Allgemeine SS
The ranks of the "Allgemeine SS" and the Waffen-SS were based upon those of the SA and used the same titles. However, there was a distinctly separate hierarchical subdivisions of the larger Waffen-SS from its general-SS counterpart and an SS member could in fact hold two separate SS ranks. For instance, in 1940 Hermann Fegelein held the "Allgemeine SS" rank of a "Standartenführer" (full colonel), yet was only ranked an "Obersturmbannführer" (lieutenant colonel) in the Waffen-SS. If this same SS member were an architectural engineer, then the "SS-Hauptamt" would issue a third rank of "SS-Sonderführer".