SS-Stabsscharführer (short: Stascha; address: ''Stabsscharführer'' ; ) was not a

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 ...

,Williamson, Gordon. ''The SS: Hitler's Instrument of Terror. The Full Story from Street Fighters to the Waffen-SS.'' Osceola, WI: Motorbooks, 1994, p. 250. but a position title or appointment, mainly used in 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 ...

, equivalent to the ''

Hauptfeldwebel In the German Wehrmacht, Hauptfeldwebel (, short: HptFw; address: ''Herr Hauptfeldwebel'') was not a rank but a position title, assignment or appointment, equivalent to the Commonwealth company sergeant major or U.S. company-level first serg ...

'' of the

Wehrmacht The ''Wehrmacht'' (, ) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the German Army (1935–1945), ''Heer'' (army), the ''Kriegsmarine'' (navy) and the ''Luftwaffe'' (air force). The designation "''Wehrmac ...

(Heer and Luftwaffe) between the years of 1938 to 1945. Usually it was the senior NCO ("senior squad leader") of his company-sized SS subunit. His duties were largely administrative and he was not expected to accompany his unit into combat. Those holding the function of SS-''Stabsscharführer'' had to be addressed ''Stabsscharführer'' regardless of the actual rank title, e.g. ''Sturmscharführer'', ''Hauptscharführer'', or infrequent ''Oberscharfüher''. The position of SS-''Stabsscharführer'' was unique to the Waffen-SS or SS command of concentration camps, and was not used by branches of 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). In accordance with ''Hauptfeldwebel'' of Heer and Luftwaffe, the ''SS-Stabsscharführer'' had many nicknames, including ''Spieß'' ("Spear") and ''Mutter der Kompanie'' ("company mother"). He also wore two rings of NCO braid around the cuff of his sleeves, similar to the Wehrmacht. The position of ''Stabsscharführer'' is most often considered equivalent to a

first sergeant First sergeant is typically a senior non-commissioned officer rank, used in many countries. Singapore First sergeant is a Specialist (Singapore), specialist in the Singapore Armed Forces. First sergeants are the most senior of the junior spe ...

in the militaries of other nations, e.g. Commonwealth

company sergeant major The company sergeant major (CSM) is the senior non-commissioned soldier of a company in the armies of many Commonwealth countries, responsible for administration, standards and discipline. In combat, their prime responsibility is the supply of ...

or U.S. company-level first sergeant.

References

SS ranks Nazi paramilitary ranks {{Nazi-stub