''Truppführer'' (, "troop leader") was a

Nazi Party The Nazi Party, officially the National Socialist German Workers' Party ( or NSDAP), was a far-right politics, far-right political party in Germany active between 1920 and 1945 that created and supported the ideology of Nazism. Its precursor ...

paramilitary A paramilitary is a military that is not a part of a country's official or legitimate armed forces. The Oxford English Dictionary traces the use of the term "paramilitary" as far back as 1934. Overview Though a paramilitary is, by definiti ...

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 which traced their origins to

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. As an SA rank, ''Truppführer'' was considered the equivalent of a senior

sergeant Sergeant (Sgt) is a Military rank, rank in use by the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. The alternative spelling, ''serjeant'', is used in The Rifles and in other units that draw their heritage f ...

, or sergeant first class. The rank of SA-''Truppführer'' was at first considered senior to that of SA-'' Scharführer'', but after 1932 was ranked above the new rank of SA-'' Oberscharführer''. The insignia for a basic ''Truppführer'' consisted of two button pips on a collar patch. A ''Truppführer'' normally served as the SA-

non-commissioned officer A non-commissioned officer (NCO) is an enlisted rank, enlisted leader, petty officer, or in some cases warrant officer, who does not hold a Commission (document), commission. Non-commissioned officers usually earn their position of authority b ...

of platoon sized ''SA-Truppen'', formed into company sized ''SA-Sturm''. The responsibilities of a ''Truppführer'' typically increased upon promotion to '' Obertruppführer'' and '' Haupttruppführer'', as did the number of troops under the ''Truppführer’s'' command. Between 1930 and 1934, ''Truppführer'' was also used as an SS rank but was abolished after the Night of the Long Knives when the rank of SS-''Truppführer'' was renamed SS-'' Oberscharführer''.

Insignia

File:NSFK-Truppführer.svg, NSFK File:NSKK-Truppführer.svg, NSKK File:OT-Truppführer.svg, OT File:RAD-Truppführer.svg, RAD File:SA-Truppführer.svg, SA

Notes

Bibliography

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Truppfuhrer Nazi paramilitary ranks