SS-Stabsscharführer


SS-Stabsscharführer was not a rank, but a position title or appointment, mainly used in the Waffen-SS, equivalent to the Hauptfeldwebel of the Wehrmacht between the years of 1938 to 1945.
Usually it was the senior NCO 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 Oberscharführe. 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.
In accordance with Hauptfeldwebel of Heer and Luftwaffe, the SS-Stabsscharführer had many nicknames, including Spieß and Mutter der Kompanie. 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 in the militaries of other nations, e.g. Commonwealth company sergeant major, or U.S. company-level first sergeant.