SchutzStaffel (SS) Collar Tab and Shoulder Board Identification Guide

SS Rank Collar Tabs

SS rank is displayed on the left collar tab (both tabs for ranks Standartenführer and above) and show several changes over time. Design changes are listed as "Versions". Piping changes are listed by "Type". The titles for various ranks varied depending on the branch of the SS. Standard names are used in here to prevent confusion. Note that the piping for enlisted and NCO tabs changed from white (prior to 1934) to black/white (1934-40) and was then eliminated (1940-45). Junior officer's piping (Sturmführer to Hauptsturmführer) changed from black/silver (prior to 1934) to silver (1934-1945). Higher ranking officers always used silver (aluminum) piping. Not all piping versions are shown.

Reichsführer SS 1934-45	Oberstgruppenführer 1942-45	Obergruppenführer Version 1 - 1929-42	Obergruppenführer Version 2 - 1942-45
Gruppenführer Version 1 - 1929-42	Gruppenführer Version 2 - 1942-45	Brigadeführer Version 1 - 1933-42	Brigadeführer Version 2 - 1942-45
Oberführer Version 1 - 1929-42	Oberführer Version 2 - 1942-45	Standartenführer Version 1 - 1929-34	Standartenführer Version 2 - 1934-42
Standartenführer Version 3 - 1942-45	Obersturmbannführer 1933-45	Sturmbannführer 1929-45	Hauptsturmführer Type 2 - 1934-45
Obersturmführer Type 2 - 1934-45	Untersturmfuhrer Type 2 - 1934-45	Sturmtscharführer Type 3 - 1940-45	Hauptscharführer Type 3 - 1940-45
Oberscharführer Type 1 - 1933-34	Scharführer Type 1 - 1933-34	Unterscharführer Type 3 - 1940-45	Rottenführer Type 3 - 1940-45
Sturmmann Type 3 - 1940-45	SS Mann Type 1 - 1929-34	SS Mann Type 2 - 1934-40	SS Mann Type 3 - 1940-45

SS Rank Shoulder Boards

The following standard shoulder boards were worn by most units of the SS. The Sicherheitdienst, Totenkopfverbande, Waffen SS, and Sonderführers had seperate designs which are shown with the appropriate collar tabs.

Reichsführer SS 1934-45	Brigadeführer to Obergruppenführer	Sturmbannführer to Standartenführer	Untersturmführer to Hauptsturmführer	SS Mann to Hauptscharführer

Allgemeine-SS Collar Tabs

The Allgemeine-SS displays function or assignment on the right collar tab, rank on the left collar tab.

SS-Oberabschnitt Staff (blank) 23 SS Districts	SS-Oberabschnitt Staff (District Name) Ost 1st pattern example	SS-Oberabschnitt Staff (District Name) Ost 2nd pattern example	SS-Oberabschnitt Medical Staff	SS-Abschnitt 45 SS Sub-districts	SS-Abschnitt 36 - Innsbruck	SS-Abschnitt Medical Staff	2nd SS-Fuss Standarten 125 SS Foot Regiments
10th SS-Reiterstandarten 23 SS Cavalry Regiments	SS-Reiterstandarten Staff	4th SS-Nachrichteneinheiten 14 SS Signal Battalions	SS-Nachrichteneinheiten Staff	5th SS-Pioniereinheiten 15 SS Engineer Companies	SS-Pioniereinheiten Staff	8th SS-Motoreinheiten 15 Motorized Battalions	SS-Fliegersturm SS Flying Company
SS-Stammabteilung SS Reserve Unit	SS-Stammabteilung SS Regiment Reserve Unit	SS-Stammabteilung SS Reserve Unit - rank tab	SS-Stammabteilung SS Regiment Reserve Unit	SS Ehrenführer SS Honor Leader	SS Brigade Ehrhardt	SS-Adjutant

SS-Verfügungstruppe Collar Tabs

The SS-Verfügungstruppe displays function or assignment on the right collar tab, rank on the left collar tab.

SS-Standarte No. 1 3 Political Readiness Detachments	SS-Standarte 1/VT - Deutschland Officer	SS-Standarte 1/VT - Deutschland Enlisted	SS-Standarte 2/VT - Germania Enlisted	SS-Standarte 3/VT - Der Führer Enlisted	SS-Sanitatsabteilung SS-VT Medical Detachment	SS-Sturmbann Nurnberg Party Rally Security	SS-Nachrichtensturmbann SS-VT Signal Unit
SS-Panzerabwehrsturmbann Anti-tank Battalion	SS-Pioniersturmbann SS-VT Engineer Unit	SS-Schule - Bad Tolz 1st pattern	SS-Schule - Bad Tolz 2nd pattern	SS-Schule - Braunschweig 1st pattern	SS-Schule - Braunschweig 2nd pattern	SS-Führerschule - Dachau	SS-Musikschule - Braunschweig
SS gothic J Unknown	SS ordnance symbol Unknown	SS 4 Unknown Officer	SS 4 Unknown Enlisted

SS-Totenkopfverbande Collar Tabs

The SS-Totenkopfverbande displays function or assignment on the right collar tab, rank on the left collar tab.

The SS-Sicherheitsdienst used a plain right collar tab with rank shown on the left collar tab.

SS-Totenkopfverbande 1st pattern	SS-Totenkopfverbande 2nd pattern	SS-Totenkopfverbande 1st Sturmbann	SS-Totenkopfverbande 4th Sturm	SS-Totenkopfverbande 23rd Sturm - alternate pattern	SS-Totenkopfverbande Camp Commadant Staff	SS-Totenkopfverbande SS-Training Camp Dachau	SS-Totenkopfverbande SS-Sturmbann Dachau
SS-Totenkopfverbande Camp Commadant Staff	SS-Totenkopfverbande Sanitats-Abteilung Medical Detachment	Military on Temporary Assignment as Concentration Camp Guards			SS-Sicherheitsdienst - SIPO or SD

SS-Totenkopfverbande Shoulder Boards

Officers wore the standard SS shoulder boards, as did enlisted personnel. With the change of uniforms in 1936, new shoulder boards were issued for NCOs and enlisted. Not all ranks are shown.

SS-Mann 2nd pattern	SS-Sturmann 3rd pattern	SS-Mann 3rd pattern	SS-Hauptscharführer 4th pattern	SS-Mann 4th pattern

SS-Sicherheitsdienst Shoulder Boards

SS-Sicherheitsdienst shoulder boards use the police design with a black underlay

Standartenführer	Obersturmbannführer	Sturmbannführer	Hauptsturmführer	Obersturmführer	Untersturmführer	Sturmscharführer	Hauptscharführer
Oberscharführer	Scharführer	Unterscharführer	Rottenfuhrer	Sturmmann	Mann

Waffen-SS Collar Tabs

The Waffen-SS displays function or assignment on the right collar tab, rank on the left collar tab. Shown are tabs for Divisions with distinctive collar tabs issued and worn. Collar tabs have been identified on original uniforms and/or in period photographs.

SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment - Deutschland	SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment - Germania	SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment - Der Führer	3 SS Panzer Division - Totenkopf Horizontal pattern	3 SS Panzer Division - Totenkopf Vertical pattern	5 SS Panzer Division - Wiking Officer pattern	5 SS Panzer Division - Wiking Enlisted pattern	Freiwilligen-Legion Norwegen
7 SS Freiwilligen Gebrigs Division Prinz Eugen	11 SS Freiwilligen Panzer Grenadier Division Nordland	13 Waffen Gebrigs Division der SS - Handschar Kroatische Nr. 1	14 Waffen Grenadier Division der SS - Galizien Ukrainische Nr. 1 1st pattern	14 Waffen Grenadier Division der SS - Galizien Ukrainische Nr. 1 2nd pattern	15 Waffen Grenadier Division der SS Lettische Nr. 1 1st pattern Also worn by the 19/Lettische Nr. 2	15 Waffen Grenadier Division der SS Lettische Nr. 1 2nd pattern	20 Waffen Grenadier Division der SS Estnische Nr. 1 1st pattern
20 Waffen Grenadier Division der SS Estnische Nr. 1 2nd pattern	22 SS Freiwilligen Kavallerie Division Maria Theresia	23 SS Freiwilligen Panzer Grenadier Division Nederland 1st pattern	23 SS Freiwilligen Panzer Grenadier Division Nederland 2nd pattern	24 Waffen Gebrigs Division der SS - Karsthager	25 Waffen Grenadier Division der SS Hunyadi	27 SS Freiwilligen Grenadier Division Langemarck	29 Waffen Grenadier Division der SS Italienische Nr. 1 1st pattern
29 Waffen Grenadier Division der SS Italienische Nr. 1 2nd pattern	34 SS Freiwilligen Grenadier Division Landstorm Nederland 1st pattern	34 SS Freiwilligen Grenadier Division Landstorm Nederland 2nd pattern	29 Waffen Grenadier Division der SS Dirlewanger	Britisches Freikorps	SS Freikorps Danmark	Indische Freiwilligen Legion der Waffen SS	Waffen Grenadier Regiment der SS Rumanische Nr. 1

Divisions with distinctive collar tabs produced but not issued.

18 SS Freiwilligen Panzer Grenadier Division Horst Wessel	21 Waffen Gebrigs Division der SS - Skanderbeg Albanische Nr. 1	27 SS Freiwilligen Grenadier Division Wallonien	29 Waffen Grenadier Division der SS Russische Nr. 1	30 Waffen Grenadier Division der SS Weissruthenische Nr. 1	Ostturkische Verband der SS	Kaukasischar Waffenverband der SS

Waffen-SS Shoulder Boards

The Waffen-SS displays rank and unit type on the shoulder boards. The boards underlay identifies the type of unit.

OberstGruppenführer Generals & General Staff	Obergruppenführer Generals & General Staff	Gruppenführer Generals & General Staff	Brigadeführer Generals & General Staff	Standartenführer Infantry	Obersturmbannführer Panzer	Sturmbannführer Jager	Hauptsturmführer Artillery
Obersturmführer Medical	Untersturmführer Chemical Warfare	Sturmscharführer Reccon	Hauptscharführer Artillery	Oberscharführer Jager	Scharführer Signals	Unterscharführer Panzer	Schutze Infantry

Waffen SS Shoulder Board Cyphers

Different numbers, letters, and cyphers could be added to the shoulder board to identify unit/organization assignment, or speciality. A few cyphers are identified below.

SS Liebstandarte Adolf Hitler	SS Standarte Deutschland	SS Standarte Deutschland	SS Standarte Germania	SS Standarte Der Fuhrer	SS Standarte Der Fuhrer	SS-TV Standarte Oberbayern	Unterfuhrerschule Radolfzell
Unterfuhrerschule Lauenburg	Junkerschule Tolz	Junkerschule Braunschweig	Haupt Reiter Schule	Musik Schule	Lehr	Flak-MG antiaircraft	Panzerjager
Standortkommantandur Dachau	Standortkommantandur Prag	Medical Personnel	Veternarian	Kraftfahr Technische Lehranstalt	Technischer Dienst

SS Runic Breast Insignia

Runic SS breast insignia was authorized in July 1943 for SS personnel serving in one of the Waffen-SS units who did not qualify to wear the SS runic collar tab. Those units were 7.SS-Freiwillingen-"Prinz Eugen", 4.SS-Polizei-Panzer-Grenadier-Division, 11.SS-Freiwillingen-Panzer-Grenadier-Division "Nordland", and some smaller units. The runic insignia was worn just below the left breast pocket of the uniform, and the color of runic insignia matched the color of the uniform.

Feld gray	Black	Police green

Waffen-SS Sleeve Rank Insignia

Introduced in 1942, this insignia was authorized for wear on the left sleeve of camouflage winter parkas, the wind blouse, tropical shirts, fatigues (HBT) and camouflage smocks. The rank insignia can be printed on a cotton or rayon base, or embroidered on a wool base.

SS-Oberst-Gruppenführer	SS-Obergruppenführer	SS-Gruppenführer
SS-Brigadeführer	SS-Oberführer	SS-Standartenführer
SS-Obersturmbannführer	SS-Sturmbannführer	SS-Hauptsturmführer
SS-Obersturmführer	SS-Untersturmführer	SS-Sturmscharführer
SS-Hauptscharführer	SS-Oberscharführer	SS-Scharführer
SS-Unterscharführer

SS Enlisted Chevrons

Rank insignia /chevrons worn by Rottenfuhrer, Sturmmann, and Oberschutze with 6 months service. Authorized March 1938, discontinued January 1942. Silver on black for the black wrap, service tunic, service dress tunic, and great coat. Gold/tan on black for the tropical and camo jacket. Silver on mouse gray authorized in 1940 for the field tunic.

Rottenfuhrer - silver on black	Rottenfuhrer - silver on gray	Rottenfuhrer - gold/tan on black	Strummann - silver on black
Strummann - silver on gray	Strummann - gold/tan on black	Oberschutze (6 months service) - silver on black	Oberschutze (6 months service) - gold/tan on black

SS-Sonderführer/Fachführer Shoulder Boards

In 1941, the SS created the SS-Sonderführer ranks. Five Stellengruppes were created whereby the person performing duties could be given SS ranks. Once the person completed military training, they joined the SS at their current rank. The Stellengruppes were "B", "K", "Z", "O", and "G". In 1942, the name was changed from Sonderführer to Fachführer and a new design for the shoulder boards was issued.

Sonderführer - Sturmbannführer Stellengruppe "B"	Sonderführer - Hauptsturmführer Stellengruppe "K"	Sonderführer - Untersturmführer Stellengruppe "Z"	Sonderführer - Hauptscharführer Stellengruppe "O"	Sonderführer - Unterscharführer Stellengruppe "G"
Fachführer - Sturmbannführer Stellengruppe "B"	Fachführer - Hauptsturmführer Stellengruppe "K"	Fachführer - Untersturmführer Stellengruppe "Z"	Fachführer - Hauptscharführer Stellengruppe "O"	Fachführer - Unterscharführer Stellengruppe "G"