Units and commands of theSchutzstaffel were organizational titles used by theSS to describe the many groups, forces, and formations that existed within theSS from its inception in 1923 to the eventual fall ofNazi Germany in 1945.
The SS unit nomenclature can be divided into several different types of organizations, mainly the early titles used by the SS, SS unit titles of theAllgemeine SS, the military formation titles used by theWaffen-SS, titles of commands associated with theSS Security Police, and special units titles used by such SS organizations as the mobiledeath squad units of theEinsatzgruppen.
From 1920 through 1925, several early paramilitary terms were used to describe the various groups which would eventually become the SS. Among the most were:
Saal-Schutz ("Hall-Protection"): Formed at the end of 1920. It was a small permanent guard unit made up of NSDAP volunteers to provide security for Nazi Party meetings in Munich. It was disbanded after Hitler was sentenced toprison in 1924.[1]
Stabswache ("Headquarters Guard"): Used by several units of theFreikorps, and then adopted by the forerunner of the SS.[2]
Stosstrupp ("Shock Troops"): A carry over fromWorld War I, early bodyguard unit of the fledgling Nazi Party. A forerunner of the SS bodyguard dedicated to Hitler's protection.[3]
Schutzkommando ("Protection Command"): Also a title of theFreikorps, this was one of the early names for the SS before the unit adopted its final name of theSchutzstaffel, and was officially recognized in November 1925.[4]
In September 1925, the then fledgling SS established its first organizational structure, using the following titles:
Oberleitung ("Senior Leadership"): This was the headquarters staff of the SS (then only a mere battalion of the Nazi Stormtroopers) and was headquartered inMunich.
SS-Gau ("SS-Region"): There were five SS-Regions established throughout Germany, headed by an SS leader known as an SS-Gauführer (Region Leader).
SS-Staffel ("SS-Squadron"): This was the standard unit of the early SS in the late 1920s. An SS-Squadron contained a company of ten men, headed by an officer known as an SS-Staffelführer (this title was quickly shortened to simply SS-Führer).
In January 1929, afterHeinrich Himmler took over leadership of the SS, old organizational titles were done away with and the following terms came into being:
Oberstab ("Senior Staff"): This was the name of the SS headquarters, which was under Himmler's command as of January, 1929.[5]
Abteilung ("Department"): The termAbteilung was used to describe the earliest form of the SS Main Offices and were considered subordinate offices attached to theOberstab. The SS offices of 1929 encompassed administration, personnel, finance, security, and racial matters.
SS-Oberführerbereiche ("Senior Leadership Area"): By 1930, the oldSS-Gaus had been consolidated into three senior leadership areas encompassing east and west Germany (including northern areas of the country) and a region encompassing southern Germany which was considered the most important since this was the location of the main Nazi Party offices. EachOberführerbereich was commanded by anOberführer.
In 1931, as SS membership began to surpass 100,000, Himmler again reorganized the SS and created these new command titles:
SS-Amt ("SS-Office"): Originally in 1931 there were three SS offices; the Headquarters Office (SS-Amt), the Race Office (SS-Rasseamt) and the Security Office (Ic Dienst which became theSicherheitsdienst in 1932).[6][7] By 1933, these offices would be renamed under the title ofHauptamt which would remain the standard name for an SS main office for the duration of the group's existence.[8]
SS-Gruppen ("SS-Groups"): These were the earliest division commands of what would become theAllgemeine SS. There were five SS-Groups originally established: North, South, East, West, and Southwest. Each SS-Group was commanded by aGruppenführer.
SS-Brigaden ("SS-Brigades"): The SS brigades were intermediary commands between the SS-Groups and lower SS regiment commands known asStandarte. Each SS-Brigade was commanded by aBrigadeführer.
The core of the "General-SS" were the mustering formations spread throughout Germany, divided into several division sized formations and extending downwards into brigade, regiment, battalion, company, and squad like formations. Most of these formations were "part time" and mustered weekly or monthly without pay. TheAllgemeine-SS used unique names for these formations which were different from standard military terms in use by the German military.
Initially, General-SS formations were operated strictly inGermany andAustria but were later formed in occupied countries duringWorld War II. Most often,Allgemeine SS units in occupied territories were "paper commands", formed under the authority of anSS and Police Leader (who would serve as a dual commander) in order to give senior SS officers in occupation commands a command billet within the General-SS.
SS-Oberabschnitt ("SS-Main District"): This division level command was the main administrative district for theAllgemeine SS in the German Reich and the highest command level in theAllgemeine SS order of battle. The firstOberabschnitte were formed in November 1933 from the five existingSS-Gruppen units and generally conformed to the existingWehrkreise (Military Districts) of theWehrmacht. AnOberabschnitt was usually commanded by aGruppenführer orObergruppenführer. Once the position ofHigher SS and Police Leader was established,Oberabschnitt leaders typically served simultaneously in both positions.[9] TheOberabschnitt commander was known by the title ofFührer and was assisted by a staff which typically comprised departments encompassing training, medical affairs, personnel, as well as specialty commands such assignals andengineer battalions.[9]
SS-Abschnitt ("SS-District"): TheAbschnitt commands were formed in the early 1930s from the old SS-Brigades. The function and operation was essentially the same as with theOberabschnitt, but the units were usually commanded by an SS-Brigadeführer orOberführer. SS-Abschnitte were designated byRoman numerals while theOberabschnitt commands were given proper names. As with theOberabschnitte, these commands were limited to the German Reich and were not established in the occupied territories.[10]
SS-Standarte ("SS-Regiment"): TheStandarten was the primary unit of the General-SS, named after the term for a "RegimentalStandard", or flag. TheStandarte were organized into regimental-sized formations each with its own number, but also were referred to by other names, such as location, a popular name, or an honorary title; generally SS or NSDAP members killed before the Nazis obtained national power.[11] For example, the18th SS-Standarte in Königsberg was named "Ostpreußen" while the6th SS-Standarte of Berlin was named "Graham Kämmer".[12] There were 127SS-Standarte.[13] The standard rank for theStandarte Leader was that ofStandartenführer (colonel).
SS-Sturmbann ("SS-Storm Unit"): TheSturmbann commands were battalion formations within aStandarte, usually three or four in number.[11] These units were commanded by either aSturmbannführer orObersturmbannführer.
SS-Sturm ("SS-Company"): TheSturm was the company-level formation of the General-SS and the most typical in which an average SS member would associate. EachSturmbann had 3 to 5 of them.[11] Company commanders usually rated a rank betweenUntersturmführer andHauptsturmführer.
SS-Trupp ("SS-Troop"): SS-Troops wereplatoon-sized formations. EachSturm had 3 to 4 of them.[11] They were commanded by an SS non-commissioned officer initially known as aTruppführer. After theNight of the Long Knives, the SS renamed its rank structure and eachTrupp then fell under the command of one with the rank ofOberscharführer andHauptscharführer.
SS-Schar ("SS-Squad"): SS-Squads were eight to ten man formations that served as the primary mustering unit within each SS-Company. There were 3 for eachTrupp.[11] Such units were commanded by an SS-Scharführer with an Assistant Squad Leader rated as anUnterscharführer.
SS-Rotte ("SS-Section"): This was the smallest unit of the General-SS.[11] It usually consisted of four to five SS members. The SS-Section was commanded by an SS-Rottenführer and consisted of SS troopers holding the rank ofMann orSturmmann.
TheAllgemeine SS also formed severalcavalry commands, which were mainly intended to attractGerman nobility into the ranks of the SS. These formations were little more thanequestrian riding clubs and, by the start of World War II, the General-SS Cavalry had mostly ceased to exist except for a handful of members. The command names of the General-SS cavalry were modeled after those of the regular mustering SS formations and were separate from the military cavalry terms of the Waffen-SS.
SS-Reiterabschnitt ("SS-Cavalry District"): Modeled in the same manner as theSS-Abschnitt commands, only nine of these commands were ever established. They commanded one or moreSS-Reiterstandarte. This command level ended in 1936. Thereafter, theSS-Reiterstandarte were under eachSS-Oberabschnitt.[14]
SS-Reiterstandarte ("SS-Cavalry Regiment"): There were twenty-four cavalry regiments established by theAllgemeine SS.[15] These units wore a special crossed lances unit insignia. in comparison to the regularStandarte which displayed a unit patch bearing theStandarten number.
TheWaffen-SS used standard Army military unit titles, in the following hierarchy.
Army: Only two SS armies were ever established and contained primarily subordinate Regular Army commands
Corps: Several SS Corps existed; these commands were usually the highest operational position in the Waffen-SS
Division: There were 38 full divisions established in the Waffen-SS. Many late war SS divisions never reached full strength, some no larger in reality than a battalion.
Brigades: SS brigades were independently formed at the start of World War II, eventually merged into the higher divisions
Regiments: The main-stay combat unit of the Waffen-SS, typically commanded by an SS-Standartenführer
Battalions: Subordinate to a regiment and the first of the "front line" operational combat units
Companies: Referred to asKompanie
Platoons: Referred to asZug
Squads: Referred to asGruppe. This created an oddity in that a Waffen-SS squad leader (usually a junior NCO) was referred to as aGruppenführer when this title was also a rank equivalent to a lieutenant general.
Teams: Basicfire team formations of five to seven soldiers
By the mid-1930s, the SS leadership had grouped itself into two major senior commands which would last throughoutWorld War II. The two most senior positions in the SS, apart from theReichsführer-SS, were theSS and Police Leaders and the SS Main Office Commanders.
A wartime office which was granted considerable power was that of theSS and Police Leader.[16] This unique position was a command authority of every SS unit in a given geographical area. SS and Police leaders had control over administrative SS commands,Nazi concentration camps, security forces, and (as World War II progressed) certain units of the Waffen-SS.[17]
There were three levels of SS and Police Leaders, these being:
Supreme SS and Police Leader (Höchster SS- und Polizeiführer (HöSSPF)): These SS and Police Leaders had command over all SS units in a conquered country. There were only two such commands established, one inUkraine and the other inItaly.[18]
Higher SS and Police Leader (Höherer SS- und Polizeiführer (HSSPF)): These commands held authority over a region, district, or state. They were "de facto" equal in power inside Germany to their "often nominal superior", the NSDAP regionalGauleiter.[19]
SS and Police Leader (SS- und Polizeiführer (SSPF)): These SS commands were in charge of specificcities, usually important or significant ones. They were subordinate to the HSSPF.[16]
Office Chief (Chef): The Chief of a Main Office was referred to by the title ofChef followed by the office code. For instance,Reinhard Heydrich was known by the titleChef der Sicherheitspolizei und des SD (Chief of Security Police and SD) or CSSD, while serving as the overall office commander of the Reich Security Main Office.[22]
Department Chief (Amtschef): The title of department chief was the most commonly used and held by countless SS officers and could be extended to sub-department heads, as well. For example,Heinrich Müller was department chief of the RSHA "Amt IV" (Dept. 4): theGestapo.[23]Adolf Eichmann was the commander ofReferat IV B4 (Sub-Department IV B4) that was the Gestapo's inner department ofJewish Affairs. He was known as theAmtschef, RSHA (IV-B4), and was Müller's subordinate.[24]
Chief of Staff (Chef des Stabs): Each department typically had a Chief of Staff, known by the title "Chief of the Staff" to avoid confusion with the title "Stabschef", which was arank of the Nazi stormtroopers.
Below the level of Department heads existed a plethora of administrative and bureaucratic titles to indicate positions as Assistant Department Heads, staff officers, and other clerical duties within the various main offices.
The offices of theGestapo in major towns and cities were known as "Stapo-Leitstellen". Smaller towns and some villages maintained smaller Gestapo offices known simply as "Stapostellen". TheSicherheitsdienst was organized in a different manner, grouped inSD-Abschnitte with smallerSD-Unterabschnitte commands (SD districts and sub-districts). Both the Gestapo, SD, and the similarly organizedKriminalpolizei were overseen by an SS Police official known asInspekteur der Sicherheitspolizei und des SD. In occupied territories, this commander was known by the alternate titleBefehlshaber der Sicherheitspolizei und des SD.
TheEinsatzgruppen were regimental sized mobiledeath squads that were further sub-divided intoEinsatzkommandos, which were company-sized formations. TheEinsatzgruppen units perpetrated atrocities in the occupied Soviet Union, including mass murder of Jews, communists, prisoners of war, and hostages, and played a key role inthe Holocaust.[25]
Evans, Richard J. (2008).The Third Reich at War. New York: Penguin Group.ISBN978-0-14-311671-4.
Headland, Ronald (1992).Messages of Murder: A Study of the Reports of the Einsatzgruppen of the Security Police and the Security Service, 1941–1943. Rutherford, N.J: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press.ISBN978-0-8386-3418-9.
