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Wehrmacht History 1935 to 1945

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Heer

Ranks




Heer Ranks

Insignia

The Heer rank system is very complicated, so I have only included the more common ranks. The translation is too American equivalent of ranks. If you have any corrections or additions, then please contact me.

Generalfeldmarschall
=
Field Marshal
Generalfeldmarschall Collar
Collar
Generalfeldmarschall Shoulder
Shoulder
Generalfeldmarschall Arm
Arm
Generaloberst
=
General
Generaloberst Collar
Collar
Generaloberst Shoulder
Shoulder
Generaloberst Arm
Arm
General der (Arm)
=
Lieutenant General
General der (Arm) Collar
Collar
General der (Arm) Shoulder
Shoulder
General der (Arm) Arm
Arm
Generalleutnant
=
Major General
Generalleutnant Collar
Collar
Generalleutnant Shoulder
Shoulder
Generalleutnant Arm
Arm
Generalmajor
=
Brigadier General
Generalmajor Collar
Collar
Generalmajor Shoulder
Shoulder
Generalmajor Arm
Arm
Oberst
=
Colonel
Oberst Collar
Collar
Oberst Shoulder
Shoulder
Oberst Arm
Arm
Oberstleutnant
=
Lieutenant Colonel
Oberstleutnant Collar
Collar
Oberstleutnant Shoulder
Shoulder
Oberstleutnant Arm
Arm
Major
=
Major
Major Collar
Collar
Major Shoulder
Shoulder
Major Arm
Arm
Hauptmann
=
Captain
Hauptmann Collar
Collar
Hauptmann Shoulder
Shoulder
Hauptmann Arm
Arm
Oberleutnant
=
1st Lieutenant
Oberleutnant Collar
Collar
Oberleutnant Shoulder
Shoulder
Oberleutnant Arm
Arm
Leutnant
=
2nd Lieutenant
Leutnant Collar
Collar
Leutnant Shoulder
Shoulder
Leutnant Arm
Arm
Stabsfeldwebel
=
Sergeant Major
Leutnant Collar
Collar
Restricted to career volunteers, automatic after 12 years' service.
Leutnant Shoulder
Shoulder
Leutnant Arm
Arm
Hauptfeldwebel
=
1st Major
Hauptfeldwebel Collar
Collar
Hauptfeldwebel Shoulder
Shoulder
Hauptfeldwebel Arm
Arm
Oberfeldwebel
=
Master Sergeant
Hauptfeldwebel Collar
Collar
Hauptfeldwebel Shoulder
Shoulder
Hauptfeldwebel Arm
Arm
Feldwebel
=
Techical Sergeant
Feldwebel Collar
Collar
From mid-war an automatic promotion for acting platoon leaders with 4 months' combat experience.
Feldwebel Shoulder
Shoulder
Feldwebel Arm
Arm
Unterfeldwebel
=
Staff Sergeant
Unterfeldwebel Collar
Collar
Called Sergeant to 1921. Automatic after 6 years' service and 3 years as an Unteroffizier if not yet advanced to Feldwebel/Wachtmeister.
Unterfeldwebel Shoulder
Shoulder
Unterfeldwebel Arm
Arm
Unteroffizier
=
Sergeant
Unteroffizier Collar
Collar
Soldier selected for or attending Unteroffizierschule (NCO school); could be of any rank from Soldat through Stabsgefreiter
Unteroffizier Shoulder
Shoulder
Unteroffizier Arm
Arm
Stabsgefreiter
=
Administrative Corp
Stabsgefreiter Collar
Collar
Promotions to this rank were suspended in 1934, although existing Stabsgefreiter retained it, promotions resumed in 1942. Automatic after 5 years' service and 2 years as an Obergefreiter if not yet an NCO.
Stabsgefreiter Shoulder
Shoulder
Stabsgefreiter Arm
Arm
Obergefreiter
=
Corporal, with over six years service
Obergefreiter Collar
Collar
Obergefreiter Shoulder
Shoulder
Obergefreiter Arm
Arm
Obergefreiter
=
Corporal, with under six years service
Obergefreiter Collar
Collar
Obergefreiter Shoulder
Shoulder
Obergefreiter Arm
Arm
Gefreiter
=
Acting Corporal
Gefreiter Collar
Collar
Gefreiter Shoulder
Shoulder
Gefreiter Arm
Arm
Obergrenadier
=
Private 1st Class
Obergrenadier Collar
Collar
Obergrenadier Shoulder
Shoulder
Obergrenadier Arm
Arm
Grenadier
=
Private
Grenadier Collar
Collar
Grenadier Shoulder
Shoulder
none
Arm


Oberfähnrich
=
SR Officer Candidate
Oberfähnrich Collar
Collar
Graduate serving as acting lieutenant, ensign or 3rd Lieutenant prior to commissioning as an officer.
Oberfähnrich Shoulder
Shoulder
Oberfähnrich Arm
Arm
Fähnrich
=
Officer Candidate
Fähnrich Collar
Collar
Cadet completing Officer Candidate School or specialist academy
Fähnrich Shoulder
Shoulder
Fähnrich Arm
Arm

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