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WWII Comparative Ranks

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Author Topic: WWII Comparative Ranks  (Read 14087 times)
Mad Russian
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« on: 12 November 2008, 07:29:40 »
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This thread is about the comparative ranks for various nations during WWII.


PRIMARY SOURCE:

"World War II Almanac: 1931-1945" by Robert Goralski pages 430-436
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Mad Russian
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« Reply #1 on: 12 November 2008, 07:30:17 »
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Belgian Military

Officer /  Enlisted
1) - / Sergeant Major                                             
2) - / First Sergeant
3) - / -
4) - / -
5) - / Sergeant
6) Lieutenant General / -
7) Major General / Corporal
8.) Colonel-Brigadier / -
9) - / Private 1st Class
10) Colonel / -
11) Lieutenant Colonel / Private
12) Major / -
13) Captain Commandant / -
14) Captain / -
15) Lieutenant / -
16) - / -
17) Second Lieutenant / -


PRIMARY SOURCE:

"World War II Almanac: 1931-1945" by Robert Goralski pages 430-436
« Last Edit: 12 November 2008, 07:32:55 by Mad Russian » Logged
Mad Russian
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« Reply #2 on: 12 November 2008, 07:31:25 »
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British Military

British Army

Officer /  Enlisted
1) - / Regimental Sergeant Major
2) Field Marshal / Sergeant Major
3) - / Quartermaster Sergeant
4) - / Staff Sergeant
5) General / Sergeant
6) Lieutenant General / -
7) Major General / Corporal
8.) Brigadier / Lance Corporal
9) - / -
10) Colonel / Senior Private
11) Lieutenant Colonel / -
12) Major / Private
13) Captain / -
14) - / -
15) Lieutenant / -
16) - / -
17) Second Lieutenant / -


Royal Airforce (RAF)

Officer /  Enlisted
1) - / Master Technician                                   
2) Marshal of the RAF / Flight Sergeant, Chief Technician
3) - / -
4) - / -
5) Air Chief Marshal / Sergeant, Senior Technician
6) Air Marshal / -
7) Air Vice-Marshal / Corporal
8.) AirCommodore / -
9) - / -
10) Group Captain / Junior Technician
11) Wing Commander / -
12) Squadron Commander / Private
13) Flight Lieutenant / -
14) - / -
15) Flying Officer / -
16) - / -
17) Pilot Officer / -


Royal Navy (RN)

Officer /  Enlisted
1) - / Chief Petty Officer                                           
2) Admiral of the Fleet / -
3) - / Petty Officer
4) - / -
5) Admiral / -
6) Vice Admiral / -
7) Rear Admiral / Leading Seaman
8.) Commodore / -
9) - / -
10) Captain / -
11) Commander / -
12) Lieutenant Commander / Seaman
13) Lieutenant / -
14) - / -
15) Sub-Lieutenant / -
16) - / -
17) - / -

PRIMARY SOURCE:

"World War II Almanac: 1931-1945" by Robert Goralski pages 430-436
« Last Edit: 12 November 2008, 07:33:47 by Mad Russian » Logged
Mad Russian
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« Reply #3 on: 12 November 2008, 07:32:30 »
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Bulgarian Military

Officer /  Enlisted
1) - / Sergeant Major                                           
2) - / -
3) - / -
4) - / -
5) General of Army / Sergeant
6) Lieutenant General / Candidate Sergeant
7) Major General / Corporal
8.) - / -
9) - / -
10) Colonel / -
11) Lieutenant Colonel / -
12) Major / Private
13) Captain / -
14) - / -
15) First Lieutenant / -
16) - / -
17) Second Lieutenant / -


PRIMARY SOURCE:

"World War II Almanac: 1931-1945" by Robert Goralski pages 430-436
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Mad Russian
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« Reply #4 on: 12 November 2008, 07:34:55 »
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Nationalist Chinese Military

Officer /  Enlisted
1) Generalissimo / First Sergeant     
2) - / -
3) - / -
4) - / -
5) General / Sergeant
6) Lieutenant General / -
7) Major General / Corporal
8.) - / -
9) - / -
10) Colonel / Private 1st Class
11) Lieutenant Colonel / Private 2nd Class
12) Major / Private 3rd Class
13) Captain / -
14) - / -
15) First Lieutenant / -
16) - / -
17) Second Lieutenant / -

Note: Chaing Kai-shek is the only person to hold the rank of Generalissimo during the war.


PRIMARY SOURCE:

"World War II Almanac: 1931-1945" by Robert Goralski pages 430-436
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Mad Russian
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« Reply #5 on: 12 November 2008, 07:36:10 »
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Czechoslovakian Military

Officer /  Enlisted
1) - / Staff Sergeant                                           
2) - / -
3) - / Sergeant
4) - / Senior Platoon Sergeant
5) General of Army / Platoon Sergeant
6) - / -
7) General of Division / Corporal
8.) General of Brigade / -
9) - / -
10) Colonel / -
11) Lieutenant Colonel / -
12) Major / Private
13) Staff Captain / -
14) Captain / -
15) Senior Lieutenant / -
16) Lieutenant / -
17) Junior Lieutenant / -


PRIMARY SOURCE:

"World War II Almanac: 1931-1945" by Robert Goralski pages 430-436
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Mad Russian
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« Reply #6 on: 12 November 2008, 07:37:31 »
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Danish Military

Officer /  Enlisted
1) - / Sergeant Major                                           
2) - / -
3) - / -
4) - / -
5) General / Sergeant
6) Lieutenant General / -
7) Major General / Corporal
8.) - / Lance Corporal
9) - / -
10) Colonel / -
11) Lieutenant Colonel / -
12) - / Private
13) - / -
14) Captain / -
15) Captain Lieutenant / -
16) First Lieutenant / -
17) Second Lieutenant / -


PRIMARY SOURCE:

"World War II Almanac: 1931-1945" by Robert Goralski pages 430-436
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Mad Russian
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« Reply #7 on: 12 November 2008, 07:38:37 »
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Finnish Military

Officer /  Enlisted
1) - / Sergeant Major                                             
2) Marshal of Finland / -
3) - / Senior Sergeant
4) - / -
5) General / Sergeant
6) Lieutenant General / Junior Sergeant
7) Major General / Corporal
8.) - / -
9) - / -
10) Colonel / -
11) Lieutenant Colonel / -
12) Major / Private
13) Captain / -
14) - / -
15) Lieutenant / -
16) - / -
17) Second Lieutenant / -


PRIMARY SOURCE:

"World War II Almanac: 1931-1945" by Robert Goralski pages 430-436
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Mad Russian
Guest
« Reply #8 on: 12 November 2008, 07:40:18 »
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French Military

French Army

Officer /  Enlisted
1) - / Chief Sergeant                                           
2) Marshal of France / -
3) - / -
4) - / -
5) General of Army / Sergeant
6) General of Army Corps / Chief Corporal
7) General of Division / Corporal
8.) - / -
9) - / Private 1st Class
10) Colonel / -
11) Lieutenant Colonel / -
12) Major / Private
13) Captain / -
14) - / -
15) Lieutenant / -
16) - / -
17) Second Lieutenant / -


French Navy

Officer /  Enlisted           
1) - / -
2) Admiral / -
3) - / Petty Officer 1st Class
4) Vice Admiral D'escadre / Petty Officer 2nd Class
5) Vice Admiral / Petty Officer 3rd Class
6) - / -
7) Rear Admiral / Leading Seaman Class 1
8.) - / -
9) - / Leading Seaman
10) Captain / Able Seaman
11) Commander / -
12) Lieutenant Commander / Seaman
13) Lieutenant / -
14) - / -
15) Lieutenant (Junior Grade) / -
16) - / -
17) Ensign / -



PRIMARY SOURCE:

"World War II Almanac: 1931-1945" by Robert Goralski pages 430-436
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Mad Russian
Guest
« Reply #9 on: 12 November 2008, 07:41:37 »
 ReplyReply
German Military

Wehrmacht/Heer/Luftwaffe (German Army and Airforce)

Officer /  Enlisted
1) Reichsmarshall / Oberfeldwebel
2) Generalfeldmarshall / Feldwebel
3) - / Fahnrich
4) - / Unterfeldwebel
5) Generaloberst / Unterofficier
6) General der Infantrie, der Flieger, etc. / Stabsgefreiter and Hauptgefreiter
7) Generalleutnant / Obergefreiter
8.) Generalmajor / Gefreiter
9) - / -
10) Oberst / Oberschutze
11) Oberstleutnant / -
12) Major / Mannshaften
13) Hauptmann (Rittmeister in Cavalry) / -
14) - / -
15) Leutnant / -
16) - / -
17) Unterleutnant / -


Waffen SS

Officer /  Enlisted
1) - / SS-Sturmscharfuhrer                     
2) Reichsfuhrer SS / SS-Hauptscharfuhrer
3) - / SS-Oberscharfuhrer
4) - / -
5) SS-Oberstgruppenfuhrer / SS-Scharfuhrer
6) SS-Obergruppenfuhrer / SS-Unterscharfuhrer
7) SS-Gruppenfuhrer / SS-Rottenfuhrer
8.) SS-Brigadefuhrer / -
9) SS-Oberfuhrer / -
10) SS-Standartenfuhrer / SS-Strumann
11) SS-Obersturmbannfuhrer / Obermann
12) SS-Sturmbannfuhrer / SS-Mann
13) SS-Hauptsturmfuhrer / SS-Anwarter
14) - / -
15) SS-Obersturmfuhrer / -
16) - / -
17) SS-Untersturmfuhrer / -

Note:
The rank of Reichsmarshall was only ever held by Hermann Goering. Goering attained this rank in July 1940.
The rank of Reicsfuhrer-SS was only ever held by Heinrich Himmler.

PRIMARY SOURCE:

"World War II Almanac: 1931-1945" by Robert Goralski pages 430-436
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Mad Russian
Guest
« Reply #10 on: 12 November 2008, 07:42:49 »
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Japanese Military

Imperial Japanese Army

Officer /  Enlisted
1) - / Sergeant Major             
2) - / -
3) - / -
4) - / -
5) General / Sergeant
6) Lieutenant General / -
7) Major General / Corporal
8.) - / Leading Private
9) - / Superior Private
10) Colonel / Private 1st Class
11) Lieutenant Colonel / Private 2nd Class
12) Major / Recruit
13) Captain / -
14) - / -
15) Lieutenant / -
16) - / -
17) Second Lieutenant / -


Imperial Japanese Navy

Officer /  Enlisted
1) - /Senior Petty Officer             
2) - / -
3) - / -
4) - / Petty Officer 1st Class
5) Admiral / Petty Officer 2nd Class
6) Vice Admiral / -
7) Rear Admiral / Leading Seaman
8.) - / Senior Seaman
9) - / -
10) Captain / -
11) Commander / Seaman 1st Class
12) Lieutenant Commander / Seaman
13) Lieutenant, Senior Grade / -
14) - / -
15) Lieutenant / -
16) - / -
17) - / -


PRIMARY SOURCE:

"World War II Almanac: 1931-1945" by Robert Goralski pages 430-436
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Mad Russian
Guest
« Reply #11 on: 12 November 2008, 07:44:09 »
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Indian Military

Indian Army (British)

Officer /  Enlisted
1) - / Risaldar or Havildar-Major                                           
2) - / -
3) - / -
4) - / -
5) - / Dafadar or Havildar
6) - / -
7) - / Naik or Amaldar
8.) - / Lance Naik
9) - / -
10) - / Rifleman or Sepoy
11) - / -
12) - / Recruit
13) - / -
14) - / -
15) Risalder or Subadar / -
16)  - / -
17) Jemadar / -


Indian National Army (Japanese)

Officer /  Enlisted
1) - / Sub-Officer
2) - / -
3) - / -
4) - / -
5) General / Havildar
6) Lieutenant General / -
7) Major General / Naik
8.) - / Lance Naik
9) - / -
10) Colonel / -
11) Lieutenant Colonel / -
12) Major / Recruit
13) Captain / -
14) - / -
15) First Lieutenant / -
16) - / -
17) Second Lieutenant / -




PRIMARY SOURCE:

"World War II Almanac: 1931-1945" by Robert Goralski pages 430-436
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Mad Russian
Guest
« Reply #12 on: 12 November 2008, 07:45:26 »
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Italian Military

Italian Army

Officer /  Enlisted
1) First Marshal of the Empire / Sergeant Major                                           
2) Marshal of Italy / -
3) - / -
4) General of Army / -
5) Commanding General of Army / Sergeant
6) General of Army Corps / Corporal Major
7) General of Division / Corporal
8.) General of Brigade / -
9) - / -
10) Colonel / -
11) Lieutenant Colonel / -
12) Major / Private
13) First Captain / -
14) Captain / -
15) First Lieutenant / -
16) Lieutenant / -
17) Lieutenant / -


Italian Airforce (Regia Aeronautica)

Officer /  Enlisted
1)  - / Sergeant Major                                         
2) Air Marshal / -
3) - / -
4) - / -
5) General of Air Army / Sergeant
6) General of Air Squad / -
7) General of Air Division / Leading Airman
8.) General of Air Brigade / -
9) - / -
10) Colonel / -
11) Lieutenant Colonel / -
12) Major / Airman
13) Captain / -
14) - / -
15) Lieutenant / -
16) - / -
17) Second Lieutenant / -


PRIMARY SOURCE:

"World War II Almanac: 1931-1945" by Robert Goralski pages 430-436
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Mad Russian
Guest
« Reply #13 on: 12 November 2008, 07:47:59 »
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Netherlands Military

Officer /  Enlisted
1) - / Sergeant Major                                           
2) - / Sergeant 1st Class
3) - / -
4) - / -
5) General / Sergeant
6) Lieutenant General / -
7) Major General / Corporal
8.) - / -
9) - /
10) Colonel / Private 1st Class
11) Lieutenant Colonel / -
12) Major / Private
13) Captain / -
14) - / -
15) First Lieutenant / -
16) - / -
17) Second Lieutenant / -


PRIMARY SOURCE:

"World War II Almanac: 1931-1945" by Robert Goralski pages 430-436
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Mad Russian
Guest
« Reply #14 on: 12 November 2008, 07:49:04 »
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Polish Military

Polish Army

Officer /  Enlisted
1) - / -                                           
2) Marshal of Poland / Senior Sergeant
3) - / -
4) - / -
5) General of Army / Sergeant
6) - / Lance Sergeant
7) General of Division / Corporal
8.) General of Brigade / -
9) - / -
10) Colonel / Senior Private
11) Lieutenant Colonel / -
12) Major / Private
13) Captain / -
14) - / -
15) Lieutenant / -
16) - / -
17) Sub-Lieutenant / -


Polish Navy

Officer /  Enlisted
1) - / -                                           
2) - / Senior Boatswain
3) - / -
4) - / -
5) - / Boatswain
6) - / Boatswains Mate
7) Vice Admiral / Mate
8.) Rear Admiral / -
9) - / -
10) - / Senior Seaman
11) Commander / -
12) Lieutenant Commander / Seaman
13) Sub-Lieutenant Commander / -
14) Captain / -
15) Lieutenant / -
16) - / -
17) Sub-Lieutenant / -


PRIMARY SOURCE:

"World War II Almanac: 1931-1945" by Robert Goralski pages 430-436
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Mad Russian
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« Reply #15 on: 12 November 2008, 07:50:12 »
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Soviet Military

Soviet Army

Officer /  Enlisted
1)  Generalissimo / Sergeant Major (Starshina)                                         
2) Marshal of the Soviet Union / -
3) Marshal (Senior) / -
4) Marshal / Senior Sergeant (Starshina Serzhant)
5) General (Commander of Army, 1st Rank) / Sergeant (Serzhant)
6) General (Commander of Army, 2nd Rank) / Junior Sergeant (Mladshiy Serzhant)
7) Lieutenant General / Corporal
8.) Major General / -
9) - / -
10) Colonel / Private First Class (Ye Freitor)
11) Lieutenant Colonel / -
12) Major / Private (Ryadovoi)
13) Captain / -
14) - / -
15) Senior Lieutenant / -
16) Lieutenant / -
17) Junior Lieutenant / -


Soviet Political Commissars

Officer Only
1) -                                           
2) -
3) -
4) -
5) Commissar of Army (1st and 2nd Rank)
6) Commissar of Corps
7) Commissar of Division
8.) Commissar of Brigade
9) -
10) Commissar of Regiment
11) -
12) Commissar of Battalion
13) Senior Politruk
14) -
15) Politruk
16) -
17) Politruk


Note:
The rank of Generalissimo was given to Stalin in 1945 and he was the only one to have held it.



PRIMARY SOURCE:

"World War II Almanac: 1931-1945" by Robert Goralski pages 430-436
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Mad Russian
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« Reply #16 on: 12 November 2008, 07:51:30 »
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United States Military

U.S. Army and Airforce (Airforce ranks where they vary)

Officer /  Enlisted
1) - / Master Sergeant                                           
2) General of the Army / First Sergeant
3) - / Technical Sergeant
4) - / Staff Sergeant (Technician 3rd Grade)
5) General / Sergeant (Technician 4th Grade)
6) Lieutenant General / -
7) Major General / Corporal (Technician 5th Grade)
8.) Brigadier General - Lance Corporal
9) - / -
10) Colonel / Private 1st Class
11) Lieutenant Colonel / -
12) Major / Private
13) Captain / -
14) - / -
15) First Lieutenant / -
16) - / -
17) Second Lieutenant / -


U.S. Navy and Coast Guard

Officer /  Enlisted
1) - / Chief Petty Officer                                           
2) Fleet Admiral / -
3) - / Petty Officer 1st Class
4) - / Petty Officer 2nd Class
5) Admiral / Petty Officer 3rd Class
6) Vice Admiral / -
7) Rear Admiral / Seaman 1st Class
8.) - / -
9) - / -
10) Captain / Seaman 1st Class
11) Commander / -
12) Lieutenant Commander / Apprentice Seaman
13) Lieutenant / -
14) - / -
15) Lieutenant (Junior Grade) / -
16) - / -
17) Ensign / -


Marine Corps

Officer /  Enlisted
1) - / Sergeant Major or Master Gunnery Sergeant                                           
2) - / First Sergeant or Master Sergeant
3) - / Gunnery Sergeant
4) - / Staff Sergeant
5) General / Sergeant
6) Lieutenant General / -
7) Major General / Corporal
8.) Brigadier General / Lance Corporal
9) - / -
10) Colonel / Private 1st Class
11) Lieutenant Colonel / -
12) Major / Private
13) Captain / -
14) - / -
15) First Lieutenant / -
16) - / -
17) Second Lieutenant / -


PRIMARY SOURCE:

"World War II Almanac: 1931-1945" by Robert Goralski pages 430-436
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Mad Russian
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« Reply #17 on: 12 November 2008, 07:52:41 »
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Yugoslavian Military

Officer /  Enlisted
1) - / First Sergeant                                           
2) Field Marshal / -
3) - / -
4) - / -
5) General of Army / Sergeant
6) - / -
7) General of Division / Corporal
8.) General of Brigade / -
9) - / -
10) Colonel / -
11) Lieutenant Colonel / -
12) Major / Private
13) First Captain / -
14) Captain / -
15) Lieutenant / -
16) - / -
17) Second Lieutenant / -


PRIMARY SOURCE:

"World War II Almanac: 1931-1945" by Robert Goralski pages 430-436
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DrVonCool
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« Reply #18 on: 4 February 2009, 01:39:45 »
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A little nitpicking on the spelling of the German ranks (changed ones are in bold - for Waffen-SS all ranks have been updated to include the umlaut ü in ...führer):

Wehrmacht/Heer/Luftwaffe (German Army and Airforce)

Officer /  Enlisted
1) Reichsmarschall / Oberfeldwebel
2) Generalfeldmarschall / Feldwebel
3) - / Fähnrich
4) - / Unterfeldwebel
5) Generaloberst / Unteroffizier
6) General der Infantrie, der Flieger, etc. / Stabsgefreiter and Hauptgefreiter
7) Generalleutnant / Obergefreiter
8.) Generalmajor / Gefreiter
9) - / -
10) Oberst / Oberschütze
11) Oberstleutnant / -
12) Major / Schütze, Jäger, Kanonier, etc.
13) Hauptmann (Rittmeister in Cavalry) / -
14) - / -
15) Leutnant / -
16) - / -
17) Unterleutnant / -


Waffen SS

Officer /  Enlisted
1) - / SS-Sturmscharführer                     
2) Reichsführer SS / SS-Hauptscharführer
3) - / SS-Oberscharführer
4) - / -
5) SS-Oberstgruppenführer / SS-Scharführer
6) SS-Obergruppenführer / SS-Unterscharführer
7) SS-Gruppenführer / SS-Rottenführer
8.) SS-Brigadeführer / -
9) SS-Oberführer / -
10) SS-Standartenführer / SS-Sturmmann
11) SS-Obersturmbannführer / Obermann
12) SS-Sturmbannführer / SS-Mann
13) SS-Hauptsturmführer / SS-Anwärter
14) - / -
15) SS-Obersturmführer / -
16) - / -
17) SS-Untersturmführer / -

Note:
The rank of Reichsmarschall was only ever held by Hermann Goering. Goering attained this rank in July 1940.
The rank of Reichsführer-SS was only ever held by Heinrich Himmler.
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