Ranks of Waffen-SS
- Details
- Published: 31 December 2010 31 December 2010
- Last Updated: 07 April 2012 07 April 2012
Reichsführer-SS | RFSS | General of the army | ||||
SS-Oberstgruppenführer und Generaloberst der Waffen-SS | Ostgruf | General | ||||
SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS (1) | Ogruf | Lt General | ||||
SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS (2) | Gruf | Major General | ||||
SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS (3) | Brigaf | Brigadier General | ||||
SS-Oberführer | Obf | Senior colonel | ||||
SS-Standartenführer | Staf | Colonel | ||||
SS-Obersturmbannführer | Ostubaf | Lt Colonel | ||||
SS-Sturmbannführer | Stubaf | Major | ||||
SS-Hauptsturmführer | Hstuf | Captain | ||||
SS-Obersturmführer | Ostuf | 1st Lieutenant | ||||
SS-Untersturmführer | Ustuf | 2d Lieutenant | ||||
SS-Sturmscharführer | Stuscha | Sergeant Major | ||||
SS-Hauptscharführer | Hscha | Master sergeant | ||||
SS-Oberscharführer | Oscha | Technical sergeant | ||||
SS-Scharführer | Scha | Staff sergeant | ||||
SS-Unterscharführer | Uscha | Sergeant | ||||
SS-Rottenführer | Rttf | Corporal | ||||
SS-Sturmmann (4) | Strmm | Corporal | ||||
SS-Oberschütze (etc) (5) | Private 1st class | |||||
SS-Schütze (etc) (6) | Private | |||||
SS-Staffelbewerber | - |
1. Until 1940 this rank was known as SS-Obergruppenführer.
2. Until 1940 this rank was known as SS-Gruppenführer.
3. Until 1940 this rank was known as SS-Brigadeführer.
4. For non-SS members the rank was SS-Staffel-Sturmmann.
5. Until July 1941 this rank was known as SS-Staffelmann.
6. Until July 1941 this rank was known as SS-Staffelanwärter.
Note that the prefix SS- was (usually) replaced with Waffen- or Legion- in the non-germanic units
Officer candidates
SS-Standartenoberjunker SS-Hauptscharführer
SS-Standartenjunker SS-Scharführer
SS-Junker SS-Unterscharführer
The rank of SS-Junker was given to an officer-applicant when he was accepted into the Junkerschule, if he passed the mid-term exam he was given the rank of SS-Standartenjunker. When he passed the final exam he was given the rank of SS-Standartenoberjunker which he held until he received his commissioned rank as SS-Untersturmführer.
The SS-Schütze and SS-Oberschütze ranks varied according to the type of units as listed below.
SS-Artillerie Einheit | SS-Kanonier | SS-Oberkanonier | |||||
SS-Bewährungs Einheit | SS-Bewährungsschütze | SS-Bewährungsoberschütze | |||||
SS-Feldgendarmerie Einheit | SS-Feldgendarm | - | |||||
SS-Flak Einheit | SS-Schütze | SS-Oberschütze | |||||
SS-Gebirgs Artillerie Einheit | SS-Kanonier | SS-Oberkanonier | |||||
SS-Gebirgsjäger Einheit | SS-Jäger | SS-Oberschütze | |||||
SS-Grenadier Einheit | SS-Grenadier | SS-Obergrenadier | |||||
SS-Karstwehr Einhet | SS-Jäger | SS-Oberschütze | |||||
SS-Kradschützen Einheit | SS-Schütze | SS-Oberschütze | |||||
SS-Kriegberichter Einheit | SS-Schütze | SS-Oberschütze | |||||
SS-Nachrichten Einheit | SS-Funker | SS-Oberfunker | |||||
SS-Nachschub Einheit (besp.) | SS-Fahrer | SS-Oberfahrer | |||||
SS-Nachschub Einheit (mot) | SS-Kraftfahrer | SS-Oberkraftfahrer | |||||
SS-Panzer Einheit | SS-Panzerschütze | SS-Panzeroberschütze | |||||
SS-Panzergrenadier Einheit | SS-Panzergrenadier | SS-Panzerobergrenadier | |||||
SS-Panzerjäger Einheit | SS-Schütze | SS-Oberschütze | |||||
SS-Panzerspäh Einheit | SS-Panzerschütze | SS-Panzeroberschütze | |||||
SS-Pionier Einheit | SS-Pionier | SS-Oberpionier | |||||
SS-Radfahr Einheit | SS-Schütze | SS-Oberschütze | |||||
SS-Reiter Einheit | SS-Reiter | SS-Oberreiter | |||||
SS-Sanitäts Einheit | SS-Schütze | SS-Oberschütze | |||||
SS-Sturmgeschütz Einheit | SS-Kanonier | SS-Oberkanonier | |||||
SS-Wehrgeologen Einheit | SS-Schütze | SS-Oberschütze | |||||
SS-Werfer Einheit | SS-Kanonier | SS-Oberkanonier | |||||
SS-Werkstatt Einheit | SS-Schütze | SS-Oberschütze | |||||
SS-Veterinär Einheit | SS-Reiter | SS-Oberreiter |