Sturmscharführer

SS-Sturmscharführer was a Nazi rank of the Waffen-SS that existed between 1934 and 1945.[1][2] The rank was the most senior enlisted rank in the Waffen-SS, the equivalent of a regimental sergeant major,[3] or senior warrant officer in other military organizations.Sturmscharführer was unique to the Waffen-SS and was not used in the regular SS (the Allgemeine-SS), where the highest enlisted rank was Hauptscharführer.

The rank of Sturmscharführer was first created in June 1934, after the Night of the Long Knives.[4] Due to a reorganization of the SS, Sturmscharführer was created as the most senior enlisted rank of the SS-Verfügungstruppe, replacing the older Sturmabteilung (SA) title of Haupttruppführer.

By 1941, the Waffen-SS had become the successor organization to the SS-Verfügungstruppe and Sturmscharführer was established as the most senior enlisted rank.[1] A Sturmscharführer was typically assigned as the head sergeant of an entire regiment or, in some cases, an infantry division.

Sturmscharführer was not the same as Stabsscharführer, which was a positional title given to the head SS non-commissioned officer of a company. The rank of Sturmscharführer was also not a prerequisite for promotion to Untersturmführer and was generally considered as a rank for “career” enlisted SS soldiers, rather than a rank on the path to becoming an officer.

The insignia for Sturmscharführer was two silver pips and two silver stripes worn on a collar patch along with the shoulder boards of a Wehrmacht Stabsfeldwebel.[3] As was the case with Waffen-SS enlisted insignia, the collar patch of a Sturmscharführer was edged with black-and-silver twist cord until 1940 when the edging was dropped; like all non-commissioned officers the collar was bordered with 9mm silver-grey braid.

Insignia

Junior rank
SS-Hauptscharführer		 SS rank
SS-Sturmscharführer		 Senior rank
SS-Untersturmführer

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 Lumsden 2000, p. 109.
  2. ↑ McNab 2009, p. 30.
  3. 1 2 Flaherty 2004, p. 148.
  4. ↑ McNab 2009, pp. 29, 30.

Bibliography

  • Flaherty, T. H. (2004) [1988]. The Third Reich: The SS. Time-Life Books, Inc. ISBN 1 84447 073 3. 
  • Lumsden, Robin (2000). A Collector's Guide To: The Waffen–SS. Ian Allan Publishing, Inc. ISBN 0-7110-2285-2. 
  • McNab, Chris (2009). The SS: 1923–1945. Amber Books Ltd. ISBN 978-1-906626-49-5. 
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