Ranks and insignia of the Waffen-SS
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This table contains the final ranks and insignia of the Waffen-SS, which were in use from April 1942 to May 1945, in comparison to the Wehrmacht.[1] The highest ranks of the combined SS (German: Gesamt-SS) was that of Reichsführer-SS and Oberster Führer der SS; however, there was no Waffen-SS equivalent to these positions.[2]
Table
| Insignia | Title (English) |
German Army equivalent[3] | Approximate equivalents/translations during World War II | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collar[4][5] | Shoulder[4][5] | Sleeve (parka)[5] |
U.S.[4][6] | UK[7] | ||
| General ranks | ||||||
 |
 |
 |
SS-Oberst-Gruppenführer und Generaloberst der Waffen-SS (SS-Supreme group leader and colonel general of the Waffen-SS) |
Generaloberst | General | General |
 |
 |
 |
SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS (SS-Senior group leader and general of the Waffen-SS) |
General der Waffengattung | Lieutenant general | Lieutenant-general |
 |
 |
 |
SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS (SS-Group leader and lieutenant general of the Waffen-SS) |
Generalleutnant | Major general | Major general |
 |
 |
 |
SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS (SS-Brigadier leader and major general of the Waffen-SS) |
Generalmajor | Brigadier general | Brigadier |
| Officer ranks | ||||||
 |
 |
 |
SS-Oberführer (SS-Senior leader) |
No army equivalent; equivalent to Kommodore in the Kriegsmarine | Senior colonel | Colonel |
 |
 |
SS-Standartenführer (SS-Standard leader) |
Oberst | Colonel | Colonel | |
 |
 |
 |
SS-Obersturmbannführer (SS-Senior assault unit leader) |
Oberstleutnant | Lieutenant colonel | Lieutenant colonel |
 |
 |
 |
SS-Sturmbannführer (SS-Assault unit leader) |
Major | Major | Major |
 |
 |
 |
SS-Hauptsturmführer (SS-Head assault leader) |
Hauptmann/Rittmeister | Captain | Captain |
 |
 |
 |
SS-Obersturmführer (SS-Senior assault leader) |
Oberleutnant | First lieutenant | Lieutenant |
 |
 |
 |
SS-Untersturmführer (SS-Second/Junior assault leader) |
Leutnant | Second lieutenant | |
| Non-commissioned officer ranks | ||||||
 |
 |
 |
SS-Sturmscharführer (SS-Assault section leader) |
Stabsfeldwebel | Sergeant major | Regimental sergeant major |
| Various Depending on rank |
 |
SS-Stabsscharführer (SS-Staff section leader)[a] |
Hauptfeldwebel senior NCO e.g., Oberfeldwebel or Feldwebel, seldom Unterfeldwebel. |
N/a | (Company) Sergeant major | |
 |
 |
 |
SS-Hauptscharführer (SS-Head section leader) |
Oberfeldwebel | Master sergeant | Sergeant major |
 |
SS-Standartenoberjunker OA (Officer aspirant) |
Fahnenjunker-Oberfeldwebel OA (Officer aspirant) |
||||
 |
 |
 |
SS-Oberscharführer (SS-Senior section leader) |
Feldwebel | Technical sergeant | Staff sergeant |
 |
SS-Standartenjunker OA (Officer aspirant) |
Fahnenjunker-Feldwebel OA (Officer aspirant) |
||||
 |
 |
 |
SS-Scharführer (SS-Section leader) |
Unterfeldwebel | Staff sergeant | Sergeant |
 |
SS-Oberjunker OA (Officer aspirant) |
Fahnenjunker-Unterfeldwebel OA (Officer aspirant) |
||||
 |
 |
 |
SS-Unterscharführer (SS-Junior section leader) |
Unteroffizier | Sergeant | Corporal |
 |
SS-Junker OA (Officer aspirant) |
Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier OA (Officer aspirant) |
||||
| Enlisted ranks | ||||||
| No equivalent[b] | Stabsgefreiter | Administrative corporal | Lance corporal | |||
 |
 |
 |
SS-Rottenführer (SS-Squad leader) |
Obergefreiter | Corporal | Lance corporal |
 |
 |
SS-Sturmmann (SS-Assault man/Storm trooper) |
Gefreiter | Acting corporal | Senior private | |
 |
 |
SS-Oberschütze (SS-Senior rifleman) |
Oberschütze | Private first class | Senior private | |
| No insignia | SS-Schütze (SS-Rifleman) |
Soldat, Schütze, Grenadier | Private | Private | ||
Remarks
- SS-Bewerber (SS-applicant) and SS-Anwärter (SS-aspirant) were both removed as Waffen-SS ranks before 1941.[10]