In Nazi Germany, the Standarte (pl. Standarten) was a paramilitary unit of Nazi Party (NSDAP), Sturmabteilung (SA), NSKK, NSFK, and Schutzstaffel (SS). Translated literally as "Regimental standard", the name refers to the flag paramilitary formations carried in formations and parades.
Sturmabteilung
The Sturmabteilung (SA) was organized into several large regional groups (Gruppen). Each Gruppe had subordinate brigades (Brigaden). From 1934 until 1945, subordinate to each brigade were 3 to 9 smaller regiment-sized units called Standarten. SA-Standarten operated in every major German city and were split into even smaller units, known as Sturmbanne (3 to 5 Sturmbanne per Standarte) and Stürme.
SA-Standarte "Feldherrnhalle" After the death of Ernst Röhm in 1934, new SA-Stabschef Viktor Lutze reorganized the SA to include the creation of an SA-Standarte, consisting of six battalions of volunteers that were headquartered in different locations throughout Germany: it guarded sensitive SA, state and NSDAP offices in Berlin, Hannover, Hattingen, Krefeld, Munich, Ruhr, Stetten and Stuttgart. After the annexation of Austria in 1938, a seventh battalion was established in Vienna.
In September 1936 the SA-Standarte was given the honorary title “Feldherrnhalle” to commemorate the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch. On Hermann Göring's birthday on 12 January 1937, Lutze made Göring honorary commander of the SA-Standarte "Feldherrnhalle", who transferred control of the unit to the Luftwaffe. Members were now required to undergo military training as well as instruction as parachutists. In 1938 the Regiment was mobilized for use in the occupation of Sudetenland.
When Germany invaded Poland in 1939, members of the SA-Standarte were transferred to the newly formed Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 2, while other members were transferred to the Infantry Battalion “Feldherrnhalle”, which was part of the German Army's Infantry Regiment 271. A detachment of SA-Standarte "Feldherrnhalle" members continued to serve under the SA until May 1945.
National Socialist Motor Corps (NSKK) Similarly to the SA, each NSKK Motorbrigade included 3–5 Motorstandarten. A NSKK Transportstandarte Speer existed from May 1940 to June 1941 (later upgraded to a Transportbrigade), while a NSKK Transportstandarte Todt existed from September 1939 to May 1940 (later elevated to a Transportbrigade).
Schutzstaffel
The SS-Standarte was the primary unit of the Allgemeine-SS, named after the term for a "Regimental Standard", or flag. The Standarten were organized into regimental-sized formations each with its own number, but also were referred to by other names, such as location, a popular name, or an honorary title; generally SS or NSDAP members killed before the Nazis obtained national power. For example, the 18th SS-Standarte in Königsberg was named "Ostpreußen" while the 6th SS-Standarte of Berlin was named "Graham Kämmer". There were 127 SS-Standarten. The standard rank for the Standarte leader was that of Standartenführer (colonel).
The SS-Standarte was usually led an SS-Standartenführer, it included 3–4 Sturmbanne and had a normal personnel strength of 1,000–3,000 men. The SS-Standarte corresponded to the Army Regiment. The Sturmbanne I-III were formed from the active members, while the Sturmbann IV was considered a reserve unit.
All SS organizations – such as the Allegemeine-SS and the Reiter-SS, but also the SS-Totenkopfverbände (SS-TV) and the SS-Verfügungstruppe (SS-VT) were divided into Standarten. From 1935 onwards, much to the displeasure of Heinrich Himmler, this designation was replaced by the corresponding military term, Regiment.
After World War II began, the paramilitary Standarten began to shrink in size, some becoming the size of small companies. As of 1945, the foot Standarten of the Allegemeine-SS formally comprised 127 Standarten, most of which, however, only existed on paper and had not even reached the nominal strength prescribed by Himmler.
SS-Verfügungstruppe
The SS-Standarten of the SS-Verfügungstruppe (SS-St./VT) emerged in the autumn of 1934, when the SS-Standarte "Deutschland" and the SS-Standarte "Germania" were established.