This table contains the finalranks and insignia of theWaffen-SS, which were in use from April 1942 to May 1945, in comparison to theWehrmacht.[1] The highest ranks of the combined SS (German:Gesamt-SS) was that ofReichsführer-SS andObersterFührerder SS; however, there was noWaffen-SS equivalent to these positions.[2]
| Insignia | Title (English) | German Army equivalent[3] | Approximate equivalents/translations duringWorld War II | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collar[4][5] | Shoulder[4][5] | Sleeve (parka)[5] | U.S.[4][6] | UK[7] | ||
| General ranks | ||||||
 |  |  | SS-Oberst-Gruppenführer und Generaloberst der Waffen-SS (SS-Supreme group leader and colonel general of theWaffen-SS) | Generaloberst | General | General |
 |  |  | SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS (SS-Senior group leader and general of theWaffen-SS) | General der Waffengattung | Lieutenant general | Lieutenant-general |
 |  |  | SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS (SS-Group leader and lieutenant general of theWaffen-SS) | Generalleutnant | Major general | Major general |
 |  |  | SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS (SS-Brigadier leader and major general of theWaffen-SS) | Generalmajor | Brigadier general | Brigadier |
| Officer ranks | ||||||
 |  |  | SS-Oberführer (SS-Senior leader) | No army equivalent; equivalent toKommodore in theKriegsmarine | 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 | |
| Non-commissioned officer ranks | ||||||
 |  |  | SS-Sturmscharführer (SS-Assault section leader) | Stabsfeldwebel | Sergeant major | Regimental sergeant major |
| Various Depending on rank |  | SS-Stabsscharführer (SS-Staff section leader)[a] | Hauptfeldwebel senior NCO e.g.,Oberfeldwebel orFeldwebel, seldomUnterfeldwebel. | N/a | (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[b] | 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
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)