Mann (paramilitary 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 Schutzstaffel, but also was 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 SS-Verfügungstruppe, the SS changed the rank of Mann to Schütze, although it still retained the original SS rank of Mann for the Allgemeine-SS. The rank of Mann was junior to SS-Sturmmann.
In most Nazi Party organizations, the rank of Mann held no distinctive insignia. Some groups, however, granted a minor form of rank insignia such as a blank collar patch or simple shoulder board to denote the rank of Mann.
Even lower ranks, e.g. Bewerber, Jungmann, Anwärter, Vollanwärter, were established in the mid-1930s as a recruit or candidate position, held by an individual seeking an appointment as a Mann in a Nazi Party paramilitary organization.
Insignia
Candidate status
| 1st rank Allgemeine SSSS-Mann | 2nd rank no equivalent | 3rd rank SS-Sturmmann |
Volunteer for joining the Waffen-SS
| 1st Rank Waffen-SSSS-Schütze | 2nd rank SS-Oberschütze | 3rd rank SS-Sturmmann |
| Candidate status SA-Anwärter | 1st SA rank SA-Mann | 2nd rank no equivalent | 3rd rank SA-Sturmmann |
| person liable to military service Wehrmacht | 1st Wehrmacht rank Soldat | 2nd rank Oberschütze | 3rd rank Gefreiter |