Units and Commands of The Schutzstaffel - Allgemeine-SS Commands

Allgemeine-SS Commands

The core of the "General-SS" were the mustering formations spread throughout Germany, divided into several division sized formations and extending downwards into brigade, regiment, battalion, company, and squad like formations. Most of these formations were "part time" and mustered weekly or monthly without pay. The Allgemeine-SS used unique names for these formations which were different from standard military terms in use by the German military.

Initially, General-SS formations were operated strictly in Germany and Austria but would later be formed in occupied countries during World War II. Most often, Allgemeine-SS units in occupied territories were "paper commands", formed under the authority of an SS and Police Leader (who would serve as a dual commander) in order to give senior SS officers in occupation commands a command billet within the General-SS.

• SS-Oberabschnitt ("SS-Senior District"): This division level command was the main administrative district for the Allgemeine-SS and the highest command level in the Allgemeine-SS order of battle. The first Oberanschnitt were formed in the 1934 from the older SS-Gruppen units. The Oberabschnitt were usually commanded by a Gruppenführer or Obergruppenführer. Once World War II began, Oberabschnitt leaders typically served simultaneously as SS and Police Leaders (in occupied countries this was always the case). The Oberabschnitt commander was known by the title of "Führer" and was assisted by a staff which typically comprised departments encompassing training, medical affairs, as well as specialty commands such as SS-signals battalions and engineer units.

• SS-Abschnitt ("SS-District"): The Abschnitt commands were formed in the early 1930s from the old SS-Brigades. The function and operation of the Abschnitt's was essentially the same as with the Oberabschnitts, but the units were usually commanded by an SS-Brigadeführer or Oberführer. SS-Abschnitt's were annoated in correspondence with Roman numerals while the Oberabschnitt commands were given proper names. As with the Oberabschnitt commanders, once World War II began many Abschnitt leaders became corresponding SS and Police Leaders for their areas.

• SS-Standarte ("SS-Regiment"): The Standarten was the primary unit of the General-SS, named after the term for a "Regimental Standard", or flag. The Standarte were organized into regimental sized formations each with its own number, but also were referred to by other names, such as location, a popular name, or the name of a Nazi hero. For example, the 18th SS-Standarte in Königsberg was named "Ostpreußen" while the 6th SS-Standarte of Berlin was named "Graham Kämmer". The standard rank for the Standarte Leader was that of Standartenführer.

• SS-Sturmbann ("SS-Storm Unit"): The Sturmbann commands were battalion formations within a Standarte, usually three or four in number. These units were commanded by either a Sturmbannführer or Obersturmbannführer.

• SS-Sturm ("SS-Company"): The Sturm was the company level formation of the General-SS and the most typical in which an average SS member would associate with. Company commanders usually rated a rank between Untersturmführer and Hauptsturmführer.

• SS-Trupp ("SS-Troop"): SS-Troops were platoon sized formations commanded by an SS non-commissioned officer initially known as a Truppführer. After the Night of the Long Knives, the SS renamed its rank structure and Trupps then fell under the command of Oberscharführers and Hauptscharführers.

• SS-Schar ("SS-Squad"): SS-Squads were eight to ten man formations that served as the primary mustering unit wihin each SS-Company. Such units were commanded by an SS-Scharführer with an Assistant Squad Leader rated as an Unterscharführer.

• SS-Rotte ("SS-Section"): This was the smallest unit of the General-SS and usually consisted of four to five SS members. The SS-Section would be commanded by an SS-Rottenführer and would consisted of SS troopers holding the rank of Mann or Sturmmann.