Table of Ranks: Wehrmacht - Heer

The following table lists the various ranks of the German Army, grouped according to category (Mannschaften (Men), Unteroffiziere (Non-Commissioned Officers), Offiziere (Officers) and Generäle (Generals)).   A brief listing of rank-specific titles has been included also; this list has been greatly simplified as there were dozens of rank titles for soldiers holding specific appointments, from Senior Inspector of Music (Obermusikinspizient) to Army sports instructor (Heeressportlehrer).  Many of the intricacies and cumbersome position/appointment/rank titles may indeed have been beyond the general knowledge even of serving German soldiers themselves. 

Mannschaften
(Men)
emcollar.gif (1269 bytes) emcollar2.gif (1254 bytes) emcollar3.gif (1185 bytes)

Typical collar tabs worn by Mannschaften

1.gif (1233 bytes)
Soldat

The term Soldat was generic; most soldiers had a rank title based on the type of unit they were assigned to, or the trade in which they were employed.

In 1939, a private of infantry was called Schütze.   In 1942, Hitler personally replaced the term Schütze with the title Grenadier, as an homage to the armies of Frederick the Great.

Infantrymen in panzer divisions were originally also called Schützen, but were renamed Panzergrenadier at about the same time.

Other honorifics for infantrymen included Füsilier (Fusilier in English) and Musketier (Musketeer).

1.gif (1233 bytes)
Obersoldat
gef1.gif (1247 bytes)

The "ober" prefix was added to all the titles listed above to indicate this rank.

The term Oberjäger was not used for this rank; a man holding this grade serving in Jäger and Gebirgsjäger units was instead referred to as Oberschütze, as were, of course, men in infantry units before use of the word Grenadier, and Schützen regiments before being renamed Panzergrenadiere.

It is possible this grade was not part of the normal rank progression.  This grade was automatic upon one year's service.  However,  most soldiers in the German Army could be expected to reach Gefreiter in less than a year's time - the conclusion to draw is that anyone being made an Oberschütze (etc.) probably was not considered a promising soldier.

1.gif (1233 bytes)
Gefreiter

gef2.gif (1895 bytes)

The rank of Gefreiter did not denote a non-commissioned officer in any sense of the word; he had no command authority and the rank he wore represented a raise in pay and little else.

1.gif (1233 bytes)
Obergefreiter
gef3.gif (2100 bytes)

Up until 1942/43, an Obergefreiter with more than 6 years service wore a single chevron with a pip added. 

gef5.gif (2022 bytes)

1.gif (1233 bytes)
Stabsgefreiter
gef4.gif (2229 bytes)

After 1942/43 this insignia identified an Obergefreiter with more than six years service.


Trade/Branch Specific Titles - Mannschaften

Branch/Trade Soldat gefmini.gif (926 bytes) gef1mini.gif (927 bytes) gef2mini.gif (947 bytes)
Farrier Beschlagschmied
schütze
Beschlagschmied-
oberschütze
Beschlagschmied-
gefreiter
Beschlagschmied-
obergefreiter
Cavalry Farrier Beschlagschmied-
reiter
Beschlagschmied-
oberreiter
   
Trooper - Cavalry Reiter Oberreiter    
Cavalry Trumpeter Trompeter-
reiter
Trompeter-
oberreiter
   
Trooper - Armour Panzerschütze Panzer-
oberschütze
   
Motorized Infantry
(1942-45)
Panzergrenadier Ober-
panzergrenadier
   
Medical Sanitäts-
soldat
Sanitäts-
obersoldat
Sanitäts-
gefreiter
Sanitäts-
obergefreiter
Military Policeman Feldgendarm Feldobergendarm Gefreiter der
Feldgendarmerie
Obergefreiter der
Feldgendarmerie
Pioneer / Engineer Pionier Oberpionier    
Infantry
(1939-1942)
Schütze Oberschütze    
Infantry
(1942-45)
Grenadier Obergrenadier    
Musician Musikschütze Musikoberschütze    
Light Infantryman Jäger Oberschütze    
Mountain Trooper Jäger Oberschütze    
Artilleryman Kanonier Oberkanonier    
Signaller Funker Oberfunker    
Driver Fahrer Oberfahrer    
Driver,
Motorized vehicle
Kraftsfahrer Oberkraftsfahrer    

Unteroffiziere
(Non-Commissioned Officers)
ncocollar.gif (1482 bytes) ncocollar2.gif (1466 bytes) ncocollar3.gif (1425 bytes)

Typical collar tabs worn by NCOs with collar lace (tress) shown.

Unteroffiziere ohne Portepee
(Junior Non-Commissioned Officers)
Unteroffizier
2.gif (1470 bytes)

A Portepee is a decorative sword knot; in many militaries (including the German Army) senior NCOs were distinguished from other ranks by carrying a sword.  Unteroffiziere ohne Portepee means "NCO without Portepee", or in other words, those that did not carry swords or wear sword knots.

Unterfeldwebel
3.gif (1504 bytes)
Unteroffiziere mit Portepee
(Senior Non-Commissioned Officers)
Feldwebel
4.gif (1658 bytes)

A Portepee is a decorative sword knot; in many militaries (including the German Army) senior NCOs were distinguished from other ranks by carrying a sword.  Unteroffiziere mit Portepee means "NCO with Portepee", or in other words, those that did  carry swords  and wear sword knots.

Oberfeldwebel
5.gif (1783 bytes)

Stabsfeldwebel
8.gif (1816 bytes)

The Stabsfeldwebel rank was generally reserved for those soldiers who had signed on for full enlistments in the Reichsheer (interwar German Army), which required a man to sign on for 12 years.


Trade/Branch Specific Titles - Unteroffiziere

Branch/Trade rankmini4.gif (1071 bytes) rankmini3.gif (1082 bytes) rankmini2.gif (1118 bytes) rankmini1.gif (1147 bytes) rankmini5.gif (1171 bytes)
Farrier Beschlagschmied-
unteroffizier
Beschlagschmied-
unterwachtmeister
Beschlagmeister Ober-
beschlagmeister
 
Saddler     Schirrmeister Oberschirrmeister  
Cavalry Unterwachtmeister Wachtmeister Wachtmeister Oberwachtmeister Stabswachtmeister
Reconnaissance Unterwachtmeister Wachtmeister Wachtmeister Oberwachtmeister Stabswachtmeister
Medical Sanitäts-
unteroffizier
Sanitäts-
unterfeldwebel
Sanitäts-
feldwebel
Sanitäts-
oberfeldwebel
 
Military Policeman Unteroffizier der
Feldgendarmerie
Unterfeldwebel der
Feldgendarmerie
Feldwebel der
Feldgendarmerie
Oberfeldwebel der
Feldgendarmerie
Stabsfeldwebel der
Feldgendarmerie
Fortress Pioneer     Festungs-
pionierfeldwebel
Festungspionier-
oberfeldwebel
 
Fortifications     Wallfeldwebel Walloberfeldwebel  
Ordnance     Feuerwerker Oberfeuerwerker  
Carrier Pigeons     Brieftaubenmeister Oberbrief-
taubenmeister
 
Light Infantryman Oberjäger        
Mountain Trooper Oberjäger        
Artillery Unterwachtmeister Wachtmeister Wachtmeister Oberwachtmeister Stabswachtmeister
Signals Unterwachtmeister Wachtmeister Funkmeister Oberfunkmeister Stabswachtmeister
Horse Drawn
Supply Units
Unterwachtmeister Wachtmeister Wachtmeister Oberwachtmeister  

Kompanieoffiziere
(Company Grade Officers)
offcollar.gif (1448 bytes) offcollar2.gif (1413 bytes)

Typical collar tabs worn by officers.

Leutnante
(Lieutenants)
Leutnant
6.gif (1683 bytes)

While the American, British and Canadian militaries didn't/don't draw much of a distinction in everyday conversation between a Second Lieutenant and a Lieutenant, the German Army was very conscious of the distinction and the full rank title "Oberleutnant" was always used.

Oberleutnant
infobl.gif (1887 bytes)
Hauptleute
(Captains)
Hauptmann
infhau.gif (2015 bytes)

The plural of "Hauptmann" in German is "Hauptleute", literally "Main People."  The pluralization of this word by replacement with another is unusual even for German.


Branch Specific Titles - Kompanieoffiziere

Branch rankmini6.gif (1042 bytes) rankmini7.gif (1082 bytes) rankmini8.gif (1116 bytes)
Cavalry     Rittmeister
Reconnaissance     Rittmeister
Medical Assistenzarzt Oberarzt Stabsarzt
Veterinary Veterinär Oberveterinär Stabsveterinär
Military Police Leutnant der
Feldgendarmerie
Oberleutnant der
Feldgendarmerie
Hauptmann der
Feldgendarmerie
Director of Music Musikmeister Obermusikmeister Stabsmusikmeister
Horse Drawn
Supply Troops
    Rittmeister

Stabsoffiziere
(Field Grade Officers)
offcollar.gif (1448 bytes) offcollar2.gif (1413 bytes)

Typical collar tabs worn by officers.

Major infmaj.gif (2437 bytes)
Oberstleutnant

infobstl.gif (2594 bytes)

Oberst 7.gif (2601 bytes)

Branch Specific Titles - Stabsoffiziere

Branch rankmini9.gif (1266 bytes) rankmini10.gif (1291 bytes) rankmini11.gif (1302 bytes)
Medical Oberstabsarzt Oberfeldarzt Oberstarzt
Veterinary Oberstabsveterinär Oberfeldveterinär Oberstveterinär
Military Police Major der
Feldgendarmerie
Oberstleutnant der
Feldgendarmerie
Oberst der
Feldgendarmerie
Inspector of Music Musikinspizient Obermusikinspizient  

Generäle
(Generals)
gencoll.gif (1533 bytes) fmcoll.gif (1651 bytes)

.In 1942, a special collar patch for the rank Generalfeldmarschall was introduced, shown at right.   All other generals wore the patch at left.

Generalmajor genmaj.gif (2124 bytes)
Generalleutnant

genlt.gif (2647 bytes)

General der ...
(see below)
gender.gif (2671 bytes)
Unlike practice in other armies, Generals in the German Army retained a branch affiliation.  The full title for this rank thus also included the branch.
Generaloberst genobst.gif (2281 bytes)
Generalfeldmarschall genfm.gif (2208 bytes)
Until 1940, the shoulder straps of a Generaloberst were worn by those holding the rank of Generalfeldmarschall

Branch Specific Titles - Stabsoffiziere

Branch rankminigen3.gif (1263 bytes) rankminigen2.gif (1283 bytes) rankminigen1.gif (1291 bytes) rankminigen4.gif (1317 bytes)
Medical Generalarzt Generalstabsarz
(
Deputy General,
Medical Services)
  General-
oberstabsarzt

(Head of the
Medical Services)
Veterinary Generalvetrinär Generalstabsvetrinär
(Deputy General,
Army Veterinary
Department)
  General-
oberstabsvetrinär

(Head of the
Veterinary Services)
Artillery     General der
Artillerie
 
Mountain Troops     General der Gebirgstruppen  
Infantry     General der
Infanterie
 
Cavalry     General der
Kavallerie
 
Armoured troops     General der Panzertruppen  
Engineers     General der
Pioniere
 
Signals Troops     General der Nachrichtentruppe  

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