This table contains the final ranks and insignia of the Waffen-SS, which were in use from April 1942 to May 1945, in comparison to the Wehrmacht.[1] The highest ranks of the combined SS (German: Gesamt-SS) was that of Reichsführer-SS and Oberster Führer der SS; however, there was no Waffen-SS equivalent to these positions.[2]
Insignia | Title (English) |
Army equivalent[3] | Approximate equivalents during World War II | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Collar[4][5] | Shoulder[4][5] | Sleeve (parka)[5] |
U.S.[4][6] | UK[7] | |||
General ranks | |||||||
SS-Oberst-Gruppenführer und Generaloberst der Waffen-SS (SS-Supreme group leader and colonel general of the Waffen-SS) |
Generaloberst | General | General | ||||
SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS (SS-Senior group leader and general of the Waffen-SS) |
General der Waffengattung | Lieutenant general | Lieutenant-general | ||||
SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS (SS-Group leader and lieutenant general of the Waffen-SS) |
Generalleutnant | Major general | Major general | ||||
SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS (SS-Brigadier leader and major general of the Waffen-SS) |
Generalmajor | Brigadier general | Brigadier | ||||
Officer ranks | |||||||
SS-Oberführer (SS-Senior leader) |
No army equivalent; equivalent to Kommodore in the Kriegsmarine | Senior colonel | Colonel | ||||
SS-Standartenführer (SS-Standard leader) |
Oberst | Colonel | Colonel | ||||
SS-Obersturmbannführer (SS-Senior assault unit leader) |
Oberstleutnant | Lieutenant colonel | Lieutenant colonel | ||||
SS-Sturmbannführer (SS-Assault unit leader) |
Major | Major | Major | ||||
SS-Hauptsturmführer (SS-Head assault leader) |
Hauptmann/Rittmeister | Captain | Captain | ||||
SS-Obersturmführer (SS-Senior assault leader) |
Oberleutnant | First lieutenant | Lieutenant | ||||
SS-Untersturmführer (SS-Second/Junior assault leader) |
Leutnant | Second lieutenant | |||||
Non-commissioned officer ranks | |||||||
SS-Sturmscharführer (SS-Assault section leader) |
Stabsfeldwebel | Sergeant major | Regimental sergeant major | ||||
Various Depending on rank |
SS-Stabsscharführer (SS-Staff section leader)[a] |
Hauptfeldwebel senior NCO e.g., Oberfeldwebel or Feldwebel, seldom Unterfeldwebel. |
— | (Company) Sergeant major | |||
SS-Hauptscharführer (SS-Head section leader) |
Oberfeldwebel | Master sergeant | Sergeant major | ||||
SS-Standartenoberjunker OA (Officer aspirant) |
Fahnenjunker-Oberfeldwebel OA (Officer aspirant) |
||||||
SS-Oberscharführer (SS-Senior section leader) |
Feldwebel | Technical sergeant | Staff sergeant | ||||
SS-Standartenjunker OA (Officer aspirant) |
Fahnenjunker-Feldwebel OA (Officer aspirant) |
||||||
SS-Scharführer (SS-Section leader) |
Unterfeldwebel | Staff sergeant | Sergeant | ||||
SS-Oberjunker OA (Officer aspirant) |
Fahnenjunker-Unterfeldwebel OA (Officer aspirant) |
||||||
SS-Unterscharführer (SS-Junior squad leader) |
Unteroffizier | Sergeant | Corporal | ||||
SS-Junker OA (Officer aspirant) |
Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier OA (Officer aspirant) |
||||||
Enlisted ranks | |||||||
No equivalent[b] | Stabsgefreiter | Administrative corporal | Lance corporal | ||||
SS-Rottenführer (SS-Squad leader) |
Obergefreiter | Corporal | Lance corporal | ||||
SS-Sturmmann (SS-Assault man/Storm trooper) |
Gefreiter | Acting corporal | Senior Private | ||||
SS-Oberschütze (SS-Senior rifleman) |
Oberschütze | Private 1st class | Senior private | ||||
No insignia | SS-Schütze (SS-Rifleman) |
Soldat, Schütze, Grenadier | Private | Private |
Remarks
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