Ranks and insignia of the Sturmabteilung

This table contains the final ranks and insignia of the Sturmabteilung (short SA), which were in use from 1942-1945 in comparison to the German Wehrmacht Heer.

Table

rank	Rank insignia		Designation German / (English)	Equivalent to the Wehrmacht/ Heer (English)
	Collar badge	Shoulder strap
OF-10			Oberster Führer der SA (Supreme leader of the SA)	Generalfeldmarschall (General field marshal)
OF-9	no equivalent			Generaloberst (Colonel general)
OF-8			SA-Obergruppenführer (SA-Senior group leader)	General der Waffengattung (General of the branch)
OF-7			SA-Gruppenführer (SA-Group leader)	Generalleutnant (Lieutenant general)
OF-6			SA-Brigadeführer (SA-Brigadier leader)	Generalmajor (Major general)
OF-5			SA-Oberführer (SA-Senior leader)	No equivalent.
			SA-Standartenführer (SA-Standard leader (regiment sized unit))	Oberst (Colonel)
OF-4			SA-Obersturmbannführer (SA-Senior storm unit leader (battalion sized unit))	Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant colonel)
OF-3			SA-Sturmbannführer (SA-Storm unit leader)	Major (Major)
OF-2			SA-Hauptsturmführer (SA-Chief storm leader (company sized sub unit))	Hauptmann/Rittmeister (Captain (OF-2))
OF-1a			SA-Obersturmführer (SA-Senior storm leader)	Oberleutnant (First lieutenant)
OF-1b			SA-Sturmführer (SA-Storm leader)	Leutnant (Second lieutenant)
OR-8			SA-Haupttruppführer (SA-Chief troop leader (platoon sized unit))	Stabsfeldwebel
OR-7			SA-Obertruppführer (SA-Senior troop leader (platoon sized unit))	Oberfeldwebel (Oberfähnrich OA/ Offiziersanwärter)
OR-6			SA-Truppführer (SA-Troop leader (platoon sized unit))	Feldwebel (Fähnrich OA/ Offiziersanwärter)
OR-5			SA-Oberscharführer (SA-Senior squad leader)	Unterfeldwebel
OR-4			SA-Scharführer (SA-Squad leader))	Unteroffizier (Fahnenjunker / Offiziersanwärter)
OR-3	no equivalent			Stabsgefreiter (OR-3)
			SA-Rottenführer (SA-Team leader (Fire team sized unit))	Obergefreiter
OR-2			SA-Sturmmann (SA-Storm man/Storm trooper)	Gefreiter
OR-1	No equivalent			Ober… e.g. Oberschütze, Obergrenadier, Oberfunker, Oberkanonier, … etc.
			SA-Mann (SA-Man/SA-Trooper)	Soldat, Schütze, Grenadier, Funker, Kanonier, … etc.
Volunteer (SA-Anwärter (en: SA-Aspirant/Candidate)) to the service of the Sturmabteilung (SA)				Conscript or military volunteer who enlists and may become an NCO or Officer of the Wehrmacht

Remarks

Right collar patch contains the number and type of unit (ascending up to “Obersturmbannführer” (OF4) in SA and SS, and “Oberstaffelfuehrer” (OF4) in NSMC): … Left collar patch contain the rank insignias (from ascending “Standartenfuehrer” (OF5) both sides).

Sources

• Bedurftig, Friedemann, and Zenter, Christian. The Encyclopedia of the Third Reich. 1985.
• Hayes, A. SS Uniforms, Insignia and Accoutrements. Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. 2000. ISBN 978-0-7643-0046-2