Sturmmann
Encyclopedia
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 Sturmmann was a position held by soldiers in German pioneer assault companies, also known as "Shock troops
".
, violent groups of military veterans who opposed Germany’s loss of World War I and the subsequent Treaty of Versailles
.
In 1921, Sturmmann became a paramilitary title of the Nazi Party'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 to one year in the organization and had demonstrated basic abilities and competence.
, except in the SS where a junior rank of SS-Obermann
was created in 1941. In organizations which did not use the rank of Mann (such as the National Socialist Motor Corps
), the rank of Sturmmann was the equivalent of a Private
and wore a blank collar patch with no insignia.
Within the Waffen-SS
, a Sturmmann was senior to an SS-Oberschütze
. The rank of Sturmmann was junior, in both the SS and SA, to the rank of Rottenführer
. The insignia for Sturmmann consisted of a bare collar patch with a single silver stripe. The field grey SS uniforms also displayed the sleeve chevron of a Gefreiter
.
, Sturmmann ceased to exist as a Nazi rank but has survived as a phrase used in the modern age. Today, the term Sturmmann may refer to a member of a Neo-Nazi group who participates in paramilitary activities. In rare cases, the German military will use the title of Sturmmann but only in an unofficial capacity to denote a position held in a special operations
unit.
Sturmabteilung
The Sturmabteilung functioned as a paramilitary organization of the National Socialist German Workers' Party . It played a key role in Adolf Hitler's rise to power in the 1920s and 1930s...
(SA) and the Schutzstaffel
Schutzstaffel
The Schutzstaffel |Sig runes]]) was a major paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. Built upon the Nazi ideology, the SS under Heinrich Himmler's command was responsible for many of the crimes against humanity during World War II...
(SS).
The word originated during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
when Sturmmann was a position held by soldiers in German pioneer assault companies, also known as "Shock troops
Shock troops
Shock troops or assault troops are formations created to lead an attack. "Shock troop" is a loose translation of the German word Stoßtrupp...
".
Creation
Following the defeat of Germany in 1918, Sturmmann became a paramilitary rank of the FreikorpsFreikorps
Freikorps are German volunteer military or paramilitary units. The term was originally applied to voluntary armies formed in German lands from the middle of the 18th century onwards. Between World War I and World War II the term was also used for the paramilitary organizations that arose during...
, violent groups of military veterans who opposed Germany’s loss of World War I and the subsequent Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June 1919, exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The other Central Powers on the German side of...
.
In 1921, Sturmmann became a paramilitary title of the Nazi Party's private army, the Sturmabteilung
Sturmabteilung
The Sturmabteilung functioned as a paramilitary organization of the National Socialist German Workers' Party . It played a key role in Adolf Hitler's rise to power in the 1920s and 1930s...
(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
Ranks and insignia of the Sturmabteilung
The uniforms and insignia of the Sturmabteilung were Nazi party paramilitary ranks and uniforms used by SA stormtroopers from 1921 until the fall of Nazi Germany in 1945. The titles and phrases used by the SA were the basis for paramilitary titles used by several other Nazi paramilitary groups,...
and as a rank of the SS
Ranks and insignia of the Schutzstaffel
The uniforms and insignia of the Schutzstaffel were paramilitary ranks and uniforms used by the SS between 1925 and 1945 to differentiate that organization from the regular German armed forces, the German state, and the Nazi Party....
.
The rank of Sturmmann was bestowed upon those members of the SA and SS
Schutzstaffel
The Schutzstaffel |Sig runes]]) was a major paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. Built upon the Nazi ideology, the SS under Heinrich Himmler's command was responsible for many of the crimes against humanity during World War II...
who had served for six months to one year in the organization and had demonstrated basic abilities and competence.
Use
Sturmmann was senior to the rank of MannMann (military rank)
Mann , was a paramilitary rank used by several Nazi Party paramilitary organizations between 1925 and 1945. The rank is most often associated with the SS, and also as a rank of the SA where Mann was the lowest enlisted rank and was the equivalent of a Private.In 1938, with the rise of the...
, except in the SS where a junior rank of SS-Obermann
Obermann
Obermann was a rank of the German Schutzstaffel which was used between the years 1942 and 1945.The rank of Obermann was exclusive to the Allgemeine-SS. It is equivalent to the Waffen-SS rank of Oberschütze....
was created in 1941. In organizations which did not use the rank of Mann (such as the National Socialist Motor Corps
National Socialist Motor Corps
The National Socialist Motor Corps , also known as the National Socialist Drivers Corps, was a paramilitary organization of the Nazi Party that existed from 1931 to 1945. The group was a successor organization to the older National Socialist Automobile Corps, which had existed since the beginning...
), the rank of Sturmmann was the equivalent of a Private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
and wore a blank collar patch with no insignia.
Within the Waffen-SS
Waffen-SS
The Waffen-SS was a multi-ethnic and multi-national military force of the Third Reich. It constituted the armed wing of the Schutzstaffel or SS, an organ of the Nazi Party. The Waffen-SS saw action throughout World War II and grew from three regiments to over 38 divisions, and served alongside...
, a Sturmmann was senior to an SS-Oberschütze
Oberschütze
Oberschütze is a German military rank which was first used in the Bavarian Army of the late 19th century.It was commonly introduced in the Reichswehr in 1920....
. The rank of Sturmmann was junior, in both the SS and SA, to the rank of Rottenführer
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 , the Schutzstaffel and was senior to the paramilitary rank of Sturmmann.The insignia for Rottenführer...
. The insignia for Sturmmann consisted of a bare collar patch with a single silver stripe. The field grey SS uniforms also displayed the sleeve chevron of a Gefreiter
Gefreiter
Gefreiter is the German, Swiss and Austrian equivalent for the military rank Private . Gefreiter was the lowest rank to which an ordinary soldier could be promoted. As a military rank it has existed since at least the 16th century...
.
Post-war legacy
Following the close of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Sturmmann ceased to exist as a Nazi rank but has survived as a phrase used in the modern age. Today, the term Sturmmann may refer to a member of a Neo-Nazi group who participates in paramilitary activities. In rare cases, the German military will use the title of Sturmmann but only in an unofficial capacity to denote a position held in a special operations
Special operations
Special operations are military operations that are considered "special" .Special operations are typically performed independently or in conjunction with conventional military operations. The primary goal is to achieve a political or military objective where a conventional force requirement does...
unit.
| Junior Rank Obermann Obermann Obermann was a rank of the German Schutzstaffel which was used between the years 1942 and 1945.The rank of Obermann was exclusive to the Allgemeine-SS. It is equivalent to the Waffen-SS rank of Oberschütze.... (Allgemeine-SS) Oberschütze Oberschütze Oberschütze is a German military rank which was first used in the Bavarian Army of the late 19th century.It was commonly introduced in the Reichswehr in 1920.... (Waffen-SS) |
SS rank Ranks and insignia of the Schutzstaffel The uniforms and insignia of the Schutzstaffel were paramilitary ranks and uniforms used by the SS between 1925 and 1945 to differentiate that organization from the regular German armed forces, the German state, and the Nazi Party.... Sturmmann |
Senior Rank Rottenführer 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 , the Schutzstaffel and was senior to the paramilitary rank of Sturmmann.The insignia for Rottenführer... |
| Junior Rank Mann Mann (military rank) Mann , was a paramilitary rank used by several Nazi Party paramilitary organizations between 1925 and 1945. The rank is most often associated with the SS, and also as a rank of the SA where Mann was the lowest enlisted rank and was the equivalent of a Private.In 1938, with the rise of the... |
SA rank Ranks and insignia of the Sturmabteilung The uniforms and insignia of the Sturmabteilung were Nazi party paramilitary ranks and uniforms used by SA stormtroopers from 1921 until the fall of Nazi Germany in 1945. The titles and phrases used by the SA were the basis for paramilitary titles used by several other Nazi paramilitary groups,... Sturmmann |
Senior Rank Rottenführer 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 , the Schutzstaffel and was senior to the paramilitary rank of Sturmmann.The insignia for Rottenführer... |