Mann (paramilitary rank)

For other uses, see Mann (disambiguation).

SS rank insignia patterns from 1933.

Mann (German for "man", "person", or "individual"), was a paramilitary rank used by several Nazi Party paramilitary organizations between 1925 and 1945. The rank is most often associated with the SS, and also as a rank of the SA where Mann was the lowest enlisted rank and was the equivalent of a private.

In 1938, with the rise of the SS-Verfügungstruppe (later renamed the Waffen-SS), the SS changed the rank of SS-Mann to Schütze, although still retained the original SS rank of Mann for the Allgemeine-SS (general SS). The rank of Mann was junior to SS-Sturmmann.

In most Nazi Party organizations, the rank of Mann held no distinctive insignia. Some groups, however, granted a minor form of rank insignia such as a blank collar patch or simple shoulder board to denote the rank of Mann. (see right: SS rank insignia pattern from 1933)

Even lower ranks, e.g. Bewerber, Jungmann, Anwärter, Vollanwärter, were established in the mid-1930s as a recruit or candidate position, held by an individual seeking an appointment as a Mann in a Nazi Party paramilitary organization.

Rank insignian of the Allgemeine SS and Waffen-SS

• 
  SS-Mann Allgemeine SS, shoulder strap
• 
  SS-Schütze Waffen-SS, shoulder strap
• 
  SS-Mann/ SS-Schütze, collar patch (1940-1945)

Candidate status SS-Bewerber (Staffel-Bewerber) SS-Jungmann (Staffel-Jungmann) SS-Anwärter (Staffel-Anwärter) SS-Vollanwärter (Staffel-Vollanwärter)	1st rank Allgemeine SS SS-Mann	2nd rank no equivalent	3rd rank SS-Sturmmann
Volunteer for joining the Waffen-SS SS-Bewerber (Staffel-Bewerber) SS-Jungmann (Staffel-Jungmann) SS-Anwärter (Staffel-Anwärter)	1st Rank Waffen-SS SS-Schütze	2nd rank SS-Oberschütze	3rd rank SS-Sturmmann
Candidate status SA-Anwärter	1st SA rank SA-Mann	2nd rank no equivalent	3rd rank SA-Sturmmann
person liable to military service Wehrmacht	1st Wehrmacht rank Soldat	2nd rank Oberschütze	3rd rank Gefreiter

Bibliography

• Flaherty, T. H. (2004) [1988]. The Third Reich: The SS. Time-Life Books, Inc. ISBN 1 84447 073 3. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
• McNab, Chris (2009). The SS: 1923–1945. Amber Books Ltd. ISBN 1906626499. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
• McNab (II), Chris (2009). The Third Reich. Amber Books Ltd. ISBN 978-1-906626-51-8. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)

External links

• SS Man killed in 1943