''Mann'' (), was a paramilitary

rank A rank is a position in a hierarchy. It can be formally recognized—for example, cardinal, chief executive officer, general, professor—or unofficial. People Formal ranks * Academic rank * Corporate title * Diplomatic rank * Hierarchy ...

used by several

Nazi Party The Nazi Party, officially the National Socialist German Workers' Party ( or NSDAP), was a far-right politics, far-right political party in Germany active between 1920 and 1945 that created and supported the ideology of Nazism. Its precursor ...

paramilitary organizations between 1925 and 1945. The rank is most often associated with the ''

Schutzstaffel The ''Schutzstaffel'' (; ; SS; also stylised with SS runes as ''ᛋᛋ'') was a major paramilitary organisation under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party in Nazi Germany, and later throughout German-occupied Europe during World War II. It beg ...

'' (''SS-Mann''), but also was a rank of the SA, where ''Mann'' (''SA-Mann'') was the lowest enlisted rank and was the equivalent of a

private Private or privates may refer to: Music * "In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorded ...

. In 1938, with the rise of the ''

SS-Verfügungstruppe (SS-VT, ) was formed in 1934 as combat troops for the Nazi Party (NSDAP). On 17 August 1938 Adolf Hitler decreed that the SS-VT was neither a part of the (order police) nor the , but military-trained men at the disposal of the . In time of wa ...

'' (later renamed the

Waffen-SS The (; ) was the military branch, combat branch of the Nazi Party's paramilitary ''Schutzstaffel'' (SS) organisation. Its formations included men from Nazi Germany, along with Waffen-SS foreign volunteers and conscripts, volunteers and conscr ...

), the SS changed the rank of ''Mann'' to ''

Schütze ''Schütze'' in German means "rifleman" or "shooter", or in older terms originally connoted "archer" before the advent of the rifle. It also occasionally occurs as a surname, or as Schütz, as in the opera '' Der Freischütz''. The word itself i ...

'', although it still retained the original

SS rank The ''Schutzstaffel'' (; ; SS; also stylised with SS runes as ''ᛋᛋ'') was a major paramilitary organisation under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party in Nazi Germany, and later throughout German-occupied Europe during World War II. It beg ...

of ''Mann'' for 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 ...

'' (general SS). The rank of ''Mann'' was junior to SS-''

Sturmmann ''Sturmmann'' (, ) was a Nazi Party paramilitary rank that was first created in the year 1921. The rank of ''Sturmmann'' was used by the ''Sturmabteilung'' (SA) and the ''Schutzstaffel'' (SS). The word originated during World War I when ''Sturm ...

''. In most

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 simple shoulder board to denote the rank of ''Mann''. (see right: SS rank insignia pattern from 1933) Even lower ranks, e.g. ''Bewerber, Jungmann, Anwärter, Vollanwärter'', were 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.

Insignia

SS Mannschaften.jpg, SS-Mann (Allgemeine SS) & SS-Schütze (Waffen-SS), shoulder strap File:SS-Mann, SS-Schuetze, SS-Oberschuetze collar.svg, SS-Mann/ SS-Schütze, collar patch (1940-1945) File:SA-Mann.svg, SA

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 ...

File:RBL-Luftschutztruppmann.svg, RBL collar patch
(Luftschutztruppmann) File:NSFK-Mann.svg, NSFK Gorget patch File:NSKK-Mann.svg, NSKK Gorget patch File:NSKK-Mann.svg, ''

Volkssturmmann The (, ) was a ''levée en masse'' national militia established by Nazi Germany during the last months of World War II. It was set up by the Nazi Party on the orders of Adolf Hitler and established on 25 September 1944. It was staffed by conscri ...

'' (

Volkssturm The (, ) was a ''levée en masse'' national militia established by Nazi Germany during the last months of World War II. It was set up by the Nazi Party on the orders of Adolf Hitler and established on 25 September 1944. It was staffed by conscri ...

) File:NSKK-Mann.svg, RAD Gorget patch
(Arbeitsmann) File:TN-Mann.svg,

TeNo Teno is a Chilean city and commune in the Curicó Province, Maule Region. A large percentage of inhabitants are of mestizo and Mapuche Indian origin. The main economy is agricultural farming and livestock raising, often by huasos or Chilean c ...

shoulder strap File:PSP-Postschutzmann.svg,

Postschutz ''Postschutz'' (), after 1942 ''SS-Postschutz'', was a paramilitary unit of ''Reichspost'' with a mission to protect post office installations from armed attacks. Origins The Postschutz was created in 1933 in order to protect the establishments ...

Gorget patch
(Postschutzmann)

Notes

Bibliography

* * * {{Nazi Germany Paramilitary Ranks SS ranks