The core of the "General-SS" were the mustering formations spread throughout Germany, divided into several division sized formations and extending downwards into brigade, regiment, battalion, company, and squad like formations. Most of these formations were "part time" and mustered weekly or monthly without pay. The
Allgemeine-SS used unique names for these formations which were different from standard military terms in use by the German military. Initially, General-SS formations were operated strictly in
Germany and
Austria but were later formed in occupied countries during
World War II. Most often,
Allgemeine SS units in occupied territories were "paper commands", formed under the authority of an
SS and Police Leader (who would serve as a dual commander) in order to give senior SS officers in occupation commands a command billet within the General-SS. •
SS-Oberabschnitt ("SS-Main District"): This division level command was the main administrative district for the
Allgemeine SS in the German Reich and the highest command level in the
Allgemeine SS order of battle. The first
Oberabschnitte were formed in November 1933 from the five existing
SS-Gruppen units and generally conformed to the existing
Wehrkreise (Military Districts) of the
Wehrmacht. An
Oberabschnitt was usually commanded by a
Gruppenführer or
Obergruppenführer. Once the position of
Higher SS and Police Leader was established,
Oberabschnitt leaders typically served simultaneously in both positions. The
Oberabschnitt commander was known by the title of
Führer and was assisted by a staff which typically comprised departments encompassing training, medical affairs, personnel, as well as specialty commands such as
signals and
engineer battalions. •
SS-Abschnitt ("SS-District"): The
Abschnitt commands were formed in the early 1930s from the old SS-Brigades. The function and operation was essentially the same as with the
Oberabschnitt, but the units were usually commanded by an SS-
Brigadeführer or
Oberführer. SS-Abschnitte were designated by
Roman numerals while the
Oberabschnitt commands were given proper names. As with the
Oberabschnitte, these commands were limited to the German Reich and were not established in the occupied territories. •
SS-Standarte ("SS-Regiment"): The
Standarten was the primary unit of the General-SS, named after the term for a "Regimental
Standard", or flag. The
Standarte were organized into regimental-sized formations each with its own number, but also were referred to by other names, such as location, a popular name, or an honorary title; generally SS or NSDAP members killed before the Nazis obtained national power. For example, the
18th SS-Standarte in Königsberg was named "Ostpreußen" while the
6th SS-Standarte of Berlin was named "Graham Kämmer". There were 127
SS-Standarte. The standard rank for the
Standarte Leader was that of
Standartenführer (colonel). •
SS-Sturmbann ("SS-Storm Unit"): The
Sturmbann commands were battalion formations within a
Standarte, usually three or four in number. These units were commanded by either a
Sturmbannführer or
Obersturmbannführer. •
SS-Sturm ("SS-Company"): The
Sturm was the company-level formation of the General-SS and the most typical in which an average SS member would associate. Each
Sturmbann had 3 to 5 of them. Company commanders usually rated a rank between
Untersturmführer and
Hauptsturmführer. •
SS-Trupp ("SS-Troop"): SS-Troops were
platoon-sized formations. Each
Sturm had 3 to 4 of them. They were commanded by an SS non-commissioned officer initially known as a
Truppführer. After the
Night of the Long Knives, the SS renamed its rank structure and each
Trupp then fell under the command of one with the rank of
Oberscharführer and
Hauptscharführer. •
SS-Schar ("SS-Squad"): SS-Squads were eight to ten man formations that served as the primary mustering unit within each SS-Company. There were 3 for each
Trupp. Such units were commanded by an SS-
Scharführer with an Assistant Squad Leader rated as an
Unterscharführer. •
SS-Rotte ("SS-Section"): This was the smallest unit of the General-SS. It usually consisted of four to five SS members. The SS-Section was commanded by an SS-
Rottenführer and consisted of SS troopers holding the rank of
Mann or
Sturmmann.
Cavalry commands The
Allgemeine SS also formed several
cavalry commands, which were mainly intended to attract
German nobility into the ranks of the SS. These formations were little more than
equestrian riding clubs and, by the start of World War II, the General-SS Cavalry had mostly ceased to exist except for a handful of members. The command names of the General-SS cavalry were modeled after those of the regular mustering SS formations and were separate from the military cavalry terms of the Waffen-SS. •
SS-Reiterabschnitt ("SS-Cavalry District"): Modeled in the same manner as the
SS-Abschnitt commands, only nine of these commands were ever established. They commanded one or more
SS-Reiterstandarte. This command level ended in 1936. Thereafter, the
SS-Reiterstandarte were under each
SS-Oberabschnitt. •
SS-Reiterstandarte ("SS-Cavalry Regiment"): There were twenty-four cavalry regiments established by the
Allgemeine SS. These units wore a special crossed lances unit insignia. in comparison to the regular
Standarte which displayed a unit patch bearing the
Standarten number. ==Waffen-SS commands==