| Sturmbannführer | |
|---|---|
 SS Gorget patches | |
| Country |  Germany |
| Service branch |  Schutzstaffel Sturmabteilung National Socialist Motor Corps National Socialist Flyers Corps |
| Abbreviation | Stubaf |
| NATOrank code | OF-3 |
| Formation | 1921 |
| Abolished | 1945 |
| Next higher rank | Obersturmbannführer |
| Next lower rank | Hauptsturmführer |
| Equivalent ranks | Major |
Sturmbannführer (German:[ˈʃtʊʁmbanˌfyːʁɐ];lit. 'assault unit leader'[1]) was aNazi Partyparamilitary rank equivalent tomajor[2] that was used in several Nazi organizations, such as theSA,SS, and theNSFK. The rank originated from Germanshock troop units of theFirst World War.
TheSA title ofSturmbannführer was first established in 1921. In 1928, the title became an actual rank and was also one of the first establishedSS ranks.[3] The insignia of aSturmbannführer was four silver pips centered on a collar patch.[2] The rank rated belowStandartenführer until 1932, whenSturmbannführer became subordinate to the new rank ofObersturmbannführer.[3] In theWaffen-SS,Sturmbannführer was considered equivalent to amajor in the GermanWehrmacht.[4]
VariousWaffen-SS units composed offoreign recruits were considered distinct from the German SS, and thus they were not permitted to wearSS runes on their collar tabs but had their divisional insignia instead. Their ranks were also prepended with "Waffen" instead of "SS", as in,Waffen-Sturmbannführer.[5]
The rank was held byWernher von Braun, who developed theV-2 rocket, and later designed theSaturn V rocket for the U.S. space program. Other rank holders includedEberhard Heder,Otto Günsche,[6] andwar criminals, such asOtto Förschner, who was the commandant ofDora-Mittelbau concentration camp.
| Sturmbannführer SS, SA, NSKK, and NSFK | ||||||
| Schutzstaffel (SS) |  Sturmabteilung (SA) | NS Motor Corps (NSKK) | NS Flyers Corps (NSFK) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Waffen-SS |
| collar insignia | ||||
| Sequence of ranks in comparison with theWehrmacht (Heer) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Junior rank Hauptsturmführer (until 1939/40:Sturmhauptführer) | SA rank Sturmbannführer | Senior rank Obersturmbannführer |
| Junior rank Hauptsturmführer (until 1934:Sturmhauptführer) | SS rank Sturmbannführer | Senior rank Obersturmbannführer |
| Junior rank Hauptmann /Rittmeister |  Wehrmacht rankMajor | Senior rank Oberstleutnant |