''SS-Bewerber'' or ''Staffel-Bewerber'' (; "SS-Applicant") was an

SS rank The uniforms and insignia of the ''Schutzstaffel'' served to distinguish the Nazi Germany paramilitary ranks, Nazi paramilitary ranks of the ''Schutzstaffel'' (SS) between 1925 and 1945 from the ranks of the ''Wehrmacht'' (the regular German arme ...

used in

Nazi Germany Nazi Germany (lit. "National Socialist State"), ' (lit. "Nazi State") for short; also ' (lit. "National Socialist Germany") (officially known as the German Reich from 1933 until 1943, and the Greater German Reich from 1943 to 1945) was ...

from 1933 to 1945. The rank of ''SS-Bewerber'' was the lowest possible SS rank and was assigned to those personnel who were candidates in the SS. The rank was most often used in the ''

Allgemeine-SS The ''Allgemeine SS'' (; "General SS") was a major branch of the ''Schutzstaffel'' (SS) paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany; it was managed by the SS Main Office (''SS-Hauptamt''). The ''Allgemeine SS'' was officially established in the autum ...

'' as a prelude to appointment as an ''SS-

Anwärter ''Anwärter'' is a German title which translates as “candidate” or "applicant". During the Nazi era, ''Anwärter/SS-Anwärter'' was used as a paramilitary rank by both the Nazi Party and the SS. Within the Nazi Party, an ''Anwärter'' was ...

''. Within the ''Allgemeine-SS'', the rank of ''SS-Bewerber'' was (more often than not) used simply as an administrative title while a background investigation was being conducted on a potential SS member. Typically this would involve a criminal history check, political reliability screening, and investigation into the prospective SS member's racial background. The rank of ''SS-Bewerber'' was also occasionally used in the ''

Waffen-SS The (, "Armed SS") was the combat branch of the Nazi Party's ''Schutzstaffel'' (SS) organisation. Its formations included men from Nazi Germany, along with Waffen-SS foreign volunteers and conscripts, volunteers and conscripts from both occup ...

'', but merely as a title for an SS recruit who had yet to report for initial in-processing and basic training. An SS-''Bewerber'' was rarely issued a uniform or any type of insignia. In the few cases where a uniform was provided, a basic

SS uniform The uniforms and insignia of the ''Schutzstaffel'' served to distinguish the Nazi Germany paramilitary ranks, Nazi paramilitary ranks of the ''Schutzstaffel'' (SS) between 1925 and 1945 from the ranks of the ''Wehrmacht'' (the regular German arme ...

would be worn without any insignia.

Notes

Bibliography

* SS ranks {{mil-rank-stub