Overview[]
The Wehrmacht utilized a wide range of ranks for all types of units within its hierarchy.
Standard Ranks[]
Enlisted[]
Sleeve Insignia |
Shoulder Insignia |
Name | NATO Equivalent | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
- | Soldat | See Wehrmacht Branches section below. | ||
Obersoldat | See Wehrmacht Branches section below. | |||
Gefreiter | ||||
Obergefreiter | ||||
Obergefreiter | 6 year service veteran. | |||
Stabsgefreiter | Suspended 1934, resumed 1942. |
Non-Commissioned Officers[]
Sleeve Insignia |
Shoulder Insignia |
Name | NATO Equivalent | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Unteroffizier | ||||
Unterfeldwebel | ||||
Feldwebel | ||||
Oberfeldwebel | ||||
Stabsfeldwebel |
Officers[]
Sleeve Insignia |
Shoulder Insignia |
Name | NATO Equivalent | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Leutnant | ||||
Oberleutnant | ||||
Hauptmann | ||||
Major | ||||
Oberstleutnant | ||||
Oberst | ||||
Generalmajor | ||||
Generalleutnant | ||||
General der... | See Wehrmacht Branches section below. | |||
Generaloberst | ||||
Generalfeldmarschall |
Branches[]
Branches[]
Colour | Name | Description | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Artillerietruppe
Sturmgeschütze Schwere Fla.K. Generalität |
Artillery, assault guns, heavy anti-aircraft, general staff | For Generalität: Only used for Festungsbaupioniere, Waffenoffiziere, and Feuerwerker | |
Baupioniere | |||
Feldgeistliche | Chaplains | ||
Infanterie
Motorisierte Infanterie |
Infantry, motorized infantry | ||
Jäger | Light infantry, mountain infantry, ski infantry | ||
Kavallerie
Aufklärungs |
Cavalry, reconnaissance. | ||
Kriegsministerium / OKW
Generalstabsoffiziere Veterinärwesen |
Ministry of war / OKW, general staff officers, veterinary | ||
Kraftfahrparktruppen Nachschubtruppe |
Transport and logistics | ||
Kradschützen | Motocycle units | ||
Feldgendarmiere | Military police | ||
Heeresbeamte | Military officials | ||
Nachrichtentruppe | Signals | Until 1937. | |
Nachrichtentruppe | Signals | From 1937. | |
Nebeltruppe Beamte am Reichskriegsgericht |
Smoke troops, officials of the reich court marshal | ||
Pioniere | Engineers / sappers. | Inverted Infanterie colours. | |
Propagandatruppe | |||
Panzertruppe Kraftfahrkampftruppe Kraftfahrtruppen |
Tank force, combat vehicle force | ||
Panzergrenadiertruppe | Motorized and mechanized infantry. | ||
Sanitätstruppe | Medical |
Ranks[]
Officer Candidates[]
Sleeve Insignia |
Shoulder Insignia |
Name | NATO Equivalent | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Fahnenjunker | ||||
Fahnenjunker-Gefreiter | ||||
Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier | ||||
Fähnrich | ||||
Oberfähnrich |