''Anwärter'' is a German title which translates as “candidate” or "applicant". During the Nazi era, ''Anwärter/SS-Anwärter'' was used as a paramilitary rank by both the

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 ...

and the SS. Within the Nazi Party, an ''Anwärter'' was someone who had been accepted into a government service position and the rank was issued in two degrees: one for party members and the other for non-party members. ''Anwärter'' was the lowest Nazi Party rank in a complex and extensive system of Nazi Party political ranks leading up to such positions as ''

Gauleiter A ''Gauleiter'' () was a regional leader of the Nazi Party (NSDAP) who served as the head of a '' Gau'' or '' Reichsgau''. ''Gauleiter'' was the third-highest rank in the Nazi political leadership, subordinate only to '' Reichsleiter'' and to ...

'' and '' Reichsleiter''. As an SS rank, an ''SS-Anwärter'' was someone who had applied for membership in the SS and was undergoing a probationary period, after which time an appointment would be issued to the rank of ''SS- Mann''. The earliest recorded use of ''Anwärter'' as an SS rank was 1932; however, the rank was used as title dating back to 1925. Within the ''

Allgemeine-SS The ''Allgemeine SS'' (; "General SS") was a major branch of the ''Schutzstaffel'' (SS) paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany; it was managed by the SS Main Office (''SS-Hauptamt''). The ''Allgemeine SS'' was officially established in the autumn ...

'', the transition from ''Anwärter'' to ''Mann'' was an extensive process, typically taking over one year. During that year, a potential SS member would be drilled and indoctrinated; racial, political, and background checks would also be conducted. At the end of this time, typically in an elaborate ceremony, an ''Anwärter'' would be promoted to the rank of ''SS-Mann''. After 1941, ''Anwärter'' was also used as a rank of the

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 ...

, but to a much lesser degree than in the general SS. A Waffen-SS ''Anwärter'' was usually a recruit who had been processed into the SS (typically at a recruiting station), but had yet to report for basic training. Once basic training began, the ''Anwärter'' was promoted to the rank of ''SS-

Schütze ''Schütze'' in German means "rifleman" or "shooter", or in older terms originally connoted "archer" before the advent of the rifle. It also occasionally occurs as a surname, or as Schütz, as in the opera ''Der Freischütz''. The word itself is ...

''. Between 1942 and 1945, an even lower rank existed within the SS known as '' Bewerber''. The SS was the only Nazi paramilitary group to have a rank lower than that of ''Anwärter''. The SS rank of ''Anwärter'' used no insignia; however, the Nazi Party rank displayed a bare collar tab with eagle and swastika pin issued for those ''Anwärters'' who were already Nazi party members. In modern-day

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

, the title of ''Anwärter'' is typically used by those applying for employment and also as a designation for members of the ''

Bundeswehr The ''Bundeswehr'' (, meaning literally: ''Federal Defence'') is the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. The ''Bundeswehr'' is divided into a military part (armed forces or ''Streitkräfte'') and a civil part, the military part con ...

'' who are under consideration for a leadership assignment.

Insignia

File:NSDAP-Anwärter.svg,

NSDAP 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 ...

Notes

Bibliography

* SS ranks Nazi political ranks {{mil-rank-stub