__NOTOC__

Bundesarchiv Bild 101III-Jarolin-014-24, Gustav Schreiber

''Hauptscharführer'' ( ) was a Nazi paramilitary rank which was used by 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) 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 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 ...

rank of '' Sturmscharführer''. The ''Hauptscharführer'' became a SS rank after a reorganization of the SS following the

Night of the Long Knives The Night of the Long Knives (German: ), or the Röhm purge (German: ''Röhm-Putsch''), also called Operation Hummingbird (German: ''Unternehmen Kolibri''), was a purge that took place in Nazi Germany from 30 June to 2 July 1934. Chancellor Ad ...

. The first use of ''Hauptscharführer'' was in June 1934 when the rank replaced the older SA title of ''

Obertruppführer Obertruppführer (, "senior troop leader") was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party that was used between the years of 1932 and 1945. The rank is most closely associated with the ''Sturmabteilung'' (SA), but also was an early rank of the ''Schu ...

''. 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 ...

'' (general-SS), a ''Hauptscharführer'' was typically the head SS- non-commissioned officer of an ''SS-Sturm'' (company) or was a rank used by enlisted staff personnel assigned to an SS headquarters office or security agency (such as the

Gestapo The (), abbreviated Gestapo (; ), was the official secret police of Nazi Germany and in German-occupied Europe. The force was created by Hermann Göring in 1933 by combining the various political police agencies of Prussia into one orga ...

and ''

Sicherheitsdienst ' (, ''Security Service''), full title ' (Security Service of the '' Reichsführer-SS''), or SD, was the intelligence agency of the SS and the Nazi Party in Nazi Germany. Established in 1931, the SD was the first Nazi intelligence organization ...

'' (SD)). The rank of ''Hauptscharführer'' was also commonly used in the

concentration camp Internment is the imprisonment of people, commonly in large groups, without charges or intent to file charges. The term is especially used for the confinement "of enemy citizens in wartime or of terrorism suspects". Thus, while it can simpl ...

service and could also be found as a rank of the '' Einsatzgruppen''. The rank of SS-''Hauptscharführer'' was senior to SS-''

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 ...

'' and junior to SS-'' Sturmscharführer'', except in the General-SS where ''Hauptscharführer'' was immediately junior to rank of SS-''

Untersturmführer (, ; short: ''Ustuf'') was a paramilitary rank of the German ''Schutzstaffel'' (SS) first created in July 1934. The rank can trace its origins to the older SA rank of ''Sturmführer'' which had existed since the founding of the SA in 1921. ...

''. In the

, ''Hauptscharführer'' was a rank bestowed upon company and battalion non-commissioned officers and was considered the second highest enlisted rank, below that of '' Sturmscharführer''. Those holding the Waffen-SS rank of ''Hauptscharführer'' were typically also granted the title of '' Stabsscharführer'', which was an appointment held by the senior SS non-commissioned officer of a company, battalion, or regiment. The insignia for ''Hauptscharführer'' was two silver pips, with a silver stripe centred on a black collar patch. On field grey uniforms, the rank was worn with silver collar piping and the ''

Wehrmacht The ''Wehrmacht'' (, ) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the ''Heer'' (army), the '' Kriegsmarine'' (navy) and the ''Luftwaffe'' (air force). The designation "''Wehrmacht''" replaced the previo ...

'' shoulder boards of an ''

Oberfeldwebel (OFw or OF) is the fourth-lowest non-commissioned officer (NCO) rank in German Army and German Air Force. History The rank was introduced first by the German Reichswehr in 1920. Preferable most experienced Protégée-NCO of the old arm ...

''.

Insignia

File:SS-Hauptscharführer 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-Hauptscharführer File:SS-Standartenoberjunker h.svg, ...
SS-Standartenoberjunker File:SS-Hauptscharführer.svg,

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 ...

SS-Hauptscharführer
SS-Standartenoberjunker File:OFw Hscha OR7 cam slv 1945.svg, SS smock insignia

Notes

Bibliography

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Hauptscharfuhrer SS ranks

Insignia

See also

Notes

Bibliography