
SS-Bewerber

SS-Bewerber or Staffel-Bewerber (; "SS-Applicant") was an SS rank used in Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945. The rank of "SS-Bewerber" was the lowest possible SS rank and was assigned to those personnel who were a candidate in the SS. The rank was most often used in the "Allgemeine-SS" as a prelude to appointment as an "SS-Anwärter".
Within the "Allgemeine-SS", the rank of "SS-Bewerber" was (more often than not) used simply as an administrative title while a background investigation was being conducted on a potential SS member. Typically this would involve a criminal history check, political reliability screening, and investigation into the prospective SS member's racial background.
The rank of "SS-Bewerber" was also occasionally used in the "Waffen-SS", but merely as a title for an SS recruit who had yet to report for initial in-processing and basic training. An SS-"Bewerber" was rarely issued a uniform or any type of insignia. In the few cases where a uniform was provided, a basic SS uniform would be worn without any insignia.