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Rottenführer

Nazi Party paramilitary rank

Field	Value
name	Rottenführer
image	[[File:SS-Rottenführer.svg	150px]]
caption	SS gorget patches
image2	[File:SS-Mannschaft.svg
caption2	Waffen-SS Shoulder and sleeve insignia
country	Nazi Germany
service branch	Hitlerjugend Allgemeine Flagge.svg [Hitler Youth
NSKK Hausflagge.svg National Socialist Motor Corps
NSFK Wimpel Fördernde Mitglieder.svg National Socialist Flyers Corps
Flag of the Schutzstaffel.svg Schutzstaffel
SA-Logo.svg Sturmabteilung
abbreviation	Rottenf
formation	1932
abolished	1945
higher rank	Scharführer (SA)
Unterscharführer (SS)
lower rank	Sturmmann
equivalents	Obergefreiter

NSKK Hausflagge.svg National Socialist Motor Corps NSFK Wimpel Fördernde Mitglieder.svg National Socialist Flyers Corps Flag of the Schutzstaffel.svg Schutzstaffel SA-Logo.svg Sturmabteilung | Non-NATO rank = Unterscharführer (SS)

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 (SA), the Schutzstaffel (SS) and was senior to the paramilitary rank of Sturmmann.

The insignia for Rottenführer consisted of two double silver stripes on a bare collar patch. On field grey SS uniforms, the sleeve chevrons of an Obergefreiter (senior lance-corporal) were also worn.

Creation

Rottenführer was first established in 1932 as an SA rank due to an expansion of the organisation requiring a greater number of enlisted positions. Since early SS ranks were identical to the ranks of the SA, Rottenführer became an SS rank at the same time.

Rottenführer was the first SS and SA position to have command over other paramilitary troops. They commanded a Rotte (, equal to a squad or section) usually numbering no more than five to seven persons. A Rottenführer, in turn, answered to a Scharführer.

After 1934, a restructure of SS ranks made Rottenführer junior to the new rank of SS-Unterscharführer, although in the SA the rank continued to rate immediately below that of Scharführer.

Uses

Within the Waffen-SS, Rottenführer was considered equivalent to an Obergefreiter in the German Wehrmacht. For pay purposes, a Rottenführer with more than five years of service was administratively known as Rottenführer (2. Gehaltsstufe) and paid the same rate as an army Stabsgefreiter. There was no difference in the Rottenführer insignia and the Gehaltsstufe designation was only used in written correspondence and never in verbal addressing of rank.

While having command over some troops, a Rottenführer in the Waffen-SS was not considered a non-commissioned officer rank.

Those aspiring for promotion above Rottenführer were required to pass a promotion evaluation and combat skills assessment, during which time the Rottenführer was known by the title Unterführer-Anwärter (). Waffen-SS Rottenführer also had the option to pursue an officer's commission through appointment as Junker FA.

Rottenführer was also a rank of the Hitler Youth where the position was considered a junior squad leader title. A rank of Oberrottenführer also existed in the Hitler Youth.

Insignia

SS-Rottenführer.svg|SS Gorget patches WSS-Rottenf OF3 slv 1945.svg|SS Sleeve badge SS Mannschaften.jpg|Shoulder strap (insignia) (all other enlisted ranks OR-1 to OR-3 of the Waffen-SS) HJ-Rottenführer.svg|HJ Shoulder strap HJ-Oberrottenführer.svg|HJ Oberrottenführer Shoulder strap NSFK-Rottenführer.svg|NSFK Gorget patches NSKK-Rottenführer.svg|NSKK Gorget patch SA-Rottenführer.svg|SA Gorget patch

Notes

Bibliography

Junior rank
Gefreiter	Rank Wehrmacht (Heer)
Obergefreiter	Senior rank
Unteroffizier

Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

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