# 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

| Insignia | Insignia | Insignia | Title (English) | German Army equivalent | Approximate equivalents/translations during World War II | Approximate equivalents/translations during World War II |
| Collar | Shoulder | Sleeve (parka) | Title (English) | German Army equivalent | U.S. | UK |
| 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 | Second lieutenant |
| Non-commissioned officer ranks |||||||
| | | | SS-Sturmscharführer (SS-Assault section leader) | Stabsfeldwebel | Sergeant major | Regimental sergeant major |
| Various Depending on rank | Various Depending on rank | | SS-Stabsscharführer (SS-Staff section leader) | Hauptfeldwebel senior NCO e.g., Oberfeldwebel or Feldwebel, seldom Unterfeldwebel. | — | (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 | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | 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.