Nazi military and SS ranks
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The Nazi Schutzstaffel (SS) had its own system of ranks, not precisely mapping either to the ranks of the regular German army (Heer), or Western ranks.
While the Sturmabteilung was a largely irrelevant force after 1934, it used most of the same ranks.
| SS | Army (Heer) | Navy (Kriegsmarine) | Air Force (Luftwaffe) | Western ground forces |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reichsfuhrer (Himmler only) | Feldmarschall | Grossadmiral | Reichsmarschall (Goering only) Generalfeldmarschall | Field Marshal, General of the Army |
| Oberstgruppenfuhrer | Generaloberst | Generaladmiral | Generaloberst | General, Admiral |
| Obergruppenfuhrer | General [of branch] (e.g., General der Infantrie) | Vizeadmiral | General [of branch] (e.g., General der Flieger) | Lieutenant general |
| Gruppenfuhrer | Generalleutnant | Konteradmiral | Generalleutnant | Major general |
| Brigadefuhrer | Generalmajor | Kommodore | Generalmajor | Brigadier general |
| Oberfuhrer | - | (senior colonel) | ||
| Standartenfuhrer | Oberst | Kapitan zur See | Oberst | Colonel |
| Obersturmbannfuhrer | Oberstleutnant | Korvettenkapitan | Oberstleutnant | Lieutenant colonel |
| Sturmbannfuhrer | Major | Fregattenkapitan | Major | Major |
| Hauptsturmfuhrer | Hauptmann | Kapitanleutnant | Hauptmann | Captain |
| Sturmfuhrer | Oberleutnant | Oberleutnant zur Zee | Oberleutnant | First lieutenant |
| Untersturmfuhrer | Leutnant | Leutnant zur See | Leutnant | Second lieutenant |