Band Officers

Band Officers
(Musikmeister/Stabsmusikmeister/Musikinspizienten)

Band Officers in the German Army ranked between NCOs and Officers, and after March 1936 formed a separate rank class. They did not have powers of command, though they were entitled to wear officers' uniforms and did hold officer-equivalent rank. Musikinspizienten (Music Directors) were considered staff officers. Bandmasters conducted the bands of infantry, light infantry (Jäger), cavalry, and artillery regimental bands, as well as the bands of engineer battalions.

Category	Rank	Assignment	Equivalent Rank
Musikinspizienten (Music Directors)	Obermusikinspizient	Attached to Oberkommando des Heeres (Army High Command)	Oberstleutnant
Musikinspizienten (Music Directors)	Musikinspizient	Attached to Oberkommando des Heeres (Army High Command)	Major
Stabsmusikmeister (Senior Bandmaster)	Stabsmusikmeister	Regimental Band	Hauptmann
Musikmeister (Junior Bandmaster)	Obermusikmeister	Regimental Band	Oberleutnant
Musikmeister (Junior Bandmaster)	Musikmeister	Regimental Band	Leutnant

Insignia

Shoulder boards worn by band officers were as follows:

The basic boards for Music Directors were similar to those of army field grade officers, with a red central stripe to the aluminium braids.
The basic boards for Bandmasters were similar to those of army junior officers, with red cords alternating with the aluminium ones.
Higher ranks were indicated by gilt rank stars, and a gilt lyre was worn by all band officers on the shoulder board as well. Unit numbers were also sometimes worn.

Bandmasters also wore the waffenfarbe of the regiment or battalion to whom their band belonged.

Branch	Musikmeister	Obermusikmeister	Stabsmusikmeister

Infantry

Light Infantry (Jäger)

Artillery

Cavalry

Engineer

Armoured

Music Directors wore red piping until 18 February 1943, after which they too wore waffenfarbe piping.

Musikinspizient	Obermusikinspizient

Field-quality shoulder boards were also seen; the aluminium braid was replaced with matt aluminium, and later, field grey material.

Band Officers also wore gold staff-pattern collar patches (either bright or matt), and from 1938 wore aluminium and red silk aiguillettes for formal occasions.

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