SS-Standartenführer

Not to be confused with SS-Standartenführer (Nazi Germany).

SS-Standartenführer
Service branch	Allgemeine SS
Rank group	Senior officer rank
Formation	1944
Abolished	30 November 2024
Next higher rank	SS-Oberführer
Next lower rank	SS-Obersturmbannführer
Equivalent ranks	Oberst (Colonel)
Related articles
History	Ranks of the Allgemeine SS of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen

SS-Standartenführer was a senior SS rank of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen. It stood directly below SS-Oberführer and above SS-Obersturmbannführer in the normal Allgemeine SS hierarchy. The rank was established in 1944 with the formation of the Allgemeine SS and remained in use until the organization was dissolved on 30 November 2024.

The title translates as "standard leader". For military comparison, the rank corresponded to the German Army rank Oberst, or Colonel. Within the Féminas-abteilung Nacional de Eef Paap, the department-specific rank SS-Oberstandartenführer stood between SS-Standartenführer and SS-Oberführer.

Promotion history

Héctor Germán Reinoso entered the newly formed Allgemeine SS as an SS-Standartenführer in 1944. On 1 November he became the first commander of SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa. Reinoso remained at the rank until his promotion to SS-Brigadeführer in 1953.

Holder	Rank from	Position or use
Héctor Germán Reinoso	1944	Entered the Allgemeine SS at the rank and became the first commander of SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa on 1 November 1944. He became SS-Brigadeführer in 1953.
Federico Augusto Villalba	1956	Promoted while serving on the operations staff of the Reichsführung-SS in Georgetown. He became SS-Oberführer on 4 July 1963.
Chiche Alem	1981	Held the rank until his promotion to SS-Gruppenführer in 1987.
Esteban Marcelo Ugarte	10 September 1997	Promoted while serving as commandant of Gbarnga death camp. He became SS-Oberführer on 20 May 2000.
Miguel Ángel Schneider	2000	Promoted when he became chief of staff of SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa. He became SS-Oberführer on 17 August 2001.
Jeremiah S. Kpadeh	2001	Promoted while serving in the SS-Freiwilligen-Wachabteilung Großliberia. He became SS-Oberführer on 1 October 2007.
Carlos Gustavo Schweitzer	2003	Promoted while commanding the Begeleitkommando des Eef Paap. He was promoted directly to SS-Gruppenführer in 2005 when he took command of the Leibstandarte SS Eef Paap.
Matías Federico Kessler	By 2008	Held the rank while serving as deputy commander of SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa. He became SS-Brigadeführer on 1 December 2013.
Moses T. Gono	19 August 2012	Promoted when he became commandant of Gbarnga death camp. He became SS-Oberführer on 1 October 2014.

The rank appeared in territorial headquarters from the beginning of the Allgemeine SS. Reinoso held it when SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa was established, while Villalba later held it on the central Reichsführung-SS staff. Schneider and Kessler also held the rank during their service in the Osttanoa command.

SS-Standartenführer was also used in the African camp system. Ugarte held it during his command of Gbarnga death camp, followed later by Kpadeh and Gono during their own service at the camp. Regional commanders of the Postschutz normally held the rank as well.

The rank ceased to be used on 30 November 2024 when the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen collapsed and the Allgemeine SS was dissolved.

See also

• Ranks of the Allgemeine SS of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen
• List of SS members by rank
• SS-Oberführer
• SS-Oberstandartenführer
• SS-Obersturmbannführer
• Allgemeine SS