The insignia was a button pip centred on a collar patch opposite an SS unit insignia collar badge.[2] The field grey SS uniform displayed the rank with silver collar piping and the shoulder boards of an Unteroffizier. Rank comparisons list the rank of Unterscharführer as equivalent to a corporal in other services, but that the rank held responsibilities of a sergeant in some other armies.[1]
The rank of Unterscharführer was created from the SA rank of Scharführer. After 1934, an SS-Unterscharführer and SA-Scharführer were considered equivalent positions; the rank of SS-Unterscharführer was junior to SS-Scharführer and senior to the rank of SS-Rottenführer.[1]
Unterscharführer was the most junior and most common non-commissioned officer rank of the SS and was the equivalent of an Unteroffizier in the German Wehrmacht.[1] The range of duties performed by the rank was diverse and extensive.
Uses
Allgemeine-SS
Within the General-SS an Unterscharführer typically commanded squad sized formations of seven to fifteen SS troopers. The rank was held commonly as a non-commissioned officer staff position and could be found in all of the Nazi security agencies, including the Sicherheitsdienst and the Einsatzgruppen.
SS-Totenkopfverbände
In the concentration camp service, Unterscharführer holders were often assigned the position of Blockführer, which was a supervisory position overseeing order within a prison barracks of a concentration camp. The position of Blockführer is of note in the Holocaust, as it was typically Blockführer in charge of various Sonderkommandos.
Waffen-SS
In the Waffen-SS an Unterscharführer was as a junior squad commander, one of several attached to company and platoon sized formations. The rank was considered the equivalent to the first Waffen-SS officer candidate rank of SS-Junker.
Requirements of a battlefield non-commissioned Unterscharführer were higher than that expected of an Unterscharführer in the General SS. In the Waffen-SS, candidates were required to undergo a selection process before being promoted. During this time the aspirant was known as an Unterführer-Anwärter (English: junior leader candidate) until passing the required evaluation, training and promotion board.
unterscharführer, ˈʊntɐʃaːɐ, fyːʁɐ, junior, squad, leader, paramilitary, rank, nazi, party, used, schutzstaffel, between, 1934, 1945, rank, created, after, night, long, knives, that, event, caused, reorganisation, creation, ranks, separate, from, sturmabteilun. Unterscharfuhrer ˈʊntɐʃaːɐ fyːʁɐ lit junior squad leader was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party used by the Schutzstaffel SS between 1934 and 1945 1 The SS rank was created after the Night of the Long Knives That event caused an SS reorganisation and the creation of new ranks to separate the SS from the Sturmabteilung SA UnterscharfuhrerGorget patchShoulder and camo insigniaCountry Nazi GermanyService branchSchutzstaffelAbbreviationUscharfFormation1934Abolished1945Next higher rankScharfuhrerNext lower rankRottenfuhrerEquivalent ranksUnteroffizierAn SS Unterscharfuhrer serving at the Mauthausen Gusen concentration camp The insignia was a button pip centred on a collar patch opposite an SS unit insignia collar badge 2 The field grey SS uniform displayed the rank with silver collar piping and the shoulder boards of an Unteroffizier Rank comparisons list the rank of Unterscharfuhrer as equivalent to a corporal in other services but that the rank held responsibilities of a sergeant in some other armies 1 Contents 1 Creation 2 Uses 2 1 Allgemeine SS 2 2 SS Totenkopfverbande 2 3 Waffen SS 3 Insignia 4 Promotion 5 Notable recipients 6 See also 7 Notes 8 BibliographyCreation EditThe rank of Unterscharfuhrer was created from the SA rank of Scharfuhrer After 1934 an SS Unterscharfuhrer and SA Scharfuhrer were considered equivalent positions the rank of SS Unterscharfuhrer was junior to SS Scharfuhrer and senior to the rank of SS Rottenfuhrer 1 Unterscharfuhrer was the most junior and most common non commissioned officer rank of the SS and was the equivalent of an Unteroffizier in the German Wehrmacht 1 The range of duties performed by the rank was diverse and extensive Uses EditAllgemeine SS Edit Within the General SS an Unterscharfuhrer typically commanded squad sized formations of seven to fifteen SS troopers The rank was held commonly as a non commissioned officer staff position and could be found in all of the Nazi security agencies including the Sicherheitsdienst and the Einsatzgruppen SS Totenkopfverbande Edit In the concentration camp service Unterscharfuhrer holders were often assigned the position of Blockfuhrer which was a supervisory position overseeing order within a prison barracks of a concentration camp The position of Blockfuhrer is of note in the Holocaust as it was typically Blockfuhrer in charge of various Sonderkommandos Waffen SS Edit In the Waffen SS an Unterscharfuhrer was as a junior squad commander one of several attached to company and platoon sized formations The rank was considered the equivalent to the first Waffen SS officer candidate rank of SS Junker Insignia Edit Shoulder strap SS Unterscharfuhrer SS Junker Gorget patches SS smock insigniaPromotion EditRequirements of a battlefield non commissioned Unterscharfuhrer were higher than that expected of an Unterscharfuhrer in the General SS In the Waffen SS candidates were required to undergo a selection process before being promoted During this time the aspirant was known as an Unterfuhrer Anwarter English junior leader candidate until passing the required evaluation training and promotion board Notable recipients EditOskar Groning Franz SuchomelSee also EditTable of ranks and insignia of the Waffen SSJunior rankRottenfuhrer SS rankUnterscharfuhrer Senior rankScharfuhrerNotes Edit a b c d McNab 2009 p 30 Flaherty 2004 p 148 Bibliography EditFlaherty T H 2004 1988 The Third Reich The SS Time Life Books Inc ISBN 1 84447 073 3 McNab Chris 2009 The SS 1923 1945 Amber Books Ltd ISBN 978 1 906626 49 5 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Unterscharfuhrer amp oldid 1009998020, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
