SS rank insignia

The insignia on the uniform of SS members indicated personal SS ranks, affiliation with the branch of the SS troops, services, departments, etc. The system of buttonholes indicating ranks - so familiar from the film - was introduced in 1926. Moreover, the signs themselves were similar to those that existed in the Assault Troops (SA) - at that time the SS was an integral part of the SA. The buttonholes themselves were black, and the insignia was white, silver or gray. Privates, non-commissioned officers, as well as officers up to and including the SS-Obersturmbannführer, wore insignia only in the left buttonhole (in the right buttonhole they wore the number of their standard, with the exception of the 87th standard, whose members wore the image of an edelweiss, and the 105th standard, where the image has been worn since 1939 moose antlers), and officers from the Standartenführer - in both buttonholes. For SD and Security Police officers with the rank of Obersturmbannführer, the right buttonholes were clean - the well-known double Zig runes, which became the hallmark of the SS, were introduced in 1933, initially exclusively for the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Gitler", and then extended to all other German SS units. The “belonging” of the lapel runes to the SS troops was taken into account. And so it happened that those who had no relation to the SS troops also began to wear them on any SS field uniform. In “Moments,” all RSHA employees, without exception, wear black, gray, and field uniforms wear double zig runes, although the vast majority do not have the right to do so.

Beginning in May 1933, SS men wore one shoulder strap on the right shoulder with their black uniform.

There were six types of shoulder straps, five of which indicated that their owner belonged to a certain category of ranks: SS-manns (private), Scharführer (non-commissioned officers), junior, middle and senior commanders. At the same time, the specific rank in pursuit was not indicated. The sixth type of shoulder strap was worn only by the Reichsführer SS. Ranks were indicated by insignia on the buttonholes in the form of a combination of soutache stripes and cones (four-pointed stars) -and not smooth cubes, like in a movie. On the left sleeve, SD officers wore a sleeve patch in the form of a black diamond (for officers with a silver edging) and the letters “SD” - these are clearly visible in the film.

On their buttonholes, SS ranks initially wore the following insignia:

Private SS-manns had an empty buttonhole;

Sturmmann - two soutache stripes;

Rottenführer - four soutache stripes;

Unterscharführer - one lump;

Scharführers - one cone and two soutache stripes;

Oberscharführer - two bumps diagonally;

Hauptscharführer - two cones and two soutache stripes;

Sturmscharführer - two cones and four soutache stripes;

Untersturmführer - three bumps diagonally;

Obersturmführer - three cones and two soutache stripes;

Hauptsturmführer - three cones on the diagonal and four soutache stripes;

Sturmbannführers - four bumps in the corners;

Obersturmbannführer - four cones and two soutache stripes;

Standartenführer - straight oak leaves diagonally with acorns at the stem;

Oberfuhrers - double curved oak leaves;

Brigadeführers - double curved oak leaves and cone;

Gruppenführer - triple curved oak leaves;

Obergruppenführer - triple curved oak leaves and cone;

Reichsführer SS Heinrich Himmler wore on his buttonholes a triple bunch of oak leaves, surrounded by an open wreath of oak branches.

But not all of these insignia survived until 1945 without changes. On April 7, 1942, a small reform was carried out, and their design was slightly changed by the senior command staff, starting with the SS Oberführer. In this form they already existed until the end of the war. Thus, ranks up to and including Standartenführer retained the old insignia, and senior officers received the following:

Oberfuhrers - double straight oak leaves;

Brigadefuhrers - triple straight oak leaves with acorns in the gaps and at the junction;

Gruppenführer - triple straight oak leaves and cone;

Obergruppenführer - triple straight oak leaves and two cones;

Oberstgruppenführer (this title was introduced just at this time) - three straight oak leaves and three cones.

In the film “Seventeen Moments of Spring,” the authors were unable to avoid errors in insignia, and in some cases it is simply impossible to explain why they were made. Most of the higher ranks (“generals”) in the film wear buttonholes from the 1942 model that are quite appropriate for the moment. The only exception for completely unknown reasons was Stirlitz's boss, Walter Schellenberg. Already in the 1st episode, in the scene of the meeting with Hitler, he appears in a black uniform with the insignia of an SS Brigadeführer, abolished in April 1942. At the same time, one cannot even assume that he kept the old insignia out of a whim - Schellenberg never wore such buttonholes as mine, since he received his rank of SS Brigadeführer more than two years after the reform, namely on June 23, 1944!

Also, all the Obersturmbannführers in the film wear the wrong buttonholes - including Eisman and Holthoff - although they have four knobs on their buttonholes, as they should, but only one soutache strip(in general, this strip is somewhat strange, it seems that it is simply the raised lower edge of the buttonhole). Such buttonholes did not exist at all - with four knobs, there were either no stripes at all (for Sturmbannführers), or there were two stripes (for Obersturmbannführers). Rolf has it in the film the buttonholes are the same as Holthoff's, but in his description he is called Sturmbannführer(this is the 6th episode of the film).

One of the most cruel and merciless organizations of the 20th century is the SS. Titles, decals, functions - all this was different from those in other types and branches of troops in Nazi Germany. Reich Minister Himmler completely brought together all the scattered security detachments (SS) in unified army- Waffen SS. In the article we will take a closer look at the military ranks and insignia of the SS troops. And first, a little about the history of the creation of this organization.

Prerequisites for the formation of the SS

In March 1923, Hitler was concerned that the leaders of the assault troops (SA) were beginning to feel their power and importance in the NSDAP party. This was due to the fact that both the party and the SA had the same sponsors, for whom the goal of the National Socialists was important - to carry out a coup, and they did not have much sympathy for the leaders themselves. Sometimes it even came to an open confrontation between the leader of the SA, Ernst Röhm, and Adolf Hitler. It was at this time, apparently, that the future Fuhrer decided to strengthen his personal power by creating a detachment of bodyguards - the headquarters guard. He was the first prototype of the future SS. They had no ranks, but insignia had already appeared. The abbreviation for the Staff Guard was also SS, but it came from the German word Stawsbache. In every hundred of the SA, Hitler allocated 10-20 people, supposedly to protect high-ranking party leaders. They personally had to take an oath to Hitler, and their selection was carried out carefully.

A few months later, Hitler renamed the organization Stosstruppe - that was the name of the shock units Kaiser's army during the First World War. The abbreviation SS nevertheless remained the same, despite the fundamentally new name. It is worth noting that the entire Nazi ideology was associated with an aura of mystery, historical continuity, allegorical symbols, pictograms, runes, etc. Even the symbol of the NSDAP - the swastika - Hitler took from ancient Indian mythology.

Stosstrup Adolf Hitler - strike force"Adolf Hitler" - acquired the final features of the future SS. They did not yet have their own ranks, but insignia appeared that Himmler would later retain - a skull on their headdress, a black distinctive color of the uniform, etc. The “Death's Head” on the uniform symbolized the readiness of the detachment to defend Hitler himself at the cost of their lives. The basis for future usurpation of power was prepared.

Appearance of Strumstaffel - SS

After the Beer Hall Putsch, Hitler went to prison, where he remained until December 1924. The circumstances that allowed the future Fuhrer to be released after an attempted armed seizure of power are still unclear.

Upon his release, Hitler first banned the SA from carrying weapons and positioning itself as an alternative German army. The fact is that the Weimar Republic could only have a limited contingent of troops under the terms of the Versailles Peace Treaty after the First World War. It seemed to many that armed SA units were a legitimate way to avoid restrictions.

At the beginning of 1925, the NSDAP was restored again, and in November the “shock detachment” was restored. At first it was called Strumstaffen, and on November 9, 1925 it received its final name - Schutzstaffel - “cover squadron”. The organization had nothing to do with aviation. This name was invented by Hermann Goering, a famous fighter pilot of the First World War. He liked to use aviation terms in Everyday life. Over time, the “aviation term” was forgotten, and the abbreviation was always translated as “security detachments.” It was headed by Hitler's favorites - Schreck and Schaub.

Selection for the SS

The SS gradually became an elite unit with good salaries in foreign currency, which was considered a luxury for the Weimar Republic with its hyperinflation and unemployment. All Germans of working age were eager to join the SS detachments. Hitler himself carefully selected his personal guard. The following requirements were imposed on candidates:

1. Age from 25 to 35 years.
2. Having two recommendations from current members of the CC.
3. Permanent residence in one place for five years.
4. Availability of such positive qualities like sobriety, strength, health, discipline.

New development under Heinrich Himmler

The SS, despite the fact that it was personally subordinate to Hitler and the Reichsführer SS - from November 1926, this position was held by Josef Berthold, was still part of the SA structures. The attitude towards the “elite” in the assault detachments was contradictory: the commanders did not want to have SS members in their units, so they shouldered various responsibilities, for example, distributing leaflets, subscribing to Nazi propaganda, etc.

In 1929, Heinrich Himmler became the leader of the SS. Under him, the size of the organization began to grow rapidly. The SS turns into an elite closed organization with its own charter, a mystical ritual of entry, imitating the traditions of the medieval knightly orders. A real SS man had to marry a “model woman.” Heinrich Himmler introduced a new mandatory requirement for joining the renewed organization: the candidate had to prove evidence of purity of descent in three generations. However, that was not all: the new Reichsführer SS ordered all members of the organization to look for brides only with a “pure” genealogy. Himmler managed to nullify the subordination of his organization to the SA, and then completely leave it after he helped Hitler get rid of the leader of the SA, Ernst Röhm, who sought to turn his organization into a mass people's army.

The bodyguard detachment was transformed first into the Fuhrer's personal guard regiment, and then into the personal SS army. Ranks, insignia, uniforms - everything indicated that the unit was independent. Next, we’ll talk in more detail about insignia. Let's start with the rank of the SS in the Third Reich.

Reichsführer SS

At its head was the Reichsführer SS - Heinrich Himmler. Many historians claim that he intended to usurp power in the future. In the hands of this man was control not only over the SS, but also over the Gestapo - the secret police, the political police and the security service (SD). Despite the fact that many of the above organizations were subordinate to one person, they were completely different structures, which sometimes even were at odds with each other. Himmler well understood the importance of a branched structure of different services concentrated in the same hands, so he was not afraid of Germany’s defeat in the war, believing that such a person would be useful to the Western allies. However, his plans were not destined to come true, and he died in May 1945, biting into an ampoule of poison in his mouth.

Let's look at the highest ranks of the SS among the Germans and their correspondence with the German army.

Hierarchy of the SS High Command

The insignia of the SS high command consisted of Nordic ritual symbols and oak leaves on both sides of the lapels. The exceptions - SS Standartenführer and SS Oberführer - wore oak leaf, but belonged to senior officers. The more of them there were on the buttonholes, the higher the rank of their owner.

The highest ranks of the SS among the Germans and their correspondence with the ground army:

SS officers

Let's look at the features officers. The SS Hauptsturmführer and lower ranks no longer had oak leaves on their buttonholes. Also on their right buttonhole was the SS coat of arms - a Nordic symbol of two lightning bolts.

Hierarchy of SS officers:

SS rank	Lapels	Compliance in the military
SS Oberführer	Double oak leaf	No match
Standartenführer SS	Single sheet	Colonel
SS Obersturmbannführer	4 stars and two rows of aluminum thread	Lieutenant colonel
SS Sturmbannführer	4 stars
SS Hauptsturmführer	3 stars and 4 rows of thread	Hauptmann
SS Obersturmführer	3 stars and 2 rows	Chief Lieutenant
SS Untersturmführer	3 stars	Lieutenant

I would like to immediately note that the German stars did not resemble the five-pointed Soviet ones - they were four-pointed, rather reminiscent of squares or rhombuses. Next in the hierarchy are the SS non-commissioned officer ranks in the Third Reich. More details about them in the next paragraph.

Non-commissioned officers

Hierarchy of non-commissioned officers:

SS rank	Lapels	Compliance in the military
SS Sturmscharführer	2 stars, 4 rows of thread	Staff sergeant major
Standartenoberunker SS	2 stars, 2 rows of thread, silver edging	Chief Sergeant Major
SS Hauptscharführer	2 stars, 2 rows of thread	Oberfenrich
SS Oberscharführer	2 stars	Sergeant Major
Standartenjunker SS	1 star and 2 rows of thread (differing in shoulder straps)	Fanenjunker-sergeant-major
Scharführer SS		Non-commissioned sergeant major
SS Unterscharführer	2 threads at the bottom	Non-commissioned officer

Buttonholes are the main, but not the only insignia of ranks. Also, the hierarchy could be determined by shoulder straps and stripes. Military ranks The SS was sometimes subject to change. However, above we presented the hierarchy and the main differences at the end of World War II.

Material from Wikipedia - the free encyclopedia

The table contains the ranks and insignia of the SS troops, as well as their comparison with other armed SS units and with the military ranks of the Wehrmacht during the Second World War. When comparing, it is necessary to take into account affiliation:

as well as the historical origin and succession of ranks in Germany from the beginning of November 1939 until the end of the Third Reich in 1945.

In March 1938, members of the Leibstandarte, Deutschland and Deutschland regiments were allowed to replace their SS shoulder straps with combined arms ones; as a result, the left buttonhole became redundant, since the rank began to be indicated by shoulder straps. On May 10, 1940, it was finally established for the SS troops that soldiers of the Leibstandarte and “reserve divisions” wear a badge of SS runes on the right buttonhole, and exclusively rank insignia on the left; the exception was the Death's Head Division, which was allowed to continue to wear the skull emblem on both sides. The pre-war buttonholes, which depicted SS runic insignia and skulls with numbers, letters and symbols, were banned "for reasons of secrecy" by an SS order of May 10, 1940 and replaced with the standard badges known today.

The title of Reichsführer SS in the Third Reich was held by two people - Heinrich Himmler and Karl Hanke (until 1934, “Reichsführer SS” meant a position, not a rank).

Special rules and exceptions existed for officer candidates, non-commissioned officers and SS cadets.

So, for example, in the SS rank Hauptscharführer awarded usually to the acting sergeant major in an SS company, the commander of the third (sometimes second) platoon in a company, or was a rank used for non-commissioned officer rank personnel serving on SS headquarters or security services (such as the Gestapo and SD). The rank of Hauptscharführer was also often used for concentration camp personnel and Einsatzgruppen personnel. SS Hauptscharführer was older than SS Oberscharführer and younger than SS Sturmscharführer, with the exception of the General SS, where the Hauptscharführer was junior rank, coming immediately after SS Untersturmführer.

Rank Sturmscharführer was established in June 1934, after the Night of the Long Knives. During the reorganization of the SS, the rank of Sturmscharführer was created as the highest rank of non-commissioned officers in the "Troops at the disposal of the SS" instead of the rank of Haupttruppführer, used in the SA. In 1941, on the basis of “Troops at the disposal of the SS”, an organization of SS troops arose, which inherited the title of Sturmscharführer from its predecessor.

Rank Untersturmführer in the SS, corresponding to the rank of lieutenant in the Wehrmacht, arose in 1934 from the position of head of an SS unit - troupe (German. SS-Truppe). The troupe covered an urban area, a rural district, was about the size of an army platoon - from 18 to 45 people, consisted of three sections - balls (German. SS-Schar), headed by Troupführer (German. SS-Truppführer) or Untersturmführer (German) SS-Untersturmführer), depending on the number. In the SS troops, the Untersturmführer, as a rule, held the position of platoon commander.

Insignia			Rank of the SS troops	Relevant ranks in ground forces Wehrmacht (German) Heer)
Buttonhole	Shoulder strap	Musk. costume
Generals and marshals
			Reichsführer-SS and Field Marshal of the SS (German) SS-Reichsführer und Generalfeldmarschall der Waffen-SS )	Field Marshal General
			SS Oberstgruppenführer and Colonel General of the SS troops (German. SS-Oberst-Gruppenführer und Generaloberst der Waffen-SS )	Oberst General
			SS-Obergruppenführer and general of the SS branch of the armed forces (German). SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS )	General of the military branch
			SS Gruppenführer and Lieutenant General of the SS troops (German. SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS )	Lieutenant General
			SS Brigadeführer and Major General of the SS troops (German. SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS )	Major General
Officers
			Oberfuhrer (by rank of SS troops) (German. SS-Oberführer)	No match
			Standartenführer (military and police officers) (German. Standartenführer)	Colonel (German) Oberst)
			Obersturmbannführer (German) SS-Obersturmbannfuhrer)	Lieutenant Colonel (Oberst-Lieutenant) (German) Oberstleutnant)
			Sturmbannführer (German) SS-Sturmbannfuehrer)	Major
			Hauptsturmführer (German) SS-Hauptsturmfuhrer)	Hauptmann/captain
			Obersturmführer (German) SS-Obersturmfuhrer)	Chief Lieutenant
			Untersturmführer (German) SS-Untersturmfuehrer)	Lieutenant
Non-commissioned officers
			Sturmscharführer (German) SS-Sturmscharführer). In the Waffen-SS, unlike the SA, an even higher rank was introduced - SS Sturmscharführer.	Staff sergeant major
			Hauptscharführer (German) SS-Hauptscharführer). Rank Hauptscharführer became a rank in the SS following the reorganization of the SS following the Night of the Long Knives. This rank was first awarded in June 1934, when it replaced the old rank of Obertrupführer, which was used in the SA. In the General SS, Hauptscharführer was a junior rank, immediately after SS-Untersturmführer. In the SS troops, Hauptscharführer was the second most senior rank of non-commissioned officer after Sturmscharführer. There was also a position Staffscharführer, corresponding in its scope of duties to the position of company or battalion foreman Soviet army. In the SS, the rank of Hauptscharführer was usually awarded to the acting sergeant major in an SS company, the commander of the third (sometimes second) platoon in the company, or was a rank used for non-commissioned officer rank personnel serving on SS headquarters or security services (such as the Gestapo and SD ). The title Hauptscharführer was also often used for concentration camp personnel and Einsatzgruppen personnel.	Chief Sergeant Major
			Standartenoberunker SS (German) SS-Standartenoberjunker)	Oberfenrich
			Oberscharführer (German) SS-Oberscharführer). After the Night of Long Knives, the rank of SS Oberscharführer “rose” and became equal to the rank of SA Troupführer. The SS rank buttonhole was changed to have two silver squares, as opposed to the SA's single square with a silver stripe. The rank of Troupführer SS was replaced by Oberscharführer SS. In the SS troops, Oberscharführers served as commanders of third (and sometimes second) platoons of infantry, sapper and other companies, and company foremen. In tank units, Oberscharführers were often tank commanders.	Sergeant Major
			Standartenjunker SS (German) SS-Standartenjunker)	Fanenyunker-Sergeant-Major
			Scharführer (German) SS-Scharführer). In 1934, with the reorganization of the SS rank structure following the Night of the Long Knives, the old rank of SS Scharführer became known as SS Unterscharführer, and SS Scharführer began to correspond to the rank of SA Oberscharführer. In the SS troops, the Scharführer, as a rule, held the position of squad commander (crew, tank) or deputy platoon commander (headquarters squad commander).	Non-commissioned sergeant major
			Oberünker SS (German) SS-Oberjunker)	Fenrich
			Unterscharführer CC (German) SS-Unterscharführer) In the SS troops, the rank of Unterscharführer was one of the ranks of junior command personnel at the company and platoon level. The rank was also equal to the first candidate rank of SS officer - SS Junker. The requirements for combat non-commissioned officers were higher than for general SS non-commissioned officers	Non-commissioned officer
			Junker SS (German) SS-Junker) Initially, the cadets were equated in legal status to SA Scharführers, then to SS Unterscharführers.	Fanenjunker - non-commissioned officer
Privates
No match				Staff corporal
			Rottenführer (German) SS-Rottenführer). The Hitler Youth also had the title of Rottenführer. In the Luftwaffe, there was the position of Rottenführer - the commander of a pair (leader) in fighter and attack aircraft.	Chief Corporal
			Sturmmann (German) SS-Sturmmann). Rank Sturmmann assigned after service in the ranks of the SA from 6 months to 1 year, subject to basic knowledge and abilities. Sturmmann is senior over rank Mann, with the exception of the SS, where the rank was separately introduced in 1941 Obermann, and in the SS troops - rank Oberschütz.	Corporal
			Oberschutze SS (German) SS-Oberschuetze).	Chief Soldier
			Mann SS (German) SS-Mann). In 1938, due to the increase in SS troops, the rank Mann was replaced by military rank Schutze(shooter) SS (German) SS-Schuetze), but in the general SS the rank was retained Mann.	Soldier, Schutze, Grenadier.
General SS Anverter Buttonhole			Candidate (German) SS-Anwärter) Candidate for entry into the SS troops before the start of the training and preparation process. With the start of training anverter the title was automatically awarded Schutze.	No match
SS-Beverber challenger (German) SS-Bewerber)					Wehrmacht volunteer

Color coding of military branches

White Flag of the 40th Panzergrenadier Regiment
Oberführer (Standartenführer) shoulder straps of the Waffen-SS Scarlet Artillery pennant of the Leibstandarte SS "Adolf Hitler"
Waffen-SS Obersturmbannführer shoulder straps Veterinary service Carmine Tribunal and prosecutor's office Burgundy Military Geological Service [check the translation ! ] Light pink Automobile transport Pink (salmon color) Armored forces, including tank destroyers Pink
Shoulder strap of a Scharführer-SS tankman Communications units, war correspondents, propaganda companies Lemon yellow
Waffen-SS Oberscharführer shoulder straps Cavalry; motorized (1942-1945) and tank reconnaissance units; units with a cavalry background Gold
Waffen-SS Obersturmführer's shoulder straps Field gendarmerie and special services Orange
Waffen-SS Unterscharführer shoulder straps Intelligence units (1938-1942) Light brown
Shoulder strap of Hauptsturmführer Waffen-SS * Death's Head units
* Concentration camp personnel Pale brown
Hauptscharführer concentration camp shoulder straps Security Service Poison green
SD Sturmscharführer shoulder straps Mountain troops Green
Waffen-SS Untersturmführer shoulder straps Sonderführers and personnel of reserve units Dark green
Waffen-SS Obersturmführer's shoulder straps Supply and transportation units, field mail Blue Waffen-SS Hauptsturmführer's shoulder straps Control Blue
Waffen-SS Hauptsturmführer's shoulder straps Sanitary service Cornflower
Waffen-SS Standartenführer shoulder straps Corps of Engineers Black
Shoulder strap of Standartenführer Waffen-SS

Sources

• Adolf Schlicht, John R. Angolia. Die deutsche Wehrmacht, Uniformierung und Ausrüstung 1933-1945
  • Vol. 1: Das Heer (ISBN 3613013908), Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 1992
  • Vol. 3: Die Luftwaffe (ISBN 3-613-02001-7), Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 1999
• . Retrieved June 7, 2016. .
• . Retrieved June 7, 2016. .
• Cook, Stan and Bender, R. James. Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler - Volume One: Uniforms, Organization, & History. San Jose, CA: R. James Bender Publishing, 1994. ISBN 978-0-912138-55-8
• Hayes, A. SS Uniforms, Insignia and Accessories. Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. 2000. ISBN 978-0-7643-0046-2
• Lumsden, Robin. A Collector's Guide To: The Allgemeine - SS, Ian Allan Publishing, Inc. 2002. ISBN 0-7110-2905-9
• Mollo, Andrew. Uniforms of the SS, Collected Edition Vol. 1-6. MotorbooksIntl. 1997. ISBN 978-1-85915-048-1

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An excerpt characterizing the Ranks and insignia of the SS troops

“You know, I think,” Natasha said in a whisper, moving closer to Nikolai and Sonya, when Dimmler had already finished and was still sitting, weakly plucking the strings, apparently indecisive to leave or start something new, “that when you remember like that, you remember, you remember everything.” , you remember so much that you remember what happened before I was in the world...
“This is Metampsic,” said Sonya, who always studied well and remembered everything. – The Egyptians believed that our souls were in animals and would go back to animals.
“No, you know, I don’t believe it, that we were animals,” Natasha said in the same whisper, although the music had ended, “but I know for sure that we were angels here and there somewhere, and that’s why we remember everything.” ...
-Can I join you? - said Dimmler, who approached quietly and sat down next to them.
- If we were angels, then why did we fall lower? - said Nikolai. - No, this cannot be!
“Not lower, who told you that lower?... Why do I know what I was before,” Natasha objected with conviction. - After all, the soul is immortal... therefore, if I live forever, that’s how I lived before, lived for all eternity.
“Yes, but it’s hard for us to imagine eternity,” said Dimmler, who approached the young people with a meek, contemptuous smile, but now spoke as quietly and seriously as they did.
– Why is it difficult to imagine eternity? - Natasha said. - Today it will be, tomorrow it will be, it will always be and yesterday it was and yesterday it was...
- Natasha! now it's your turn. “Sing me something,” the countess’s voice was heard. - That you sat down like conspirators.
- Mother! “I don’t want to do that,” Natasha said, but at the same time she stood up.
All of them, even the middle-aged Dimmler, did not want to interrupt the conversation and leave the corner of the sofa, but Natasha stood up, and Nikolai sat down at the clavichord. As always, standing in the middle of the hall and choosing the most advantageous place for resonance, Natasha began to sing her mother’s favorite piece.
She said that she did not want to sing, but she had not sung for a long time before, and for a long time since, the way she sang that evening. Count Ilya Andreich, from the office where he was talking with Mitinka, heard her singing, and like a student, in a hurry to go play, finishing the lesson, he got confused in his words, giving orders to the manager and finally fell silent, and Mitinka, also listening, silently with a smile, stood in front of count. Nikolai did not take his eyes off his sister, and took a breath with her. Sonya, listening, thought about what a huge difference there was between her and her friend and how impossible it was for her to be even remotely as charming as her cousin. The old countess sat with a happily sad smile and tears in her eyes, occasionally shaking her head. She thought about Natasha, and about her youth, and about how there was something unnatural and terrible in this upcoming marriage of Natasha with Prince Andrei.
Dimmler sat down next to the countess and closed his eyes, listening.
“No, Countess,” he said finally, “this is a European talent, she has nothing to learn, this softness, tenderness, strength...”
- Ah! “how I’m afraid for her, how afraid I am,” said the countess, not remembering who she was talking to. Her maternal instinct told her that there was too much of something in Natasha, and that this would not make her happy. Natasha had not yet finished singing when an enthusiastic fourteen-year-old Petya ran into the room with the news that the mummers had arrived.
Natasha suddenly stopped.
- Fool! - she screamed at her brother, ran up to the chair, fell on it and sobbed so much that she could not stop for a long time.
“Nothing, Mama, really nothing, just like this: Petya scared me,” she said, trying to smile, but the tears kept flowing and sobs were choking her throat.
Dressed up servants, bears, Turks, innkeepers, ladies, scary and funny, bringing with them coldness and fun, at first timidly huddled in the hallway; then, hiding one behind the other, they were forced into the hall; and at first shyly, and then more and more cheerfully and amicably, songs, dances, choral and Christmas games began. The Countess, recognizing the faces and laughing at those dressed up, went into the living room. Count Ilya Andreich sat in the hall with a radiant smile, approving of the players. The youth disappeared somewhere.
Half an hour later, an old lady in hoops appeared in the hall between the other mummers - it was Nikolai. Petya was Turkish. Payas was Dimmler, hussar was Natasha and Circassian was Sonya, with a painted cork mustache and eyebrows.
After condescending surprise, lack of recognition and praise from those not dressed up, the young people found that the costumes were so good that they had to show them to someone else.
Nikolai, who wanted to take everyone along an excellent road in his troika, proposed, taking ten dressed up servants with him, to go to his uncle.
- No, why are you upsetting him, the old man! - said the countess, - and he has nowhere to turn. Let's go to the Melyukovs.
Melyukova was a widow with children of various ages, also with governesses and tutors, who lived four miles from Rostov.
“That’s clever, ma chère,” the old count picked up, getting excited. - Let me get dressed now and go with you. I'll stir up Pashetta.
But the countess did not agree to let the count go: his leg hurt all these days. They decided that Ilya Andreevich could not go, but that if Luisa Ivanovna (m me Schoss) went, then the young ladies could go to Melyukova. Sonya, always timid and shy, began to beg Luisa Ivanovna more urgently than anyone not to refuse them.
Sonya's outfit was the best. Her mustache and eyebrows suited her unusually. Everyone told her that she was very good, and she was in an unusually energetic mood. Some inner voice told her that now or never her fate would be decided, and she, in her man’s dress, seemed like a completely different person. Luiza Ivanovna agreed, and half an hour later four troikas with bells and bells, squealing and whistling through the frosty snow, drove up to the porch.
Natasha was the first to give the tone of Christmas joy, and this joy, reflected from one to another, intensified more and more and reached its highest degree at the time when everyone went out into the cold, and, talking, calling to each other, laughing and shouting, sat in the sleigh.
Two of the troikas were accelerating, the third was the old count’s troika with an Oryol trotter at the root; the fourth is Nikolai's own with his short, black, shaggy root. Nikolai, in his old woman's outfit, on which he put on a hussar's belted cloak, stood in the middle of his sleigh, picking up the reins.
It was so light that he saw the plaques and eyes of the horses glinting in the monthly light, looking back in fear at the riders rustling under the dark awning of the entrance.
Natasha, Sonya, m me Schoss and two girls got into Nikolai’s sleigh. Dimmler and his wife and Petya sat in the old count’s sleigh; Dressed up servants sat in the rest.
- Go ahead, Zakhar! - Nikolai shouted to his father’s coachman in order to have a chance to overtake him on the road.
The old count's troika, in which Dimmler and the other mummers sat, squealed with their runners, as if frozen to the snow, and rattled a thick bell, moved forward. The ones attached to them pressed against the shafts and got stuck, turning out the strong and shiny snow like sugar.
Nikolai set off after the first three; The others made noise and screamed from behind. At first we rode at a small trot along a narrow road. While driving past the garden, shadows from bare trees often lay across the road and hid the bright light of the moon, but as soon as we left the fence, diamond-shiny, with a bluish sheen, snowy plain, all bathed in monthly radiance and motionless, opened from all sides. Once, once, a bump hit the front sleigh; in the same way, the next sleigh and the next were pushed and, boldly breaking the chained silence, one after another the sleighs began to stretch out.
- A hare's trail, a lot of tracks! – Natasha’s voice sounded in the frozen, frozen air.
– Apparently, Nicholas! - said Sonya's voice. – Nikolai looked back at Sonya and bent down to take a closer look at her face. Some completely new, sweet face, with black eyebrows and mustache, looked out from the sables in the moonlight, close and far.
“It was Sonya before,” thought Nikolai. He looked at her closer and smiled.
– What are you, Nicholas?
“Nothing,” he said and turned back to the horses.
Having arrived on a rough, large road, oiled with runners and all covered with traces of thorns, visible in the light of the moon, the horses themselves began to tighten the reins and speed up. The left one, bending its head, twitched its lines in jumps. The root swayed, moving its ears, as if asking: “should we start or is it too early?” – Ahead, already far away and ringing like a thick bell receding, Zakhar’s black troika was clearly visible on the white snow. Shouting and laughter and the voices of those dressed up were heard from his sleigh.
“Well, you dear ones,” Nikolai shouted, tugging on the reins on one side and withdrawing his hand with the whip. And only by the wind that had become stronger, as if to meet it, and by the twitching of the fasteners, which were tightening and increasing their speed, was it noticeable how fast the troika flew. Nikolai looked back. Screaming and screaming, waving whips and forcing the indigenous people to jump, the other troikas kept pace. The root steadfastly swayed under the arc, not thinking of knocking it down and promising to push it again and again when necessary.
Nikolai caught up with the top three. They drove down some mountain and onto a widely traveled road through a meadow near a river.
“Where are we going?” thought Nikolai. - “It should be along a slanting meadow. But no, this is something new that I have never seen. This is not a slanting meadow or Demkina Mountain, but God knows what it is! This is something new and magical. Well, whatever it is!” And he, shouting at the horses, began to go around the first three.
Zakhar reined in the horses and turned around his face, which was already frozen to the eyebrows.
Nikolai started his horses; Zakhar, stretching his arms forward, smacked his lips and let his people go.
“Well, hold on, master,” he said. “The troikas flew even faster nearby, and the legs of the galloping horses quickly changed. Nikolai began to take the lead. Zakhar, without changing the position of his outstretched arms, raised one hand with the reins.
“You’re lying, master,” he shouted to Nikolai. Nikolai galloped all the horses and overtook Zakhar. The horses covered the faces of their riders with fine, dry snow, and near them there was the sound of frequent rumblings and the tangling of fast-moving legs and the shadows of the overtaking troika. The whistling of runners through the snow and women's squeals were heard from different directions.
Stopping the horses again, Nikolai looked around him. All around was the same magical plain soaked through with moonlight with stars scattered across it.
“Zakhar shouts for me to take a left; why go left? thought Nikolai. Are we going to the Melyukovs, is this Melyukovka? God knows where we are going, and God knows what is happening to us - and it is very strange and good what is happening to us.” He looked back at the sleigh.
“Look, he has a mustache and eyelashes, everything is white,” said one of the strange, pretty and alien people with a thin mustache and eyebrows.
“This one, it seems, was Natasha,” thought Nikolai, and this one is m me Schoss; or maybe not, but I don’t know who this Circassian with the mustache is, but I love her.”
-Aren't you cold? - he asked. They did not answer and laughed. Dimmler shouted something from the back sleigh, probably funny, but it was impossible to hear what he was shouting.
“Yes, yes,” the voices answered laughing.
- However, here is some kind of magical forest with shimmering black shadows and sparkles of diamonds and with some kind of enfilade of marble steps, and some kind of silver roofs of magical buildings, and the piercing squeal of some animals. “And if this really is Melyukovka, then it’s even stranger that we were traveling God knows where, and came to Melyukovka,” thought Nikolai.
Indeed, it was Melyukovka, and girls and lackeys with candles and joyful faces ran out to the entrance.
- Who it? - they asked from the entrance.
“The counts are dressed up, I can see it by the horses,” answered the voices.

Pelageya Danilovna Melyukova, a broad, energetic woman, wearing glasses and a swinging hood, was sitting in the living room, surrounded by her daughters, whom she tried not to let get bored. They were quietly pouring wax and looking at the shadows of the emerging figures when the footsteps and voices of visitors began to rustle in the hall.
Hussars, ladies, witches, payassas, bears, clearing their throats and wiping their frost-covered faces in the hallway, entered the hall, where candles were hastily lit. The clown - Dimmler and the lady - Nikolai opened the dance. Surrounded by screaming children, the mummers, covering their faces and changing their voices, bowed to the hostess and positioned themselves around the room.
- Oh, it’s impossible to find out! And Natasha! Look who she looks like! Really, it reminds me of someone. Eduard Karlych is so good! I didn't recognize it. Yes, how she dances! Oh, fathers, and some kind of Circassian; right, how it suits Sonyushka. Who else is this? Well, they consoled me! Take the tables, Nikita, Vanya. And we sat so quietly!
- Ha ha ha!... Hussar this, hussar that! Just like a boy, and his legs!... I can’t see... - voices were heard.
Natasha, the favorite of the young Melyukovs, disappeared with them into the back rooms, where they needed cork and various dressing gowns and men's dresses, which through the open door received the bare girlish hands from the footman. Ten minutes later, all the youth of the Melyukov family joined the mummers.
Pelageya Danilovna, having ordered the clearing of the place for the guests and refreshments for the gentlemen and servants, without taking off her glasses, with a restrained smile, walked among the mummers, looking closely into their faces and not recognizing anyone. Not only did she not recognize the Rostovs and Dimmler, but she also could not recognize either her daughters or her husband’s robes and uniforms that they were wearing.
-Whose is this? - she said, turning to her governess and looking into the face of her daughter, who represented the Kazan Tatar. - It seems like someone from Rostov. Well, Mr. Hussar, what regiment do you serve in? – she asked Natasha. “Give the Turk, give the Turk some marshmallows,” she said to the bartender who was serving them: “this is not prohibited by their law.”
Sometimes, looking at the strange but funny steps performed by the dancers, who had decided once and for all that they were dressed up, that no one would recognize them and therefore were not embarrassed, Pelageya Danilovna covered herself with a scarf, and her entire corpulent body shook from the uncontrollable, kind, old lady’s laughter . - Sashinet is mine, Sashinet is that! - she said.
After Russian dances and round dances, Pelageya Danilovna united all the servants and gentlemen together, in one large circle; They brought a ring, a string and a ruble, and general games were arranged.
An hour later, all the suits were wrinkled and upset. Cork mustaches and eyebrows were smeared across sweaty, flushed and cheerful faces. Pelageya Danilovna began to recognize the mummers, admired how well the costumes were made, how they suited especially the young ladies, and thanked everyone for making her so happy. The guests were invited to dine in the living room, and the courtyard was served in the hall.
- No, guessing in the bathhouse, that’s scary! - said the old girl who lived with the Melyukovs at dinner.
- From what? – asked eldest daughter Melyukovs.
- Don’t go, you need courage...
“I’ll go,” said Sonya.
- Tell me, how was it with the young lady? - said the second Melyukova.
“Yes, just like that, one young lady went,” said the old girl, “she took a rooster, two utensils, and sat down properly.” She sat there, just heard, suddenly she was driving... with bells, with bells, a sleigh drove up; hears, comes. He comes in completely in human form, like an officer, he came and sat down with her at the device.
- A! Ah!...” Natasha screamed, rolling her eyes in horror.
- How can he say that?
- Yes, as a person, everything is as it should be, and he began and began to persuade, and she should have occupied him with conversation until the roosters; and she became shy; – she just became shy and covered herself with her hands. He picked it up. It's good that the girls came running...
- Well, why scare them! - said Pelageya Danilovna.
“Mother, you yourself were guessing...” said the daughter.
- How do they tell fortunes in the barn? – asked Sonya.
- Well, at least now, they’ll go to the barn and listen. What will you hear: hammering, knocking - bad, but pouring bread - this is good; and then it happens...
- Mom, tell me what happened to you in the barn?
Pelageya Danilovna smiled.
“Oh, well, I forgot…” she said. - You won’t go, will you?
- No, I'll go; Pepageya Danilovna, let me in, I’ll go,” said Sonya.
- Well, if you're not afraid.
- Luiza Ivanovna, may I? – asked Sonya.
Whether they were playing ring, string or ruble, or talking, as now, Nikolai did not leave Sonya and looked at her with completely new eyes. It seemed to him that today, only for the first time, thanks to that corky mustache, he fully recognized her. Sonya really was cheerful, lively and beautiful that evening, like Nikolai had never seen her before.
“So that’s what she is, and I’m a fool!” he thought, looking at her sparkling eyes and her happy, enthusiastic smile, making dimples on her cheeks from under her mustache, a smile that he had never seen before.
“I’m not afraid of anything,” said Sonya. - Can I do it now? - She stood up. They told Sonya where the barn was, how she could stand silently and listen, and they gave her a fur coat. She threw it over her head and looked at Nikolai.
“What a beauty this girl is!” he thought. “And what have I been thinking about so far!”
Sonya went out into the corridor to go to the barn. Nikolai hurriedly went to the front porch, saying that he was hot. Indeed, the house was stuffy from the crowded people.
It was the same motionless cold outside, the same month, only it was even lighter. The light was so strong and there were so many stars on the snow that I didn’t want to look at the sky, and the real stars were invisible. In the sky it was black and boring, on earth it was fun.
“I’m a fool, a fool! What have you been waiting for so far? thought Nikolai and, running onto the porch, he walked around the corner of the house along the path that led to the back porch. He knew that Sonya would come here. Halfway along the road there were stacked fathoms of firewood, there was snow on them, and a shadow fell from them; through them and from their sides, intertwining, the shadows of old bare linden trees fell onto the snow and the path. The path led to the barn. The chopped wall of the barn and the roof, covered with snow, as if carved from some kind of precious stone, glittered in the monthly light. A tree cracked in the garden, and again everything was completely silent. The chest seemed to breathe not air, but some kind of eternally youthful strength and joy.
Feet clattered on the steps from the maiden porch, there was a loud creaking sound on the last one, which was covered with snow, and the voice of an old girl said:
- Straight, straight, along the path, young lady. Just don't look back.
“I’m not afraid,” answered Sonya’s voice, and Sonya’s legs squealed and whistled in her thin shoes along the path towards Nikolai.

Wehrmacht rank insignia
(Die Wehrmacht) 1935-1945

SS troops (Waffen SS)

Insignia of ranks of junior and middle managers
(Untere Fuehrer, Mittlere Fuehrer)

Let us remember that the SS troops were part of the SS organization. Service in the SS troops was not public service, but was legally equated to such.

During their initial formation, the SS troops were created from members of the SS organization (Allgemeine-SS) and since this organization had a paramilitary structure and its own rank system, the SS troops (Waffen SS) when they were created adopted the general SS rank system (for more details, see the article “Troops”) SS" subsection "Ranks of Germany" section "Military ranks" of the same site) with minor changes. Naturally, the division into categories in the SS troops was not quite the same as in the Wehrmacht. If in the Wehrmacht military personnel were divided into privates, non-commissioned officers, non-commissioned officers with sword belts, chief officers, staff officers and generals, then in the SS troops, as well as in the SS organization in general, the term “officer” was absent. SS military personnel were divided into members, sub-leaders, junior leaders, middle leaders and senior leaders. Well, if you want, you can say “... leaders” or “... Fuhrers”.

However, these names were purely official, so to speak, legal terms. In everyday life and, to a large extent, in official correspondence, the phrase “SS officer” was still used, and quite widely. This was caused, firstly, by the fact that the SS men, mostly coming from the lowest strata of German society, found it very flattering to consider themselves officers. Secondly, as the number of SS divisions increased, it was no longer possible to staff them with officers only from among SS members, and some Wehrmacht officers were transferred by order to the SS troops. And they really didn’t want to lose the honorary title “officer.”

The well-known SS black uniform was the uniform of the SS organization (Allgemeine-SS), but it was never worn by the SS troops, since it was abolished in 1934, and the SS troops were finally formed by 1939. However, SS troops, as members of the SS organization, had the right to wear uniform of the general SS. The SS troops transferred from the Wehrmacht were not members of the SS organization and had no right to it.

Let us explain that in 1934 the black Allgemeine-SS uniform was replaced by the same cut, but in a light gray color. She was no longer wearing the red bandage with the black swastika. Instead, an eagle with outstretched wings sitting on a wreath with a swastika was embroidered in this place. One shoulder strap of a special type was replaced by two Wehrmacht types. White shirt with black tie.

In the photo on the left (reconstruction): uniform of the general SS mod. 1934 On the shoulders are two shoulder straps with pink lining (tanker). On the shoulder straps, in addition to the star, you can distinguish the golden monogram of the Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler division. On the collar are the insignia of an SS-Obersturmbannführer. An eagle is visible on the left sleeve and at the cuff there is a black ribbon on which the name of the division should have been written. On the right sleeve there is a badge for a destroyed enemy tank and below it an SS veteran's chevron (too large).
It follows that this is the jacket of an SS-Obersturmbannführer of the SS troops, who is a member of the SS organization.

From the author. It turned out to be extremely difficult to find an image of the gray uniform of the general SS. There are as many black jackets as you like. I explain this only by the fact that the SS organization, which played such a significant role in the twenties and early thirties in bringing the Nazis to power, by the mid-thirties began to gradually acquire a nominal role. After all, being in the ranks of the general SS was, so to speak, a social activity along with a person’s main job. And with the Nazis coming to power, active members of the SS quickly began to occupy positions in the police, other government agencies, and in the security of concentration camps, where they usually wore other types of uniforms. And with the beginning of the creation of the SS troops, the remaining ones were sent there for service. So by the end of the thirties, few people wore this uniform. Although, if you look at photographs of G. Himmler and his inner circle, taken in the second half of the thirties and later, they are all in this gray uniform of the general SS.

The replacement of the black uniform of the general SS with gray continued until mid-1938, after which its wearing was prohibited. The remains of a black uniform with worn-out badges and sewn green cuffs and collars were issued to policemen in the occupied territory of the USSR during the war.

The main uniform of SS officers was a uniform similar to the uniform of Wehrmacht officers with the same rank insignia in the form of shoulder straps, but on the collars instead of Wehrmacht buttonholes, SS officers wore insignia similar to the insignia on the collars of the open uniforms of the general SS. Thus, SS officers had rank insignia on their uniforms, both in buttonholes and on shoulder straps. Moreover, these insignia (and the same ranks) were worn by officers of the SS troops, both members of the SS organization and those who were not.

In the photo on the left (reconstruction): SS-Hauptsturmführer in SS uniform. The piping on the cap is colored according to the type of military service. Here the white one is the infantry. The stars on the shoulder straps are mistakenly golden in color. In the SS troops they were silver. On the right sleeve there is a badge for a damaged tank, on the left there is an SS eagle and above the cuff there is a ribbon with the name of the division.

Note that this is generally the uniform of the SS troops. Depending on the quality in which this uniform is used, headdress he could have had a cap of the type shown, a steel helmet with attributes of the SS troops, or a field cap (cap, cap).

The steel helmet was both a ceremonial headdress and utilitarian item at the front. The cap for the SS troops was introduced in 1942. and differed from the soldier’s in that a silver flagellum ran along the edge of the lapel and along the top. Black cap, model 1942. worn only with a black tank uniform.

In 1943, a cap was introduced for everyone, which had previously been worn only by mountain troops. This headdress was considered most suitable for field conditions, especially in cold weather and winter, since the lapels could be unbuttoned and lowered, thereby protecting the ears and lower part of the face from the cold. The officer's cap had a silver strip along the edge of the lapel and along the top.

From the author. One evil memoirist from the SS soldiers in his book claims that the officers of their regiment, in full dress uniform, did not wear real heavy steel helmets (which the soldiers were forced to wear), but made of papier-mâché. They were made so well that the soldiers did not realize it for a long time and were amazed at the stamina and endurance of their officers.

The officers of the so-called “SS divisions” (Division der SS) had the same uniform and the same insignia, i.e. divisions formed from persons of other nationalities (Latvian, Estonian, Norwegian, etc.) and other volunteer formations ..
In general, these collaborators had no right to call themselves SS ranks. Their ranks were called, for example, "Waffen-Untersturmfuehrer". Or "Legions-Obersturmfuehrer".

From the author. So gentlemen from the Latvian and Estonian divisions, you are not SS men, but rather henchmen, cannon fodder for Hitler. And you fought not for a Latvia and Estonia free from the Bolsheviks, but for the right to be “Germanized” as defined by the Ost plan, while your other compatriots were supposed to be deported to distant Siberia or simply destroyed.

But the commander of the so-called “RONA assault brigade” B.V. Kaminsky, when this brigade was included in the SS troops, was awarded the rank of SS-Brigadeführer and Major General of the SS troops. The commander of the SS volunteer regiment "Varyag", a former captain of the Red Army (according to other sources, a former senior political instructor) M.A. Semenov, had the rank of SS-Hauptsturmführer.

From the author. This is according to Soviet and modern Russian sources. I have not yet found confirmation in German sources.

The color of the SS officers' uniform basically coincided with the color of the Wehrmacht uniform, but was somewhat lighter, grayer, and the green tint was almost invisible. However, as the war progressed, the attitude towards the color of the uniform became more and more indifferent. They sewed from the fabric that was available (from almost green to almost pure brown). And yet, in the SS troops, the process of simplifying the uniform and deteriorating its quality occurred more slowly and later than in the Wehrmacht.

Tank uniforms and self-propelled artillery uniforms of the SS troops were also basically similar to those of the Wehrmacht tanks. Tankers wore black, self-propelled guns wore feldgrau. The collar has buttonholes similar to those on the regular gray field uniform. The collar trim, unlike the soldier's, is made of silver flagellum.

In the photo on the left (reconstruction): SS-Hauptsturmführer in a black tank uniform. The stars on the shoulder straps are mistakenly golden in color.

Junior leaders and mid-level leaders in the ranks up to and including SS-Obersturmbannführer wore rank insignia in the left buttonhole, and two in the right runes "zig" or have other signs (see article on the insignia of SS soldiers).

In particular, in the 3rd tank division“Totenkopf” (SS-Panzer-Division “Totenkopf”) instead of runes they wore an SS emblem embroidered with aluminum thread in the form of a skull.

SS officers with the ranks of SS-Standartenführer and SS-Oberführer had rank insignia in both buttonholes. There is endless debate regarding the rank of SS-Oberführer - is it an officer's or a general's rank. In the SS, this is an officer rank higher than Oberst, but lower than Major General of the Wehrmacht.

The buttonholes of SS officers were edged with a silver twisted cord. On black tank uniforms and gray self-propelled artillery uniforms, SS officers often wore buttonholes with pink (tankers) or scarlet (artillerymen) piping instead of silver piping.

In the picture on the right: the buttonholes of an SS-Untersturmführer.

The officers of the 3rd Panzer Division "Totenkopf" (3.SS-Panzer-Division "Totenkopf") wore in their right buttonhole not two "zig" runes, but an emblem in the form of a skull (similar to the emblems of Wehrmacht tankers). This exhausts the variety of signs in the right buttonhole. All other badges were worn only by officers of divisions “under the SS”.

By the way, this division should not be confused with the so-called “Totenkopfrerbaende” (SS-Totenkopfrerbaende) units, which had nothing to do with the SS troops, but were part of the concentration camp guards.

The shoulder straps of SS officers were similar to the shoulder straps of Wehrmacht officers, but the lower lining was black, the upper, forming a kind of edging, according to the color of the branch of service. Senior officers had a double base. The bottom one is black, the top one is the color of the military branch.

The colors according to the type of troops in the SS troops were somewhat different from those of the Wehrmacht

*White-. Infantry. This is the same color as the general military color.
*Light gray -. The central apparatus of the SS troops.
*Black and white striped -. Engineering units and units (sappers).
*Blue -. Supply and support services.
*Scarlet -. Artillery.
*Brownish green -. Reserve service.
*Burgundy -. Legal service.
*Dark red - Veterinary service.
*Golden yellow -. Cavalry, motorized reconnaissance units.
*Green -. Infantry regiments police divisions (4th and 35th SS divisions).
*Lemon yellow -. Communication service and propaganda service.
*Light green - Mountain parts.
*Orange - Technical service and replenishment service.
*Pink-. Tankers, anti-tank artillery.
*Cornflower blue -. Medical service.
*Pink-reddish -. Geological Survey.
*Light blue -. Administrative service.
*Raspberry -. Snipers in all branches of the military.
*Copper brown - Intelligence.

Until the summer of 1943, signs of belonging to certain units had to be placed on shoulder straps. These signs could be metal or sewn with silver or gray silk thread. However, SS officers simply ignored this requirement and, as a rule, did not wear any letters on their shoulder straps until 1943, when they were abolished. Perhaps only the officers of the 1st SS Panzer Division "Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler", proud of their belonging to the most elite SS division, wore a special monogram. The following signs were installed:
A - artillery regiment;
And the Gothic one is a reconnaissance battalion;
AS/I - 1st Artillery School;
AS/II - 2nd Artillery School;
Gear - technical part (repair parts);
D - Deutschland Regiment;
DF - regiment "Fuhrer";
E/ Gothic figure - Recruitment point number...;
FI - Anti-aircraft machine gun battalion;
JS/B - officer school in Braunschweig;
JS/T - officer school in Tolts;
L - training parts;
Lyra - bandmasters and musicians;
MS - school of military musicians in Braunschweig;
N - Nordland regiment;
Gothic P - anti-tank;
Snake - veterinary service;
A snake entwining a rod - doctors;
US/L - non-commissioned officer school in Lauenburg;
US/R - non-commissioned officer school in Radolfzell;
W - Westland Regiment.

The stars could have a square side of 1.5, 2.0 or 2.4 cm. And if the stars in the buttonholes were always 1.5 cm in size, then the officer chose the size of the stars on the shoulder straps himself, based on the convenience of their placement. For example, on the pursuit of the SS-Obersturmführer, the asterisk is shifted down to make room for the monogram. And if there is no monogram or other emblem on the shoulder strap, then the asterisk is usually in the center of the shoulder strap.

So, the rank of an SS officer could be determined simultaneously by shoulder straps and buttonholes:

Untere Fuehrer (junior managers):

1.SS Untersturmfuehrer (SS-Untersturmfuehrer) [administrative service];

2.SS Obersturmfuehrer (SS-Obersturmfuehrer) [tank units]. In pursuit is the monogram of the Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler division.

3. SS Hauptsturmfuehrer (SS-Hauptsturmfuehrer) [communications units].

Mittlere Fuehrer;

4.SS-Sturmbannfuehrer (SS Sturmbannfuehrer) [infantry];

5.SS Obersturmbannfuehrer [artillery];

6.SS Standartenfuehrer [medical service];

7.SS Oberfuehrer [tank units].

The insignia on the SS-Standartenführer and SS-Oberführer buttonholes changed slightly in May 1942. Please note that on the old buttonholes there are three acorns on the Oberführer's buttonhole, while the Standartenführer has two. In addition, the branches on old buttonholes are curved, and later straight.

This is essential if you need to determine the period when a particular photograph was taken.

A few words about the insignia of the 4th SS Division.

It was formed in October 1939 from among police officers under the designation “Police Division” (Polizei-Division) as an ordinary infantry division, and was not classified as an SS division, although it was part of the SS troops. Therefore, its military personnel had police ranks and wore police insignia.

In February 1942 The division was officially assigned to the SS troops and received the name "SS Police Division" (SS-Polizei-Division). From that time on, the servicemen of this division began to wear the general SS uniform and SS insignia. In this case, the upper substrate officer's shoulder straps in the division was defined as grassy green.

At the beginning of 1943, the division was renamed the "SS Police Grenadier Division" (SS-Polizei-Grenadier-Ddivision).

And only in October 1943 the division received the final name “4th SS Police Motorized Rifle Division” (4.SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division).

So, from the moment of its formation in October 1939 to February 1942, the division insignia:

The paired Wehrmacht style buttonholes on the flap are grass green. The collar is brown with grass green edging. In general, this is the uniform of the German police.

Shoulder straps on a green background.

From right to left:

1. Leutnant der Polizei
(Leutnant der Polizei)

2. Oberleutnant der Polizei
(Oberleutnant der Polizei)

3.Hauptmann der Polizei
(Hauptmann der Polizei)

4. Major der Polizei (Major der policeman)

5. Oberstleutnant der Polizei (Oberstleutnant der Polizei)

6.Oberst der Polizei (Oberst der Policeman).

It is worth noting that from the very beginning this division was commanded by a member of the SS organization, SS-Gruppenführer and Police Lieutenant General Karl Pfeffer-Wildenbruch

On camouflage clothing it was necessary to wear green stripes on a black flap on both sleeves above the elbow. One row of oak leaves with acorns meant a junior officer, two rows meant a senior officer. The number of stripes under the leaves meant rank. The picture shows the SS-Obersturmführer's patches. However, as a rule, SS officers ignored these stripes and preferred to indicate their rank by wearing a collar with rank insignia over their camouflage clothing.

An interesting remark from one of the Soviet veterans of SMERSH counterintelligence officers: “... since the late autumn of 1944, I have repeatedly discovered carefully wrapped buttonholes and shoulder straps of the Wehrmacht in the pockets of killed or captured SS men. During interrogation, these SS men unanimously declared that they had previously served in They were forcibly transferred to the Wehrmacht and the SS by order, and they keep the old insignia as a memory of their honest soldier’s service.”

In conclusion, it should be noted that there was no category of military officials in the SS troops. as in the Wehrmacht, Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine. All positions were performed by SS soldiers. Also, there were no priests in the SS troops, because... SS members were prohibited from practicing any religion.

Literature and sources.

1. P. Lipatov. Uniforms of the Red Army and the Wehrmacht. Publishing House "Technology for Youth". Moscow. 1996
2. Magazine "Sergeant". Chevron series. No. 1.
3.Nimmergut J. Das Eiserne Kreuz. Bonn. 1976.
4.Littlejohn D. Foreign legions of the III Reich. Volume 4. San Jose. 1994.
5.Buchner A. Das Handbuch der Waffen SS 1938-1945. Friedeberg. 1996
6. Brian L. Davis. German Army Uniforms and Insignia 1933-1945. London 1973
7.SA soldiers. NSDAP assault troops 1921-45. Ed. "Tornado". 1997
8.Encyclopedia of the Third Reich. Ed. "Lockheed Myth". Moscow. 1996
9. Brian Lee Davis. Uniform of the Third Reich. AST. Moscow 2000
10. Website "Wehrmacht Rank Insignia" (http://www.kneler.com/Wehrmacht/).
11.Website "Arsenal" (http://www.ipclub.ru/arsenal/platz).
12.V.Shunkov. Soldiers of destruction. Organization, training, weapons, uniforms of the Waffen SS. Moscow. Minsk, AST Harvest. 2001
13.A.A.Kurylev. German Army 1933-1945. Astrel. AST. Moscow. 2009
14. W. Boehler. Unoform-Effekten 1939-1945. Motorbuch Verlag. Karlsruhe. 2009

Rank insignia
German Security Service (SD) officers
(Sicherheitsdienst des RfSS, SD) 1939-1945.

Preface.
Before describing the insignia of security personnel (SD) in Germany during the Second World War, it is necessary to provide some clarification, which, however, will further confuse readers. And the point is not so much in these signs and uniforms themselves, which were repeatedly amended (which further confuses the picture), but in the complexity and intricacy of the entire structure of government bodies in Germany at that time, which was also closely intertwined with the party bodies of the Nazi Party , in which, in turn, the SS organization and its structures, often beyond the control of party bodies, played a huge role.

First of all, as if within the framework of the NSDAP (National Socialist German Workers' Party) and as if being the militant wing of the party, but at the same time not subordinate to party bodies, there was a certain public organization Schutzstaffel (SS), which initially represented groups of activists who were engaged in the physical protection of rallies and meetings of the party, the protection of its senior leaders. This public, I emphasize, public organization after numerous reforms of 1923-1939. transformed and began to consist of the SS public organization itself (Algemeine SS), SS troops (Waffen SS) and concentration camp guard units (SS-Totenkopfrerbaende).

The entire SS organization (both the general SS, and the SS troops and camp guard units) was subordinate to the Reichsführer SS Heinrich Himmler, who, in addition, was the chief of police for all of Germany. Those. In addition to one of the highest party posts, he also held a government position.

To manage all structures involved in ensuring the security of the state and the ruling regime, law enforcement issues (police agencies), intelligence and counterintelligence, the Main Directorate of State Security (Reichssicherheitshauptamt (RSHA)) was created in the fall of 1939.

From the author. Usually in our literature it is written “Main Directorate of Imperial Security” (RSHA). However, the German word Reich is translated as "state", and not at all as "empire". The word "empire" in German looks like this - Kaiserreich. Literally - "state of the emperor." There is another word for the concept of “empire” - Imperium.
Therefore, I use words translated from German as they mean, and not as is generally accepted. By the way, people who are not very knowledgeable in history and linguistics, but have an inquisitive mind, often ask: “Why was Hitler’s Germany called an empire, but there was not even a nominal emperor in it, like, say, in England?”

Thus, the RSHA is a state institution, and by no means a party institution and not part of the SS. It can be compared to some extent with our NKVD.
Another question is that this state institution is subordinate to the Reichsführer SS G. Himmler and he, naturally, first of all recruited members of the public organization CC (Algemeine SS) as employees of this institution.
However, we note that not all RSHA employees were members of the SS, and not all departments of the RSHA consisted of SS members. For example, the criminal police (5th department of the RSHA). Most of its leaders and employees were not members of the SS. Even in the Gestapo there were quite a few senior officials who were not members of the SS. Yes, the famous Müller himself became a member of the SS only in the summer of 1941, although he had led the Gestapo since 1939.

Let's move on now to SD.

Initially in 1931 (i.e. even before the Nazis came to power) the SD was created (from among the members of the general SS) as the internal security structure of the SS organization to combat various violations of order and rules, identify government agents and hostiles among SS members political parties, provocateurs, renegades, etc.
in 1934 (this was after the Nazis came to power) the SD extended its functions to the entire NSDAP, and actually left the subordination of the SS, but was still subordinate to the SS Reichsführer G. Himmler.

In 1939, with the creation of the Main Directorate of State Security (Reichssicherheitshauptamt (RSHA)), the SD became part of its structure.

The SD in the structure of the RSHA was represented by two departments (Amt):

Amt III (Inland-SD), who dealt with issues of nation-building, immigration, race and public health, science and culture, industry and commerce.

Amt VI (Ausland-SD), who was engaged in intelligence work in the Northern, Western and Eastern Europe, USSR, USA, UK and other countries South America. It was this department that Walter Schellenberg led.

And also many of the SD employees were not SS men. And even the head of subdivision VI A 1 was not a member of the SS.

Thus, the SS and SD are different organizations, although subordinate to the same leader.

From the author. In general, there is nothing strange here. This is a fairly common practice. For example, in today's Russia there is a Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD), which is subordinate to two quite different structures - the police and the Internal Troops. And in Soviet times The structure of the Ministry of Internal Affairs also included fire protection and prison management structures

Thus, to summarize, it can be argued that the SS is one thing, and the SD is something else, although among the SD employees there are many SS members.

Now you can move on to the uniforms and insignia of SD employees.

End of the preface.

In the picture on the left: A soldier and an SD officer in service uniform.

First of all, SD officers wore a light gray open jacket with a white shirt and black tie, similar to the uniform of the general SS mod. 1934 (the replacement of the black SS uniform with a gray one lasted from 1934 to 1938), but with its own insignia.
The piping on the caps of officers is made of silver flagellum, while the piping of soldiers and non-commissioned officers is green. Only green and nothing else.

The main difference in the uniform of SD employees is that there are no signs in the right buttonhole(runes, skulls, etc.). All SD ranks up to and including Obersturmannführer have a purely black buttonhole.
Soldiers and non-commissioned officers have buttonholes without edging (until May 1942, the edging was still black and white striped); officers have buttonholes edged with a silver flagellum.

Above the cuff of the left sleeve there is always a black diamond with white letters SD inside. For officers, the diamond is edged with a silver flagellum.

In the photo on the left: the sleeve patch of an SD officer and the buttonhole with the insignia of an SD Untersturmfuehrer (Untersturmfuehrer des SD).

On the left sleeve above the cuff of SD officers serving in headquarters and departments, it is obligatory a black ribbon with silver stripes along the edges, on which the place of service is indicated in silver letters.

In the photo on the left: an armband with an inscription indicating that the owner is serving in the SD Service Directorate.

In addition to the service uniform, which was used for all occasions (official, holiday, day off, etc.), SD employees could wear field uniforms similar to the field uniforms of the Wehrmacht and SS troops with their own insignia.

In the photo on the right: field uniform (feldgrau) of an SD Untersharfuehrer (Untersharfuehrer des SD) model 1943. This uniform has already been simplified - the collar is not black, but the same color as the uniform itself, the pockets and their valves are of a simpler design, there are no cuffs. The right clean buttonhole and a single star in the left, indicating rank, are clearly visible. Sleeve emblem in the form of an SS eagle, and at the bottom of the sleeve there is a patch with the letters SD.
pay attention to characteristic appearance shoulder strap and green edging of a police-style shoulder strap.

Special attention deserves the rank system in the SD. SD officers were named after their SS ranks, but instead of the prefix SS- before the name of the rank, they had the letters SD behind the name. For example, not "SS-Untersharfuehrer", but "Untersharfuehrer des SD". If the employee was not a member of the SS, then he wore a police rank (and obviously a police uniform).

Shoulder straps of soldiers and non-commissioned officers of the SD, not army, but police type, but not brown, but black color. Please pay attention to the titles of the SD employees. They differed both from the ranks of the general SS and from the ranks of the SS troops.

In the photo on the left: SD Unterscharführer's shoulder straps. The lining of the shoulder strap is grass green, on which are superimposed two rows of double soutache cord. The inner cord is black, the outer cord is silver with black highlights. They go around the button at the top of the shoulder strap. Those. In terms of its structure, it is a shoulder strap of a chief officer type, but with cords of other colors.

SS-Mann (SS-Mann). Black police-style shoulder straps without edging. Before May 1942, the buttonholes were edged with black and white lace.

From the author. Why the very first two ranks in the SD are SS, and the ranks of the general SS, is not clear. It is possible that SD officers for the lowest positions were recruited from among ordinary members of the general SS, who were assigned police-style insignia, but were not given the status of SD officers.
These are my conjectures, since Böchler does not explain this incomprehensibility in any way, and I do not have the primary source at my disposal.

It is very bad to use secondary sources because errors inevitably arise. This is natural, since a secondary source is a retelling, an interpretation by the author of the primary source. But in the absence of anything, you have to use what you have. It's still better than nothing.

SS-Sturmmann (SS-Sturmmann) Black police style shoulder strap. The outer row of double soutache cord is black with silver highlights. Please note that in the SS troops and in the general SS, the shoulder straps of the SS-Mann and SS-Sturmmann are exactly the same, but here there is already a difference.
On the left buttonhole there is one row of double silver soutache cord.

Rottenfuehrer des SD (Rottenfuehrer SD) The shoulder strap is the same, but the usual German one is sewn at the bottom 9mm aluminum braid. The left buttonhole has two rows of double silver soutache cord.

From the author. Interesting moment. In the Wehrmacht and the SS troops, such a patch indicated that the owner was a candidate for non-commissioned officer rank.

Unterscharfuehrer des SD (Unterscharfuehrer SD) Black police style shoulder strap. The outer row of double soutache cord is silver or light gray (depending on what it is made of, aluminum or silk thread) with black linings. The lining of the shoulder strap, forming a sort of edging, is grass-green. This color is generally characteristic of the German police.
There is one silver star on the left buttonhole.

Scharfuehrer des SD (SD Scharfuehrer) Black police style shoulder strap. Outer row double soutache cord, silver with black highlights. The lining of the shoulder strap, forming a kind of edging, is grass-green. The lower edge of the shoulder strap is closed with the same silver cord with black piping.
On the left buttonhole, in addition to the star, there is one row of double silver soutache lace.

Oberscharfuehrer des SD (Oberscharfuehrer SD) Shoulder strap black police type. The outer row of double soutache cord is silver with black linings. the lining of the shoulder strap, forming a sort of edging, is grass-green. The lower edge of the shoulder strap is closed with the same silver cord with black piping. In addition, there is one silver star on the shoulder strap.
On the left buttonhole there are two silver stars.

Hauptscharfuehrer des SD (Hauptscharfuehrer SD) Shoulder strap black police type. The outer row of double soutache cord is silver with black linings. The lining of the shoulder strap, forming a kind of edging, is grass-green. The lower edge of the shoulder strap is closed with the same silver cord with black piping. In addition, there are two silver stars on the chase.
The left buttonhole has two silver stars and one row of double silver soutache cord.

Sturmscharfuehrer des SD (SD Sturmscharfuehrer) Shoulder strap black police type. The outer row of double soutache cord is silver with black linings. In the middle part of the shoulder strap there is weaving from the same silver with black lining and black soutache laces. The lining of the shoulder strap, forming a kind of edging, is grass-green. On the left buttonhole there are two silver stars and two rows of double silver soutache cord.

It remains unclear whether this rank existed since the creation of the SD, or whether it was introduced simultaneously with the introduction of the rank of SS-Staffscharführer in the SS troops in May 1942.

From the author. One gets the impression that the rank of SS-Sturmscharführer mentioned in almost all Russian-language sources (including in my works) is erroneous. In fact, obviously, the rank of SS-Staffscharführer was introduced in the SS troops in May 1942, and Sturmscharführer in the SD. But this is my speculation.

The rank insignia of SD officers is described below. Let me remind you that their shoulder straps were similar to those of Wehrmacht and SS troops.

In the photo on the left: shoulder straps of an SD chief officer. The lining of the shoulder strap is black, the piping is grass green and there are two rows of double soutache cord that wrap around the button. Actually, this soutache double cord should be made of aluminum thread and have a dull silver color. At worst, from light gray shiny silk yarn. But this example of a shoulder strap dates back to the final period of the war and the cord is made of simple, harsh, undyed cotton yarn.

The buttonholes were edged with a silver aluminum band.

All SD officers, starting with the Unterschurmführer and ending with the Obersturmbannführer, have an empty right buttonhole, and insignia on the left. From Standartenführer and above, rank insignia is in both buttonholes.

The stars in the buttonholes are silver, and the stars on the shoulder straps are golden. Note that in the general SS and in the SS troops the stars on the shoulder straps were silver.

1. Untersturmfuehrer des SD (Untersturmfuehrer SD).
2.Obersturmfuehrer des SD (Obersturmfuehrer SD).
3.Hauptrsturmfuehrer des SD (Hauptsturmfuehrer SD).

From the author. If you start looking through the list of the SD management staff, the question arises what position “Comrade Stirlitz” held there. In Amt VI (Ausland-SD), where, judging by the book and film, he served, all leadership positions (except for the chief V. Schelenberg, who had the rank of general) by 1945 were occupied by officers with a rank no higher than Obersturmbannführer (that is, lieutenant colonel). There was only one Standarteführer there, who occupied a very high position as head of department VI B. A certain Eugen Steimle. And Müller’s secretary, according to Böchler, Scholz could not have a rank higher than Unterscharführer.
And judging by what Stirlitz did in the film, i.e. ordinary operational work, then he could not possibly have a rank higher than non-commissioned officer.
For example, open the Internet and see that in 1941 the commandant of the huge Auschwitz concentration camp (Auschwitz, as the Poles call it) was an SS officer with the rank of Obersturmührer (senior lieutenant) named Karl Fritzsch. And none of the other commandants was above the captain level.
Of course, both the film and the book are purely artistic, but still, as Stanislavsky used to say, “there must be the truth of life in everything.” The Germans did not throw away ranks and appropriated them sparingly.
And even then, rank in military and police structures is a reflection of the officer’s qualification level and his ability to occupy the relevant positions. The title is assigned based on the position held. And even then, not right away. But it is by no means some kind of honorary title or reward for military or service success. There are orders and medals for this.

The shoulder straps of senior SD officers were similar in structure to the shoulder straps of senior officers of the SS and Wehrmacht troops. The lining of the shoulder strap was grass-green in color.

In the picture on the left are shoulder straps and buttonholes:

4.Sturmbannfuehrer des SD (Sturmbannfuehrer SD).

5.Obersturmbannfuehrer des SD (Obersturmbannfuehrer SD).

From the author. I deliberately do not provide information here about the correspondence of the ranks of the SD, SS and Wehrmacht. And I certainly don’t compare these ranks with the ranks in the Red Army. Any comparisons, especially those based on the coincidence of insignia or the consonance of names, always carry a certain deceit. Even the comparison of titles based on positions that I proposed at one time cannot be considered 100% correct. For example, in our country a division commander could not have a rank higher than major general, while in the Wehrmacht the division commander was, as they say in the army, a “fork position,” i.e. the division commander could be a major general or a lieutenant general.

Starting with the rank of SD Standartenführer, rank insignia was placed on both buttonholes. Moreover, there were differences in lapel insignia before May 1942 and after.

It's interesting that the shoulder straps
The Standarteführer and Oberführer were the same (with two stars, but the lapel insignia were different. And please note that the leaves before May 1942 were curved, and after that they were straight. This is important when dating the photographs.

6.Standartenfuehrer des SD (SD Standartenfuehrer).

7.Oberfuehrer des SD (Oberfuehrer SD).

From the author. And again, if the Standartenführer can somehow be equated to an Oberst (colonel), based on the fact that there are two stars on his shoulder straps like the Oberst in the Wehrmacht, then to whom can the Oberführer be equated? The shoulder straps are of a colonel, and there are two leaves in the buttonholes. "Colonel"? Or “Under General”, since until May 1942 the Brigadeführer also wore two leaves in his buttonholes, but with the addition of an asterisk. But the brigadeführer’s shoulder straps are those of a general.
Equate to a brigade commander in the Red Army? So our brigade commander clearly belonged to the senior command staff and wore in his buttonholes the insignia of senior, not senior command staff.
Or maybe it’s better not to compare and equate? Simply proceed from the existing scale of ranks and insignia for a given department.

Well, then there are ranks and insignia, which can definitely be considered general ones. The weaving on the shoulder straps is not made from double silver soutache cord, but from a double cord, and the two outer cords are golden, and the middle one is silver. The stars on the shoulder straps are silver.

8.Brigadefuehrer des SD (SD Brigadefuehrer).

9. Gruppenfuehrer des SD (SD Gruppenfuehrer).

The highest rank in the SD was that of SD Obergruppenführer.

This title was awarded to the first head of the RSHA, Reinhard Heydrich, who was killed by agents of the British secret services on May 27, 1942, and to Ernst Kaltenbrunner, who held this post after Heydrich's death and until the end of the Third Reich.

However, it should be noted that the vast majority of the SD leadership were members of the SS organization (Algemeibe SS) and had the right to wear SS uniforms with SS insignia.

It is also worth noting that if members of the Algemeine SS of general rank who did not hold positions in the SS, police, or SD troops simply had the corresponding rank, for example, SS-Brigadefuehrer, then “... and general of the SS troops” was added to the SS rank in the SS troops. . For example, SS-Gruppenfuehrer und General-leutnant der Waffen SS. And for those who served in the police, SD, etc. “..and the police general” was added. For example, SS-Brigadefuehrer und General-major der Polizei.

This general rule, however, there were many exceptions. For example, the head of the SD, Walter Schelenberg, was called SS-Brigadefuehrer und General-major der Waffen SS. Those. SS-Brigadeführer and Major General of the SS troops, although he never served a single day in the SS troops.

From the author. Along the way. Schelenberg received the rank of general only in June 1944. And before that, he led “the most important intelligence service of the Third Reich” with the rank of only an Oberfuhrer. And nothing, I managed. Apparently, the SD was not such an important and comprehensive intelligence service in Germany. So, like our today's SVR (foreign intelligence service). And even then of a lower rank. The SVR is still an independent department, and the SD was just one of the departments of the RSHA.
Apparently the Gestapo was more important, if its leader from 1939 was not a member of the SS or a member of the NSDAP, Reichskriminaldirector G. Müller, who was accepted into the NSDAP only in 1939, was accepted into the SS in 1941 and immediately received the rank of SS-Gruppenfuehrer und Generalleutnant der Polizei, that is, SS-Gruppenführer und der Generalleutnant of Police.

In anticipation of questions and queries, although this is somewhat off topic, we note that the Reichsführer SS wore insignia that were slightly different from everyone else. On the gray all-SS uniform introduced in 1934, he wore his previous shoulder straps from the previous black uniform. Only there were now two shoulder straps.

In the picture on the left: shoulder strap and buttonhole of SS Reichsführer G. Himmler.

A few words in defense of filmmakers and their “film blunders.” The fact is that uniform discipline in the SS (both in the general SS and in the SS troops) and in the SD was very low, unlike the Wehrmacht. Therefore, it was possible in reality to encounter significant deviations from the rules. For example, a member of the SS somewhere in a provincial town, and not only, and in 1945 he could join the ranks of the city’s defenders in his black preserved uniform of the thirties.
This is what I found online when I was looking for illustrations for my article. This is a group of SD officials sitting in a car. The driver in front holds the rank of SD Rottenführer, although he is dressed in a gray uniform jacket. 1938, but his shoulder straps are from an old black uniform (on which one shoulder strap was worn on the right shoulder). The cap, although gray arr. 38, but the eagle on it is a Wehrmacht uniform (on a dark fabric flap and sewn on the side, not the front. Behind him sits an SD Oberscharführer with buttonholes of the pre-May 1942 pattern (striped edging), but the collar is trimmed with galloon according to the Wehrmacht type. And shoulder straps not the police type, but the SS troops. Perhaps, there are no complaints only about the Untersturmführer sitting on the right. And even then, the shirt is brown, not white.

Literature and sources.

1. P. Lipatov. Uniforms of the Red Army and the Wehrmacht. Publishing House "Technology for Youth". Moscow. 1996
2. Magazine "Sergeant". Chevron series. No. 1.
3.Nimmergut J. Das Eiserne Kreuz. Bonn. 1976.
4.Littlejohn D. Foreign legions of the III Reich. Volume 4. San Jose. 1994.
5.Buchner A. Das Handbuch der Waffen SS 1938-1945. Friedeberg. 1996
6. Brian L. Davis. German Army Uniforms and Insignia 1933-1945. London 1973
7.SA soldiers. NSDAP assault troops 1921-45. Ed. "Tornado". 1997
8.Encyclopedia of the Third Reich. Ed. "Lockheed Myth". Moscow. 1996
9. Brian Lee Davis. Uniform of the Third Reich. AST. Moscow 2000
10. Website "Wehrmacht Rank Insignia" (http://www.kneler.com/Wehrmacht/).
11.Website "Arsenal" (http://www.ipclub.ru/arsenal/platz).
12.V.Shunkov. Soldiers of destruction. Moscow. Minsk, AST Harvest. 2001
13.A.A.Kurylev. German Army 1933-1945. Astrel. AST. Moscow. 2009
14. W. Boehler. Uniform-Effekten 1939-1945. Motorbuch Verlag. Karlsruhe. 2009