SS 2nd Lieutenant Patch (Released by US National Archives) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...

SS 2nd Lieutenant Patch (Released by US National Archives) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...

SS-Untersturmführer insignia

Untersturmführer was a Throughout the existence of the German SS, the organization maintained a unique set of ranks and insignia that differentiated it from other branches of the German military, German state, and the Nazi Party. ...paramilitary rank of the German For other uses of the abbreviation SS, see SS (disambiguation) The Schutzstaffel (Protective Squadron), or SS, was a large paramilitary organization that belonged to the Nazi party. ...Schutzstaffel first created in July 1934 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ...1934. The rank can trace its origins to the older The ranks and insignia of the Sturmabteilung (SA) were the first paramilitary rank system to be developed by the Nazi Party in 1920. ...SA rank of Sturmführer which had existed since the founding of the Hitler addressing SA members in the late 1920s The Sturmabteilung (SA, German for Storm Division and is usually translated as stormtroops or stormtroopers) functioned as a paramilitary organisation of the NSDAP – the German Nazi party. ...SA in 1921. The rank of Untersturmführer was senior to Hauptscharführer (or Sturmscharführer in the Waffen-SS recruitment poster; Volunteer to the Waffen-SS The Waffen-SS was the armed wing of the Schutzstaffel. ...Waffen_SS) and junior to the rank of Obersturmführer collar insignia Obersturmführer was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi party that was used by the Schutzstaffel and also as a rank of the SA. Translated as “Senior Storm Leader”, the rank of Obersturmführer was first created in 1932 as the result of an expansion of the Sturmabteilung (SA...Obersturmführer.

Overview

An SS-Untersturmführer of the A concentration camp is a large detention center created for political opponents, aliens, specific ethnic or religious groups, civilians of a critical war-zone, or other groups of people, often during a war. ...Concentration Camp service

Untersturmführer was the first commissioned SS officer rank, equivalent to a Second Lieutenant is the lowest commissioned rank in many armed forces. ...Second Lieutenant in other military organizations. The insignia consisted of a three silver pip collar patch with the shoulder boards of an Army Second Lieutenant is the lowest commissioned rank in many armed forces. ...Leutnant. Because of the emphasis the SS placed on the leadership of their organization, obtaining the rank of Untersturmführer required a screening and training process different from the standard promotion system in the In the militaries of the United States and other countries, an enlisted rank is generally any rating below that of a commissioned officer. ...enlisted ranks.

In the early days of the SS, promotion to Untersturmführer was simply a matter of course as an SS member rose within the enlisted ranks to a position where they were ready to assume the duties of an officer. Untersturmführer was also occasionally an appointed position, given to an SS member so that they would be able to immediately begin as an officer in the organization. This was typically the case in security organizations, such as the Gestapo is a portmanteau contraction of the name of the official secret police force of Nazi Germany, Geheime Staatspolizei, (German for secret state police). During the reign of Nazi Germany, the Gestapo was the central intelligence agency of Germany, under the overall administration of the SS. It was administrated by...Gestapo and SD Insignia Patch The Sicherheitsdienst (SD, Security Service) was the intelligence service of the SS. The organization was the first Nazi Party intelligence organization to be established and was considered a sister organization with the Gestapo. ...Sicherheitsdienst (SD).

By 1938 was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ...1938, the size and logistics of the SS brought about the need for an established system of becoming an SS officer with this system different for both the Waffen_SS recruitment poster; Volunteer to the Waffen_SS The Waffen_SS was the armed wing of the Schutzstaffel. ...Waffen_SS (military SS) and the general mustering formations of the The Allgemeine_SS was the name for the General SS which consisted of part_time mustering SS formations created under the Nazi Party between 1925 and 1945. ...Allgemeine_SS.

General_SS Commissions

Within the Allgemeine, or “General” SS, promotion to the rank of Untersturmführer required satisfactory service in the enlisted SS ranks with an SS member holding the rank of Hauptscharführer before consideration could be given for an officer’s commission. Those so eligible were required to obtain a recommendation from their SS chain of command followed by submission of a document known as the Lebenslauf. A resume of the SS member’s career, the Lebenslauf stated why the SS member felt they should be commissioned as an officer and gave, as evidence, a list of chronological accomplishments both within the SS and before joining.

Adolf Eichmann Adolf Eichmann ( March 19, 1906 – June 1, 1962) was a high-ranking official in Nazi Germany, and served as an Obersturmbannführer in the S.S.. He was largely responsible for the logistics of the extermination of millions of people during the Holocaust, in particular Jews, which was called...Adolf Eichmann's application for commission as an SS officer

Following a racial and political background check, the SS member’s service record would be reviewed, with the Lebenslauf and all SS evaluations screened by the SS Personnel Office (known as the SS Personalhauptamt). If found eligible for promotion, the potential SS officer’s name would be forwarded to Heinrich Himmler Heinrich Himmler (October 7, 1900 _ May 23, 1945) was the commander of the German Schutzstaffel and one of the most powerful men in Nazi Germany. ...Heinrich Himmler for final approval of commission.

Between 1934 and 1938, Himmler personally reviewed all candidates for promotion to the rank of Untersturmführer. However, during the Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km (60,000 ft) into the air. ...Second World War, manpower constraints and logistics prevented Himmler from screening all SS officer applicants and the task typically fell to subordinates.

Waffen_SS Commissions

As the Waffen_SS was considered the elite of the German Armed Forces, becoming an officer in the organization was a difficult and time consuming process. All candidates for commissions in the Waffen_SS were required to attend SS_Junkerschulen which were training academies established to train future officers of the Waffen_SS. The most famous of these academies was located at Bad Tölz, Bavaria .

To be admitted entry into an SS-Junkerschule a prospective officer must have served in the enlisted ranks of the Waffen-SS and must have been recommended for a commission by his superiors. Those so recommended were physically screened as well as politically and racially investigated to ensure pure Germanic and For the ancient Christian sect, See Arianism. ...Aryan heritage. If approved for admittance to an SS_Junkerschule, the SS member was appointed to the first of a series of SS_Officer Candidate ranks which displayed the same insignia as senior SS_ A non_commissioned officer (sometimes noncommissioned officer), or NCO, is an enlisted member of an armed force who has been delegated leadership or command authority by a commissioned officer. ...non_commissioned officers. The following was the promotion tier of Waffen_SS officer candidate ranks:

Jochen Peiper Joachim Peiper (1915 - 1976);more often known as Jochen Peiper from the common German nickname for Joachim; born on January 30, 1915 was a senior Waffen-SS officer, and commander in the Panzer campaigns of 1939-1945. ...Joachim Peiper's Waffen_SS Officer Commission

Advancement through the SS officer candidate ranks required passing physical screenings, written examinations, and displaying military tactical and leadership traits under observation. Upon reaching the rank of Standartenoberjunker, an SS officer candidate was permitted to wear the silver chin strap of an SS officer, and was assigned to a field unit for final field training and evaluation.

Upon completion of all training, the SS officer candidate was incorporated (introduced) into the SS officer corps in a special ceremony with officer insignia and SS sword presented. The entire process of training to become a Waffen-SS officer typically required ten to sixteen months to complete.

Field Commissions

As World War II drew to a close, and losses within the armed forces began to rise, the strictness of admission to the SS officer corps began to grow lax. By 1945, it was a common occurrence for local Waffen-SS field commanders to grant promotions to the rank of Untersturmführer when battlefield manpower needs required it. Within the The Allgemeine-SS was the name for the General SS which consisted of part-time mustering SS formations created under the Nazi Party between 1925 and 1945. ...Allgemeine_SS, in particular the security forces of the RSHA, or the Reichssicherheitshauptamt, was a subsidiary organization of the S.S. created by Heinrich Himmler on September 22, 1939, through the merger of the Sicherheitsdienst, the Gestapo and the Kriminalpolizei. ...RSHA, promotions to Untersturmführer still required careful scrutiny and there were SS members awaiting approval of commissions as late as April 1945.