''Sturmmann'' (, ) was a

Nazi Party The Nazi Party, officially the National Socialist German Workers' Party (german: Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP), was a far-right political party in Germany active between 1920 and 1945 that created and supported t ...

paramilitary rank that was first created in the year 1921. The rank of ''Sturmmann'' was used by the '' Sturmabteilung'' (SA) and the ''

Schutzstaffel The ''Schutzstaffel'' (SS; also stylized as ''ᛋᛋ'' with Armanen runes; ; "Protection Squadron") was a major paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party in Nazi Germany, and later throughout German-occupied Europe duri ...

'' (SS). The word originated during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

when ''Sturmmann'' was a position held by soldiers in German pioneer assault companies, also known as "

shock troops Shock troops or assault troops are formations created to lead an attack. They are often better trained and equipped than other infantry, and expected to take heavy casualties even in successful operations. "Shock troop" is a calque, a loose tra ...

Creation

Following the defeat of Germany in 1918, ''Sturmmann'' became a paramilitary rank of the ''

Freikorps (, "Free Corps" or "Volunteer Corps") were irregular German and other European military volunteer units, or paramilitary, that existed from the 18th to the early 20th centuries. They effectively fought as mercenary or private armies, rega ...

'', violent groups of military veterans who opposed Germany's loss of World War I and the subsequent

Treaty of Versailles The Treaty of Versailles (french: Traité de Versailles; german: Versailler Vertrag, ) was the most important of the peace treaties of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June ...

. In 1921, ''Sturmmann'' became a paramilitary title of the

's private army, the '' Sturmabteilung'' (SA or "Assault Detachment"). ''Sturmmann'' would eventually become a basic paramilitary rank of almost every Nazi organization, but is most closely associated as an SA rank and as a rank of the SS. The rank of ''Sturmmann'' was bestowed upon those members of the SA and SS who had served for six months in the organization and had demonstrated basic abilities and competence.

Use

''Sturmmann'' was senior to the rank of '' Mann'' 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 autumn ...

'' (general-SS). In organizations which did not use the rank of ''Mann'' (such as the

National Socialist Motor Corps The National Socialist Motor Corps (german: Nationalsozialistisches Kraftfahrkorps, NSKK) was a paramilitary organization of the Nazi Party (NSDAP) that officially existed from May 1931 to 1945. The group was a successor organisation to the old ...

), the rank of ''Sturmmann'' was the equivalent of a private and wore a blank collar patch with no insignia. Within 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 ...

, an ''SS-Sturmmann'' was senior to an '' SS-Oberschütze''. The rank of ''Sturmmann'' was junior, in both the SS and SA, to the rank of ''

Rottenführer ''Rottenführer'' (, ) was a Nazi Party paramilitary rank that was first created in the year 1932. The rank of ''Rottenführer'' was used by several Nazi paramilitary groups, among them the '' Sturmabteilung'' (SA), the ''Schutzstaffel'' (SS) a ...

''. It was considered the equivalent to the rank of ''

Gefreiter Gefreiter (, abbr. Gefr.; plural ''Gefreite'') is a German, Swiss and Austrian military rank that has existed since the 16th century. It is usually the second rank or grade to which an enlisted soldier, airman or sailor could be promoted.Duden; D ...

'' in the German Army and a lance-corporal in the British Army. The insignia for ''Sturmmann'' consisted of a bare collar patch with a single silver stripe. The

field grey ''Feldgrau'' (English: field-grey) is a grayish green color. It was the official basic color of military uniforms of the German armed forces from the early 20th century until 1945 (West Germany) or 1989 (East Germany). Armed forces of other co ...

uniforms of the Waffen-SS also displayed the sleeve chevron of a ''Gefreiter''.

Insignia

SS Mannschaften.jpg,

Shoulder strap A shoulder strap is a strap over a shoulder. They are often affixed to women's dresses to support its weight or as part of its style. The term is also applied to carrying bags. Dress shoulder strap Image:Camisole.png, Camisole Image:Preprom.jpg, ...

Feldgrau ''Feldgrau'' (English: field-grey) is a grayish green color. It was the official basic color of military uniforms of the German armed forces from the early 20th century until 1945 (West Germany) or 1989 (East Germany). Armed forces of other co ...

(all other enlisted ranks OR-1 to OR-3 of the Waffen-SS) SS-Sturmmann.svg, SS

Gorget patches Gorget patches (collar tabs, collar patches) are an insignia in the form of paired patches of cloth or metal on the collar of a uniform (gorget), used in the military and civil service in some countries. Collar tabs sign the military rank (group o ...

WSS-Stuma OF2 slv 1945.svg, SS Sleeve badge SA-Sturmmann.svg, SA gorget patch NSKK-Sturmmann.svg, NSKK gorget patch NSFK-Sturmmann.svg, NSFK gorget patch

Creation

Use

Insignia

Post-war use

See also

Notes

Bibliography