Ranks and insignia of the Waffen-SS

This table contains the final ranks and insignia of the Waffen-SS, which were in use from April 1942 to May 1945, in comparison to the Wehrmacht.[1] The highest rank of the combined SS (German: Gesamt-SS) was that of Reichsführer-SS; however, there was no Waffen-SS equivalent to this position.

Table
Insignia Title
(English)		 Army equivalent[2] Approximate equivalents during World War II
Collar[3][4] Shoulder[3][4] Sleeve
(parka)[4]		 US[3][5]UK[6]
General ranks
SS-Oberst-Gruppenführer und Generaloberst der Waffen-SS
(SS-Supreme group leader and colonel general of the Waffen-SS)		 Generaloberst GeneralGeneral
SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS
(SS-Senior group leader and general of the Waffen-SS)		 General der Waffengattung Lieutenant GeneralLieutenant General
SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS
(SS-Group leader and lieutenant general of the Waffen-SS)		 Generalleutnant Major GeneralMajor General
SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS
(SS-Brigadier leader and major general of the Waffen-SS)		 Generalmajor Brigadier GeneralBrigadier
Officer ranks
SS-Oberführer
(SS-Senior leader)		 No equivalent
equivalent to Kommodore in the Kriegsmarine.		 Senior colonelColonel
SS-Standartenführer
(SS-Standard leader)		 Oberst ColonelColonel
SS-Obersturmbannführer
(SS-Senior assault unit leader)		 Oberstleutnant Lieutenant ColonelLieutenant Colonel
SS-Sturmbannführer
(SS-Assault unit leader)		 Major MajorMajor
SS-Hauptsturmführer
(SS-Head assault leader)		 Hauptmann/Rittmeister CaptainCaptain
SS-Obersturmführer
(SS-Senior assault leader)		 Oberleutnant First lieutenantLieutenant
SS-Untersturmführer
(SS-Second/Junior assault leader)		 Leutnant Second lieutenant
Non-Commissioned Officer ranks
SS-Sturmscharführer
(SS-Storm squad leader)		 Stabsfeldwebel Sergeant majorRegimental sergeant major
Various
Depending on rank		 SS-Stabsscharführer
(SS-Staff squad leader)[lower-alpha 1]		 Hauptfeldwebel
senior NCO e.g., Oberfeldwebel or Feldwebel, seldom Unterfeldwebel.		 N/A (Company) Sergeant Major
SS-Hauptscharführer
(SS-Head squad leader)		 Oberfeldwebel Master SergeantSergeant Major
SS-Standartenoberjunker OA
Officer Aspirant		 Fahnenjunker-Oberfeldwebel OA
Officer Aspirant
SS-Oberscharführer
(SS-Senior squad leader)		 Feldwebel Technical sergeantStaff sergeant
SS-Standartenjunker OA
Officer Aspirant		 Fahnenjunker-Feldwebel OA
Officer Aspirant
SS-Scharführer
(SS-Squad leader)		 Unterfeldwebel Staff sergeantSergeant
SS-Oberjunker OA
Officer Aspirant		 Fahnenjunker-Unterfeldwebel OA
Officer Aspirant
SS-Unterscharführer
(SS-Junior squad leader)		 Unteroffizier SergeantCorporal
SS-Junker OA
Officer Aspirant		 Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier OA
(Officer Aspirant)
Enlisted men
No equivalent[lower-alpha 2] Stabsgefreiter Administrative corporal Lance corporal
SS-Rottenführer
(SS-Squad leader)		 Obergefreiter Corporal Lance corporal
SS-Sturmmann
(SS-Assault man/Storm trooper)		 Gefreiter Acting CorporalSenior Private
SS-Oberschütze
(SS-Senior rifleman)		 Oberschütze Private 1st classSenior private
No insignia SS-Schütze
(SS-Rifleman)		 Soldat, Schütze, Grenadier PrivatePrivate
Remarks

See also

Notes
  1. senior NCO, e.g. Hauptscharführer or Oberscharführer, seldom Scharführer.[7]
  2. However, administratively Rottenführer (2. Gehaltsstufe) existed.[8]

References
Citations
  1. Mollo 1992, pp. 88–89.
  2. Bender & Taylor 1986, p. 112.
  3. War Department 1945.
  4. Bender & Taylor 1986, pp. 121-127.
  5. Zabecki 2014, pp. 1639-1940.
  6. CIA 1999, p. 30.
  7. Bender & Taylor 1986, p. 110.
  8. Mollo 1992, p. 78.
  9. Mollo 1992, p. 77.
Bibliography
  • Bender, Roger James; Taylor, Hugh Page (1986). Uniforms Organization and History of the Waffen-SS Vol 1 (6th ed.). San Jose, CA: R. James Bender Publishing. ISBN 0-912138-02-5.
  • CIA (24 August 1999). "Records Integration Title Book" (PDF). Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  • Mollo, Andrew (1992). Uniforms of the SS, Collected Edition Vol. 6. Windrow & Greene. ISBN 1-872004-67-9.
  • War Department (15 March 1945). "Chapter IX: Uniforms, Insignia, and Individual Equipment". War Department Technical Manual TM-E 30-451. Plate XX–XXI.
  • Zabecki, David T., ed. (2014). Germany at War: 400 Years of Military History. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1598849806.
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