Ranks of officers ss. Military ranks of the SS. Ranks of the Wehrmacht and the SS

One of the most cruel and merciless organizations of the 20th century is the SS. Ranks, decals, functions - all this was different from those in other types and branches of the troops in Nazi Germany. Reichsminister Himmler brought together all the disparate guard units (SS) into a single army - the Waffen SS. In the article we will analyze in more detail the military ranks and insignia of the SS troops. And first, a little about the history of the creation of this organization.

Prerequisites for the formation of the SS

In March 1923, Hitler was concerned that the leaders of the Stormtroopers (SA) were beginning to feel their power and importance in the NSDAP party. This was due to the fact that both the party and the SA had the same sponsors, for whom the goal of the National Socialists was important - to carry out a coup, and they did not have much sympathy for the leaders themselves. Sometimes it even came to an open confrontation between the leader of the SA - Ernst Röhm - and Adolf Hitler. It was at this time, apparently, that the future Fuhrer decided to strengthen his personal power by creating a detachment of bodyguards - the headquarters guard. He was the first prototype of the future SS. They did not have ranks, but the insignia had already appeared. The abbreviation for headquarters guards was also SS, but it came from the German word Stawsbache. In every hundred SA, Hitler allocated 10-20 people ostensibly to protect high-ranking party leaders. They personally had to take an oath to Hitler, and their selection was carried out carefully.

A few months later, Hitler renames the organization Stosstruppe - that was the name of the shock units of the Kaiser's army during the First World War. The abbreviation SS nevertheless remained the same, despite the fundamentally new name. It is worth noting that the entire Nazi ideology was associated with a halo of mystery, historical continuity, allegorical symbols, pictograms, runes, etc. Even the NSDAP symbol - the swastika - was taken by Hitler from ancient Indian mythology.

Stosstrup Adolf Hitler - the strike force "Adolf Hitler" - acquired the final features of the future SS. They did not yet have their own titles, however, insignia appeared that Himmler would later retain - a skull on headdresses, a black distinctive color of the uniform, etc. The "dead head" on the uniform symbolized the willingness of the detachment to defend Hitler himself at the cost of his life. The basis for the future usurpation of power was prepared.

Emergence of Strumstaffel - SS

After the Beer Putsch, Hitler went to prison, where he spent until December 1924. The circumstances that allowed the future Fuhrer to be released after an armed seizure of power are still incomprehensible.

Upon his release, Hitler first of all forbade the SA to carry weapons and position itself as an alternative to the German army. The fact is that the Weimar Republic could only have a limited contingent of troops under the terms of the Versailles Peace Treaty after the First World War. It seemed to many that the armed units of the SA were a legitimate way to avoid the restriction.

At the beginning of 1925, the NSDAP was restored again, and in November, the "shock detachment". At first it was called Strumstaffen, and on November 9, 1925 it received its final name - Schutzstaffel - "cover squadron". The organization had nothing to do with aviation. This name was invented by Hermann Göring, a famous fighter pilot of the First World War. He liked to use aviation terms in Everyday life. Over time, the "aviation term" was forgotten, and the abbreviation was always translated as "security units." It was headed by Hitler's favorites - Shrek and Schaub.

Selection in the SS

The SS gradually became an elite unit with good salaries in foreign currency, which for Weimar Republic with its hyperinflation and unemployment, it was considered a luxury. All Germans of working age were eager to join the SS detachments. Hitler himself carefully selected his personal guard. Candidates were required to:

Age from 25 to 35 years.
The presence of two recommendations from current members of the CC.
Permanent residence in one place for five years.
The presence of such positive qualities as sobriety, strength, health, discipline.

New development under Heinrich Himmler

The SS, despite the fact that it was personally subordinate to Hitler and the Reichsführer SS - from November 1926 this position was occupied by Josef Berthold, was still part of the SA structures. The attitude towards the “elite” in the assault detachments was contradictory: the commanders did not want to have SS members in their detachments, so they shouldered various duties, such as distributing leaflets, subscribing to Nazi agitation, etc.

In 1929, Heinrich Himmler became the leader of the SS. Under him, the size of the organization began to grow rapidly. The SS turns into an elite closed organization with its charter, a mystical ritual of entry, imitating the traditions of medieval knightly Orders. A real SS man had to marry a "model woman." Heinrich Himmler introduced a new mandatory requirement for entry into the renewed organization: the candidate had to prove evidence of purity of lineage in three generations. However, that was not all: the new Reichsführer SS obliged all members of the organization to look for brides only with a “clean” genealogy. Himmler managed to nullify the subordination of his organization to the SA, and then completely withdraw from it after he helped Hitler get rid of the leader of the SA - Ernst Röhm, who sought to turn his organization into a massive people's army.

The bodyguard detachment was transformed first into the Fuhrer's personal guard regiment, and then into the personal SS army. Ranks, insignia, uniforms - everything indicated that the unit was independent. Next, let's talk more about insignia. Let's start with the rank of the SS in the Third Reich.

Reichsfuehrer SS

At the head was the Reichsfuehrer SS - Heinrich Himmler. Many historians claim that he was going to usurp power in the future. In the hands of this man was control not only over the SS, but also over the Gestapo - the secret police, the political police and the security service (SD). Despite the fact that many of the above organizations reported to one person, they were completely different structures which sometimes even quarreled with each other. Himmler was well aware of the importance of a branched structure from different services concentrated in the same hands, so he was not afraid of Germany's defeat in the war, believing that such a person would be useful to the Western allies. However, his plans were not destined to come true, and he died in May 1945, biting a vial of poison in his mouth.

Consider the highest ranks of the SS among the Germans and their correspondence with the German army.

Hierarchy of the SS High Command

The insignia of the SS high command was that the buttonholes on both sides depicted Nordic ritual symbols and oak leaves. Exceptions - SS Standartenführer and SS Oberführer - wore an oak leaf, but belonged to senior officers. The more they were on the buttonholes, the higher the rank of their owner.

The highest ranks of the SS among the Germans and their correspondence with the land army:

SS officers

Consider the features of the officer corps. SS Hauptsturmführer and lower ranks no longer had oak leaves on their buttonholes. Also on the right buttonhole they had the coat of arms of the SS - a Nordic symbol of two lightning bolts.

Hierarchy of SS officers:

SS rank	Buttonholes	Compliance in the army
Oberführer SS	double oak leaf	No match
SS Standartenführer	single leaf	Colonel
Obersturmbannführer SS	4 stars and two rows of aluminum thread	Lieutenant colonel
Sturmbannführer SS	4 stars
SS Hauptsturmführer	3 stars and 4 rows of thread	Hauptmann
Obersturmführer SS	3 stars and 2 rows	Ober Lieutenant
Untersturmführer SS	3 stars	Lieutenant

I would like to immediately note that the German stars did not resemble the five-pointed Soviet ones - they were four-pointed, rather resembling squares or rhombuses. Next in the hierarchy are non-commissioned officer ranks of the SS in the Third Reich. More about them in the next paragraph.

non-commissioned officers

Hierarchy of non-commissioned officers:

SS rank	Buttonholes	Compliance in the army
Sturmscharführer SS	2 stars, 4 rows of thread	Staff sergeant major
Standartenoberjunker SS	2 stars, 2 rows of thread, silver piping	Chief sergeant major
SS Hauptscharführer	2 stars, 2 rows of thread	Oberfenrich
Oberscharführer SS	2 stars	Feldwebel
Standartenunker SS	1 asterisk and 2 rows of thread (differed in shoulder straps)	Fanejunker sergeant major
Scharführer SS		Unter sergeant major
Unterscharführer SS	2 strands at the bottom	non-commissioned officer

Buttonholes are the main, but not the only insignia of ranks. Also, the hierarchy could be determined by shoulder straps and stripes. Military ranks The SS were sometimes modified. However, above we have presented the hierarchy and the main differences at the end of World War II.

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

Such a strong aesthetic impact is due to the fact that for the SS troops (die Waffen-SS) the form and emblem were developed by a talented artist, a graduate of the Hannover Art School and the Berlin Academy, the author of the cult painting "Mother" Karl Diebitsch (Karl Diebitsch). He collaborated with SS uniform designer and fashion designer Walter Heck on the final design. And they sewed uniforms at the factories of the then little-known fashion designer Hugo Boss (Hugo Ferdinand Boss), and now his brand is famous all over 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 Rem (the leader of the SA - assault squads - Sturmabteilung), went in a light brown shirt plus breeches and boots.

Even before the final decision on the expediency of the existence of two parallel “advanced guard detachments of the party” and before the cleansing of the SA, the “imperial leader of the SS” Himmler continued to wear a black edging on the shoulder of a brown tunic to the members of his detachment.

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

At first, this tunic had either three or four buttons, general form parade and field uniforms were constantly refined.

When the black uniform designed by Diebitsch-Heck was introduced in 1934, only a red armband with a swastika remained from the time of the first SS detachments.

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

front door;
everyday.

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

hallmarks military personnel of the SS units in appearance for a long time became:

red armbands with a black edging and a swastika inscribed in a white circle ─ on the sleeve of the tunic 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 the Aryans ─ signs of belonging to 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 renaming "Allgemeine (general) SS" to "Waffen (armed) SS".

Changes by 1939

It was in 1939 that the famous "dead head" (a skull, made first of bronze, then of aluminum or brass) was transformed into the famous eagle on the cockade of a cap or cap.

The skull itself, along with other new distinctive features, remained part of the SS Panzer Corps. In the same year, the SS received a white dress uniform(white tunic, 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 command of the Wehrmacht General Staff), the following changes occurred with the uniform of the SS men, under which they were introduced:

field uniform of gray (the famous "feldgrau") color;
full dress white uniform for officers;
black or gray overcoats, also with armbands.

At the same time, the charter allowed the overcoat to be worn unbuttoned on the top buttons, so that it would be easier to navigate in 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 officers (primarily units of the "Dead Head" type) and combat units finally took shape.

Interestingly, the "police" units could only be ordered personally by the Reichsführer, but the combat units, which were considered the reserve of the military command, could be used by Wehrmacht generals. Service in the Waffen SS was equated with military service, and the police and security forces were not considered military units.

However, parts of the SS remained under the scrutiny of the supreme party leadership, as a "model of political strength." Hence the constant changes, even during the course of the war, in their uniforms.

SS uniform in wartime

Participation in military companies, 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:

private (schutzman, colloquially just "man", "SS man") wore simple black shoulder straps and buttonholes with two runes on the right (left - empty, black);
an ordinary “verified”, after six months of service (obershutze) received a “knob” (“asterisk”) of silver color on the shoulder strap of a field (“camouflage”) uniform. The rest of the insignia were identical to 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 “knob” was replaced with a triangular patch.

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

Triangles on the field uniform were replaced by rectangles of various thicknesses (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 a silver edging and a small “asterisk” (“square”, “knob”) on the right buttonhole. The same insignia were in the "junker SS";
senior sergeant (sharführer) ─ the same shoulder straps and silver stripes on the side of the “square” on the buttonhole;
foreman (oberscharführer) ─ shoulder straps are the same, two stars without stripes on the buttonhole;
warrant officer (hauptscharführer) ─ buttonhole, like a foreman, but with stripes, there are already two knobs on shoulder straps;
senior warrant officer or sergeant major (Sturmscharführer) - shoulder straps with three squares, on the buttonhole the same two "squares" as the ensign, but with four thin stripes.

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

SS officer uniform

The uniform of the junior officers differed already in the shoulder straps of the camouflage (field) uniform: black with green stripes (thickness and number depending on the 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) ─ a 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, epaulette with two "knobs";
major (Sturmbannführer) ─ silver "wicker" shoulder straps, three squares on the buttonhole;
lieutenant colonel (oberbannshturmführer) ─ one square on a twisted pursuit. Two thin stripes under the four squares on the buttonhole.

Beginning with the rank of major, the insignia underwent minor changes in 1942. The color of the backing of the twisted epaulets corresponded to the type of troops, on the epaulet itself there was sometimes a symbol of a military specialty (a sign of a tank unit or, for example, a veterinary service). "Knobs" on shoulder straps after 1942 turned from silver into golden signs.

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

The remaining insignia of senior officers looked like this:

colonel (Standartenführer) ─ three stripes under double leaves on a patch, two stars on shoulder straps, an oak leaf on both buttonholes;
the unparalleled rank of oberführer (something like "senior colonel") ─ four thick stripes on the patch, a double oak leaf on the buttonholes.

Characteristically, these officers also had black and green "camouflage" shoulder straps for "field", combat uniforms. For commanders of higher ranks, the colors were no longer so “protective”.

SS general uniform

On the uniforms of the SS at the highest command staff (generals) there are already golden-colored epaulettes on a blood-red backing, with symbols of silver color.

The shoulder straps of the “field” uniform are also changing, since there is no need for special disguise: instead of green on a black field for officers, generals wear thin gold signs. 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).

The insignia of the high command on shoulder straps and buttonholes, respectively:

major general of the SS troops (brigadeführer in the Waffen SS) ─ gold embroidery without symbols, double oak leaf (until 1942) with a square, triple leaf after 1942 without an additional symbol;
lieutenant general (gruppenfuehrer) ─ one square, triple oak leaf;
full general(Obergruppenführer) ─ two “bumps” and an oak leaf trefoil (until 1942, the bottom sheet 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 sheet at the bottom of the buttonhole, but with three squares).
The Reichsführer (the closest, but not exact analogue ─ "NKVD People's Commissar" or "Field Marshal General") wore a thin silver epaulette with a silver trefoil on his uniform, 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, in battles, with the exception of Sepp Dietrich, they had to participate less often.

Insignia of the Gestapo

In the SD security service, the Gestapo also wore SS uniforms, the ranks and insignia practically coincided with the ranks in the Waffen or the Allgemein SS.

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

An interesting fact: in the great TV movie Lioznova, the viewer almost always sees Stirlitz in, although at the time of the spring of 1945, the black uniform almost everywhere in the SS was replaced by a dark green "parade" more convenient for front-line conditions.

Muller could walk in an exceptionally black tunic ─ both as a general and as an advanced high-ranking leader who rarely goes to the regions.

Camouflage

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

helmet cover;
jacket
face mask.

Camouflage capes (Zelltbahn) appeared later. Trousers (breeches) before the appearance of reversible overalls in the region of 1942-43 were from the usual field uniform.

The pattern itself on camouflage overalls could use many "small-spotted" forms:

dotted;
under oak (eichenlaub);
palm (palmenmuster);
plane leaves (platanen).

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

autumn;
summer (spring);
smoky (black-gray polka dots);
winter;
"desert" and others.

Initially, uniforms made of camouflage waterproof fabrics were supplied to the Verfugungstruppe (disposition troops). Later, camouflage became an integral part of the uniform of the SS "target" groups (Einsatzgruppen) of reconnaissance and sabotage detachments and units.

During the war years, the German leadership was creative in creating camouflage uniforms: the finds of the Italians (the first creators of camouflage) and the developments of the Americans and the British, which were among the trophies, were successfully borrowed.

Nevertheless, one should not underestimate the contribution of German scientists themselves and scientists collaborating with the Hitler regime to the development of such famous camouflage brands as

ss beringt eichenlaubmuster;
sseichplatanenmuster;
ssleibermuster;
sseichenlaubmuster.

Professors of physics (optics) who studied the effects of the passage of light rays through rain or foliage worked on the creation of these types of colors.
Soviet intelligence knew less about the SS-Leibermuster camouflage overalls than allied intelligence: it was used on Western front.

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

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

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

In a single copy, a sample 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; such camouflage patterns were produced so little 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 to develop camouflage clothing for modern commandos and other special forces.

Camouflage "SS-Eich-Platanenmuster" was much more common on all fronts. Actually "Platanenmuster" ("woody") is found in pre-war photos. By 1942, “reverse” or “reversible” jackets of the “Eich-Platanenmuster” coloring were massively supplied to the SS troops ─ autumn camouflage on the front, spring colors on the back of the fabric.

Actually, this tricolor, with broken lines of "rain" or "branches" combat uniforms are most often found in films about the Second World War and the Great Patriotic War.

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

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

SS form today

Favorably aesthetically solved black form of the SS is still popular today. Unfortunately, most often not where it is really necessary to recreate authentic uniforms: not in Russian cinema.

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

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

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

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 the 45th, are mostly dressed in camouflage from the first years of the war, is not spared from mistakes.

But the SS parade uniform enjoys well-deserved respect from reenactors. Of course, various extremist groups are also striving to pay tribute to the aesthetics of Nazism, and even those not recognized as such, such as relatively peaceful “Goths”.

Probably, the fact is that thanks to history, as well as the classic films "The Night Porter" by Cavani or "The Death of the Gods" by Visconti, the public has developed a "protest" perception of the aesthetics of the forces of evil. No wonder 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 ornamented with either imperial eagles or oak leaves.

The horrors of war are forgotten, but the feeling of protest against the 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 fashion couturiers in the world of big fashion.

Video

OFFICER RANKS IN FASCIST GERMANY

OFFICER RANKS IN FASCIST GERMANY, the Reichsführer SS corresponded to the rank of Field Marshal of the Wehrmacht;
Oberstgruppenführer - Colonel General;
Obergruppenführer - General;
gruppenführer - lieutenant general;
Brigadeführer - 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 of the troops of the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition and the Axis during the Second World War. Not marked: China ( Anti-Hitler coalition) Finland (Axis) Designations: Infantry Military naval forces Military air force Waffen ... ... Wikipedia

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

HAUPTSHTURMFYURER SS, see Officer ranks in fascist Germany (see OFFICER RANKS IN FASCIST GERMANY) ... encyclopedic Dictionary

SS GRUPPENFührer, 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

Oberstgruppenführer SS, see Officer ranks in fascist Germany (see OFFICER RANKS IN FASCIST GERMANY) ... encyclopedic Dictionary

Obersturmbannführer SS, see Officer ranks in fascist Germany (see OFFICER RANKS IN FASCIST GERMANY) ... encyclopedic Dictionary

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

Interpretation of the concept of "Wehrmacht"

These are the "defense forces" in 1935-1945. In other words, the Wehrmacht (photo below) is nothing but the armed forces of Nazi Germany. At the head is the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces of the country, in whose subordination were the ground forces, the Navy and the Air Force, and the SS troops. They were led by the main commands (OKL, OKH, OKM) and the commanders-in-chief various types Armed Forces (since 1940 also SS troops). Wehrmacht - Reich Chancellor A. Hitler. A photo of Wehrmacht soldiers is shown below.

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

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

Varieties of military signs

These include:

Uniform and insignia of the Wehrmacht

There were several varieties of uniforms and clothing. Each soldier had to independently monitor the condition of his weapons and uniforms. Their replacement was carried out in accordance with the established procedure or in case of serious damage during the exercise. Military uniforms lost color very quickly due to washing and daily brushing.

The shoes of the soldiers were subjected to a thorough inspection (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.

A new uniform (the uniform of the Wehrmacht - the armed forces of Nazi Germany in the period 1935 - 1945) was introduced along with a new steel helmet model. Ammunition, uniforms and a helmet outwardly did not differ from their predecessors (which existed back in the Kaiser era).

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

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

Insignia of the Wehrmacht and specifically the SS troops

To begin with, some points should be clarified. First, the SS troops and the SS organization itself are not identical concepts. The latter is the militant component of the Nazi Party, formed by members public organization leading in parallel to the SS their main activities (worker, shopkeeper, civil servant, etc.). They were allowed to wear a black uniform, which since 1938 has been replaced by a light gray uniform with two Wehrmacht-type shoulder straps. The latter reflected the general SS ranks.

As for the SS troops, it can be said that they are a kind of security detachments (“reserve troops” - “Dead Head” formations - Hitler’s own troops), in which only members of the SS were accepted. They were equated with the soldiers of the Wehrmacht.

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

The insignia of the SS and 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. She has two epaulettes, outwardly similar to the Wehrmacht, and military signs their titles are identical.

The rank system, and consequently the insignia, underwent many changes, the last of which occurred in May 1942 (they did not transform until May 1945).

The military ranks of the Wehrmacht were designated with buttonholes, epaulettes, galloons and chevrons on the collar, and the last two insignia were also on the sleeves, as well as special sleeve patches mainly on camouflage military clothing, various stripes (gaps of a contrasting color) on trousers, headwear design.

It was the field uniform of the SS that was finally established around 1938. If we consider the cut as a comparison criterion, then we can say that the uniform of the Wehrmacht (ground forces) and the uniform of the SS were no different. In color, 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), then the following points can be distinguished: the imperial eagle was slightly above the middle of the segment from the shoulder to the elbow of the left sleeve, its pattern differed in the shape of the wings (often there were cases when it was the Wehrmacht eagle that was sewn onto the field uniform of the SS ).

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

Also, the insignia of the Wehrmacht include how the numbers of battalions or companies were squeezed out on the buttons of the uniform, which was not done in the case of military uniform SS.

Emblematics of epaulettes, although identical to the Wehrmacht's, were quite rare (the exception was the first tank division, where the monogram on epaulettes was regularly worn).

Another difference in the system accumulating SS insignia is how the soldiers who were candidates for the rank of SS navigator wore a lace of the same color as his piping at the bottom of the shoulder strap. This rank is an analogue of the Gefreiter in the Wehrmacht. And candidates for SS Unterscharführer also wore a nine-millimeter wide galloon (braid embroidered with silver) at the bottom of the shoulder strap. This rank is an analogue of a non-commissioned officer in the Wehrmacht.

As for the ranks of the rank and file, there was a difference in buttonholes and sleeve patches, which were 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 and shoulder straps), we can say that the SS men on it never had insignia in ranks, but they preferred to release collars with their buttonholes over this one.

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

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

Ranks of the ground forces

They were presented as follows:

privates;
non-commissioned officers without belts (galoon or belt sling for wearing a tashka, cold, and later firearms);
non-commissioned officers with belts;
lieutenants;
captains;
staff officers;
generals.

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

Military colors of the ground forces of the Wehrmacht

In Germany, the branch of service was traditionally designated by the corresponding colors of edging and buttonholes, hats and uniforms, and so on. They changed quite often. During the outbreak of World War II, the following color distinction was in effect:

White - infantry and border guards, financiers and treasurers.
Scarlet - field, horse and self-propelled artillery, as well as general edging, buttonholes and stripes.
Raspberry or carmine red - non-commissioned officers of the veterinary service, as well as buttonholes, stripes and shoulder straps of the Main Apartment and General Staff High command of the Wehrmacht and ground forces.
Pink - anti-tank self-propelled artillery; edging of tank uniform parts; gaps and selection of buttonholes of service tunics of officers, gray-green jackets of non-commissioned officers and soldiers.
Golden yellow - cavalry, intelligence units tank units and scooters.
Lemon yellow - signal troops.
Burgundy - military chemists and courts; smoke curtains and multi-barreled reactive "chemical" mortars.
Black - engineering troops (sapper, railway, training units), technical service. The sappers of tank units have a black and white border.
Cornflower blue - medical and sanitary personnel (except for generals).
Light blue - edges of motor transport parts.
Light green - military pharmacists, rangers and mountain units.
Grass green - motorized infantry regiment, motorcycle units.
Gray - army propagandists and landwehr and reserve officers (edging on epaulettes of military colors).
Gray-blue - registration service, ranks of the American administration, specialist officers.
Orange - military police and officers of the engineering academy, recruiting service (pipe color).
Purple - military priests
Dark green - military officials.
Light red - quartermasters.
Light blue - military lawyers.
Yellow - horse reserve service.
Lemon - feldpochta.
Light brown - recruit training service.

Shoulder straps in the military uniform of Germany

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

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

Until 1938, there was a special army epaulette exclusively for the field uniform, which was worn by all ranks below the officer. It was entirely dark blue-green in color with the end slightly tapered towards the button. It did not have a piping corresponding to the color of the military branch. 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 intertwining strands made of a flat silvery “Russian braid” (the strand was woven in such a way that thinner threads were visible). All strands were sewn onto the valve of the color of the branch of service, which is at the heart of this shoulder strap. A special bend (U-shaped) of the braid in the place of the button hole helped to create the illusion of eight of its strands, when in fact there were only two.

The shoulder straps of the Wehrmacht (headquarters officers) were also made using the “Russian braid”, but in such a way as to demonstrate a row consisting of five separate loops located on both sides of the shoulder strap, in addition to the loop around the button located in its upper part.

The general's shoulder straps had a distinctive feature - "Russian braid". It was made from two separate golden strands, twisted on both sides with a single silver ribbed thread. The method of weaving meant the visibility of three knots in the middle and four loops on each side of it, in addition to one loop located around the button at the top of the shoulder strap.

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

It would not be superfluous to recall once again that shoulder straps are signs of the Wehrmacht.

Buttonholes and shoulder straps of generals

As mentioned earlier, the generals of the Wehrmacht wore epaulettes, for weaving which were used two thickened gold-metal cords and a silver soutache between them.

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

The generals of the Wehrmacht wore silver stars on their shoulder straps, while there was some difference: major generals did not have stars, lieutenant generals had one, a general of a certain type of troops (infantry, tank troops, cavalry, etc.) - two, oberst general - three (two stars located nearby at the bottom of the shoulder strap and one slightly above them). Previously, there was such a rank as a colonel general in the position of field marshal general, which was not used by the beginning of the war. The epaulette of this rank had two stars, which were placed in its upper and lower parts. It was possible to distinguish the general-field marshal by the crossed silver batons along the shoulder strap.

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 the shoulder straps on top of the field marshal's batons, as well as on the collar the white and silver ceremonial buttonholes of an infantry officer troops instead of richly ornamented gold buttonholes embroidered on a scarlet cloth flap (40x90 mm in size) relying on generals. Their pattern was found back in the days of the Kaiser's army and the Reichswehr, with the formation of the GDR and the FRG, it also arose among the 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 harnesses.

Another sign of general dignity is stripes.

The field marshal could also carry in his hand a natural baton, which was made of especially precious wood, individually designed, generously inlaid with silver and gold and decorated with reliefs.

personal identification mark

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

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

The image of the German soldiers can be seen in the photo "Wehrmacht Soldier" shown above.

Finding in Besh-Kungei

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

It included:

a light case with the inscription "Mastenbrille" containing glasses;
a folded travel bag with pockets filled with toiletries;
mittens, interchangeable collars, socks with footcloths, clothes brush, sweater, suspenders and dust protectors;
a bundle tied with twine, with a supply of leather and fabric for mending;
granules of some kind of remedy (presumably from moths);
an almost new tunic worn by a Wehrmacht officer, with a spare sewn-on emblem of the military branch and a metal dog tag;
hats (winter hat and kepi) with insignia;
military passes through front-line checkpoints;
a banknote of five Reichsmarks;
a couple of bottles of rum;
a box of cigars.

Dmitry thought about donating most of the uniforms to the museum. As for the bottles of rum, the box of cigars and the tunic worn by the officer of the Wehrmacht, he wants to keep them for himself on the rights of the legal 25% laid down by the state when finding historical value.

Prerequisites for the formation of the SS

Emergence of Strumstaffel - SS

At the beginning of 1925, the NSDAP was restored again, and in November, the "shock detachment". At first it was called Strumstaffen, and on November 9, 1925 it received its final name - Schutzstaffel - "cover squadron". The organization had nothing to do with aviation. This name was invented by Hermann Göring, a famous fighter pilot of the First World War. He liked to apply terms from aviation in everyday life. Over time, the "aviation term" was forgotten, and the abbreviation was always translated as "security units." It was headed by Hitler's favorites - Shrek and Schaub.

Selection in the SS

The SS gradually became an elite unit with good salaries in foreign currency, which was considered a luxury for the Weimar Republic with its hyperinflation and unemployment. All Germans of working age were eager to join the SS detachments. Hitler himself carefully selected his personal guard. Candidates were required to:

Age from 25 to 35 years.
The presence of two recommendations from current members of the CC.
Permanent residence in one place for five years.
The presence of such positive qualities as sobriety, strength, health, discipline.

New development under Heinrich Himmler

Reichsfuehrer SS

At the head was the Reichsfuehrer SS - Heinrich Himmler. Many historians claim that he was going to usurp power in the future. In the hands of this man was control not only over the SS, but also over the Gestapo - the secret police, the political police and the security service (SD). Despite the fact that many of the above organizations were subordinate to one person, they were completely different structures, which sometimes even quarreled with each other. Himmler was well aware of the importance of a branched structure from different services concentrated in the same hands, so he was not afraid of Germany's defeat in the war, believing that such a person would be useful to the Western allies. However, his plans were not destined to come true, and he died in May 1945, biting a vial of poison in his mouth.

Consider the highest ranks of the SS among the Germans and their correspondence with the German army.

Hierarchy of the SS High Command

The highest ranks of the SS among the Germans and their correspondence with the land army:

SS officers

Hierarchy of SS officers:

SS rank	Buttonholes	Compliance in the army
Oberführer SS	double oak leaf	No match
SS Standartenführer	single leaf	Colonel
Obersturmbannführer SS	4 stars and two rows of aluminum thread	Lieutenant colonel
Sturmbannführer SS	4 stars
SS Hauptsturmführer	3 stars and 4 rows of thread	Hauptmann
Obersturmführer SS	3 stars and 2 rows	Ober Lieutenant
Untersturmführer SS	3 stars	Lieutenant

non-commissioned officers

Hierarchy of non-commissioned officers:

SS rank	Buttonholes	Compliance in the army
Sturmscharführer SS	2 stars, 4 rows of thread	Staff sergeant major
Standartenoberjunker SS	2 stars, 2 rows of thread, silver piping	Chief sergeant major
SS Hauptscharführer	2 stars, 2 rows of thread	Oberfenrich
Oberscharführer SS	2 stars	Feldwebel
Standartenunker SS	1 asterisk and 2 rows of thread (differed in shoulder straps)	Fanejunker sergeant major
Scharführer SS		Unter sergeant major
Unterscharführer SS	2 strands at the bottom	non-commissioned officer

Buttonholes are the main, but not the only insignia of ranks. Also, the hierarchy could be determined by shoulder straps and stripes. The military ranks of the SS were sometimes subject to change. However, above we have presented the hierarchy and the main differences at the end of World War II.

Prerequisites for the formation of the SS

Emergence of Strumstaffel - SS

Selection in the SS

New development under Heinrich Himmler

Reichsfuehrer SS

Hierarchy of the SS High Command

SS officers

non-commissioned officers

History of the SS uniform

Changes by 1939

SS uniform in wartime

SS officer uniform

SS general uniform

Insignia of the Gestapo

Camouflage

SS form today

Video

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

Interpretation of the concept of "Wehrmacht"

Varieties of military signs

Uniform and insignia of the Wehrmacht

Insignia of the Wehrmacht and specifically the SS troops

Ranks of the ground forces

Military colors of the ground forces of the Wehrmacht

Shoulder straps in the military uniform of Germany

Buttonholes and shoulder straps of generals

personal identification mark

Finding in Besh-Kungei

Prerequisites for the formation of the SS

Emergence of Strumstaffel - SS

Selection in the SS

New development under Heinrich Himmler

Reichsfuehrer SS

Hierarchy of the SS High Command

SS officers

non-commissioned officers

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