# Ranks and insignia of the National Socialist Workers' Party of Denmark

The ranks and insignia of the National Socialist Workers' Party of Denmark were the paramilitary rank system used by the National Socialist Workers' Party of Denmark (Danmarks Nationalsocialistiske Arbejderparti, abbr. DNSAP) in Denmark during World War II. Initially, the DNSAP, along with all other political parties in Denmark, were not allowed to wear ranks as part of the Danish prohibition of uniforms (Danish: Uniformsforbud). It was only after the German invasion of Denmark DNSAP began to wear ranks and uniforms.

## General ranks

The DNSAP was the largest Danish Nazi party, founded in 1930 and taken over by Frits Clausen in 1933. Despite being a relatively small party, it was highly structured, with 15 Sysseler (main districts) in Denmark and two abroad (one in Germany and one in Norway). These districts were further divided into Herreder ("hundreds") and Afdelinger (departments).
The party had its own Corps of Political Leaders, who wore military-style uniforms, consisting of a greenish-brown tunic, breeches, brown top boots, a light green shirt, a dark green tie, and a peaked cap. The cap badge varied by rank, featuring a white swastika on red within a white circle, while another badge on the cap had the white cross of Denmark on a red oval. A white swastika on a red shield was worn on the left upper arm, and there were twelve shield variants depending on rank. The rank insignia appeared on the shoulder straps, with colors like brown, green, silver, or gold indicating ascending ranks.
The uniforms came into being only after the occupation. There have been raised questions about the practicality of the DNSAP's extensive rank system, suggesting it may have been more about creating an illusion of a large organization rather than reflecting actual power or influence.
| Shoulder | Rank | Translation |
| Party leadership ||||
| | Partileder | Party leader |
| National leadership ||||
| | Landsleder | National leader |
| | Landsafdelingsleder | National department leader |
| | Landsgruppeleder | National group leader |
| | Landsfuldmægtig | National head clerk |
| | Landsskriver | National clerk |
| Syssel staff ||||
| | Stabsafdelingsleder | Staff department leader |
| | Stabsgruppeleder | Staff group leader |
| | Stabsfuldmægtig | Staff head clerk |
| | Stabsskriver | Staff clerk |
| Syssel ||||
| | Syssel leder | Syssel leader |
| | Syssel afdelingsleder | Syssel department leader |
| | Syssel gruppeleder | Syssel group leader |
| | Syssel fuldmægtig | Syssel head clerk |
| | Syssel skriver | Syssel clerk |
| Herred ||||
| | Herredsleder | Hundred leader |
| | Herredsafdelingsleder | Hundred department leader |
| | Herredsgruppeleder | Hundred group leader |
| | Herredsfuldmægtig | Hundred head clerk |
| | Herredsskriver | Hundred clerk |
| Afdeling ||||
| | Afdelingsleder | Department leader |
| | Afdelingsgruppeleder | Department group leader |
| | Afdelingsfuldmægtig | Department head clerk |
| | Afdelingsskriver | Department clerk |
| Source: |

## Hird and Skjoldunge

Danmarks Nationalsocialistiske Ungdom [da] (transl. National Socialist Youth, abbr. N.S.U.) was the youth organisation within the DNSAP, created in 1934.
| Collar | Rank | Translation |
| | Landsungdomsfører | National youth leader |
| | Storbannefører | Senior banner leader |
| | Bannefører | Banner leader |
| | Stammefører | Unit leader |
| | Storhirdfører | Senior hird leader |
| | Hirdfører | Hird leader |
| | Følgefører | Companion leader |
| | Hirdmand or Skjoldunge | Hird Man or Shield child |
| Source: |
* DNSAP Danish Nazi Party Youth and their uniform, 1940.
* DNSAP Danish Nazi Party Youth organization, 1940.
* NSU Paramilitary insignia Youth, 1943.

## Storm Afdeling

The Storm Afdeling (transl. Storm Troopers) was based on the Sturmabteilung.
Initially, there were seven ranks in the SA:
* Øverste SA-Fører (Supreme leader of the storm troopers)
* SA-Divisionsfører (Leader of several Columns)
* SA-Kolonnensfører (Leader a Column of 3 or 4 Storms)
* SA-Stormfører (Leader of a Storm of four Groups)
* SA-Gruppefører (Leader of a Group of 10-20 men)
* SA-Sektionsfører (Leader of a Section of 3-9 men)
* SA-Mænd (Storm Trooper)
The ranks were later expanded:
| Collar insignia | SA Rank | Translation |
| | SA-Stabschefen | Chief of staff |
| | SA-Divisionsfører | Division leader |
| | SA-Brigadefører | Brigade leader |
| | SA-Kommandant | Commandant |
| | SA-Overfylkefører | Senior district leader |
| | SA-Fylkefører | District leader |
| | SA-Kolonnensfører | Column leader |
| | SA-Overstormfører | Senior assault leader |
| | SA-Stormfører | Assault leader |
| | SA-Overgruppefører | Senior group leader |
| | SA-Gruppefører | Group leader |
| | SA-Sektionsfører | Section leader |
| | SA-Menig | Private |
| Source: |

## Landsarbejdstjenesten

The Landsarbejdstjeneste (transl. National Labour Service) was created on 20 April 1941 and was based on the German Reich Labour Service.
| Collar | Rank (German) | Translation | Danish Army equivalent |
| | Landsarbejdsfører (Reichsarbeitsführer) | National labour leader | |
| | Generalarbejdsfører (Generalarbeitsführer) | General labour leader | General |
| | Overarbejdsfører (Oberarbeitsführer) | Senior labour leader | Colonel |
| | Arbejdsfører (Arbeitsführer) | Labour leader | Lieutenant colonel |
| | Overfeltmester (Oberfeldmeister) | Senior field master | Captain |
| | Feltmester (Feldmeister) | Field master | Lieutenant |
| | Overvagtmester (Oberwachtmeister) | Senior watch-master | Officiant |
| | Vagtmester (Wachtmeister) | Watch-master | Sergeant |
| | Overtropsfører (Obertruppführer) | Senior troop leader | Corporal |
| | Tropsfører (Truppführer) | Troop leader | Junior corporal |
| | Arbejdsmand (Arbeitsmann) | Working man |
| Source: ||