Between 1925 and 1945, the German Schutzstaffel (SS) grew from eight members to over a quarter of a million Waffen-SS and over a million Allgemeine-SS members. Other members included the SS-Totenkopfverbände (SS-TV), which ran the Nazi concentration and extermination camps. The following list of SS personnel gives the names of notable persons who are counted among the organization's most famous, influential or notorious members. Women were not allowed to join the SS but were allowed into the SS-Gefolge and many served within the concentration camps.
Führer (Adolf Hitler)
Prior to 1934 the SS were nominally under the command of the SturmabteilungSnyder, Dr. Louis L. Encyclopedia of the Third Reich, (1989) p, 147. and so it could be said that both Adolf Hitler as Oberster SA-Führer and Ernst Röhm as Stabschef SA outranked the most senior SS position of Reichsführer-SS. Following the Night of the Long Knives Hitler "raised the SS, hitherto subordinate to the SA, to the rank of an independent organisation".Bullock, Alan. Hitler and Stalin: Parallel Lives, (1998) p, 374. Hitler also was considered SS Member No. 1, Emil Maurice (considered the founder of the SS) was member No. 2, although leadership was assumed by Julius Schreck who was member No. 5. Himmler was SS member No. 168. Based on the seniority system of SS membership number, this made Hitler senior in the SS to all other members even if not by rank.
After the Night of the Long Knives, when the SS became independent from the SA, Hitler was listed on SS officer rolls as member No. 1 and considered supreme commander of the entire SS (Oberster Führer der Schutzstaffel: Literally, "Supreme Leader of the SS") by virtue of his position as the Führer of Germany. There is no photographic record of Hitler ever wearing an actual SS uniform nor was there a special SS insignia for Hitler above that worn by Himmler.
SS Generals Following is the list of persons holding the title positions as well as actual highest ranks of the Schutzstaffel (SS) since the earliest inception of the armed SS units in Nazi Germany. The ranks include distinctive insignia designs worn on the collar at one point by all officers.
Reichsführer
Name Position SS number Joined SS Party numberJulius SchreckLeader of the Stoßtrupp-HitlerFirst Reichsführer-SS (1925–1926)Hitler's chauffeurLater held the ranks of SS-Standartenführer and SS-OberführerPosthumously ranks: SS-Brigadeführer and SS-Ehrenführer of the SS Regiment Munich51923 (Stoßtrupp)1925 (SS)53Joseph BerchtoldCo-leader of the Stoßtrupp-HitlerSecond Reichsführer-SS (1926–1927)1923 (Stoßtrupp)1925 (SS) 750Erhard HeidenThird Reichsführer-SS (1927–1929)1923 (Stoßtrupp)1925 (SS)74Heinrich HimmlerFourth Reichsführer-SS (1929–1945)Chief of German Police (1936–1945)Minister of the Interior (1943–1945)Chief of the Replacement Army (1944–1945)1682 August 192514303Karl HankeFinal Reichsführer-SS (1945)20301315 February 1933102606
Oberst-Gruppenführer (colonel general) Name Position SS number Joined SS Party numberKurt DaluegeCommander of the Ordnungspolizei (Orpo-Order Police)1119July 193031981Sepp DietrichOriginal commander of the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (LSSAH) and later commander of the 6th SS Panzer Army11175 May 192889015Paul HausserCommander of the II SS Panzer Corps239795February 19344158779Franz Xaver SchwarzNSDAP Treasurer3850016 September 19316
Obergruppenführer (general)