Mann (military Rank)

Mann (German for "man"), 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-Obermann.

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 bare shoulder board to denote the rank of Mann.

An even lower rank, known as Anwärter, was 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)