Bundesarchiv Bild 192-025, KZ Mauthausen, SS-Scharführer

''Scharführer'' (, ) was a title or rank used in early 20th Century German military terminology. In

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

, ''Schar'' was one term for the smallest sub-unit, equivalent to (for example) a "

troop A troop is a military sub-subunit, originally a small formation of cavalry, subordinate to a squadron. In many armies a troop is the equivalent element to the infantry section or platoon. Exceptions are the US Cavalry and the King's Tr ...

" , " squad", or "

section Section, Sectioning or Sectioned may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * Section (music), a complete, but not independent, musical idea * Section (typography), a subdivision, especially of a chapter, in books and documents ** Section sig ...

". The word ''

führer ( ; , spelled or ''Fuhrer'' when the umlaut is not available) is a German word meaning "leader" or " guide". As a political title, it is strongly associated with the Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler. Nazi Germany cultivated the ("leader princip ...

'' simply meant "leader". The term ''Scharführer'' can be traced to

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, when it was referred to a NCO in charge of several shock troopers, or other special forces soldiers. It was, however, used far more widely by

Nazi Party The Nazi Party, officially the National Socialist German Workers' Party (german: Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP), was a far-right political party in Germany active between 1920 and 1945 that created and supported t ...

paramilitary organizations, between 1925 and 1945 and became strongly associated with them.

Nazi usage

''Scharführer'' is most recognizable as a rank of the SS and title of the SA. ''Scharführer'' was first used as a title in the '' Sturmabteilung'' (SA) as early as 1921 and became an actual rank in 1928. ''Scharführer'' was the first non-commissioned officer rank of the SA, and was denoted by a single pip centered on a collar patch. In 1930, veteran ''Scharführer'' were appointed to the new rank of SA-''

Oberscharführer __NOTOC__ ''Oberscharführer'' (, ) was a Nazi Party paramilitary rank that existed between 1932 and 1945. ''Oberscharführer'' was first used as a rank of the ''Sturmabteilung'' (SA) and was created due to an expansion of the enlisted positions ...

'', denoted by an additional silver stripe to the ''Scharführer'' collar patch. The ''

Schutzstaffel The ''Schutzstaffel'' (SS; also stylized as ''ᛋᛋ'' with Armanen runes; ; "Protection Squadron") was a major paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party in Nazi Germany, and later throughout German-occupied Europe duri ...

'' (SS) used the same insignia for ''Scharführer'' as the SA, but the level of rank changed in 1934 with a reorganization of the SS rank structure. At that time, the old rank of SS-''Scharführer'' became known as SS-''

Unterscharführer ''Unterscharführer'' (, ) was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party used by the ''Schutzstaffel'' (SS) between 1934 and 1945. The SS rank was created after the Night of the Long Knives. That event caused an SS reorganisation and the creation of ...

'' with the title of SS-''Scharführer'' becoming equivalent to an SA-''Oberscharführer''. The rank of SS-''

Truppführer ''Truppführer'' (, "troop leader") was a Nazi Party paramilitary rank that was first created in 1930 as a rank of the ''Sturmabteilung'' (SA). Translated as "Troop Leader", the rank of ''Truppführer'' evolved from early ''Freikorps'' titles wh ...

'' was removed from the SS, to be replaced by SS-''Oberscharführer'' and the new rank of SS-''

Hauptscharführer __NOTOC__ ''Hauptscharführer'' ( ) was a Nazi paramilitary rank which was used by the ''Schutzstaffel'' (SS) between the years of 1934 and 1945. The rank was the highest enlisted rank of the SS, with the exception of the special Waffen-SS ran ...

''. The early

Waffen-SS The (, "Armed SS") was the combat branch of the Nazi Party's ''Schutzstaffel'' (SS) organisation. Its formations included men from Nazi Germany, along with Waffen-SS foreign volunteers and conscripts, volunteers and conscripts from both occup ...

created an even higher rank, known as SS-'' Sturmscharführer''. Within the SA, ''Scharführer'' was senior to the rank of SA-''

Rottenführer ''Rottenführer'' (, ) was a Nazi Party paramilitary rank that was first created in the year 1932. The rank of ''Rottenführer'' was used by several Nazi paramilitary groups, among them the '' Sturmabteilung'' (SA), the ''Schutzstaffel'' (SS) a ...

'' while in the SS, a ''Scharführer'' was senior to that of SS-''

''. The rank of ''Scharführer'' was also used by other Nazi Party organizations; among them the

National Socialist Flyers Corps The National Socialist Flyers Corps (german: Nationalsozialistisches Fliegerkorps; NSFK) was a paramilitary aviation organization of the Nazi Party. History NSFK was founded 15 April 1937 as a successor to the German Air Sports Association; the ...

(NSFK),

National Socialist Motorist Corps The National Socialist Motor Corps (german: Nationalsozialistisches Kraftfahrkorps, NSKK) was a paramilitary organization of the Nazi Party (NSDAP) that officially existed from May 1931 to 1945. The group was a successor organisation to the old ...

(NSKK) and the

Hitler Youth The Hitler Youth (german: Hitlerjugend , often abbreviated as HJ, ) was the youth organisation of the Nazi Party in Germany. Its origins date back to 1922 and it received the name ("Hitler Youth, League of German Worker Youth") in July 1926. ...

(HJ).

Insignia

SS-Scharführer h.svg,

Shoulder strap A shoulder strap is a strap over a shoulder. They are often affixed to women's dresses to support its weight or as part of its style. The term is also applied to carrying bags. Dress shoulder strap Image:Camisole.png, Camisole Image:Preprom.jpg, ...

SS-Scharführer
(SS-Oberjunker) HJ-Scharführer.svg, HJ Shoulder strap NSFK-Scharführer.svg, NSFK

Gorget patches Gorget patches (collar tabs, collar patches) are an insignia in the form of paired patches of cloth or metal on the collar of a uniform (gorget), used in the military and civil service in some countries. Collar tabs sign the military rank (group o ...

NSKK-Scharführer.svg, NSKK Gorget patch SA-Scharführer.svg, SA Gorget patch SS-Scharführer.svg, SS Gorget patches UFw Scha OR5a cam slv 1945.svg, SS smock insignia

Notes

Bibliography

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Scharfuhrer SS ranks

Nazi usage

Insignia

See also

Notes

Bibliography