German ranks of the Second World War. Officer ranks in Nazi Germany

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

Such a strong aesthetic impact is due to the fact that the uniform and emblem for the SS troops (die Waffen-SS) were designed by a talented artist, a graduate of the Hannover Art School and the Berlin Academy, the author of the cult painting “Mother” Karl Diebitsch. To create the final version, designer and fashion designer of the SS uniform Walter Heck collaborated with him. And the uniforms were sewn at the factories of the then little-known fashion designer Hugo Ferdinand Boss, and now his brand is famous throughout the world.

History of the SS uniform

Initially, the SS guards of the party leaders of the NSDAP (Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei - National Socialist German Workers' Party), like the stormtroopers of Rehm (the head of the SA - assault troops - Sturmabteilung), wore a light brown shirt plus breeches and boots.

Even before final decision about the expediency of the existence of two parallel “advanced security detachments of the party” at the same time, and before the purge of the SA, the “Imperial SS leader” Himmler continued to wear black piping on the shoulder of a brown jacket for the members of his squad.

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

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

When black uniforms designed by Diebitsch-Heck were introduced in 1934, only red with black piping remained from the days of the first SS units. armband with a swastika.

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

• front;
• everyday.

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

Distinctive features In appearance, the military personnel of the SS units for a long time became:

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

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

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

Changes by 1939

It was in 1939 that the famous “death’s head” (a skull made first of bronze, then of aluminum or brass) was transformed into the eagle famous from the TV series on the cap or cap badge.

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

During the reconstruction of the Allgemein SS into the Waffen SS (a purely “party army” was reorganized into combat troops under the nominal High Command of the Wehrmacht General Staff) the following changes occurred with the SS uniform, which introduced:

• field uniform in gray (the famous “feldgrau”) color;
• ceremonial white uniform for officers;
• overcoat black or gray colors, also with armbands.

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

After the decrees and innovations of Hitler, Himmler and (under their leadership) Theodor Eicke and Paul Hausser, the division of the SS into police units (primarily “Totenkopf” units) and combat units was finally formed.

It is interesting that the “police” units could be ordered exclusively by the Reichsführer personally, but the combat units, which were considered a reserve of the military command, could be used by Wehrmacht generals. Service in the Waffen SS was equivalent to military service, and police and security forces were not considered military units.

However, the SS units remained under the close attention of the supreme party leadership, as “a model of political force.” Hence the constant changes, even during the war, in their uniforms.

SS uniform in wartime

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

• a private (Schützmann, colloquially simply “man”, “SS man”) wore simple black shoulder straps and buttonholes with two runes on the right (the left ─ empty, black);
• a “tested” private, after six months of service (oberschutze), received a silver “bump” (“star”) for the shoulder strap of his field (“camouflage”) uniform. The remaining insignia were identical to the Schutzmann;
• the corporal (navigator) received a thin double silver stripe on the left buttonhole;
• the junior sergeant (Rottenführer) already had four stripes of the same color on the left buttonhole, and on the field uniform the “bump” was replaced by a triangular patch.

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

The triangles on the field uniform were replaced with rectangles of varying thickness (the thinnest for the Unterscharführer, the thickest, almost square, for the Sturmscharführer).

These SS men had the following insignia:

• Sergeant (Unterscharführer) ─ black shoulder straps with silver edging and a small “star” (“square”, “bump”) on the right buttonhole. The “SS Junker” also had the same insignia;
• senior sergeant (scharführer) ─ the same shoulder straps and silver stripes on the side of the “square” on the buttonhole;
• foreman (Oberscharführer) ─ the same shoulder straps, two stars without stripes on the buttonhole;
• ensign (Hauptscharführer) ─ buttonhole, like that of a sergeant major, but with stripes, there are already two bumps on the shoulder straps;
• senior warrant officer or sergeant major (Sturmscharführer) ─ shoulder straps with three squares, on the buttonhole the same two “squares” as the warrant officer, but with four thin stripes.

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

SS officer uniform

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

• Lieutenant (Untersturmführer) ─ silver “empty” shoulder straps, three squares on the buttonhole;
• senior lieutenant (Obersturführer) ─ square on shoulder straps, a silver stripe was added to the insignia on the buttonhole, two lines on the sleeve patch under the “leaves”;
• captain (Hauptsturmführer) ─ additional lines on the patch and on the buttonhole, shoulder straps with two “knobs”;
• Major (Sturmbannführer) ─ silver “braided” shoulder straps, three squares on the buttonhole;
• Lieutenant Colonel (Oberbannsturmführer) ─ one square on a twisted shoulder strap. Two thin stripes under the four squares on the buttonhole.

Starting with the rank of major, the insignia underwent minor differences in 1942. The color of the backing on the twisted shoulder straps corresponded to the branch of the military; on the shoulder strap itself there was sometimes a symbol of a military specialty (the badge of a tank unit or, for example, a veterinary service). After 1942, the “bumps” on the shoulder straps turned from silver to golden-colored insignia.

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

The remaining insignia of senior officers looked like this:

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

It is characteristic that these officers also had black and green “camouflage” shoulder straps for “field” combat uniforms. For commanders of higher ranks, the colors became less “protective.”

SS general uniform

On the SS uniforms of the senior command staff (generals), golden-colored shoulder straps appear on a blood-red background, with silver-colored symbols.

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

High command insignia on shoulder straps and buttonholes, respectively:

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

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

Gestapo insignia

The Gestapo SD security service also wore SS uniforms, and the ranks and insignia were almost identical to those in the Waffen or Allgemeine SS.

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

An interesting fact: in Lioznova’s great TV film, the viewer almost always sees Stirlitz wearing it, although in the spring of 1945, the black uniform almost everywhere in the SS was replaced by a “paradka”, which was more convenient for front-line conditions. dark green.

Muller could wear an exclusively black jacket, both as a general and as an advanced high-ranking leader who rarely ventures into the regions.

Camouflage

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

• helmet cover;
• jacket;
• face mask.

Later, camouflage capes (Zelltbahn) appeared. Before the appearance of double-sided overalls around 1942-43, trousers (breeches) were from the usual field uniform.

The pattern itself on camouflage overalls could use a variety of “small-spotted” shapes:

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

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

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

Initially, uniforms made from camouflage waterproof fabrics were supplied to the Verfugungstruppe (dispositional troops). Later, camouflage became an integral part of the uniform of SS “task” groups (Einsatzgruppen) of reconnaissance and sabotage detachments and units.

During the war, the German leadership took a creative approach to the creation of camouflage uniforms: they successfully borrowed the findings of the Italians (the first creators of camouflage) and the developments of the Americans and the British, which were obtained as trophies.

However, one cannot underestimate the contribution of German scientists and those who collaborated with the Hitler regime in the development of such famous camouflage brands as

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

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

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

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

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

A single example of this military uniform is in the military museum in Prague. So there can be no question of any mass tailoring of the uniform of this sample; so few similar camouflages were produced that now they are one of the most interesting and expensive rarities of the Second World War.

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

The “SS-Eich-Platanenmuster” camouflage was much more common on all fronts. Actually, “Platanenmuster” (“woody”) is found in pre-war photos. By 1942, “reversible” or “reversible” jackets in “Eich-Platanenmuster” colors began to be supplied to the SS troops en masse ─ autumn camouflage on the front, spring colors on the front back side fabrics.

Actually, this three-color combat uniform with broken lines of “rain” or “branches” is most often found in films about the Second World War and the Great Patriotic War.

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

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

SS uniform today

The aesthetically pleasing black SS uniform is still popular today. Unfortunately, most often it is not where it is really necessary to recreate authentic uniforms: not in Russian cinema.

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

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

• the infamous 2012 film, “Serving the Soviet Union” (about how the army fled, but political prisoners on the western border defeated the SS sabotage units) ─ we see the SS men in 1941, dressed in something between “Beringtes Eichenlaubmuster” and even more modern digital camouflages;
• the sad picture “In June 41st” (2008) allows you to see SS men on the battlefield in full ceremonial black uniform.

There are many similar examples; even the “anti-Soviet” joint Russian-German film of 2011 with Guskov, “4 Days in May,” where the Nazis, in 1945, are mostly dressed in camouflage from the first years of the war, is not spared from mistakes.

But the SS ceremonial uniform enjoys well-deserved respect among reenactors. Of course, various extremist groups, including those not recognized as such, such as the relatively peaceful “Goths,” also strive to pay tribute to the aesthetics of Nazism.

Probably the fact is that thanks to history, as well as the classic films “The Night Porter” by Cavani or “Twilight of the Gods” by Visconti, the public has developed a “protest” perception of the aesthetics of the forces of evil. It is not for nothing that the leader of the Sex Pistols, Sid Vishers, often appeared in a T-shirt with a swastika; in the collection of fashion designer Jean-Louis Shearer in 1995, almost all toilets were decorated with either imperial eagles or oak leaves.

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

Video

Brigadefuhrer (German: Brigadefuhrer)- rank in the SS and SA, corresponding to the rank of major general.

May 19, 1933 introduced into the SS structure as the rank of leaders of the main territorial divisions of the SS Oberabschnitte (SS-Oberabschnitte). This is the highest structural unit SS organizations. There were 17 of them. It can be equated to an army district, especially since the territorial boundaries of each oberabshnit coincided with the boundaries of the army districts. Oberabschnit did not have a clearly defined number of abschnites. This depended on the size of the territory, the number of SS units stationed on it, and the population size. Most often, the Oberabschnit had three abschnit and several special formations: one signal battalion (SS Nachrichtensturmbann), one engineer battalion (SS Pioniersturmbann), one sanitary company (SS Sanitaetssturm), an auxiliary reserve squad of members over 45 years of age, or a women's auxiliary squad ( SS Helferinnen). Since 1936 in the Waffen-SS it corresponded to the rank of major general and the position of division commander.

The change in the insignia of senior SS Fuhrers (generals) in April 1942 was caused by the introduction of the rank of Oberstgruppenführer and the desire to unify the number of stars on the buttonholes and on shoulder straps, which were worn on all other types of uniforms, except for the party one, since with the increase in the number of Waffen-SS units, more and more There were problems with the correct recognition of SS ranks by ordinary Wehrmacht soldiers.

Starting from this SS rank, if its holder was appointed to a military (since 1936) or police (since 1933) position, he received a duplicate rank in accordance with the nature of the service:

SS Brigadeführer and Major General of Police - German. SS Brigadefuehrer und der General-maior der Polizei
SS Brigadeführer and Major General of the Waffen-SS - German. SS Brigadefuehrer und der General-major der Waffen SS

Allgemeine SS officer's cap

Although the SS was the most complex of all the structures that made up the NSDAP, the rank system changed little throughout the history of this organization. In 1942, the rank system took its final form and existed until the end of the war.

Mannschaften (lower ranks):
SS-Bewerber - SS candidate
SS-Anwaerter - cadet
SS-Mann (SS-Schuetze in Waffen-SS) - private
SS-Oberschuetze (Waffen-SS) - private after six months of service
SS-Strummann - Lance Corporal
SS-Rollenfuehrer - corporal
Unterfuehrer (non-commissioned officers)
SS-Unterscharfuehrer - corporal
SS-Scharfuehrer - junior sergeant
SS-Oberscharfuehrer - sergeant
SS-Hauptscharfuehrer - senior sergeant
SS-Sturmscharfuerer (Waffen-SS) - company senior sergeant

Left buttonhole with SS Obergruppenführer insignia, front and back view

SS Sturmbannführer buttonholes

Sleeve eagle ss

On Labor Day 1935, the Fuhrer watched a parade of members of the Hitler Youth. To Hitler's left stands SS Gruppenführer Philipp Bowler, head of the Fuhrer's personal office. Bowler has a dagger on his belt. Bowler and Goebbels (behind the Führer) wear a badge on their chests issued especially for the "Tag der Arbeit 1935", while Hitler, who avoided wearing jewelry on his clothes, limited himself to only one Iron Cross. The Fuhrer did not even wear a Golden Party Badge.

Samples of SS insignia

From left - top to bottom: Oberstgruppenführer buttonhole, Obergruppenführer buttonhole, Gruppenführer buttonhole (before 1942)

In the middle - from top to bottom: Gruppenführer's shoulder straps, Gruppenführer's buttonhole, Brigadeführer's buttonhole. Bottom left: Oberführer's buttonhole, Standartenführer's buttonhole.

Bottom right: Obersturmbannführer's buttonhole, collar with Hauptsturmführer's buttonhole, Hauptscharführer's buttonhole.

Below in the middle: shoulder straps of an Obersturmbannführer of the infantry, shoulder straps of an Untersturmführer of the communications units of the Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler division, shoulder straps of an Oberscharführer of anti-tank self-propelled artillery.

From top to bottom: Oberscharführer's collar, Scharführer's collar, Rottenführer's buttonhole.

Top right: officer's all-SS buttonhole, soldier's buttonhole of the Totenkopf (Death's Head) division, buttonhole of the 20th Estonian SS Grenadier Division, buttonhole of the 19th Latvian SS Grenadier Division

Back of the buttonhole

In the Waffen-SS, non-commissioned officers could obtain the position of SS-Stabscharfuerer (non-commissioned officer on duty). The duties of the duty non-commissioned officer included various administrative, disciplinary and reporting functions. SS Staffsharführers had the unofficial nickname “tier Spiess” and wore a jacket, the cuffs of which were decorated with double piping made of aluminum braid (Tresse).

Untere Fuehrer (junior officers):
SS-Untersturmfuehrer - lieutenant
SS-Obcrstrumfuehrer - chief lieutenant
SS-Hauptsturmfuehrer - captain

Mittlere Fuehrer (senior officers):
SS-Sturmbannfuehrer - major
SS-Obersturmbannfuehrer - lieutenant colonel
SS“Standar£enfuehrer - Colonel
SS-Oberfuehrer - senior colonel
Hoehere Fuehrer (senior officers)
SS-Brigadefuehrer - brigadier general
SS-Gruppenl "uchrer - Major General
SS-Obergruppertfuehrer - Lieutenant General
SS-Oberstgruppenfuehrer - Colonel General
In 1940, all SS generals also received the corresponding army ranks, for example
SS-Obergruppcnfuehrer und General der Waffen-SS. In 1943, the ranks of generals were supplemented by the rank of police, since by this time the police had already been practically absorbed by the SS. The same general in 1943 was called SS-Obergruppenfuehrer und General der Waffen-SS und Polizei. In 1944, some of Himmler's deputies in charge of Allgemeine-SS issues. The Waffen-SS and police received the title Hoehere SS- und Polizei fuehrer (HSSPI).
Himmler retained his title of Reichsführer-SS. Hitler, who by his position headed the SA. NSKK, Hitler Youth and other NSDAP formations. was Commander-in-Chief of the SS and held the title of Der Oberste Fuehrer der Schutzstaffel.
Allgemeine-SS ranks usually took precedence over the corresponding Waffen-SS and police ranks, so members of the Allgemeine-SS transferred to the Waffen-SS and police without losing their ranks and if promoted, this was automatically taken into account in their Allgemeine-SS rank.

Waffen ss officer's cap

Waffen-SS (Fuehrerbewerber) officer candidates served in non-commissioned officer positions before attaining officer rank. For 18 months SS- Führeranwarter(cadet) received the ranks of SS-Junker, SS-Standartenjunker and SS-Standartenoberjunker, which corresponded to the ranks of SS-Unterscharführer, SS-Scharführer and SS-Haupgscharführer. SS officers and candidates for SS officers enlisted in the reserve received the appendage der Reserve to their rank . A similar scheme was applied to non-commissioned officer candidates. Civilian specialists (translators, doctors, etc.) who served in the ranks of the SS received the addition of Sonderfuehrer or Fach fuehrer to their rank.

SS cap patch (trapezoid)

Skull cockade ss

Military insignia are present on the uniform of military personnel and indicate the corresponding personal rank, a specific affiliation with one of the branches of the armed forces (in this case, the Wehrmacht), branch of the military, department or service.

Interpretation of the concept "Wehrmacht"

These are the “defense forces” in 1935 - 1945. In other words, the Wehrmacht (photo below) is nothing more than the armed forces of Nazi Germany. It is headed by the Supreme Command of the country's armed forces, which subordinates the ground forces, the Navy and Air Force, and the SS troops. They were led by the main commands (OKL, OKH, OKM) and the commanders-in-chief of various types of armed forces (since 1940, also the SS troops). Wehrmacht - Reich Chancellor A. Hitler. A photo of Wehrmacht soldiers is shown below.

According to historical data, the word in question in German-speaking countries denoted the armed forces of any country. It acquired its usual meaning when the NSDAP came to power.

On the eve of World War II, the Wehrmacht numbered approximately three million people, and its maximum strength was 11 million people (as of December 1943).

Types of military signs

These include:

Uniforms and insignia of the Wehrmacht

There were several types of uniforms and clothing. Each soldier had to independently monitor the condition of his weapons and uniform. They were replaced in accordance with the established procedure or in case of serious damage during the training process. Military uniforms lost color very quickly due to washing and daily brushing.

The soldiers' shoes were thoroughly inspected (at all times, bad boots were a serious problem).

Since the formation of the Reichswehr in the period 1919 - 1935), the military uniform has become unified for all existing German states. Its color is “feldgrau” (translated as “field gray”) - a wormwood shade with a predominant green pigment.

The new uniform (uniform of the Wehrmacht - the armed forces of Nazi Germany in the period 1935 - 1945) was introduced along with the new model steel helmet. The ammunition, uniforms and helmets did not differ in appearance from their predecessors (existing in the Kaiser's era).

At the whim of the Fuhrer, the attire of the military personnel was emphasized by a large number of different elements (signs, stripes, piping, badges, etc.). Devotion to National Socialism was expressed by applying the black, white and red imperial cockade and the tricolor shield on the right side of the helmet. The appearance of the imperial tricolor dates back to mid-March 1933. In October 1935, the uniform was supplemented by an imperial eagle holding a swastika in its claws. At this time, the Reichswehr was renamed the Wehrmacht (photo was shown earlier).

This topic will be considered in relation to the Ground Forces and SS troops.

Insignia of the Wehrmacht and specifically the SS troops

To begin with, we should clarify some points. Firstly, the SS troops and the SS organization itself are not identical concepts. The latter is the combat component of the Nazi Party, formed by members of a public organization who conduct their core activities parallel to the SS (worker, shopkeeper, civil servant, etc.). They were allowed to wear a black uniform, which since 1938 was replaced by a light gray uniform with two Wehrmacht-type shoulder straps. The latter reflected general SS ranks.

As for the SS troops, we can say that these are a kind of security detachments (“reserve troops” - “Totenkopf formations” - Hitler’s own troops), into which exclusively SS members were accepted. They were considered equal to Wehrmacht soldiers.

The difference in the ranks of members of the SS organization based on buttonholes existed until 1938. On the black uniform there was a single shoulder strap (on the right shoulder), from which it was possible to determine only the category of a particular SS member (private or non-commissioned officer, or junior or senior officer, or general). And after the light gray uniform was introduced (1938), another one was added distinctive feature- shoulder straps of the Wehrmacht type.

The SS insignia of both military personnel and members of the organization are the same. However, the former still wear a field uniform, which is an analogue of the Wehrmacht. It has two shoulder straps, similar in appearance to those of the Wehrmacht, and military insignia their rank differences are identical.

The rank system, and therefore the insignia, was subject to changes many times, the last of which occurred in May 1942 (they were not transformed until May 1945).

Military ranks of the Wehrmacht were designated by buttonholes, shoulder straps, braid and chevrons on the collar, and the last two insignia on the sleeves, as well as special sleeve patches mainly on camouflage military clothing, various stripes (gaps of a contrasting color) on trousers, and the design of hats.

It was the SS field uniform that was finally established around 1938. If we consider cut as a comparison criterion, we can say that the Wehrmacht (ground forces) uniform and the SS uniform were no different. The color of the second one was a little grayer and lighter, the green tint was practically not visible.

Also, if we describe the insignia of the SS (specifically the patch), we can highlight the following points: the imperial eagle was slightly above the middle of the segment from the shoulder to the elbow of the left sleeve, its design differed in the shape of the wings (there were often cases when the Wehrmacht eagle was sewn onto the SS field uniform ).

Also a distinctive feature, for example, on the SS tank uniform, was that the buttonholes, just like those of the Wehrmacht tankers, were surrounded by a pink border. The Wehrmacht insignia in this case is represented by the presence of a “dead head” in both buttonholes. SS tankmen could have rank insignia in the left buttonhole, and either a “dead head” or SS runes in the right buttonhole (in some cases there might not have been any insignia or, for example, in a number of divisions the tank crew emblem was placed there - skull with crossed bones). The collar had even buttonholes, the size of which was 45x45 mm.

Also, the insignia of the Wehrmacht includes the way battalion or company numbers were embossed on the buttons of the uniform, which was not done in the case of military uniform SS.

Although the emblem of the shoulder straps was identical to the Wehrmacht, it was quite rare (the exception was the first tank division, where the monogram was regularly worn on shoulder straps).

Another difference in the system accumulating SS insignia is how soldiers who were candidates for the rank of SS navigator wore a cord at the bottom of the shoulder strap of the same color as its piping. This rank is the equivalent of a gefreiter in the Wehrmacht. And candidates for SS Unterscharführer also wore a braid (braid embroidered with silver) nine millimeters wide at the bottom of their shoulder straps. This rank is equivalent to non-commissioned officer in the Wehrmacht.

As for the ranks of the rank and file, the difference was in the buttonholes and sleeve stripes, which were located above the elbow, but below the imperial eagle in the center of the left sleeve.

If we consider camouflage clothing (where there are no buttonholes or shoulder straps), we can say that the SS men never had rank insignia on it, but they preferred to wear collars with their own buttonholes over this one.

In general, the discipline of wearing uniforms in the Wehrmacht was much higher than in the troops where they allowed themselves large number liberties regarding this issue, and their generals and officers did not strive to stop this type of violation, on the contrary, they often committed similar ones. And this is only a small part of the distinctive features of the uniforms of the Wehrmacht and SS troops.

If we summarize all of the above, we can conclude that the Wehrmacht insignia is much more sophisticated not only than the SS, but also the Soviet ones.

Army ranks

They were presented as follows:

• privates;
• non-commissioned officers without belts (a braided or belt sling for carrying a tashka, bladed weapons, and later firearms);
• non-commissioned officers with sword belts;
• lieutenants;
• captains;
• staff officers;
• generals.

Combat ranks also extended to military officials of various departments and departments. The military administration was divided into categories from the most junior non-commissioned officers to the noble generals.

Military colors of the Wehrmacht ground forces

In Germany, branches of the military were traditionally designated by the corresponding colors of edgings and buttonholes, hats and uniforms, and so on. They changed quite often. At the beginning of World War II, the following color division was in effect:

1. White - infantry and border guards, financiers and treasurers.
2. Scarlet - field, horse and self-propelled artillery, as well as general's piping, buttonholes and stripes.
3. Raspberry or carmine red - non-commissioned officers of the veterinary service, as well as buttonholes, stripes and shoulder straps of the Headquarters and General Staff of the High Command of the Wehrmacht and ground forces.
4. Pink - anti-tank self-propelled artillery; edging of details of tank uniforms; gaps and selection of buttonholes of service jackets of officers, gray-green jackets of non-commissioned officers and soldiers.
5. Golden yellow - cavalry, reconnaissance units of tank units and scooters.
6. Lemon yellow - signal troops.
7. Burgundy - military chemists and courts; smoke curtains and multi-barrel rocket-propelled “chemical” mortars.
8. Black - engineering troops(sapper, railway, training units), technical service. Tank unit sappers have black and white edging.
9. Cornflower blue - medical and sanitary personnel (except generals).
10. Light blue - edgings of motor transport parts.
11. Light green - military pharmacists, rangers and mountain units.
12. Grass Green - motorized infantry regiment, motorcycle units.
13. Gray - army propagandists and officers of the Landwehr and reserve (edging on shoulder straps in military colors).
14. Gray-blue - registration service, officials of the American administration, specialist officers.
15. Orange - military police and officers of the Academy of Engineering, recruiting service (edging color).
16. Purple - military priests
17. Dark green - military officials.
18. Light red - quartermasters.
19. Blue - military lawyers.
20. Yellow - horse reserve service.
21. Lemon - feld post.
22. Light brown - recruit training service.

Shoulder straps in German military uniform

They had a dual purpose: as a means of determining rank and as carriers of a unitary function (fastening various types of equipment on the shoulder).

Shoulder straps of the Wehrmacht (rank and file) were made of simple cloth, but with edging, which had a certain color corresponding to the branch of the army. If we take into account the shoulder straps of a non-commissioned officer, we can note the presence of an additional edging consisting of braid (width - nine millimeters).

Until 1938, there was a special army shoulder strap exclusively for field uniforms, which was worn by all ranks below officer. It was entirely dark blue-green with a slightly tapered end towards the button. There was no fixed edging on it corresponding to the color of the branch of service. Wehrmacht soldiers embroidered insignia (numbers, letters, emblems) on them to highlight the color.

The officers (lieutenants, captains) had narrower shoulder straps, which looked like two intertwined strands made of flat silver “Russian braid” (the strand is woven in such a way that thinner threads are visible). All strands were sewn onto the flap in the color of the branch of the military that is the basis of this shoulder strap. A special bend (U-shaped) of the braid in the place of the button hole helped create the illusion of eight strands of it, when in fact there were only two.

The Wehrmacht (staff officers) shoulder straps were also made using Russian braid, but in such a way as to demonstrate a row consisting of five separate loops located on either side of the shoulder strap, in addition to the loop around the button located at the top of it.

U general's shoulder straps there was a distinctive feature - “Russian braid”. It was made from two separate gold strands, twisted on both sides with one silver ribbed thread. The weaving method implied the appearance of three knots in the middle and four loops on each side in addition to one loop located around the button at the top of the shoulder strap.

Wehrmacht officials, as a rule, had the same shoulder straps as active army. However, they were still distinguished by the slight introduction of a thread of dark green braid and various kinds of emblems.

It would not be amiss to remind you once again that shoulder straps are insignia of the Wehrmacht.

Buttonholes and shoulder straps of generals

As mentioned earlier, Wehrmacht generals wore shoulder straps, which were woven using two thick gold-metal strands and a silver soutache between them.

They also had removable shoulder straps, which (as in the case of the ground forces) had a scarlet cloth lining with a special figured cutout running along the edge of the harness (their lower edge). And the bent and sewn-in shoulder straps were distinguished by a straight lining.

Wehrmacht generals wore silver stars on their shoulder straps, but there was some difference: major generals had no stars, lieutenant generals had one, generals of a certain type of troops (infantry, tank troops, cavalry, etc.) - two, Oberst General - three (two stars located next to each other at the bottom of the shoulder strap and one slightly above them). Previously, there was such a rank as Colonel General in the position of Field Marshal General, which was not used at the beginning of the war. The shoulder strap of this rank had two stars, which were located in its upper and lower parts. A field marshal could be identified by the crossed silver batons along his shoulder straps.

There were also exceptional moments. So, for example, Gerd von Rundstedt (Field Marshal General, who was removed from command due to the defeat near Rostov, chief of the 18th Infantry Regiment) wore the regiment number on his shoulder straps on top of his field marshal's batons, as well as the white and silver ceremonial buttonholes of an infantry officer on his collar troops in return for the richly ornamented gold buttonholes embroidered on a scarlet cloth flap (size 40x90 mm) for generals. Their design was found back in the days of the Kaiser’s army and the Reichswehr; with the formation of the GDR and the Federal Republic of Germany, it also appeared among generals.

From the beginning of April 1941, elongated buttonholes were introduced for field marshals, which had three (instead of the previous two) ornamental elements and shoulder straps made of golden thickened cords.

Another sign of the general's dignity is stripes.

The field marshal could also carry in his hand a natural staff, which was made of particularly valuable wood, individually decorated, generously inlaid with silver and gold and decorated with reliefs.

Personal identification mark

It looked like an oval aluminum token with three longitudinal slots, which served so that at a certain moment (the hour of death) it could be broken into two halves (the first, with two holes, was left on the body of the deceased, and the second half with one hole was given to headquarters).

Wehrmacht soldiers usually wore this on a chain or neck cord. The following was stamped on each token: blood type, badge number, battalion number, regiment number where this badge was issued for the first time. This information was supposed to accompany the soldier throughout his entire service life, if necessary supplemented by similar data from other units and troops.

An image of German military personnel can be seen in the photo “Wehrmacht Soldier” shown above.

Nakhodka in Besh-Kungei

According to official data, in April 2014, a treasure from the World War II era was found by citizen D. Lukichev in the village of Besh-Kungei (Kyrgyzstan). While digging a cesspool, he came across a metal army field locker from the Third Reich. Its contents are luggage items from 1944 - 1945. (age - more than 60 years), which was not damaged by moisture due to dense insulation through the rubber gasket of the box lid.

It included:

• a light-colored case with the inscription “Mastenbrille” containing glasses;
• a rolled-up travel bag with pockets filled with toiletries;
• mittens, replacement collars, socks with foot wraps, clothes brush, sweater, suspenders and dust protectors;
• a bundle tied with twine containing a supply of leather and fabric for repairs;
• granules of some kind of product (presumably anti-moth);
• an almost new jacket worn by a Wehrmacht officer, with a spare sewn-on emblem of the branch of service and a metal badge;
• headdresses (winter hat and cap) with insignia;
• military passes through front-line checkpoints;
• a banknote of five Reichsmarks;
• a couple of bottles of rum;
• box of cigars

Dmitry thought about donating most of the uniform to the museum. As for the bottles of rum, the box of cigars and the jacket worn by the Wehrmacht officer, he wants to keep them according to the legal 25% granted by the state when finding historical value.

Material from Wikipedia - the free encyclopedia

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

and also historical origin and inheritance of ranks in Germany from the beginning of November 1939 until the end of the Third Reich in 1945.

In March 1938, members of the Leibstandarte, Deutschland and Deutschland regiments were allowed to replace their SS shoulder straps with combined arms ones; as a result, the left buttonhole became redundant, since the rank began to be indicated by shoulder straps. On May 10, 1940, it was finally established for the SS troops that soldiers of the Leibstandarte and “reserve divisions” wear a badge of SS runes on the right buttonhole, and exclusively rank insignia on the left; the exception was the Death's Head Division, which was allowed to continue to wear the skull emblem on both sides. The pre-war buttonholes, which depicted SS runic insignia and skulls with numbers, letters and symbols, were banned "for reasons of secrecy" by an SS order of 10 May 1940 and replaced with the standard badges known today.

The title of Reichsführer SS in the Third Reich was held by two people - Heinrich Himmler and Karl Hanke (until 1934, “Reichsführer SS” meant a position, not a rank).

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

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

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

Rank Untersturmführer in the SS, corresponding to the rank of lieutenant in the Wehrmacht, arose in 1934 from the position of head of an SS unit - troupe (German. SS-Truppe). The troupe covered an urban area, a rural district, was about the size of an army platoon - from 18 to 45 people, consisted of three sections - balls (German. SS-Schar), headed by Troupführer (German. SS-Truppführer) or Untersturmführer (German) SS-Untersturmführer), depending on the number. In the SS troops, the Untersturmführer, as a rule, held the position of platoon commander.

Insignia			Rank of the SS troops	Relevant ranks in ground forces Wehrmacht (German) Heer)
Buttonhole	Shoulder strap	Musk. costume
Generals and marshals
			Reichsführer-SS and Field Marshal of the SS (German) SS-Reichsführer und Generalfeldmarschall der Waffen-SS )	Field Marshal General
			SS Oberstgruppenführer and Colonel General of the SS troops (German. SS-Oberst-Gruppenführer und Generaloberst der Waffen-SS )	Oberst General
			SS-Obergruppenführer and general of the SS branch of the armed forces (German). SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS )	General of the military branch
			SS Gruppenführer and Lieutenant General of the SS troops (German. SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS )	Lieutenant General
			SS Brigadeführer and Major General of the SS troops (German. SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS )	Major General
Officers
			Oberfuhrer (by rank of SS troops) (German. SS-Oberführer)	No match
			Standartenführer (military and police officers) (German) Standartenführer)	Colonel (German) Oberst)
			Obersturmbannführer (German) SS-Obersturmbannfuhrer)	Lieutenant Colonel (Oberst-Lieutenant) (German) Oberstleutnant)
			Sturmbannführer (German) SS-Sturmbannfuehrer)	Major
			Hauptsturmführer (German) SS-Hauptsturmfuhrer)	Hauptmann/captain
			Obersturmführer (German) SS-Obersturmfuhrer)	Chief Lieutenant
			Untersturmführer (German) SS-Untersturmfuehrer)	Lieutenant
Non-commissioned officers
			Sturmscharführer (German) SS-Sturmscharführer). In the Waffen-SS, unlike the SA, even more high rank- SS Sturmscharführer.	Staff sergeant major
			Hauptscharführer (German) SS-Hauptscharführer). Rank Hauptscharführer became a rank in the SS following the reorganization of the SS following the Night of the Long Knives. This rank was first awarded in June 1934, when it replaced the old rank of Obertrupführer, which was used in the SA. In the General SS, Hauptscharführer was a junior rank, immediately after SS-Untersturmführer. In the SS troops, Hauptscharführer was the second most senior rank of non-commissioned officer after Sturmscharführer. There was also a position Staffscharführer, corresponding in its range of responsibilities to the position of company or battalion sergeant major in the Soviet army. In the SS, the rank of Hauptscharführer was usually awarded to the acting sergeant major in an SS company, the commander of the third (sometimes second) platoon in the company, or was a rank used for non-commissioned officer rank personnel serving on SS headquarters or security services (such as the Gestapo and SD ). The title Hauptscharführer was also often used for concentration camp personnel and Einsatzgruppen personnel.	Chief Sergeant Major
			Standartenoberunker SS (German) SS-Standartenoberjunker)	Oberfenrich
			Oberscharführer (German) SS-Oberscharführer). After the Night of Long Knives, the rank of SS Oberscharführer “rose” and became equal to the rank of SA Troupführer. The SS rank buttonhole was changed to have two silver squares, as opposed to the SA's single square with a silver stripe. The rank of Troupführer SS was replaced by Oberscharführer SS. In the SS troops, Oberscharführers served as commanders of third (and sometimes second) platoons of infantry, sapper and other companies, and company foremen. In tank units, Oberscharführers were often tank commanders.	Sergeant Major
			Standartenjunker SS (German) SS-Standartenjunker)	Fanenyunker-Sergeant-Major
			Scharführer (German) SS-Scharführer). In 1934, during the reorganization of the SS rank structure following the Night of the Long Knives, the old rank of SS Scharführer became known as SS Unterscharführer, and SS Scharführer began to correspond to the rank of SA Oberscharführer. In the SS troops, the Scharführer, as a rule, held the position of squad commander (crew, tank) or deputy platoon commander (headquarters squad commander).	Non-commissioned sergeant major
			Oberünker SS (German) SS-Oberjunker)	Fenrich
			Unterscharführer CC (German) SS-Unterscharführer) In the SS troops, the rank of Unterscharführer was one of the ranks of junior command personnel at the company and platoon level. The rank was also equal to the first candidate rank of SS officer - SS Junker. The requirements for combat non-commissioned officers were higher than for general SS non-commissioned officers	Non-commissioned officer
			Junker SS (German) SS-Junker) Initially, the cadets were equated in legal status to SA Scharführers, then to SS Unterscharführers.	Fanenjunker - non-commissioned officer
Privates
No match				Staff corporal
			Rottenfuhrer (German) SS-Rottenführer). The Hitler Youth also had the title of Rottenführer. In the Luftwaffe, there was the position of Rottenführer - the commander of a pair (leader) in fighter and attack aircraft.	Chief Corporal
			Sturmmann (German) SS-Sturmmann). Rank Sturmmann assigned after service in the ranks of the SA from 6 months to 1 year if basic knowledge and abilities were available. Sturmmann is senior over rank Mann, with the exception of the SS, where in 1941 the rank was separately introduced Obermann, and in the SS troops - rank Oberschütz.	Corporal
			Oberschutze SS (German) SS-Oberschuetze).	Chief Soldier
			Mann SS (German) SS-Mann). In 1938, due to the increase in SS troops, the rank Mann was replaced by military rank Schutze(shooter) SS (German) SS-Schuetze), but in the general SS the rank was retained Mann.	Soldier, Schutze, Grenadier.
General SS Anverter Buttonhole			Candidate (German) SS-Anwärter) Candidate for entry into the SS troops before the start of the training and preparation process. With the start of training anverter the title was automatically awarded Schutze.	No match
SS-Beverber challenger (German) SS-Bewerber)					Wehrmacht volunteer

Color coding of military branches

White Flag of the 40th Panzergrenadier Regiment
Oberführer (Standartenführer) shoulder straps of the Waffen-SS Scarlet Artillery pennant of the Leibstandarte SS "Adolf Hitler"
Waffen-SS Obersturmbannführer's shoulder straps Veterinary service Carmine Tribunal and prosecutor's office Burgundy Military Geological Service [check the translation ! ] Light pink Road transport Pink (salmon color) Armored forces, including tank destroyers Pink
Shoulder strap of a Scharführer-SS tankman Communications units, war correspondents, propaganda companies Lemon yellow
Waffen-SS Oberscharführer shoulder straps Cavalry; motorized (1942-1945) and tank reconnaissance units; units with a cavalry background Gold
Waffen-SS Obersturmführer's shoulder straps Field gendarmerie and special services Orange
Waffen-SS Unterscharführer's shoulder straps Intelligence units (1938-1942) Light brown
Shoulder strap of Hauptsturmführer Waffen-SS * Death's Head units
* Concentration camp personnel Pale brown
Hauptscharführer concentration camp epaulettes Security Service Poison green
SD Sturmscharführer shoulder straps Mountain troops Green
Waffen-SS Untersturmführer's shoulder straps Sonderführers and personnel of reserve units Dark green
Waffen-SS Obersturmführer's shoulder straps Supply and transportation units, field mail Blue Waffen-SS Hauptsturmführer's shoulder straps Control Blue
Waffen-SS Hauptsturmführer's shoulder straps Sanitary service Cornflower
Waffen-SS Standartenführer shoulder straps Corps of Engineers Black
Shoulder strap of Standartenführer Waffen-SS

Sources

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

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

An excerpt characterizing the Ranks and insignia of the SS troops

“You know, I think,” Natasha said in a whisper, moving closer to Nikolai and Sonya, when Dimmler had already finished and was still sitting, weakly plucking the strings, apparently indecisive to leave or start something new, “that when you remember like that, you remember, you remember everything.” , you remember so much that you remember what happened before I was in the world...
“This is Metampsic,” said Sonya, who always studied well and remembered everything. – The Egyptians believed that our souls were in animals and would go back to animals.
“No, you know, I don’t believe it, that we were animals,” Natasha said in the same whisper, although the music had ended, “but I know for sure that we were angels here and there somewhere, and that’s why we remember everything.” ...
-Can I join you? - said Dimmler, who approached quietly and sat down next to them.
- If we were angels, then why did we fall lower? - said Nikolai. - No, this cannot be!
“Not lower, who told you that lower?... Why do I know what I was before,” Natasha objected with conviction. - After all, the soul is immortal... therefore, if I live forever, that’s how I lived before, lived for all eternity.
“Yes, but it’s hard for us to imagine eternity,” said Dimmler, who approached the young people with a meek, contemptuous smile, but now spoke as quietly and seriously as they did.
– Why is it difficult to imagine eternity? - Natasha said. - Today it will be, tomorrow it will be, it will always be and yesterday it was and yesterday it was...
- Natasha! now it's your turn. “Sing me something,” the countess’s voice was heard. - That you sat down like conspirators.
- Mother! “I don’t want to do that,” Natasha said, but at the same time she stood up.
All of them, even the middle-aged Dimmler, did not want to interrupt the conversation and leave the corner of the sofa, but Natasha stood up, and Nikolai sat down at the clavichord. As always, standing in the middle of the hall and choosing the most advantageous place for resonance, Natasha began to sing her mother’s favorite piece.
She said that she did not want to sing, but she had not sung for a long time before, and for a long time since, the way she sang that evening. Count Ilya Andreich, from the office where he was talking with Mitinka, heard her singing, and like a student, in a hurry to go play, finishing the lesson, he got confused in his words, giving orders to the manager and finally fell silent, and Mitinka, also listening, silently with a smile, stood in front of count. Nikolai did not take his eyes off his sister, and took a breath with her. Sonya, listening, thought about what a huge difference there was between her and her friend and how impossible it was for her to be even remotely as charming as her cousin. The old countess sat with a happily sad smile and tears in her eyes, occasionally shaking her head. She thought about Natasha, and about her youth, and about how there was something unnatural and terrible in this upcoming marriage of Natasha with Prince Andrei.
Dimmler sat down next to the countess and closed his eyes, listening.
“No, Countess,” he said finally, “this is a European talent, she has nothing to learn, this softness, tenderness, strength...”
- Ah! “how I’m afraid for her, how afraid I am,” said the countess, not remembering who she was talking to. Her maternal instinct told her that there was too much of something in Natasha, and that this would not make her happy. Natasha had not yet finished singing when an enthusiastic fourteen-year-old Petya ran into the room with the news that the mummers had arrived.
Natasha suddenly stopped.
- Fool! - she screamed at her brother, ran up to the chair, fell on it and sobbed so much that she could not stop for a long time.
“Nothing, Mama, really nothing, just like this: Petya scared me,” she said, trying to smile, but the tears kept flowing and sobs were choking her throat.
Dressed up servants, bears, Turks, innkeepers, ladies, scary and funny, bringing with them coldness and fun, at first timidly huddled in the hallway; then, hiding one behind the other, they were forced into the hall; and at first shyly, and then more and more cheerfully and amicably, songs, dances, choral and Christmas games began. The Countess, recognizing the faces and laughing at those dressed up, went into the living room. Count Ilya Andreich sat in the hall with a radiant smile, approving of the players. The youth disappeared somewhere.
Half an hour later, an old lady in hoops appeared in the hall between the other mummers - it was Nikolai. Petya was Turkish. Payas was Dimmler, hussar was Natasha and Circassian was Sonya, with a painted cork mustache and eyebrows.
After condescending surprise, lack of recognition and praise from those not dressed up, the young people found that the costumes were so good that they had to show them to someone else.
Nikolai, who wanted to take everyone along an excellent road in his troika, proposed, taking ten dressed up servants with him, to go to his uncle.
- No, why are you upsetting him, the old man! - said the countess, - and he has nowhere to turn. Let's go to the Melyukovs.
Melyukova was a widow with children of various ages, also with governesses and tutors, who lived four miles from Rostov.
“That’s clever, ma chère,” the old count picked up, getting excited. - Let me get dressed now and go with you. I'll stir up Pashetta.
But the countess did not agree to let the count go: his leg hurt all these days. They decided that Ilya Andreevich could not go, but that if Luisa Ivanovna (m me Schoss) went, then the young ladies could go to Melyukova. Sonya, always timid and shy, began to beg Luisa Ivanovna more urgently than anyone not to refuse them.
Sonya's outfit was the best. Her mustache and eyebrows suited her unusually. Everyone told her that she was very good, and she was in an unusually energetic mood. Some inner voice told her that now or never her fate would be decided, and she, in her man’s dress, seemed like a completely different person. Luiza Ivanovna agreed, and half an hour later four troikas with bells and bells, squealing and whistling through the frosty snow, drove up to the porch.
Natasha was the first to give the tone of Christmas joy, and this joy, reflected from one to another, intensified more and more and reached its highest degree at the time when everyone went out into the cold, and, talking, calling to each other, laughing and shouting, sat in the sleigh.
Two of the troikas were accelerating, the third was the old count’s troika with an Oryol trotter at the root; the fourth is Nikolai's own with his short, black, shaggy root. Nikolai, in his old woman's outfit, on which he put on a hussar's belted cloak, stood in the middle of his sleigh, picking up the reins.
It was so light that he saw the plaques and eyes of the horses glinting in the monthly light, looking back in fear at the riders rustling under the dark awning of the entrance.
Natasha, Sonya, m me Schoss and two girls got into Nikolai’s sleigh. Dimmler and his wife and Petya sat in the old count's sleigh; Dressed up servants sat in the rest.
- Go ahead, Zakhar! - Nikolai shouted to his father’s coachman in order to have a chance to overtake him on the road.
The old count's troika, in which Dimmler and the other mummers sat, squealed with their runners, as if frozen to the snow, and rattled a thick bell, moved forward. The ones attached to them pressed against the shafts and got stuck, turning out the strong and shiny snow like sugar.
Nikolai set off after the first three; The others made noise and screamed from behind. At first we rode at a small trot along a narrow road. While driving past the garden, shadows from bare trees often lay across the road and hid the bright light of the moon, but as soon as we left the fence, a diamond-shiny snowy plain with a bluish sheen, all bathed in a monthly glow and motionless, opened up on all sides. Once, once, a bump hit the front sleigh; in the same way, the next sleigh and the next were pushed and, boldly breaking the chained silence, one after another the sleighs began to stretch out.
- A hare's trail, a lot of tracks! – Natasha’s voice sounded in the frozen, frozen air.
– Apparently, Nicolas! - said Sonya's voice. – Nikolai looked back at Sonya and bent down to take a closer look at her face. Some completely new, sweet face, with black eyebrows and mustaches, looked out from the sables in the moonlight, close and far.
“It was Sonya before,” thought Nikolai. He looked at her closer and smiled.
- What are you, Nicholas?
“Nothing,” he said and turned back to the horses.
Having arrived on a rough, large road, oiled with runners and all covered with traces of thorns, visible in the light of the moon, the horses themselves began to tighten the reins and speed up. The left one, bending its head, twitched its lines in jumps. The root swayed, moving its ears, as if asking: “Should I start or is it too early?” – Ahead, already far away and ringing like a thick bell receding, Zakhar’s black troika was clearly visible on the white snow. Shouting and laughter and the voices of those dressed up were heard from his sleigh.
“Well, you dear ones,” Nikolai shouted, tugging on the reins on one side and withdrawing his hand with the whip. And only by the wind that had become stronger, as if to meet it, and by the twitching of the fasteners, which were tightening and increasing their speed, was it noticeable how fast the troika flew. Nikolai looked back. Screaming and squealing, waving whips and forcing the indigenous people to jump, the other troikas kept pace. The root steadfastly swayed under the arc, not thinking of knocking down and promising to push again and again when necessary.
Nikolai caught up with the top three. They drove down some mountain and onto a widely traveled road through a meadow near a river.
“Where are we going?” thought Nikolai. - “It should be along a slanting meadow. But no, this is something new that I have never seen. This is not a slanting meadow or Demkina Mountain, but God knows what it is! This is something new and magical. Well, whatever it is!” And he, shouting at the horses, began to go around the first three.
Zakhar reined in the horses and turned around his face, which was already frozen to the eyebrows.
Nikolai started his horses; Zakhar, stretching his arms forward, smacked his lips and let his people go.
“Well, hold on, master,” he said. “The troikas flew even faster nearby, and the legs of the galloping horses quickly changed. Nikolai began to move forward. Zakhar, without changing the position of his outstretched arms, raised one hand with the reins.
“You’re lying, master,” he shouted to Nikolai. Nikolai galloped all the horses and overtook Zakhar. The horses covered the faces of their riders with fine, dry snow, and near them there was the sound of frequent rumblings and the tangling of fast-moving legs and the shadows of the overtaking troika. The whistling of runners through the snow and women's squeals were heard from different directions.
Stopping the horses again, Nikolai looked around him. All around was the same magical plain soaked through with moonlight with stars scattered across it.
“Zakhar shouts for me to take a left; why go left? thought Nikolai. Are we going to the Melyukovs, is this Melyukovka? God knows where we are going, and God knows what is happening to us - and it is very strange and good what is happening to us.” He looked back at the sleigh.
“Look, he has a mustache and eyelashes, everything is white,” said one of the strange, pretty and alien people with a thin mustache and eyebrows.
“This one, it seems, was Natasha,” thought Nikolai, and this one is m me Schoss; or maybe not, but I don’t know who this Circassian with the mustache is, but I love her.”
-Aren't you cold? – he asked. They did not answer and laughed. Dimmler shouted something from the back sleigh, probably funny, but it was impossible to hear what he was shouting.
“Yes, yes,” the voices answered laughing.
- However, here is some kind of magical forest with shimmering black shadows and sparkles of diamonds and with some kind of enfilade of marble steps, and some silver roofs of magical buildings, and the piercing screeching of some animals. “And if this really is Melyukovka, then it’s even stranger that we were traveling God knows where, and came to Melyukovka,” thought Nikolai.
Indeed, it was Melyukovka, and girls and lackeys with candles and joyful faces ran out to the entrance.
- Who is this? - they asked from the entrance.
“The counts are dressed up, I can see it by the horses,” answered the voices.

Pelageya Danilovna Melyukova, a broad, energetic woman, wearing glasses and a swinging hood, was sitting in the living room, surrounded by her daughters, whom she tried not to let get bored. They were quietly pouring wax and looking at the shadows of the emerging figures when the footsteps and voices of visitors began to rustle in the hall.
Hussars, ladies, witches, payassas, bears, clearing their throats and wiping their frost-covered faces in the hallway, entered the hall, where candles were hastily lit. The clown - Dimmler and the lady - Nikolai opened the dance. Surrounded by screaming children, the mummers, covering their faces and changing their voices, bowed to the hostess and positioned themselves around the room.
- Oh, it’s impossible to find out! And Natasha! Look who she looks like! Really, it reminds me of someone. Eduard Karlych is so good! I didn't recognize it. Yes, how she dances! Oh, fathers, and some kind of Circassian; right, how it suits Sonyushka. Who else is this? Well, they consoled me! Take the tables, Nikita, Vanya. And we sat so quietly!
- Ha ha ha!... Hussar this, hussar that! Just like a boy, and his legs!... I can’t see... - voices were heard.
Natasha, the favorite of the young Melyukovs, disappeared with them into the back rooms, where they needed cork and various dressing gowns and men's dresses, which through the open door received the bare girlish hands from the footman. Ten minutes later, all the youth of the Melyukov family joined the mummers.
Pelageya Danilovna, having ordered the clearing of the place for the guests and refreshments for the gentlemen and servants, without taking off her glasses, with a restrained smile, walked among the mummers, looking closely into their faces and not recognizing anyone. Not only did she not recognize the Rostovs and Dimmler, but she also could not recognize either her daughters or her husband’s robes and uniforms that they were wearing.
-Whose is this? - she said, turning to her governess and looking into the face of her daughter, who represented the Kazan Tatar. - It seems like someone from Rostov. Well, Mr. Hussar, what regiment do you serve in? – she asked Natasha. “Give the Turk, give the Turk some marshmallows,” she said to the bartender who was serving them: “this is not prohibited by their law.”
Sometimes, looking at the strange but funny steps performed by the dancers, who had decided once and for all that they were dressed up, that no one would recognize them and therefore were not embarrassed, Pelageya Danilovna covered herself with a scarf, and her entire corpulent body shook from the uncontrollable, kind, old lady’s laughter . - Sashinet is mine, Sashinet is that! - she said.
After Russian dances and round dances, Pelageya Danilovna united all the servants and gentlemen together, in one large circle; They brought a ring, a string and a ruble, and general games were arranged.
An hour later, all the suits were wrinkled and upset. Cork mustaches and eyebrows smeared across the sweaty, flushed and cheerful faces. Pelageya Danilovna began to recognize the mummers, admired how well the costumes were made, how they suited especially the young ladies, and thanked everyone for making her so happy. The guests were invited to dine in the living room, and the courtyard was served in the hall.
- No, guessing in the bathhouse, that’s scary! - said the old girl who lived with the Melyukovs at dinner.
- Why? – asked eldest daughter Melyukovs.
- Don’t go, you need courage...
“I’ll go,” said Sonya.
- Tell me, how was it with the young lady? - said the second Melyukova.
“Yes, just like that, one young lady went,” said the old girl, “she took a rooster, two utensils, and sat down properly.” She sat there, just heard, suddenly she was driving... with bells, with bells, a sleigh drove up; hears, comes. He comes in completely in human form, like an officer, he came and sat down with her at the device.
- A! Ah!...” Natasha screamed, rolling her eyes in horror.
- How can he say that?
- Yes, as a person, everything is as it should be, and he began and began to persuade, and she should have occupied him with conversation until the roosters; and she became shy; – she just became shy and covered herself with her hands. He picked it up. It's good that the girls came running...
- Well, why scare them! - said Pelageya Danilovna.
“Mother, you yourself were guessing...” said the daughter.
- How do they tell fortunes in the barn? – asked Sonya.
- Well, at least now, they’ll go to the barn and listen. What will you hear: hammering, knocking - bad, but pouring bread - this is good; and then it happens...
- Mom, tell me what happened to you in the barn?
Pelageya Danilovna smiled.
“Well, I already forgot...” she said. - You won’t go, will you?
- No, I'll go; Pepageya Danilovna, let me in, I’ll go,” said Sonya.
- Well, if you're not afraid.
- Luiza Ivanovna, may I? – asked Sonya.
Whether they were playing ring, string or ruble, or talking, as now, Nikolai did not leave Sonya and looked at her with completely new eyes. It seemed to him that today, only for the first time, thanks to that corky mustache, he fully recognized her. Sonya really was cheerful, lively and beautiful that evening, like Nikolai had never seen her before.
“So that’s what she is, and I’m a fool!” he thought, looking at her sparkling eyes and her happy, enthusiastic smile, making dimples on her cheeks from under her mustache, a smile that he had never seen before.
“I’m not afraid of anything,” said Sonya. - Can I do it now? - She stood up. They told Sonya where the barn was, how she could stand silently and listen, and they gave her a fur coat. She threw it over her head and looked at Nikolai.
“What a beauty this girl is!” he thought. “And what have I been thinking about so far!”
Sonya went out into the corridor to go to the barn. Nikolai hurriedly went to the front porch, saying that he was hot. Indeed, the house was stuffy from the crowded people.
It was the same still cold outside, the same month, only it was even lighter. The light was so strong and there were so many stars on the snow that I didn’t want to look at the sky, and the real stars were invisible. In the sky it was black and boring, on earth it was fun.
“I’m a fool, a fool! What have you been waiting for so far? thought Nikolai and, running onto the porch, he walked around the corner of the house along the path that led to the back porch. He knew that Sonya would come here. Halfway along the road there were stacked fathoms of firewood, there was snow on them, and a shadow fell from them; through them and from their sides, intertwining, the shadows of old bare linden trees fell onto the snow and the path. The path led to the barn. The chopped wall of the barn and the roof, covered with snow, as if carved from some kind of precious stone, glittered in the monthly light. A tree cracked in the garden, and again everything was completely silent. The chest seemed to breathe not air, but some kind of eternally youthful strength and joy.
Feet clattered on the steps from the maiden porch, there was a loud creaking sound on the last one, which was covered with snow, and the voice of an old girl said:
- Straight, straight, along the path, young lady. Just don't look back.
“I’m not afraid,” answered Sonya’s voice, and Sonya’s legs squealed and whistled in her thin shoes along the path towards Nikolai.