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. The highest ranks of the combined SS (German: Gesamt-SS) was that of Reichsführer-SS and Oberster Führer der SS; however, there was no Waffen-SS equivalent to these positions.

Source: Wikipedia

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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. The highest ranks of the combined SS (German: Gesamt-SS) was that of Reichsführer-SS and Oberster Führer der SS; however, there was no Waffen-SS equivalent to these positions.

Table

Ranks and insignia of the Waffen-SS

<table><thead><tr><th>Insignia</th><th>Title (English)</th><th>German Army equivalent</th><th>Approximate equivalents/translations during World War II</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Collar</td><td>Shoulder</td><td>Sleeve (parka)</td><td>U.S.</td><td>UK</td></tr><tr><td>General ranks</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>SS-Oberst-Gruppenführer und Generaloberst der Waffen-SS (SS-Supreme group leader and colonel general of the Waffen-SS)</td><td>Generaloberst</td><td>General</td><td>General</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS (SS-Senior group leader and general of the Waffen-SS)</td><td>General der Waffengattung</td><td>Lieutenant general</td><td>Lieutenant-general</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS (SS-Group leader and lieutenant general of the Waffen-SS)</td><td>Generalleutnant</td><td>Major general</td><td>Major general</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS (SS-Brigadier leader and major general of the Waffen-SS)</td><td>Generalmajor</td><td>Brigadier general</td><td>Brigadier</td></tr><tr><td>Officer ranks</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>SS-Oberführer (SS-Senior leader)</td><td>No army equivalent; equivalent to Kommodore in the Kriegsmarine</td><td>Senior colonel</td><td>Colonel</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>SS-Standartenführer (SS-Standard leader)</td><td>Oberst</td><td>Colonel</td><td>Colonel</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>SS-Obersturmbannführer (SS-Senior assault unit leader)</td><td>Oberstleutnant</td><td>Lieutenant colonel</td><td>Lieutenant colonel</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>SS-Sturmbannführer (SS-Assault unit leader)</td><td>Major</td><td>Major</td><td>Major</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>SS-Hauptsturmführer (SS-Head assault leader)</td><td>Hauptmann/Rittmeister</td><td>Captain</td><td>Captain</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>SS-Obersturmführer (SS-Senior assault leader)</td><td>Oberleutnant</td><td>First lieutenant</td><td>Lieutenant</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>SS-Untersturmführer (SS-Second/Junior assault leader)</td><td>Leutnant</td><td>Second lieutenant</td></tr><tr><td>Non-commissioned officer ranks</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>SS-Sturmscharführer (SS-Assault section leader)</td><td>Stabsfeldwebel</td><td>Sergeant major</td><td>Regimental sergeant major</td></tr><tr><td>Various Depending on rank</td><td></td><td>SS-Stabsscharführer (SS-Staff section leader)</td><td>Hauptfeldwebel senior NCO e.g., Oberfeldwebel or Feldwebel, seldom Unterfeldwebel.</td><td>—N/a</td><td>(Company) Sergeant major</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>SS-Hauptscharführer (SS-Head section leader)</td><td>Oberfeldwebel</td><td>Master sergeant</td><td>Sergeant major</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>SS-Standartenoberjunker OA (Officer aspirant)</td><td>Fahnenjunker-Oberfeldwebel OA (Officer aspirant)</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>SS-Oberscharführer (SS-Senior section leader)</td><td>Feldwebel</td><td>Technical sergeant</td><td>Staff sergeant</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>SS-Standartenjunker OA (Officer aspirant)</td><td>Fahnenjunker-Feldwebel OA (Officer aspirant)</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>SS-Scharführer (SS-Section leader)</td><td>Unterfeldwebel</td><td>Staff sergeant</td><td>Sergeant</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>SS-Oberjunker OA (Officer aspirant)</td><td>Fahnenjunker-Unterfeldwebel OA (Officer aspirant)</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>SS-Unterscharführer (SS-Junior section leader)</td><td>Unteroffizier</td><td>Sergeant</td><td>Corporal</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>SS-Junker OA (Officer aspirant)</td><td>Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier OA (Officer aspirant)</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Enlisted ranks</td></tr><tr><td>No equivalent</td><td>Stabsgefreiter</td><td>Administrative corporal</td><td>Lance corporal</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>SS-Rottenführer (SS-Squad leader)</td><td>Obergefreiter</td><td>Corporal</td><td>Lance corporal</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>SS-Sturmmann (SS-Assault man/Storm trooper)</td><td>Gefreiter</td><td>Acting corporal</td><td>Senior private</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>SS-Oberschütze (SS-Senior rifleman)</td><td>Oberschütze</td><td>Private first class</td><td>Senior private</td></tr><tr><td>No insignia</td><td>SS-Schütze (SS-Rifleman)</td><td>Soldat, Schütze, Grenadier</td><td>Private</td><td>Private</td></tr></tbody></table>

• SS-Bewerber (SS-applicant) and SS-Anwärter (SS-aspirant) were both removed as Waffen-SS ranks before 1941.