | |
| 8a | Subaltern-Offiziere (subaltern-officers) | Leutnant (leutnant) |
| 8b | Obereutnant (oberleutnant) | |
| 9 | Hauptleute und Rittmeister (captains and captains) |
Rittmeister (rittmeister) |
| 10 | Stabsoffiziere (headquarters officers) |
Major (major) |
| 11 | Oberstleutnant (Oberstleutnant) | |
| 12 | Oberst (oberst) |
Foot Artillery (Fussartillerie)
| The code* | Category | Name of rank |
| 1 | Gemeine (lower ranks) | Kanonier (gunner) |
| 2a | Gefreite (gefreiters) | Gefreiter (gefreiter) |
| 2b | Obergefreiter (Obergeifreiter) | |
| 3 | Unteroffiziere (non-commissioned officers) | Unteroffiziere (non-commissioned officer) |
| 4 | Sergeanten (sergeant) | |
| 5a | Vize-Feldwebel (vice-feldwebel) | |
| 5 B | Feldwebel - Feldwebel | |
| 8a | Subaltern-Offiziere (subaltern-officers) | Leutnant (leutnant) |
| 8b | Obereutnant (oberleutnant) | |
| 9 | Hauptleute und Rittmeister (captains and captains) |
Hauptmann (hauptmann) |
| 10 | Stabsoffiziere (headquarters officers) |
Major (major) |
| 11 | Oberstleutnant (Oberstleutnant) | |
| 12 | Oberst (oberst) |
Horse artillery (Reitenden Artillerie)
| The code* | Category | Name of rank |
| 1 | Gemeine (lower ranks) | Kanonier (gunner) |
| 2 | Gefreite (gefreiters) | Gefreiter (gefreiter) |
| 3 | Unteroffiziere (non-commissioned officers) | Unteroffiziere (non-commissioned officer) |
| 4 | Sergeanten (sergeant) | |
| 5a | Vize-Wachtmiester (Vice-Wachtmeister) | |
| 5 B | Wachtmiester - (wachtmeister) | |
| 8a | Subaltern-Offiziere (subaltern-officers) | Leutnant (leutnant) |
| 8b | Obereutnant (oberleutnant) | |
| 9 | Hauptleute und Rittmeister (captains and captains) |
Rittmeister (rittmeister) |
| 10 | Stabsoffiziere (headquarters officers) |
Major (major) |
| 11 | Oberstleutnant (Oberstleutnant) | |
| 12 | Oberst (oberst) |
Field artillery (Feldartillerie)
| The code* | Category | Name of rank |
| 1 | Gemeine (lower ranks) | Kanonier (gunner) |
| 2 | Gefreite (gefreiters) | Gefreiter (gefreiter) |
| 3 | Unteroffiziere (non-commissioned officers) | Unteroffiziere (non-commissioned officer) |
| 4 | Sergeanten (sergeant) | |
| 5a | Vize-Feldwebel (vice-feldwebel) | |
| 5 B | Feldwebel - Feldwebel | |
| 8a | Leutnant (leutnant) | |
| 8b | Obereutnant (oberleutnant) | |
| 9 | Hauptleute und Rittmeister (captains and captains) |
Hauptmann (hauptmann) |
| 10 | Stabsoffiziere (headquarters officers) |
Major (major) |
| 11 | Oberstleutnant (Oberstleutnant) | |
| 12 | Oberst (oberst) | |
| 14 | Generale (generals) |
Generalmajor (major general) |
| 15 | Generalleutnant (Generalleutnant) | |
| 16 | General der Artillerie (General der Artillerie) |
Sappers (Pionieren)
| The code* | Category | Name of rank |
| 1 | Gemeine (lower ranks) | Pionier (pioneer) |
| 2 | Gefreite (gefreiters) | Gefreiter (gefreiter) |
| 3 | Unteroffiziere (non-commissioned officers) | Unteroffiziere (non-commissioned officer) |
| 4 | Sergeanten (sergeant) | |
| 5a | Vize-Feldwebel (vice-feldwebel) | |
| 5 B | Schirrmeister der Pioniere (Schirrmeister der pioniere) | |
| 8a | Subaltern-Offiziere (subaltern-officers) | Leutnant (leutnant) |
| 8b | Obereutnant (oberleutnant) | |
| 9 | Hauptleute und Rittmeister (captains and captains) |
Hauptmann (hauptmann) |
| 10 | Stabsoffiziere (headquarters officers) |
Major (major) |
| 11 | Oberstleutnant (Oberstleutnant) | |
| 12 | Oberst (oberst) | |
| 14 | Generale (generals) |
Generalmajor (major general) |
| 15 | Generalleutnant (Generalleutnant) |
Reinforcement bodies (Ersatzbehorde)
This is an analogue of our modern military registration and enlistment offices. Actually, in order to organize conscription for military service in local administrations (Bezirkskommando), speaking in our military registration and enlistment offices, draft commissions (Ersatzkommissionen) gather, to which senior officers, representatives of local civil authorities, and doctors are seconded. Non-commissioned officers and lower ranks are constantly working in the military registration and enlistment offices. The lower ranks, unsuitable for service in the ranks for health reasons, but not subject to dismissal to the reserve, are sent to serve in the military registration and enlistment offices. For non-commissioned officer positions in the military registration and enlistment offices, military personnel of the appropriate ranks are sent, who have experience in conducting official office work and are familiar with record keeping.
| The code* | Category | Name of rank |
| 1 | Gemeine (lower ranks) | in the specialty available in the combat unit |
| 2 | Gefreite (gefreiters) | Gefreiter (gefreiter) |
| 3 | Unteroffiziere (non-commissioned officers) | Unteroffiziere (non-commissioned officer) |
| 4 | Sergeanten (sergeant) | |
| 5 B | Bezirksfeldwebel (bezirkfeldwebel) |
Army Medical Service (Sanitaetskorps der Armee)
In the German army, military doctors, except for pharmaceutical service specialists, were military personnel. The difference between the officers of the main branches of service (infantry, cavalry, artillery and engineering troops) and officers medical service(military doctors) consisted only in recruitment methods. The army was recruited with military doctors both from military medical schools and from civilian doctors who wished to switch to military service, as well as from among students who graduated from the university with a medical specialty.
For military service as the lower ranks of the medical service, recruitment came from young people of military age (20 years old), who before the service worked as orderlies, medical assistants, employees of medical institutions. With a shortage of such people, it was possible to recruit from among those who declared their desire to serve in the medical industry and showed their inclination for such activities.
The non-commissioned officers of the medical service were recruited exclusively from sanitary officers who had completed active service (2 years) and expressed a desire to continue serving in the non-commissioned officers. The title of sanitary officer could be awarded no earlier than 7 years after the title of sanitary officer was awarded.
* The title of "unterarzt" can rather be equated with the title of fenrich (candidate for officer rank) in the main branches of the military. It is awarded to individuals who have completed the initial 6-month military training who have a medical diploma, who have passed all the required exams and are sent to a military unit to perform the duties of a doctor. Not earlier than in 3 months, with a satisfactory performance of duties and the availability of vacancies, an unterartist can be presented for the assignment of an officer rank.
From the author. In general, in Germany there has always been a simple but very true rule - no matter who you are before the army, and regardless of what position in the army you apply for, you must serve 6 months simple soldier. Without this segment of military service, it is impossible to obtain any military rank.
One example is the German pilots of the "Condor Legion" who fought back in Spain in 1937-39, were awarded German orders and occupied quite high positions there, before being accepted into the Luftwaffe and given them officer and general ranks, they were placed in the infantry formation by ordinary soldiers for six months. And today an infantry non-commissioned officer yelled at tomorrow's general of the Luftwaffe, forced the eternal gefreiter to scrub the floor in the barracks.
| The code* | Category | Name of rank |
| 1 | Gemeine (lower ranks) | Sanitaetssoldat (sanitetssoldat) |
| 2 | Gefreite (gefreiters) | Sanitaetsgefreiter (Sanitetsgefreiter) |
| 3 | Unteroffiziere (non-commissioned officers) | Sanitaetsunteroffiziere (sanitaetsunteroffiziere) |
| 4 | Sanitaetssergeanten (sanitary sergeanten) | |
| 5 | Sanitaetsfeldwebel (sanitaryfeldwebel) | |
| 6 | Unterartz (unterartzt) | |
| 7 | Subaltern-Offiziere (subaltern-officers) | Assistenzarzt (assistantsarzt) |
| 8 | Oberarzt (Oberarzt) | |
| 9 | Hauptleute und Rittmeister (captains and captains) |
Stabsarzt (headquarters) |
| 10 | Stabsoffiziere (headquarters officers) |
Oberstabsarzt I. Klasse (Oberstabsarzt 1st class) |
| 11 | Generaloberarzt (Generaloberarzt) | |
| 12a | Generalarzt II. Klasse (Generalart II. Class) | |
| 12b | Generalarzt I. Klasse (Generalarzt I class)* | |
| 14 | Generale (generals) |
Generalarzt I. Klasse (Generalarzt I class)** |
| 15 | General-Stabsarzt der Armee (General-Stabsarzt der Armee)*** |
* In Württemberg, this rank is called General-Stabsarzt der Armee (General-Stabsarzt der Armee).
** Generalarzt I class, i.е. chief physician the first class, which is given the general level. In Bavaria, this rank is called General-Stabsarzt der Armee (General-Stabsarzt der Armee).
*** So this rank is called in Prussia, and therefore in other lands except Württemberg and Bavaria.
From the author. So, it turns out that the rank of General-Stabsarzt der Armee (General-Stabsarzt der Armee):
in Württemberg is equal to the rank of colonel,
in Bavaria is equal to the rank of major general,
in Prussia it is equal to the rank of lieutenant general.
It is not entirely logical that a general officer is a lieutenant colonel, and a general officer is a colonel and above. But so in the source - the German edition of 1901. Obviously, this hash with the highest medical titles is an echo of the not so long-standing independence of the German states. Obviously, in Württemberg, it was believed that the colonel's level for the most chief physician of the Württemberg army was quite enough. But in Bavaria, they considered it useful to equate the chief physician with a major general. The Prussians made their superior medic a lieutenant general. After the unification of the German lands into an empire, they obviously could not come to a consensus and left everything as it was before.
Artillery and technical personnel (Zeugpersonal)
Artillery and technical personnel are intended for management service in artillery parks, artillery technical institutes, management of a park artillery control commission, as well as for controlling artillery devices in rifle schools and artillery and rifle ranges. In addition, this staff is used in the management of the chief of artillery and the directorate of artillery parks.
The junior staff of the artillery and technical service belongs to military officials, but is equated in their service and legal status to non-commissioned officers, i.e. to military personnel.
Officers of the artillery and technical service are considered military personnel, but according to their service and legal status are equated not with military officers, but with officers of the Landwehr.
It is possible to get into this service after the soldier's service. Zeughausbüschenmashern, i.e. the masters of the artillery technical service are recruited from among those who have served in the military as military weapons masters (Truppenbuechsenmachern) and are not further promoted in rank.
The Zeugsergenten are replenished from non-commissioned officers of the artillery, partly also from the infantry. It is required that they prove themselves well in their unit, so that applicants for artillerymen have good knowledge artillery materiel, the infantrymen would have a good command of small arms. Those. there is a transition from military non-commissioned officers to military officials. After 9 years of service, the Zeugsergeanten can be promoted to Depot-Vicefeldwebel.
| The code* | Category | Name of rank |
| 3 | Zeugunterpersonal (junior staff of artillery technical service) |
Zeughausbuechsenmachern (zeughausbuechsenmachern) |
| 4 | Zeugsergeanten (zeugsergeanten) | |
| 5a | Depot-Vizefeldwebel (depot-Vizefeldwebel) | |
| 5 B | Zeugfeldwebel (zeugfeldwebel) | |
| 7 | Zeugoffizieren (officers of artillery technical service) |
Zeug-Leutnant (Zeug-Leutnant) |
| 8 | Zeug-Oberleutnant (Zeug-Oberleutnant) | |
| 9 | Zeug-Hauptleuten (Zeug-Hauptloiten) |
Pyrotechnic staff (Feuerwerks-Personal)
Pyrotechnic staff is intended for managerial service in artillery arsenals, ammunition depots and explosives.
There are no soldiers and gefreiters in this service.
The junior staff of the pyrotechnic service refers to military officials, but is equated in their official and legal status with non-commissioned officers, i.e. to military personnel.
Officers of the pyrotechnic service are considered military personnel, but in terms of their official and legal status they are equated not with military officers, but with landwehr officers.
It is possible to get into this service after the soldier's service after the appropriate training and passing the exams.
Only Zeugfeldwebels who have passed the exam for the title of Zeug-Leutnant become officers of the artillery and technical service.
| The code* | Category | Name of rank |
| 4 | Feuerwerkunterpersonal (junior staff of the pyrotechnic service) |
Feuerwerker (fireworker) |
| 5 | Oberfeuerwerker (Oberfeuerwerker) | |
| 7 | Feuerwerkoffizieren (officers of the pyrotechnic service) |
Feuerwerkers-Leutnant (Feuerwerkerks-Leutnant) |
| 8 | Feuerwerkers-Oberleutnant (Feuerwerkerks-Oberleutnant) | |
| 9 | Feuerwerkers-Hauptmann (Feuerwerkers-Hauptmann) |
Military Musicians (Militaermusiker)
Each regiment or separate battalion has an orchestra (Muesikkorps) in its composition. In cavalry regiments, this unit is referred to as Trompeterkorps. Musically capable young people were enrolled in this unit, who entered the 2, 3 or 4-year voluntary service after the mandatory six-month service in the ranks. At the same time, they were required to undergo training at a music institute. The study lasted 3 years. They had to make a commitment to serve actively for each year of training for another 2 years.
Upon entering the service, they were enrolled in the orchestra as supernumerary musicians and they were assigned the rank:
* in the line infantry - Hilfshoboisten (Hilfshoboisten),
* in the cavalry - Hilftrompeter,
* in light infantry and among sappers - Hilfshornisten (Hilfshornisten).
This rank is equal to the rank of an ordinary soldier. If the quality of the musician was high, then with the same rank name, his level could rise to non-commissioned officer.
When vacancies in the orchestra were vacated, the musician was transferred to full-time musicians and he was accordingly assigned the rank:
in the line infantry - Hoboisten (Hoboisten),
* in the cavalry - Trompeter (Trompeter),
* in light infantry and sappers - Uornisten (Hornisten).
This rank was equal to the rank of non-commissioned officer. If the quality of the musician was high, then with the same name of the rank, his level could rise to the level of a sergeant.
The leader of the orchestra wore the rank of staff goboisten (respectively, staff strompeter, staff hornisten). The same rank could be received by an orchestra musician who possessed a remarkable musical talent, had a general education, devoted himself to military service, and graduated from a musical institute with success.
The honored leader of the orchestra could receive the title of his rank militar-musikdirigent (Militar-Musikdirigent), and the especially deserved title of koeniglisher-musikdirektor (Koniglicher Musikdirektor). However, this did not change his level equal to the level of the sergeant major.
The entire orchestral service of the army was no longer led by a soldier, but by an officer-level military official.
| The code* | Category | Name of rank |
| 1 | Gemeine (lower ranks) | |
| 3 | Unteroffiziere (non-commissioned officers) | Hilfshoboisten (hilfgoboisten), or Hilftrompeter (Hilftrompeter), or Hilfshornisten (hilfgornisten). |
| 3 | Hoboisten (goboysten), or Trompeter trompeter), or Hornisten (bugler). |
|
| 4 | Hoboisten (goboysten), or Trompeter trompeter), or Hornisten (bugler). |
|
| 5 | Stabshoboisten (ishtabsgoboisten), or Stabstrompeter (Stabstrompeter), or Stabshornisten (stabshornisten), or Militar-Musikdirigent (military music conductor), or (Koniglicher Musikdirektor (Königlicher Music Director) |
|
| 7 | Oberen Militarbeamten |
Armee-Musik-Inspizienten (Armee-Musik-Inspizienten) |
From the author. As you can see, in the German army, the officer rank, and even more so the general rank, was not profaned and did not depreciate, as is the case in our army. An officer, and even more so a general in the German army, is a military leader of only a combat unit, unit, formation. All those who are not in combat formation are not considered military personnel and are not entitled to wear an officer's or, even more so, a general's rank.
If in our army the head of the orchestra service is already a lieutenant general ("piano general"), then in the German army the same duties were assigned to a military official who was only equated with the officer corps (but was not considered an officer!). And nothing, it did just fine. And at the head of the regimental band was not a major, like ours, but a felwebel. And also nothing, coped.
Perhaps this is the case when it is worth borrowing something from enemies. Remove shoulder straps from conductors, heads of military repair plants, design bureaus, military registration and enlistment offices, military builders, military house managers, heads of officers' houses, and even from clerical workers at large headquarters. And list them as military officials. And it is cheaper for the military budget, and the authority of the officer rank will increase.
Well, really, which of the Kalashnikov designers is a lieutenant general? He will not cope with a company, not like with an army corps (only a corps commander can receive the rank of lieutenant general). It's time for everyone to understand that a military rank is a reflection of the level of military qualifications, and not an honorary title. A captain means he can command a company, a colonel means he can command a regiment.
Will "colonel" Zhirinovsky be able to lead a tank regiment into battle? Of course not. Well, there is no need for him to sculpt colonel's stars on shoulder straps. If you want to mark him with an honorary title, then give him the title of People's Artist of Russia, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Diploma of the Rachmaninov Competition, Laureate of the Circus Artists Competition, Master of Medicine, Machine Milking Master, Honored Inventor and Innovator, Chess Grandmaster, or at worst, a master of sports of international class. You will say that he has not won a single international sports competition and it is simply stupid to give him a master of sports? I agree! Well, giving him the rank of colonel is not stupid?
The well-known German designer of the "Tiger" tanks, Heinz Knimpkamp, did not have an officer's or general's rank, but had the rank of a military official "ministerial adviser". And nothing, he did not suffer from an inferiority complex. He was well aware that he could not stand on the same level as Oberst General Heinz Guderian.
Training of army officers (Ergaenzung der Offiziere der Armee)
The German army was staffed with officers primarily by graduates of the Royal Cadet Corps in Berlin (Koniglichen Kadettenkorps). Boys aged 10-15 years old entered this corps. They exchanged cadets (Kadetten), but unlike the army Austro-Hungarian Empire German cadets were not military personnel and the name "cadet" did not mean a military rank.
In the cadet corps, future officers received a complete secondary education (13 classes). At the end of the 13th grade, the best cadets remained to study in the corps for another year. At the end of this year of training, they passed the officer's exam and were sent to the troops with the rank of vice-sergeant-level fenrich. They received the rank of leutnant (with the consent of the meeting of officers of the regiment) as soon as a vacant position of leutnant opened in the regiment.
The rest of the cadets took the exam for Fenrich (Faehnriche). After that, they entered military service in military units with the rank of sergeant-level fenrich. Simultaneously with the service, Fenrichs are required to undergo a one-year course of study at a military school. After 5 months, the level of fenrichs rises to vice-sergeant. After 6 months, these fenrichs received the right to pass an officer's exam, after successfully passing which the officer's meeting of the regiment issued its opinion on whether the fenrich was worthy of an officer's rank or not. Those who were worthy received the rank of lieutnant as soon as a vacant place of lieutnant opened up in the regiment. The unworthy were transferred to the reserve.
Young people who did not graduate from the cadet corps could become officers. To do this, it was necessary to be between the ages of 17 and 23, submit a certificate of secondary education (grades 12-13) and pass the Fenrich exam. After that, the young man was enrolled in the service with the rank of Fahnenjunker. This rank is equivalent to the rank of an ordinary soldier. After 6 months of service, the Fahnejunker is awarded the rank of sergeant-level Fenrich. Simultaneously with the service, Fenrichs are required to undergo a one-year course of study at a military school. Fenrichs were exempted from the course of study at the military school, who, before entering the military service, had studied for at least a year at a German university, a technical institute, a mining academy or a forestry academy. After 5 months, the level of fenrichs rises to vice-sergeant. After 6 months, these fenrichs received the right to pass an officer's exam, after successfully passing which the officer's meeting of the regiment issued its opinion on whether the fenrich was worthy of an officer's rank or not. Those who were worthy received the rank of lieutnant as soon as a vacant place of lieutnant opened up in the regiment. The unworthy were transferred to the reserve.
From the author. There were no class restrictions on the opportunity to become an officer in Germany. At the same time, there were norms that excluded representatives of the lower strata of society from entering the ranks of the officer corps. The rules for enrolling in the Fanenjunkers required that parents guarantee an additional payment of the difference between the minimum income level of a soldier and the allowance that the treasury gave him. And these norms were such that a German soldier got rid of the need to milk his parents only by rising to the rank of Hauptmann.
It is worth noting that the officer training system was based on training directly in military units. So to speak, in the workplace. The military school only systematized knowledge and gave that part of it that cannot be obtained in the regiment.
It is also worth noting that the officers of the regiment decided whether to become an officer or not to become an officer. Without their consent, the order to confer the title of Leutnant could not take place. No fathers and mothers, "hairy paws", titles and merits of ancestors could mean nothing here.
Obviously, all these factors provided very high level officer corps, and hence the entire German army. In the Austro-Hungarian army, the officer training system was different, and the First World War showed that the fighting qualities of the Austrian army were head and shoulders below the German one.
It is hardly worth recognizing the system of training officers of the Russian Army as successful. After all, we have a graduate of a military school for the first time saw a living soldier only when he joined the regiment as a young lieutenant. Were there at least theoretical knowledge Russian lieutenants are higher than the knowledge of the German lieutenants, it's hard to say. In the battles of the First World War, this is hardly noticeable.
| The code* | Category | Name of rank |
| 1 | Gemeine (lower ranks) | Fahnenjunker (Fahnejunker) |
| 4 | Unteroffiziere (non-commissioned officers) | Faehnriche (fenrich) |
| 5 | Faehnriche (fenrich) |
It should be noted that medical officers ( military doctors), the artillery-technical and pyrotechnic services were prepared in a completely different way.
Notes on military ranks
1. To obtain the right to confer a non-commissioned officer rank, a young man entered a non-commissioned officer school, where he studied for 2 or 3 years. During this period, he held the title of Unteroffizierschueler (Unteroffizierschueler). Upon graduation, he received, depending on the success, the title of Unteroffizier (non-commissioned officer) or Gefreiter (gefreiter) with the right to be awarded the title (non-commissioned officer) in the future.
From the author. Note that in the Russian Army of the same period, to obtain the title of the first officer rank of second lieutenant, it was enough to complete a two-year military school. Non-commissioned officers were trained from among the soldiers during the period of military service for six months. A German non-commissioned officer served 12 years, and a Russian non-commissioned officer was dismissed at the end of his term of military service or could remain on long-term service (there were no more than 10% of the total number of non-commissioned officers). It is easy to understand that the quality of the German non-commissioned officers was head and shoulders above the Russian ones, and in fact they were not inferior to the Russian junior officers.
2. The food supply of the troops is carried out by civilian food service officials (Proviantaemtern), however, directly in the military units, a non-commissioned officer-level serviceman (usually the level from non-commissioned officer to sergeant-major officer) deals with food service affairs. He bears the title of Proviantamts-Aspiranten (Proviantamts-Aspiranten).
3. The barracks and other facilities used by the troops in the garrisons are in charge of civilian officials of the garrison administration (Garnison-Verwaltungen), but issues related to the military personnel in the garrison are in charge of a non-commissioned officer level soldier (usually the level from non-commissioned officer to sergeant major)). He bears the title of Garnisonverwaltungs-Aspiranten (garrisonverwaltungs-aspiranten).
4. There is the rank of Feldwebel-Leutnant (Feldwebel-Leutnant). This rank is awarded to non-commissioned officers who, due to age or disability, are no longer liable for military service, but serve in the landwehr, reserve and landshturm units in officer positions. They belong to the officer corps, but are considered in rank below the leutnant. This rank does not exist in the active army.
Military officials (Militaerbeamte)
All the employees of the army described below were military officials (Militaerbeamte). They also wore a uniform, but were divided only into two categories - junior military officials (equated to non-commissioned officers) and senior military officials (equated to officers).
Army Treasurers (Zahlmeister der Armee)
These military officials belonged to the quartermaster service, but they served in military units (infantry, cavalry regiments, artillery and engineer battalions) or in garrison institutions (garrison departments, hospitals), where they performed the duties of providing personnel with monetary, clothing, food allowances, and also conducted office work.
One treasurer and one assistant treasurer relied on each infantry, artillery, engineer battalion and each cavalry regiment.
Zahlmeister PhD student, i.e. Treasurers' assistants, after passing the treasurer's exams, are equated to sergeants in terms of their level (according to the author's coding -4) and are credited as supernumerary treasurer's assistants (ausseretatsmassigen Zahlmeister-Aspiranten). After 9 years of service as a supernumerary assistant to the treasurer, his level can be upgraded to vice sergeant major (according to the author's coding - 5a).
If a vacancy becomes available during supernumerary service, the Supernumerary Assistant Treasurer becomes the full-time Assistant Treasurer (etatsmassigen Zahlmeister-Aspiranten). However, its level remains the same. After 8 years of service as a full-time treasurer's assistant, he receives a sergeant-major level (according to the author's coding - 5b).
Promotion to the rank of treasurer (Zahlmeister) is carried out in the presence of a vacant position. All treasurers are full-time. This is officer level. This is usually the last promotion of treasurers in rank.
The rank of obertsalmeister is received by a few of them who are lucky enough to become the treasurer of a garrison, a large hospital, or go to serve in the commissariat.
Fortification personnel. (Festunsbau-Personal)
These military officials supervised the fortification works, the construction of fortresses, were members of engineering commissions, taught at the school of fortification construction, carried out cash operations, carried out surveys of the area, supervised the construction, laying the army telegraph. In addition, they were entrusted with the responsibility of organizing pigeon mail.
Among them there was one rank of non-commissioned officer level and two ranks of officer level. Non-commissioned officers of the engineering troops were accepted as wallmeisters, who had previously undergone training and passed the exam for a serf specialist. After passing the officer's exam, the Walmeister could receive the rank of Festung-Bauwarte.
Equestrian Medical Personnel (rossarztliche Personal)
These veterinarians. However, highly specialized - only for horses. Moreover, in this service there were both non-commissioned officers and military officials.
The Fanenschmeide and Oberfaneschmeide were mainly shoemakers, but were also trained in the treatment of horse hoof diseases. These positions were assigned to those who had served as soldiers and had the specialty of a rural blacksmith, and additionally trained in an army smithy. After 12 years of service, Oberfahnenschmeide was given the level of Wachtmeister. He could not move up in ranks.
Military officials of the equestrian medical service, as a rule, were graduates of the army equestrian medical school. Also, qualified civilian veterinarians undergoing military service could, after six months of military service, move to the position of volunteers and receive the rank of unterrossarzten and later receive the rank of rossarzte.
For each cavalry squadron, horse artillery battery, baggage battalion, one unterrossarzten or rossarzten relied. Oberrossarzten was the regimental commander for the Unterrossarzten and Rossarzten, but at the same time he was in charge of one of the squadrons.
Korpsarzten was the chief commander for all the equestrian medical personnel of the corps. There were no chiefs of this service in higher headquarters.
| The code* | Category | Name of rank |
| 3 | Unteroffiziere (non-commissioned officers) | Fahnensehmiede (fanenschmeide) |
| 4 | ||
| 5a | Oberfahnensehmiede (Oberfahnenschmeide) | |
| 5 B | Unteren Militarbeamten |
Unterrossarzten (Unterrossarzten) |
| 7 | Oberen Militarbeamten (senior military officials) |
Rossarzten (rossarzten) |
| 8 | Oberrossarzten (Oberrossarzten) | |
| 9 | Korpsrossarzten (corpsrossarzten) |
In Bavaria, equestrian medical personnel belonging to military officials had other ranks:
| The code* | Category | Name of rank |
| 3 | Unteroffiziere (non-commissioned officers) | Fahnensehmiede (fanenschmeide) |
| 4 | Oberfahnensehmiede (Oberfahnenschmeide) | |
| 5a | Oberfahnensehmiede (Oberfahnenschmeide) | |
| 5 B | Unteren Militarbeamten (junior military officials) |
Veterinare II. Klasse (2nd class veterinarian) |
| 7 | Oberen Militarbeamten (senior military officials) |
Veterinare I. Klasse (veterinarian I class) |
| 8 | Stabsveterinare (headquarters veterinare) | |
| 9 | Korpsveterinare (corpsveterinare) |
Military commissariat (Militar-Indendantur)
This military organization deals with all issues of providing and supplying the troops with all types of material and technical means, as well as replenishing the troops with personnel. Quartermasters include both military personnel at the level of soldiers and non-commissioned officers who directly perform the relevant supply and support duties in military units, and military officials who deal with these issues in military authorities (headquarters from the headquarters of the division, corps and above).
Military officials of quartermaster departments.
Subaltern quartermaster officials are equated to non-commissioned officers. The highest quartermaster officials are equated to the officer corps. But there is no equating the specific ranks of officials with the specific ranks of non-commissioned officers and officers.
| The code* | Category | Name of rank |
| . | Intendantur-Subalternbeamte (quartermaster subaltern officials) |
Kanzlisten (kanzlisten) |
| . | Registratur-Assistenten (registrar-assistant) | |
| . | Registratoren (registrar) | |
| . | Intendantur-Diaetare (intendantur-dietare) | |
| . | Intendantur-Sekretare (Intendant Secretary) | |
| . | Hohere Intendantur-Beamte (highest quartermaster officials) |
Indendantur-Referendare (Intendant-Referendare) |
| . | Indendantur-Assesoren | |
| . | Indendantur-Rate (intendantur-rate) | |
| . | Indendanten (intendant) |
From the author. Obviously, on the one hand, the importance of military officials in the quartermaster service is very high, since they work in high military headquarters and solve very important and complex, one might say key tasks, and therefore it is necessary to consider them high ranks. On the other hand, in the German state and the army, no one could be considered higher in social position than military personnel. Therefore, quartermaster officials were equated with non-commissioned officers and officers, but they did not begin to determine the equivalence of the ranks of officers and officials.
Military personnel involved in quartermaster issues in the troops and quartermaster departments.
Schreiber is a clerk, and Zeikher is a draftsman. Those. these are servicemen of the level of sergeants and vice-sergeants who conduct office work, keep records and compile topographic maps.
Military personnel, bakery specialists
| The code* | Category | Name of rank |
| 2a | Gefreite (gefreiters) | Schiesser (shaser) |
| 2b | Baesker (backer) | |
| 3 | Unteroffiziere (non-commissioned officers) | Obebaecker (Oberbacker) |
| 4 | Obebaecker I. Klasse (Oberbacker 1st class) |
Military priests (Militargeistliche)
This is a special category of military officials intended for the religious service of military personnel. All of them belong to senior officer-level military officials (oberen Militar-Beamten im Offiziersrange). At the same time, the ranks of military priests are not equated to specific officer ranks. In the German army, only priests of the Catholic and Evangelical (Protestant) churches could carry out their activities.
Accordingly, in the army structures (garrisons, divisions, corps) there were simultaneously two priests of the appropriate level - one evangelical, the other Catholic.
A priest in the rank of Anstaltsgeistliche (antshtaltsgeistlishe) is a confessor in small garrisons. Often his duties were performed by the civil priest of the nearest parish.
A full-time military priest relied on one division or a fairly large garrison. He held the rank of Divisionspfarrer or Garnisonpfarrer.
At the headquarters of the army corps there was a Militaer-Oberpfarrer (militer-oberpfarer). He supervised the activities of divisional and garrison priests, and was also the confessor of the personnel of the corps headquarters and corps units.
The highest religious leader of the German army was Feldpropst der Armee (feldpropst der armee). There were also two of them - Catholic and Evangelical. He directed all the army priests. In the church hierarchy, he had the rank of bishop.
Unlike all other military officials, the priests were not subordinate to the military commanders of the appropriate levels, but only coordinated their activities with them.
Military Lawyers (Militar-Justizbeamte)
This is a category of military officials who prosecuted personnel who violated the law, as well as supervised the observance of the rule of law in the troops. They were equated with officers, but specifically the ranks of military lawyers were not equated with specific officer ranks. In addition, the lowest rank of a military lawyer, although considered an officer's, but non-commissioned officers and soldiers were not required to greet him in the same way as officers greet.
Military Pharmacists (Militaer-Apotheker)
These medical specialists are recruited from among those lower ranks discharged at the end of active service who served in military pharmacies and signed up for a year of voluntary military service. However, they are not enrolled in military personnel, but in military officials. Apothecaries of the first two ranks are junior military officials (equal to non-commissioned officers), and the three senior ranks are senior military officials (equal to officers). However, there is no specific correspondence between the ranks of pharmacists and military ranks.
| The code* | Category | Name of rank |
| . | Unteren Militarbeamten (junior military officials) |
Einjahrig-Freiwillige Militar-Apoteker |
| . | Unter-Apoteker (Unter-Apoteker) | |
| . | Oberen Militarbeamten (junior military officials) |
Ober-Apoteker (Ober-Apotheker) |
| . | Garnison-Apoteker (garrison-apoteker) | |
| Korps-Stabsapoteker (Korps-Stabsapoteker) |
Gunsmiths (Buchsenmachern)
In general, specialists in the production and repair of weapons are classified as civilian officials, but of them, one gunsmith (Buchsenmacher) is assigned to each battalion of foot units and a cavalry regiment. Since civilian officials do not have the right to serve in military units, gunsmiths sent to military units are transferred to the category of military officials and are reassigned to the commanders of battalions and regiments. These officials are provided with a military uniform, which they are required to wear on certain occasions. The rest of the time they perform their duties in civilian clothes.
Civilian officials of the military administration
(Zivilbeamte der Militar-Verwaltung)
This category of officials performs military-administrative and military-technical functions of an auxiliary nature, as a rule, in high military headquarters (from the headquarters of the corps and above), garrison directorates, hospitals, military factories, the cadet corps, and military schools. As a rule, civilian officials are subordinate to generals and staff officers, military officials and are auxiliary personnel for them.
Civil officials wear uniforms or civilian clothes. They have no ranks or titles as such.
Civilian officials must, if they appear in uniform, be greeted in a military manner by non-commissioned officers and lower ranks, on the other hand, they are also not obliged themselves in general to greet people of the lower rank level or junior military officials other than their immediate superiors.
The titles of their positions are given below. German indicating the duties performed in relation to Russian names:
| Service place | Job title | Explanation |
| Kriegsministerium (war ministry) |
standige Hilfsarbeiter | permanent support workers |
| unterbeamte | lower officials | |
| Kanzleibeamte | clerical officials | |
| Registratoren | registrars | |
| Kalkulatoren | calculators, calculators | |
| Secretare | secretaries | |
| Raete | advisers, clerks | |
| Generalstabe der Armee (Army General Staff) |
unterbeamte | lower officials |
| Kanzleibeamte | clerical officials | |
| Registratoren | registrars | |
| Kalkulatoren | calculators, calculators | |
| Secretare | secretaries | |
| Raete | advisers, clerks | |
| Grossere Generalstabe (large general staff) |
Trigonometer, Topographen, Kartographen, Lithographen | specialists in geodesy, cartography, cartographic equipment |
| bauwessen (construction department) |
Bauschreiber | building clerk |
| bauwarte | construction supervisor | |
| Bauinspectore | building inspector | |
| Bauraete | building consultants | |
| Proviantaemtern* (food service) |
Magazinaufseher | storekeeper |
| backmeister, | baker | |
| Muhlenmeister, | miller | |
| Proviantamts-Assistenten | assistant food controller | |
| Proviantamtskontrolleure | food service controller | |
| Proviantamtsrendanten | food service performer | |
| Proviantmeister | food service master | |
| Proviantsdirectoren, | head of the food service | |
| Lazaretten** (military hospitals) |
Heizer | stoker |
| Hausdiener | service staff | |
| Zivilkrankenwarter | civil servant for the sick | |
| Inspectoren | inspector | |
| Verwaltungsinspektor | branch inspector | |
| Oberlazarett-Inspektoren | senior hospital inspector | |
| Garnison-Verwaltungen*** (garrison office) |
Heizer. | stoker |
| Maschinenmeister | plumber | |
| Wachmeister | watchman | |
| Kasernenwarter | barracks keeper | |
| Kasernen-Inspektoren | barracks inspector | |
| Verwaltungs-Inspektoren | management inspector | |
| Ober-Inspectoren | senior inspector | |
| Garnison-Verwaltungsdirektoren | head of the garrison | |
| Korpsbekleidungsamtern (corps department of uniforms) |
Packmeister | packer |
| Maschinisten | driver | |
| Assistenten | assistant performer | |
| Rendanten | executor | |
| Remontendepo (horse training depot) |
Futtermeister | cattleman |
| Rossaerzte | veterinarian | |
| Wirtschaftsinspektoren | economic inspector | |
| Rechnungsfuhrer | accountant | |
| administratoren | administrator | |
| Kadettenanstalten and sonstigen Schulen (cadet institutions and other schools) |
Kompagnie Verwalter | company overseer |
| Hausinspektoren | premises inspector | |
| Rendanten | executor | |
| Lehrer | teacher | |
| Gewehr- und Munitionsfabriken**** (weapons and equipment factories) |
revision beamte | controller |
| Buchsenmacher | gunsmith | |
| Oberbuchsenmacher | senior gunsmith | |
| Betriebinspektoren | mode inspector | |
| Fabriken Komissare | plant commissar | |
| Geschutzgiesserei, Geschossfabriken; Feuerwerkslaboratorien, Artilleriewerkestatten, Pulverfabriken (gun, shell factories, pyrotechnic laboratories, artillery arsenals, gunpowder factories) |
meister | master |
| Obermeister | head master | |
| revisionsbeamte | auditor | |
| Ingenieure | engineer | |
| Chemiker | chemical technologist | |
| Ober-Ingenieure | senior engineer. |
* Directly in the troops, a serviceman in the rank of Proviantamts-Aspiranten (Proviantamts-Aspiranten) of the level from non-commissioned officer to sergeant-major is engaged in food supply.
** Medical activities in hospitals were carried out by military personnel, and civilian officials were engaged in ensuring the functioning of the hospital.
*** The Garrison Directorate is an institution responsible for the administrative regulation of general garrison activities. Those. they were engaged in the maintenance of barracks and other objects in the garrison used by the troops. To some extent, this is similar to the KES service (apartment maintenance service) in our modern army. In the administration of the garrison there was one serviceman of the level from non-commissioned officer to felwebel in the rank of Garnisonverwaltungs-Aspiranten (garrisonferwaltung-aspiranten), who resolved issues related to the military personnel in the garrison.
**** From this category of civilian officials, one gunsmith (Buchsenmacher) is allocated to each battalion of foot units and cavalry regiment. Since civilian officials do not have the right to serve in military units, gunsmiths sent to military units are transferred to the category of military officials and are reassigned to the commanders of battalions and regiments.
From the author. In general, the German military rank system seems overly complex and obscure, but it should be remembered that the military rank systems of all armies grew out of the names of specific positions.
At the same time, it should be recognized that the division of all those who are related to the army into servicemen and officials is very appropriate.
Only those who perform their duties in the ranks are classified as military personnel, i.e. directly in battalions and regiments. All support and service personnel are not endowed with the status of military personnel. This raises the social status of military personnel as defenders of the Motherland, the importance of non-commissioned officers and officer ranks does not diminish and is not washed away. Only those who directly endanger their lives on the battlefield have the right to the honorary title of soldier.
Sources and literature
1. Das kleine Buch vom Deutsche Heere. Verlag von Lipsins & Tischer. Kiel und Leipzig 1901.
2. Military encyclopedic dictionary. Great Russian Encyclopedia. Ripol-Classic. Moscow. 2001
3.R.Hermann, J.Nguyen, R.Bernet. Uniformen der deutshen Infanterie 1888 bis 1915 in Farbe. Motot Buch Verlag. 2003.
4.K.U.Keubke. Uniformen der preussiscen Armee 1858/59. Miliraerverlag der DDR. 1989.
5. G. Ortenburg, I. Proemper. Preussisch-deutsche Uniformen von 1640-1918. Orbis Verlag. 1991
Tables of ranks of the German Wehrmacht (Die Wehrmacht) 1935-45.
SS troops
Waffen SS
In Germany from autumn 1936 to May 1945. As part of the Wehrmacht, there was a completely unique military organization - the SS Troops (Waffen SS), which were part of the Wehrmacht only operationally. The fact is that the SS troops were not the military apparatus of the German state, but were an armed organization of the Nazi Party. But since the German state, since 1933, has become an instrument for achieving the political goals of the Nazi Party, the German armed forces also carried out the tasks of the Nazis. That is why the SS troops were operationally part of the Wehrmacht.
To understand the system SS ranks, it is necessary to understand the essence of this organization. Many believe that the SS Troops are the entire organization of the SS. However, the SS troops were only a part of it (although the most visible). Therefore, the table of ranks will be preceded by a brief historical background. I recommend that in order to understand the SS, first read the historical reference on the SA.
In April 1925, Hitler, concerned about the growing influence of the leaders of the assault detachments (CA) and the aggravation of contradictions with them, instructed one of the commanders of the CA, Julius Schreck, to create the Schutzstaffel (literal translation "protection detachment") in abbreviated form - SS. To this end, it was supposed to allocate in each SA Hundert (SA hundred) one SS Gruppe (SS branch) in the amount of 10-20 people. The newly created CC divisions within the CA were destined for a small and insignificant role - the physical protection of the top leaders of the party (a kind of bodyguard service). On September 21, 1925, Shrek issued a circular on the creation of SS units. At this time, there was no need to talk about any structure of the SS. However, the SS rank system was immediately born, however, these were not titles yet, but job titles. At this time, the SS was one of the many structural divisions of the SA.
Ranks of General SS from IX-1925 to XI-1926
* Read more about rank encoding.
From the author. Please bear in mind that during this period the word Gruppe means a small SS unit. In the Wehrmacht, this word denoted a rifle squad (10 people). Accordingly, the rank of SS Gruppenführer simply means squad leader. Speaking in the army, this is the lowest sergeant rank. This is already somewhat later, as the SS develops, the rank of SS-Gruppenführer will be equal to the army rank of Generalleutnant.
In November 1926, Hitler begins the secret separation of SS units from the SA. For this, the position of SS Obergruppenfuehrer (SS Obergruppenführer) is introduced, i.e. senior leader of the SS groups. Thus, the SS received dual control (through the SA and directly through its own line). Josef Berthtold becomes the first Obergruppenführer. In the spring of 1927 he is replaced by Erhard Heiden.
Ranks of general SS from XI-1926 to I-1929.
In January 1929, Heinrich Himmler (H. Himmler) was appointed head of the SS. SS begins to grow rapidly. If in January 1929 there were only 280 SS men, then by December 1930 there were already 2727 of them.
At the same time, an independent structure of SS units appeared.
Hierarchy of divisions of the General SS from I-1929 to 1932
Note: Speaking about the equivalence of SS units (SS organizations (!), Not SS Troops) to army units, the author means the similarity in numbers, but not in tasks, tactical mission and combat capabilities.
But in general, Scharen was an SS cell in a village, a city block, Truppen unites several cells in a rural area, a city area. Stuerme is already an SS organization in a small city, a district of a large city, several rural areas. Sturmbanne is an SS organization that unites several Stuerme and covers the entire Big City,
rural area. The Standarte is an SS organization covering the capital city, a large area. The largest association of the SS Abschnitt is, speaking in our language, a republican organization, and taking into account the administrative division of Germany at that time, an organization covering the Gau (region of Germany).
The rank system also changes accordingly. However, these are not titles, but positions.
General SS rank system from I-1929 to 1932
| The code* | |
| 1 | SS Mann (SS Mann) |
| 2 | |
| 3 | SS Sharfuehrer (SS Scharführer) |
| 7 | |
| 9 | |
| 11 | |
| 12 | |
| 14 | |
| 17 | |
| 18 |
The last title was awarded to A. Hitler. It meant roughly the following "Supreme Leader of the SS."
This table clearly shows the influence of the SA rank system. In the SS at this moment there are no large organizations like Gruppe or Obergruppe, but there are ranks. They are worn by the highest leaders of the SS.
In the middle of 1930, Hitler forbade the SA to interfere in the activities of the SS with an order that said "... no SA commander has the right to give orders to the SS." Although the SS still remained within the SA, in fact it was independent.
In 1932, the largest association Oberabschnitte (Oberabschnitte) was introduced into the structure of the SS, which included two or three Abschnitte (Abschnitt) and the SS structure acquired its completeness. P
Please note that this is not about the SS troops (they still do not exist), but about a public organization that is part of the Nazi Party, and all SS men are engaged in this activity on a voluntary basis in parallel with their main labor activity (workers, shopkeepers , artisans, unemployed, peasants, small employees, etc.).
Hierarchy of general SS organizations since 1932
Rank table acquires next view(although it's still more job titles than titles):
General SS rank system from 1932 to V-1933
| The code* | Names of ranks (positions) |
| 1 | SS Mann (SS Mann) |
| 2 | SS Rottenfuehrer (SS Rottenführer) |
| 3 | SS Sharfuehrer (SS Scharführer) |
| 7 | SS Truppfuehrer (SS Truppführer) |
| 9 | SS Sturmfuehrer (SS Sturmführer) |
| 11 | SS Sturmbannfuehrer (SS Sturmbannführer) |
| 12 | SS Standartenfuehrer (SS Standartenführer) |
| 13 | |
| 14 | SS Gruppenfuehrer (SA Gruppenführer) |
| 17 | SS Obergruppenfuehrer (SS Obergruppenführer) |
| 18 | Der Oberste Fuehrer der Schutzstaffel. (Der Oberste Fuhrer der Schutzstaffel) |
The last title was worn only by A. Hitler. It meant roughly the following "Supreme Leader of the SS."
On January 30, 1933, Field Marshal Hindenburg, President of Germany, appoints A. Hitler Reich Chancellor, i.e. power in the country passes into the hands of the Nazis.
In March 1933, Hitler ordered the formation of the first armed formation of the SS, the Leibstandarte-SS "Adolf Hitler" (LSSAH). It was a company of Hitler's bodyguards (120 people). From now on SS is divided into two parts:
1.Allgemeine-SS - general SS.
2.Leibstandarte-SS - an armed formation of the SS.
The difference was that membership in the SS was voluntary, and the SS men were engaged in SS affairs in parallel with their main activities (workers, peasants, shopkeepers, etc.).
And those in the Leibstandarte-SS, being also members of the CC, were already in the service (not in the state, but in the service of the Nazi Party), received uniforms and allowance through the NSDAP. Members of the CC, being people personally devoted to Hitler (Himmler took care of the selection of such people in the CC), after the Nazis came to power, they began to be appointed to key posts in the state apparatus, starting with the heads of the district post office, police, telegraph, railway stations, etc. up to the highest government posts. Thus, the Allgemeine-SS began to gradually turn into a source of the state's administrative personnel, at the same time including a number of state institutions. Thus, the original role of the CC as a purely security unit was emasculated, and the CC quickly turned into the political and administrative basis of the Nazi regime, becoming a supranational organization, an organization that supervises the activities of state institutions in the interests of the Nazis. With the beginning of the creation by Himmler concentration camps concentration camp guard units were detached from the rapidly growing Leibstandarte-SS. The organization of the SS now began to consist of three components:
1.Allgemeine-SS - general SS.
2.Leibstandarte-SS - armed formation of the CC.
From the author. Literally SS-Totenkopfrerbaende means "SS Death's Head formation". This is where the confusion comes in.
SS-Totenkopfrerbaende is the guard of the concentration camps. They wear a common esos uniform with brown piping. In the right buttonhole, where the SS runes (two lightning bolts) are usually worn, they wear the skull and crossbones emblem (the same one that all SS men wear on their headdresses).
But there was also a division of the SS troops - the 3rd SS Panzer Division "Dead Head" (3.SS-Panzer-Division "Totenkopf"), whose servicemen also wore the same emblem in the right buttonhole. But the edging of the buttonholes was white or pink on the tank uniform. This division fought at the front (including the Soviet-German) and had nothing to do with the protection of concentration camps.
However, to consider the soldiers and officers of the SS troops not involved in the crimes of the Nazi regime, as K. Semenov does in his book "SS Troops - Soldiers Like Everyone", is still not worth it. Not to mention the fact that the SS men in the occupied territories of the USSR showed particular cruelty towards the prisoners and the local population, it is worth noting that the so-called. SS Einsatzkommandos for the implementation of mass executions primarily attracted units of the SS troops. Being what is called "one field of berries", the commanders of the SS units, without the slightest objection, sent their soldiers to carry out mass executions, which the commanders of the Wehrmacht often tried to avoid, especially when they began to understand that German soldiers sometimes they are captured and that they may have to answer for war crimes sometime.
General SS rank system from May 19, 1933 to October 15, 1934
| The code* | Names of ranks (positions) |
| 1 | SS Mann (SS Mann) |
| 2a | SS Sturmann (SS Sturmann) |
| 2b | SS Rottenfuehrer (SS Rottenführer) |
| 3a | SS Sharfuehrer (SS Scharführer) |
| 3b | |
| 4a | SS Truppfuehrer (SS Truppführer) |
| 4b | SS Obertruppfuehrer (SS Obertruppführer) |
| 7 | SS Sturmfuehrer (SS Sturmführer) |
| 8 | |
| 9 | SS Sturmhauptfuehrer (SS Sturmhauptfuehrer) |
| 10 | SS Sturmbannfuehrer (SS Sturmbannführer) |
| 11 | |
| 12 | SS Standartenfuehrer (SS Standartenführer) |
| 13 | SS Oberfuehrer (SS Oberführer) |
| 14 | |
| 15 | SS Gruppenfuehrer (SA Gruppenführer) |
| 17 | SS Obergruppenfuehrer (SS Obergruppenführer) |
| 18 | Der Oberste Fuehrer der Schutzstaffel. (Der Oberste Fuhrer der Schutzstaffel) |
On the night of June 30, 1934, the SS, on the orders of Hitler, destroy the top of the SA. After this night, the role of the SA in political life the country was reduced to zero, and the role of the SS increased many times over.
On July 20, 1934, Hitler finally removed the SS from the structure of the SA and gave it the status of an independent organization within the framework of the NSDAP.
The role of the SS in the life of the country continued to grow, there were many who wanted to join this now powerful organization, and on October 15, 1934, Himmler again changed the SS rank scale. New ranks SS-Bewerber and SS-Anwarter are introduced, the first for an applicant for entry into the SS and the second for a person undergoing candidate experience. The names of some titles have changed. A title is introduced specifically for Himmler SS Reichsfuehrer (SS Reichsführer).
This scale lasted until 1942. There was no official division into privates, non-commissioned officers, officers, generals in Allgemeine-SS. This, as it were, emphasized the SS camaraderie and equality. The same scale of ranks until 1936 was used in the Leibstandarte "Adolf Hitler" and in parts of the concentration camp guards
General ranks of general SS from 15.X.1934 to 1942
| The code* | Names of ranks (positions) |
| 0a | SS Bewerber (SS Bewerber) |
| 0b | SS Anwarter (SS Anwarter) |
| 1 | SS Mann (SS Mann) |
| 2a | SS Sturmann (SS Sturmann) |
| 2b | SS Rottenfuehrer (SS Rottenführer) |
| 3a | |
| 3b | SS Sharfuehrer (SS Scharführer) |
| 4a | SS Obersharfuehrer (SS Oberscharführer) |
| 4b | |
| 7 | |
| 8 | SS Obersturmfuehrer (SS Obersturmführer) |
| 9 | |
| 10 | SS Sturmbannfuehrer (SS Sturmbannführer) |
| 11 | SS Oberturmbannfuehrer (SS Obersturmbannführer) |
| 12 | SS Standartenfuehrer (SS Standartenführer) |
| 13 | SS Oberfuehrer (SS Oberführer) |
| 14 | SS Brigadenfuehrer (SS Brigadenführer) |
| 15 | SS Gruppenfuehrer (SA Gruppenführer) |
| 16 | SS Obergruppenfuehrer (SS Obergruppenführer) |
| 17 | |
| 18 |
From October 1936, on the basis of the Leibstandarte-SS, the creation of the SS troops (Waffen SS) began. From that time on, the SS finally acquires its three main components:
1.Allgemeine-SS - general CC.
2. Waffen SS - CC troops.
3.SS-Totenkopfrerbaende - parts of the guards of concentration camps.
Moreover, the Allgemeine-SS actually merges with the state apparatus, some institutions of the state become departments and departments of the Allgemeine-SS, and the SS troops and the guards of concentration camps, in the view of many modern readers, merge into a single whole. Hence the fallacy of the idea that the SS is the SS Troops, especially since since 1936 they and the guards of the concentration camps receive their own system of ranks, which differs from the general SS. The idea that the SS troops were engaged in the protection of concentration camps is also erroneous. The camps were guarded by specially created units called SS-Totenkopfrerbaende, which were not part of the SS Troops. The very structure of the Waffen SS units was not general SS, but of an army model (squad, platoon, company, battalion, regiment, division). There were no permanent formations larger than a division in the Waffen SS.
Ranks of the Waffen SS and SS-Totenkopfrerbaende from X-1936 to 1942
| The code* | Category | Names of ranks |
| 1a | Mannschaften | SS Schutze (SS Schutze) |
| 1b | ||
| 2a | SS Sturmann (SS Sturmann) | |
| 2b | SS Rottenfuehrer (SS Rottenführer) | |
| 3a | Unterfuehrer | SS Unterscharfuehrer (SS Unterscharführer) |
| 3b | SS Sharfuehrer (SS Scharführer) | |
| 4a | SS Obersharfuehrer (SS Oberscharführer) | |
| 4b | SS Hauptscharfuehrer (SS Hauptscharführer) | |
| 7 | Untere Fuehrer | SS Untersturmfuehrer (SS Untersturmführer) |
| 8 | ||
| 9 | SS Hauptsturmfuehrer (SS Hauptsturmführer) | |
| 10 | Mittlere Fuehrer | SS Sturmbannfuehrer (SS Sturmbannführer) |
| 11 | ||
| 12 | SS Standartenfuehrer (SS Standartenführer) | |
| 13 | SS Oberfuehrer (SS Oberführer) | |
| 14 | Hoehere Fuehrer | SS Brigadenfuehrer und der General-maior der Waffen SS (SS Brigadenführer und der Major General der Waffen SS) |
| 15 | ||
| 16 | SS Obergruppenfuehrer und der General der Waffen SS (SS Obergruppenführer und der General der Waffen SS) |
Note.
From the author. By the way, the generally accepted translation of the word "Reich" in Russian-language literature as "empire" (hence "Third Empire, imperial, ...) is fundamentally wrong. True "Reich" - "State". Empire in German - "Kaiserreich" (literally - "imperial state" or "state of the emperor")
In 1937, four officer schools were created in the SS troops, the students of which had the following ranks:
In May 1942, the ranks SS-Sturmscharfuehrer and SS-Oberstgruppenfuehrer were added to the SS rank scale. These were the last changes to the SS rank scale. Three years remained before the end of the thousand-year Reich.
General SS ranks from 1942 to 1945
| The code* | Names of ranks (positions) |
| 0a | SS Bewerber (SS Bewerber) |
| 0b | SS Anwarter (SS Anwarter) |
| 1 | SS Mann (SS Mann) |
| 2a | SS Sturmann (SS Sturmann) |
| 2b | SS Rottenfuehrer (SS Rottenführer) |
| 3a | SS Unterscharfuehrer (SS Unterscharführer) |
| 3b | SS Sharfuehrer (SS Scharführer) |
| 4a | SS Obersharfuehrer (SS Oberscharführer) |
| 4b | SS Hauptscharfuehrer (SS Hauptscharführer) |
| 5 | SS Sturmscharfuehrer (SS Sturmscharfuehrer) |
| 7 | SS Untersturmfuehrer (SS Untersturmführer) |
| 8 | SS Obersturmfuehrer (SS Obersturmführer) |
| 9 | SS Hauptsturmfuehrer (SS Hauptsturmführer) |
| 10 | SS Sturmbannfuehrer (SS Sturmbannführer) |
| 11 | SS Oberturmbannfuehrer (SS Obersturmbannführer) |
| 12 | SS Standartenfuehrer (SS Standartenführer) |
| 13 | SS Oberfuehrer (SS Oberführer) |
| 14 | SS Brigadenfuehrer (SS Brigadenführer) |
| 15 | SS Gruppenfuehrer (SA Gruppenführer) |
| 16a | SS Obergruppenfuehrer (SS Obergruppenführer) |
| 16b | SS-Oberstgruppenfuehrer (SS Oberstgruppenfuehrer) |
| 17 | SS Reichsfuehrer (SS Reichsführer) Only G. Himmler had this title |
| 18 | Der Oberste Fuehrer der Schutzstaffel. (Der Oberste Fuhrer der Schutzstaffel) Only A. Hitler had this title |
Waffen SS and SS-Totenkopfrerbaende ranks from V-1942 to 1945
| The code* | Category | Names of ranks |
| 1a | Mannschaften | SS Schutze (SS Schutze) |
| 1b | SS Oberschutze (SS Oberschutze) | |
| 2a | SS Sturmann (SS Sturmann) | |
| 2b | SS Rottenfuehrer (SS Rottenführer) | |
| 3a | Unterfuehrer | SS-Unterscharfuehrer (SS Unterscharführer) |
| 3b | SS Sharfuehrer (SS Scharführer) | |
| 4a | SS Obersharfuehrer (SS Oberscharführer) | |
| 4b | SS Hauptscharfuehrer (SS Hauptscharführer) | |
| 5 | SS-Sturmscharfuehrer (SS Sturmscharfuehrer) | |
| 7 | Untere Fuehrer | SS Untersturmfuehrer (SS Untersturmführer) |
| 8 | SS Obersturmfuehrer (SS Obersturmführer) | |
| 9 | SS Hauptsturmfuehrer (SS Hauptsturmführer) | |
| 10 | Mittlere Fuehrer | SS Sturmbannfuehrer (SS Sturmbannführer) |
| 11 | SS Obersturmbannfuehrer (SS Obersturmbannführer) | |
| 12 | SS Standartenfuehrer (SS Standartenführer) | |
| 13 | SS Oberfuehrer (SS Oberführer) | |
| 14 | Hoehere Fuehrer | SS Brigadenfuehrer und der General-maior Waffen SS (SS Brigadenführer und der Major General der Waffen SS) |
| 15 | SS Gruppenfuehrer und der General-leutnant der Waffen SS | |
| 16a | SS Obergruppenfuehrer und der General der Waffen SS (SS Obergruppenführer und der General der Waffen SS) | |
| 16b | SS-Oberstgruppenfuehrer und der General-oberst der Waffen SS |
Note. For generals of the SS troops, the words "... and general .... der Waffen SS" were added to the general SS rank, but in those in the service of the RSHA (Main Directorate State Security) to the general SS rank was added "... and general .... der policeman" ("... und General ... der Polizei). In the protection of concentration camps there were no general posts, and, accordingly, there were no general ranks. At the same time, the SS men , remaining in the Allgemeine-SS, the general ranks of this additive did not have.
At the final stage of the war, the activities of the SS organizations ceased with the occupation of this territory by the Red Army or Allied troops.
Formally, the activity of the SS was terminated, and the organization itself was dissolved in the fall of 1945 on the basis of the decisions of the Potsdam Allied Conference on the denazification of Germany.
By the verdict of the international tribunal in Nuremberg in the autumn of 1946. The SS was recognized as a criminal organization, and membership in it a crime. However, only top leaders and part of the average SS personnel, as well as soldiers and officers of the SS troops and concentration camp guards, were subjected to real criminal prosecution.
During the war, the Soviet Union took SS soldiers and officers prisoner on a par with the Wehrmacht soldiers. However, at the end of the war, on the basis of the verdict of the Nuremberg Tribunal, all SS men in our country were classified as criminals and, on this basis, were kept in places of detention until the end of 1955.
Sources and literature
1.K.Semenov. SS troops. Soldiers like everyone else. YAUZA.EXMO. Moscow. 2004
2.V.Shunkov. Soldiers of destruction. Harvest. AST. Moscow. Minsk. 2001
3.K.Zaleski. SS. Security detachments of the NSDAP. EXMO.YAUZA. Moscow. 2004
4. B. Lee Davis. Uniform of the Third Reich. AST.Moscow. 2000
5.S von Eelking. Die Uniformen von der Braunhemden. Zentrakverlag der N.S.D.A.P. Muenchen.1934.
6.F.Altrichter. Der Reserveoffizier. Verlag von E.S. Mittler & Sohn. Berlin. 1943
Two heads and six legs; four walk, and two lie still
Self-esteem - what is it: concept, structure, types and levels
Cassandra's Path, or Pasta Adventures War on Earth and Underground