The SS troops belonged to the SS organization; service in them was not considered state service, even if it was legally equivalent to such. The military uniform of SS soldiers is quite recognizable all over the world; most often this black uniform is associated with the organization itself. It is known that the uniforms for SS employees during the Holocaust were sewn by prisoners of the Buchenwald concentration camp.

History of the SS military uniform

Initially, soldiers of the SS troops (also “Waffen SS”) dressed in gray uniform, extremely similar to the uniform of regular attack aircraft German army. In 1930, the same, well-known, black uniform was introduced, which was supposed to emphasize the difference between the troops and the rest and determine the elitism of the unit. By 1939, SS officers received a white dress uniform, and from 1934 a gray one, intended for field battles, was introduced. Gray military uniform differed from black only in color.

Additionally, SS servicemen were entitled to a black overcoat, which, with the introduction of the gray uniform, was replaced by a double-breasted, respectively, gray overcoat. High-ranking officers were allowed to wear their overcoat unbuttoned by the top three buttons so that the colored distinctive stripes were visible. Subsequently, holders of the Knight's Cross received the same right (in 1941), who were allowed to display the award.

The Waffen SS women's uniform consisted of a gray jacket and skirt, as well as a black cap with the SS eagle.

A black ceremonial club jacket 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; 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 special occasions.

Distinctive features of the Nazi uniform

The SS uniform had a number of distinctive features that are easily remembered even now, after the disbandment of the organization:

• SS emblem in the form of two Germanic runes"zig" was used on uniform insignia. Only ethnic Germans - Aryans - were allowed to wear runes on their uniforms; foreign members of the Waffen SS did not have the right to use this symbolism.
• “Death's 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 soldiers of the 3rd Tank Division.
• Red armband with a black swastika on a white background was worn by members of the SS and stood out significantly against the background of the black dress uniform.
• The image of an eagle with outstretched wings and a swastika (formerly the coat of arms of Nazi Germany) eventually replaced skulls on cap badges and began to be embroidered on the sleeves of uniforms.

The Waffen SS camouflage pattern differed from the Wehrmacht camouflage. Instead of the accepted pattern design with printed parallel lines Woody and plant patterns were used to create the so-called “rain effect”. Since 1938, the following camouflage elements of the SS uniform have been adopted: camouflage jackets, reversible covers for helmets and face masks. On camouflage clothing it was necessary to wear green stripes indicating rank on both sleeves, however, for the most part this requirement was not observed by officers. During campaigns, a set of stripes was also used, each of which denoted one or another military qualification.

Rank insignia on SS uniform

The ranks of Waffen SS soldiers did not differ from the ranks of Wehrmacht employees: the differences were only in form. The uniform used the same distinctive signs, such as 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 differing in color depending on the type of troops. The backing was edged with a silver cord. On the shoulder straps there were signs of belonging to one or another unit, metal or embroidered with silk threads. The shoulder straps themselves were made of gray braid, while their lining was invariably black. The bumps (or “stars”) on the shoulder straps, designed to indicate the officer’s rank, were bronze or gilded.

The buttonholes featured runic “zigs” on one, and rank insignia on the other. Employees have 3rd tank division, which was nicknamed “Death’s Head”, instead of “zig” there was an image of a skull, which was previously worn as a cockade on the cap of SS men. The edges of the buttonholes were edged with twisted silk cords, and for generals they were covered with black velvet. They also used it to line the general's caps.

Video: SS form

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30.09.2007 22:54

In Germany from the autumn of 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 SS rank system, it is necessary to understand the essence of this organization. Many people believe that the SS Troops are the entire SS organization. However, the SS Troops were only part of it (albeit the most visible). Therefore, the table of ranks will be preceded by a brief historical background. In order to understand the SS, I recommend that you first familiarize yourself with historical information according to SA.

In April 1925, Hitler, concerned about the growing influence of SA leaders and the aggravation of contradictions with them, instructed one of the SA commanders, Julius Schreck, to create the Schutzstaffel (literal translation “defense squad”), abbreviated as SS. For this purpose, it was planned to allocate in each SA Hundert (SA hundred) one SS Gruppe (SS department) in the amount of 10-20 people. The newly created SS units within the SA were assigned a small and insignificant role - the physical protection of senior party leaders (a kind of bodyguard service). On September 21, 1925, Schreck issued a circular on the creation of SS units. At this time there was no need to talk about any SS structure. However, the SS rank system was immediately born; however, these were not yet ranks, but job titles. At this time, the SS was one of the many structural divisions of the SA.

SS ranks from IX-1925 to XI-1926

* Read more about rank encoding .

In November 1926, Hitler began secretly separating SS units from the SA. For this purpose, the position of SS Obergruppenfuehrer (SS Obergruppenfuehrer) is being introduced, i.e. senior leader of SS groups. Thus, the SS received dual control (through the SA and directly along their line). Josef Bertchtold becomes the first Obergruppenführer. In the spring of 1927 he was replaced by Erhard Heiden.

SS ranks from XI-1926 to I-1929.

Code*
	SS Mann (SS Mann)
	SS Gruppenfuehrer (SS Gruppenfuehrer)

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 2,727.

At the same time, an independent structure of SS units emerged.

Hierarchy of SS units from I-1929 to 1932

Rotten
Scharen	abteilung (branch)
Truppen	zug (platoon)
Stuerme	company (company)
Sturmbanne	battalion (battalion)
Standard	regiment (regiment)
Abschnitt	besatzung (garrison)

Note:Speaking about the equivalence of SS units (SS organizations (!), not SS Troops) to army units, the author means similarity in numbers, but not in the tasks performed, tactical purpose and combat capabilities

The rank system is changing accordingly. However, these are not titles, but positions.

SS rank system from I-1929 to 1932.

Code*	Names of titles (positions)
	SS Mann (SS Mann)
	SS Obergruppenfuehrer (SS Obergruppenfuehrer)

The last title was awarded to himself by A. Hitler. It meant something like "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 formations like Gruppe or Obergruppe, but there are ranks. They are worn by senior SS leaders.

In mid-1930, Hitler prohibited the SA from interfering in the activities of the SS with an order that stated “... 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 unit Oberabschnitte (Oberabschnitte) was introduced into the SS structure and SS structure acquires its completeness. Please note that we are not talking about the SS troops (there is no trace of them yet), but about public organization, which is part of the Nazi party, and all SS men are engaged in this activity on a voluntary basis in parallel with their main work activity (workers, shopkeepers, artisans, the unemployed, peasants, minor employees, etc.)

Hierarchy of SS units since 1932

SA division name	Equivalent to an army unit….
Rotten	there is no equivalent. Approximately a cell of 3-5 people.
Scharen	abteilung (branch)
Truppen	zug (platoon)
Stuerme	company (company)
Sturmbanne	battalion (battalion)
Standard	regiment (regiment)
Abschnitt	besatzung (garrison)
Oberabschnitte	kreise (military district)

The table of ranks takes on the following form (although these are still more job titles than ranks):

SS rank system from 1932 to V-1933

Code*	Names of titles (positions)
	SS Mann (SS Mann)
	SS Rottenfuehrer (SS Rottenfuehrer)
	SS Sharfuehrer (SS Sharfuehrer)
	SS Truppfuehrer (SS Truppführer)
	SS Sturmfuehrer (SS Sturmführer)
	SS Sturmbannfuehrer (SS Sturmbannfuehrer)
	SS Standartenfuehrer (SS Standartenfuehrer)
	SS Gruppenfuehrer (SA Gruppenfuehrer)
	SS Obergruppenfuehrer (SS Obergruppenfuehrer)
	Der Oberste Fuehrer der Schutzstaffel. (Der Oberste Fuehrer der Schutzstaffel)

Only A. Hitler held the latter title. It meant something like "Supreme Leader of the SS."

On January 30, 1933, German President Field Marshal Hindenburg appointed A. Hitler as 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 SS unit, the Leibstandarte-SS "Adolf Hitler" (LSSAH). This was Hitler's personal guard company (120 people). From now onSS is divided into its two components:

1.Allgemeine-SS - general SS.
2.Leibstandarte-SS - armed formation of the SS.

The difference was that membership in the CC was voluntary, and the SS men were engaged in SS affairs in parallel with their main activities (workers, peasants, shopkeepers, etc.). And those who were members of the Leibstandarte-SS, being also members of the CC, were already in service (not in the state service, but in the service of the Nazi Party), and received uniforms and pay at the expense of the NSDAP. Members of the CC, being people personally loyal to Hitler (Himmler took care of the selection of such people in the CC), after the Nazis came to power, began to be appointed to key positions in the state apparatus, starting with the heads of the district post office, police, telegraph, railway stations, etc. up to the highest government positions. Thus, the Allgemeine-SS began to gradually turn into a source of managerial personnel for the state, while simultaneously 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 monitored the activities of state institutions in the interests of the Nazis. With the beginning of the creation of concentration camps by Himmler, concentration camp guard units were allocated from the rapidly growing Leibstandarte-SS. The SS organization now began to consist of three components:

1.Allgemeine-SS - general SS.
2.Leibstandarte-SS - armed formation of the CC.

The previous scale of ranks became insufficient and on May 19, 1933, a new scale of ranks was introduced:

SS rank system from May 19, 1933 to October 15, 1934.

Code*	Names of titles (positions)
	SS Mann (SS Mann)
	SS Sturmann (SS Sturmann)
	SS Rottenfuehrer (SS Rottenfuehrer)
	SS Sharfuehrer (SS Sharfuehrer)
	SS Truppfuehrer (SS Truppführer)
	SS Obertruppfuehrer (SS Obertruppführer)
	SS Sturmfuehrer (SS Sturmführer)
	SS Sturmhauptfuehrer (SS Sturmhauptfuehrer)
	SS Sturmbannfuehrer (SS Sturmbannfuehrer)
	SS Standartenfuehrer (SS Standartenfuehrer)
	SS Oberfuehrer (SS Oberfuehrer)
	SS Gruppenfuehrer (SA Gruppenfuehrer)
	SS Obergruppenfuehrer (SS Obergruppenfuehrer)
	Der Oberste Fuehrer der Schutzstaffel. (Der Oberste Fuehrer der Schutzstaffel)

On the night of June 30, 1934, the SS, on Hitler's orders, 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 SA structure and gave it the status independent organization within NSDAP. The role of the SS in the life of the country continued to grow, there were many people who wanted to join this now powerful organization, and on October 15, 1934, Himmler again changed the scale of SS ranks. 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 training. The names of some ranks are changing. The title SS Reichsfuehrer (SS Reichsfuehrer) was introduced specifically for Himmler.

This scale existed until 1942. There was no official division into privates, non-commissioned officers, officers, and generals in the Allgemeine-SS. This seemed to emphasize the SS camaraderie and equality. The same scale of ranks was also used in the Leibstandarte until 1936." Adolf Hitler"and in concentration camp guard units

General SS ranks from October 15, 1934 to 1942.

Code*	Names of titles (positions)
	SS Bewerber (SS Beverber)
	SS Anwarter (SS Anvaerter)
	SS Mann (SS Mann)
	SS Sturmann (SS Sturmann)
	SS Rottenfuehrer (SS Rottenfuehrer)
	SS Sharfuehrer (SS Sharfuehrer)
	SS Obersharfuehrer (SS Obersharfuehrer)
	SS Obersturmfuehrer (SS Obersturmführer)
	SS Sturmbannfuehrer (SS Sturmbannfuehrer)
	SS Oberturmbannfuehrer (SS Obersturmbannfuehrer)
	SS Standartenfuehrer (SS Standartenfuehrer)
	SS Oberfuehrer (SS Oberfuehrer)
	SS Brigadenfuehrer (SS Brigadefuehrer)
	SS Gruppenfuehrer (SA Gruppenfuehrer)
	SS Obergruppenfuehrer (SS Obergruppenfuehrer)

In October 1936, the creation of the SS troops (Waffen SS) began on the basis of the Leibstandarte-SS. From this time on, the SS finally acquired its three main components:
1.Allgemeine-SS - general CC.
2. Waffen SS - CC troops.
3.SS-Totenkopfrerbaende - concentration camp guard units.

Moreover, the Allgemeine-SS actually merges with the state apparatus, some state institutions become departments and departments of the Allgemeine-SS, and the SS Troops and the concentration camp guards, in the minds 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 camp guards have received their own rank system, which differs from the general SS one. The idea that the SS troops were involved in guarding 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 structure of the Waffen SS units itself was not a general SS structure, but an army model (squad, platoon, company, battalion, regiment, division). There were no permanent formations larger than a division in the Waffen SS. More information about SS divisions can be read on the Arsenal website .

Waffen SS and SS-Totenkopfrerbaende ranks from X-1936 to 1942

Code*		Titles
	Mannschaften	SS Schutze (SS Schutze)
		SS Sturmann (SS Sturmann)
		SS Rottenfuehrer (SS Rottenfuehrer)
	Unterfuehrer	SS Unterscharfuehrer (SS Unterscharfuehrer)
		SS Sharfuehrer (SS Sharfuehrer)
		SS Obersharfuehrer (SS Obersharfuehrer)
		SS Hauptscharfuehrer (SS Hauptscharfuehrer)
	Untere Fuehrer	SS Untersturmfuehrer (SS Untersturmführer)
		SS Hauptsturmfuehrer (SS Hauptsturmfuehrer)
	Mittlere Fuehrer	SS Sturmbannfuehrer (SS Sturmbannfuehrer)
		SS Standartenfuehrer (SS Standartenfuehrer)
		SS Oberfuehrer (SS Oberfuehrer)
	Hoehere Fuehrer

Why the Waffen SS generals added the words “... and general... of police” to their general SS rank is unknown to the author, but most of the primary sources available to the author are in German ( official documents) these ranks are called exactly that, although the SS men who remained in the Allgemeine-SS did not have this addition to the general ranks.

In 1937, four officer schools were created in the Waffen SS, 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 in the SS rank scale. There were three years left until the end of the thousand-year Reich.

General SS ranks from 1942 to 1945

Code*	Names of titles (positions)
	SS Bewerber (SS Beverber)
	SS Anwarter (SS Anvaerter)
	SS Mann (SS Mann)
	SS Sturmann (SS Sturmann)
	SS Rottenfuehrer (SS Rottenfuehrer)
	SS Unterscharfuehrer (SS Unterscharfuehrer)
	SS Sharfuehrer (SS Sharfuehrer)
	SS Obersharfuehrer (SS Obersharfuehrer)
	SS Hauptscharfuehrer (SS Hauptscharfuehrer)
	SS Sturmscharfuehrer (SS Sturmscharfuehrer)
	SS Untersturmfuehrer (SS Untersturmführer)
	SS Obersturmfuehrer (SS Obersturmführer)
	SS Hauptsturmfuehrer (SS Hauptsturmfuehrer)
	SS Sturmbannfuehrer (SS Sturmbannfuehrer)
	SS Oberturmbannfuehrer (SS Obersturmbannfuehrer)
	SS Standartenfuehrer (SS Standartenfuehrer)
	SS Oberfuehrer (SS Oberfuehrer)
	SS Brigadenfuehrer (SS Brigadefuehrer)
	SS Gruppenfuehrer (SA Gruppenfuehrer)
16a	SS Obergruppenfuehrer (SS Obergruppenfuehrer)
16b	SS-Oberstgruppenfuehrer (SS Oberstgruppenfuehrer)
	SS Reichsfuehrer (SS Reichsfuehrer) Only G. Himmler had this title
	Der Oberste Fuehrer der Schutzstaffel. (Der Oberste Fuehrer der Schutzstaffel) Only A. Hitler had this title

Waffen SS and SS-Totenkopfrerbaende ranks from V-1942 to 1945.

Code*		Titles
	Mannschaften	SS Schutze (SS Schutze)
		SS Oberschutze (SS Oberschutze)
		SS Sturmann (SS Sturmann)
		SS Rottenfuehrer (SS Rottenfuehrer)
	Unterfuehrer	SS-Unterscharfuehrer (SS Unterscharfuehrer)
		SS Sharfuehrer (SS Sharfuehrer)
		SS Obersharfuehrer (SS Obersharfuehrer)
		SS Hauptscharfuehrer (SS Hauptscharfuehrer)
		SS-Sturmscharfuehrer (SS Sturmscharfuehrer)
	Untere Fuehrer	SS Untersturmfuehrer (SS Untersturmführer)
		SS Obersturmfuehrer (SS Obersturmführer)
		SS Hauptsturmfuehrer (SS Hauptsturmfuehrer)
	Mittlere Fuehrer	SS Sturmbannfuehrer (SS Sturmbannfuehrer)
		SS Obersturmbannfuehrer (SS Obersturmbannfuehrer)
		SS Standartenfuehrer (SS Standartenfuehrer)
		SS Oberfuehrer (SS Oberfuehrer)
	Hoehere Fuehrer	SS Brigadenfuehrer und der General-maior der Polizei (SS Brigadenfuehrer und der General-maior der Polizei)
		SS Gruppenfuehrer und der General-leutnant der Polizei (SA Gruppenfuehrer und der General-leutnant der Polizei)
16a		SS Obergruppenfuehrer und der General der Polizei (SS Obergruppenfuehrer und der General der Polizei)
16b		SS-Oberstgruppenfuehrer und der General-oberst der Polizei (SS Oberstgruppenfuehrer und der General-Oberst der Polizei)

At the final stage of the war, the activities of SS organizations ceased with the occupation of this territory by the Red Army or Allied troops. Formally, the activities of the SS were discontinued, and the organization itself was dissolved in the fall of 1945 based on the decisions of the Potsdam Allied Conference on the denazification of Germany. By the verdict of the international tribunal in Nuremberg in the fall of 1946. The SS was recognized as a criminal organization, and membership in it was a crime. However, only senior leaders and part of the middle SS personnel, as well as soldiers and officers of the SS Troops and concentration camp guards, were subjected to real criminal prosecution. They were not recognized as prisoners of war when captured, and were treated as if they were criminals. Convicted SS soldiers and officers were released from USSR camps under an amnesty at the end of 1955

Wehrmacht rank insignia
(Die Wehrmacht) 1935-1945

SS troops (Waffen SS)

Insignia of ranks of junior and middle managers
(Untere Fuehrer, Mittlere Fuehrer)

Let us remember that the SS troops were part of the SS organization. Service in the SS troops was not a state service, but was legally equivalent to it.

During their initial formation, the SS troops were created from members of the SS organization (Allgemeine-SS) and since this organization had a paramilitary structure and its own rank system, the SS troops (Waffen SS) when they were created adopted the general SS rank system (for more details, see the article “Troops”) SS" 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 sword 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 military personnel were divided into members, sub-leaders, junior leaders, middle leaders and senior leaders. Well, if you want, you can say “... leaders” or “... Fuhrers.”

However, these names were purely official, so to speak, legal terms. In everyday life and, to a large extent, in official correspondence, the phrase “SS officer” was still used, and quite widely. This was caused, firstly, by the fact that the SS men, mostly coming from the lowest strata of German society, found it very flattering to consider themselves officers. Secondly, as the number of SS divisions increased, it was no longer possible to staff them with officers only from among the SS members, and some Wehrmacht officers were transferred by order to the SS troops. And they really didn’t want to lose the honorary title “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, SS troops, as members of the SS organization, had the right to wear uniform of the general SS. 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 in a light gray color. She was no longer wearing the red bandage with the 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. White shirt with black tie.

In the photo on the left (reconstruction): uniform of the general SS mod. 1934 On the shoulders are two shoulder straps with pink lining (tanker). On the shoulder straps, in addition to the star, you can distinguish the golden monogram of the Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler division. On the collar are the insignia of an SS-Obersturmbannführer. An eagle is visible on the left sleeve and at the cuff there is a black ribbon on which the name of the division should have been written. On the right sleeve there is a badge for a destroyed enemy tank and below it an SS veteran's chevron (too large).
It follows that this is the jacket of an 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 uniform of the general SS. There are as many black jackets 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, by the mid-thirties began to gradually acquire a nominal role. After all, being in the ranks of the general SS was, so to speak, a social activity along with a person’s main job. And with the Nazis coming to power, active members of the SS quickly began to occupy positions in the police, other government institutions, in the guards of concentration camps, where other types of uniforms were usually worn. And with the beginning of the creation of the SS troops, the remaining ones were sent there for service. So by the end of the thirties, few people wore this uniform. Although, if you look at photographs of G. Himmler and his inner circle, taken in the second half of the thirties and later, 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 its wearing was prohibited. The remains of a black uniform with worn-out badges and sewn green cuffs and collars were issued to policemen in the occupied territory of the USSR during the war.

The main uniform of SS officers was a uniform similar to the uniform of Wehrmacht officers with the same rank insignia in the form of shoulder straps, 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 members of the SS organization and those who were not.

In the photo on the left (reconstruction): SS-Hauptsturmführer in SS uniform. The piping on the cap is colored according to the type of military service. Here the white one is the infantry. The stars on the shoulder straps are mistakenly golden in color. In the SS troops they were silver. On the right sleeve there is a badge for a damaged tank, on the left there is an SS eagle and above the cuff there is a ribbon with the name of the division.

Note that this is generally the uniform of the SS troops. Depending on the quality in which this uniform is used, headdress he could have had a cap of the type shown, a steel helmet with attributes of the SS troops, or a field cap (cap, cap).

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 ran along the edge of the lapel and along the top. Black cap, model 1942. worn only with a black tank uniform.

In 1943, a cap was introduced for everyone, which had previously been worn only by mountain troops. This headdress was considered most suitable for field conditions, especially in cold weather and in winter, since the lapels could be unbuttoned and lowered, thereby protecting the ears and lower part of the face from the cold. The officer's cap had a silver strip along the edge of the lapel and along the top.

From the author. One evil memoirist from the SS soldiers claims in his book that the officers of their regiment full dress uniform they did not wear real heavy steel helmets (which the soldiers were forced to wear), but ones made of papier-mâché. They were made so well that the soldiers did not realize it for a long time and were amazed at the stamina and endurance of their officers.

The officers of the so-called “SS divisions” (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 had no right to call themselves SS ranks. Their ranks were called, for example, "Waffen-Untersturmfuehrer". Or "Legions-Obersturmfuehrer".

From the author. So gentlemen from the Latvian and Estonian divisions, you are not SS men, but rather henchmen, cannon fodder for Hitler. And you fought not for a Latvia and Estonia free from the Bolsheviks, but for the right to be “Germanized” as defined by the Ost plan, while your other compatriots were supposed to be deported 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-Brigadeführer and Major General of the SS troops. Commander of the SS volunteer regiment "Varyag" former captain Red Army (according to other sources, 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 SS officers' uniform basically coincided with the color of the Wehrmacht uniform, but was somewhat lighter, grayer, and the green tint was almost invisible. However, as the war progressed, 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 uniform and deteriorating its quality occurred more slowly and later than in the Wehrmacht.

Tank uniforms and self-propelled artillery uniforms of the SS troops were also basically similar to those of the Wehrmacht tanks. Tankers wore black, self-propelled guns wore feldgrau. The collar has buttonholes similar to those on a regular gray field uniform. The collar trim, unlike the soldier's, is made of silver flagellum.

In the photo on the left (reconstruction): SS-Hauptsturmführer in a black tank uniform. The stars on the shoulder straps are mistakenly golden in color.

Junior leaders and mid-level leaders in the ranks up to and including SS-Obersturmbannführer wore rank insignia in the left buttonhole, and two in the right runes "zig" or have other signs (see 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 embroidered with aluminum thread in the form of a skull.

SS officers with the ranks of SS-Standartenführer and SS-Oberführer had rank insignia in both buttonholes. There is endless debate regarding the rank of SS-Oberführer - is it an officer's or a general's rank. In the SS, this is an officer rank higher than Oberst, but lower than 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 (tankers) or scarlet (artillerymen) piping instead of silver piping.

In the picture on the right: the buttonholes of an SS-Untersturmführer.

The officers of the 3rd Panzer Division "Totenkopf" (3.SS-Panzer-Division "Totenkopf") wore in their right buttonhole not two "zig" runes, but an emblem in the form of a skull (similar to the emblems of Wehrmacht tankers). This exhausts the variety of signs in the right buttonhole. All other badges were worn only by officers of divisions “under the SS”.

By the way, this division should not be confused with the so-called “Totenkopfrerbaende” (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, forming a kind of edging, according to the color of the branch of service. Senior officers had a double base. The bottom one is black, the top one is the color of the military branch.

The colors according to the type of troops in the SS troops were somewhat different from those of the Wehrmacht

*White-. Infantry. This is the same color as the general military color.
*Light gray -. The central apparatus of the SS troops.
*Black and white striped -. Engineering units and units (sappers).
*Blue -. Supply and support services.
*Scarlet -. Artillery.
*Brownish green -. Reserve service.
*Burgundy -. Legal service.
*Dark red - Veterinary service.
*Golden yellow -. Cavalry, motorized reconnaissance units.
*Green -. Infantry regiments police divisions (4th and 35th SS divisions).
*Lemon yellow -. Communication service 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 Survey.
*Light blue -. Administrative service.
*Raspberry -. Snipers in all branches of the military.
*Copper brown - Intelligence.

Until the summer of 1943, signs of belonging to certain units had to be placed on shoulder straps. These signs could be metal or sewn with silver or gray silk thread. However, SS officers simply ignored this requirement and, as a rule, did not wear any letters on their shoulder straps until 1943, when they were abolished. Perhaps only the officers of the 1st SS Panzer Division "Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler", proud of their belonging to the most elite SS division, wore a special monogram. The following signs were installed:
A - artillery regiment;
And the Gothic one is a reconnaissance battalion;
AS/I - 1st Artillery School;
AS/II - 2nd Artillery School;
Gear - technical part(repair parts);
D - Deutschland Regiment;
DF - regiment "Fuhrer";
E/ Gothic figure - Recruitment point number...;
FI - Anti-aircraft machine gun battalion;
JS/B - officer school in Braunschweig;
JS/T - officer school in Tolts;
L - training parts;
Lyra - bandmasters and musicians;
MS - school of military musicians in Braunschweig;
N - Nordland regiment;
Gothic P - anti-tank;
Snake - veterinary service;
A snake entwining a rod - doctors;
US/L - non-commissioned officer school in Lauenburg;
US/R - non-commissioned officer school in Radolfzell;
W - Westland Regiment.

The stars could have 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 the shoulder straps himself, 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 Untersturmfuehrer (SS-Untersturmfuehrer) [administrative service];

2.SS Obersturmfuehrer (SS-Obersturmfuehrer) [tank units]. In pursuit is the monogram of the Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler division.

3. SS Hauptsturmfuehrer (SS-Hauptsturmfuehrer) [communications units].

Mittlere Fuehrer;

4.SS-Sturmbannfuehrer (SS Sturmbannfuehrer) [infantry];

5.SS Obersturmbannfuehrer [artillery];

6.SS Standartenfuehrer [medical service];

7.SS Oberfuehrer [tank units].

The insignia on the SS-Standartenführer and SS-Oberführer buttonholes changed slightly in May 1942. Please note that on the old buttonholes there are three acorns on the Oberführer's buttonhole, while the Standartenführer has two. In addition, the branches on old buttonholes are curved, and later straight.

This is essential if you need to determine the period when a particular photograph was taken.

A few words about the insignia of the 4th SS Division.

It was formed in October 1939 from among police officers under the designation “Police Division” (Polizei-Division) as an ordinary infantry division, and was not classified as an SS division, 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). From that time on, the servicemen of this division began to wear the general SS uniform and SS insignia. At the same time, the upper backing of the officer's shoulder straps in the division was determined to be grass green.

At the beginning of 1943, the division was renamed the "SS Police Grenadier Division" (SS-Polizei-Grenadier-Ddivision).

And only in October 1943 the division received the final name "4th Police motorized rifle division SS" (4.SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division).

So, from the moment of its formation in October 1939 to February 1942, the division insignia:

The paired Wehrmacht style buttonholes on the flap are grass green. The collar is brown with grass green edging. In general, this is the uniform of the German police.

Shoulder straps on a green background.

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 policeman)

5. Oberstleutnant der Polizei (Oberstleutnant der Polizei)

6.Oberst der Polizei (Oberst der Policeman).

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 necessary to wear green stripes on a black flap on both sleeves above the elbow. One row 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 SS-Obersturmführer's patches. However, as a rule, SS officers ignored these stripes and preferred to indicate their rank by wearing a collar with rank insignia over their camouflage clothing.

An interesting remark from one of the Soviet veterans of SMERSH counterintelligence officers: “... since the late autumn of 1944, I have repeatedly discovered carefully wrapped buttonholes and shoulder straps of the Wehrmacht in the pockets of killed or captured SS men. During interrogation, these SS men unanimously declared that they had previously served in They were forcibly transferred to the Wehrmacht and the SS by order, and they keep the old insignia 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 performed by SS soldiers. Also, there were no priests in the SS troops, because... SS members were prohibited from practicing any religion.

Literature and sources.

1. P. Lipatov. Uniforms of the Red Army and the Wehrmacht. Publishing House "Technology for Youth". Moscow. 1996
2. Magazine "Sergeant". Chevron series. 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. NSDAP assault troops 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. Website "Arsenal" (http://www.ipclub.ru/arsenal/platz).
12.V.Shunkov. Soldiers of destruction. Organization, training, weapons, uniforms of the Waffen SS. Moscow. Minsk, AST Harvest. 2001
13.A.A.Kurylev. German Army 1933-1945. Astrel. AST. Moscow. 2009
14. W. Boehler. Unoform-Effekten 1939-1945. Motorbuch Verlag. Karlsruhe. 2009

OFFICER RANKS IN FASCIST GERMANY

OFFICER RANKS IN FASCIST GERMANY, Reichsführer SS corresponded to the rank of Field Marshal of the Wehrmacht;
Oberstgruppenführer - Colonel General;
Obergruppenführer - general;
Gruppenführer - Lieutenant General;
brigadenführer - major general;
Standartenführer - colonel;
Obersturmbannführer - lieutenant colonel;
Sturmbannführer - major;
Hauptsturmführer - captain;
Obersturmführer - Oberleutnant;
Untersturmführer - Lieutenant.

Encyclopedic Dictionary. 2009 .

See what "OFFICER RANKS IN FASCIST GERMANY" are in other dictionaries:

Officer ranks troops of the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition and the Axis countries during the Second World War. Not marked: China (Anti-Hitler Coalition) Finland (Axis Powers) Designations: Infantry Naval Forces Military air force Waffen... ... Wikipedia

SS BRIGADENFUHRER, see Officer ranks in Nazi Germany (see OFFICER RANKS IN FASCIST GERMANY) ... Encyclopedic Dictionary

SS HAUPTSTURMFUHRER, see Officer ranks in Nazi Germany (see OFFICER RANKS IN FASCIST GERMANY) ... Encyclopedic Dictionary

SS GRUPPENFUHRER, see Officer ranks in Nazi Germany (see OFFICER RANKS IN FASCIST GERMANY) ... Encyclopedic Dictionary

OBERGRUPPENFUHRER SS, see Officer ranks in Nazi Germany (see OFFICER RANKS IN FASCIST GERMANY) ... Encyclopedic Dictionary

OBERSTGRUPPENFUHRER SS, see Officer ranks in Nazi Germany (see OFFICER RANKS IN FASCIST GERMANY) ... Encyclopedic Dictionary

OBERSTURMBANNFUHRER SS, see Officer ranks in Nazi Germany (see OFFICER RANKS IN FASCIST GERMANY) ... Encyclopedic Dictionary