Sturmführer

Sturmführer ([ˈʃtʊʁm.fyːʀɐ], "storm leader") was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party which began as a title used by the Sturmabteilung (SA) in 1925 and became an actual SA rank in 1928. Translated as "storm leader or assault leader", the origins of the rank dated to the First World War when the title of Sturmführer was used by leaders of German shock troops and special action companies.[1]

Sturmführer Zwiebel of the National Socialist Motor Corps (NSKK) in Riga, 1943; note the three pips on his gorget patch

By 1930, Sturmführer had become the lowest commissioned officer (CO) rank of several Nazi Party paramilitary organizations, including the SA.[2] The title was also used as an SS rank until 1934 when after the Night of the Long Knives the SS renamed the rank Untersturmführer,[3] which was the equivalent to a second lieutenant in other military organizations.[4]

Insignia
Sequence of ranks in comparison with Wehrmacht (Heer)

Allgemeine SS/Waffen-SS
SS-Hauptsturmführer		 junior rank
Waffen SS only
SS-Sturmscharführer		 Rank SS
Untersturmführer		 senior rank
SS-Obersturmführer

SA-Haupttruppführer		 Rank SA
Sturmführer
SA-Obersturmführer

Oberfeldwebel (OR-7)[5]
Stabsfeldwebel (OR-8)		 Wehrmacht rank
Leutnant (OF-1b)[6]
Oberleutnant (OF-1a)

See also

Notes
  1. Hermann Weiß (publisher) "Biographical lexicon to the Third Reich". Fischer pocket-book publishing house, Frankfurt on Main 2002 (appendix).
  2. McNab 2009b, p. 15.
  3. McNab 2009, pp. 29, 30.
  4. Flaherty 2004, p. 148.
  5. The abbreviation "OR" stands for "Other Rank, officers excepted / fr: sous-officiers et militaires du rang / ru:другие ранги, кроме офицероф"
  6. The abbreviation "OF" stands for de: "Offizier / en: officer / fr: officier / ru: офицер".

Bibliography
  • Flaherty, T. H. (2004) [1988]. The Third Reich: The SS. Time-Life Books, Inc. ISBN 1-84447-073-3.
  • McNab, Chris (2009). The SS: 1923–1945. Amber Books Ltd. ISBN 978-1-906626-49-5.
  • McNab, Chris (2009b). The Third Reich. Amber Books Ltd. ISBN 978-1-906626-51-8.


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