Ranks in the German Army
Simon:- It is notoriously difficult to compare the ranks of different armies because the commands or responsibilities given to someone of a particular rank varies with different armies. For example an Obergefreiter would, on the face of it, be the equivalent of a British Corporal/Bombardier (as they both wear 2 stripes). But whereas a Corporal is the normal rank for an infantry section commander in the British army, for the Germans (at least in WW2) it was an Unteroffizier (one up from Obrgfr) which has no direct relation. Confused? Well I`ll give you a list anyway, including Heer, Waffen-SS and British ranks. (Badges supplied by Richard Carr)
| HEER |
WAFFEN-SS |
BRITISH ARMY |
| Schutze |
SS-Schutze |
Private |
|
(Differs from arm to arm. e.g Panzerschutze) |
| Oberschutze |
SS-Oberschutze |
no equivalent |
| Gefreiter |
Sturmmann |
Lance Corporal |
| Obergerfreiter |
Rottenfuhrer |
Lance Corporal |
| Stabsgefreiter |
Stabsrottenfuhrer |
no equivalent |
| |
Left-right: Stabsgefreiter (Lance Corporal 5 Years total service 24.4.1942 – 9.5.1945); Obergefreiter mit mehr als 6 Dienstjahren (Lance Corporal 6 years total service); Obergefreiter mit mehr als 2 Dienstjahren (Lance Corporal 2 years total service); Gefreiter (lance Corporal 6 months total service); Obersoldat (Private 6 months total service) |
| HEER |
WAFFEN-SS |
BRITISH ARMY |
| Unteroffizier |
Unterscharfuhrer |
Corporal |
| Unterfeldwebel |
Scharfuhrer |
no equivalent |
| Feldwebel |
Oberscharfuhrer |
Sergeant |
| Oberfeldwebel |
Hauptscharfuhrer |
Staff Sergeant |
| no equivalent |
no equivalent |
Warrant-officer class 2 |
| Stabsfeldwebel |
Sturmscharfuhrer |
Warrant-officer class 1 |
| |
From left to right: Unteroffizier (Corporal); Unterfeldwebel (Lance – Sergeant); Pz.Rgt Grossdeutschland Feldwebel (Sergeant); Oberfeldwebel (Colour Sergeant) Pz.Rgt 1 |
| HEER |
WAFFEN-SS |
BRITISH ARMY |
| Leutnant |
Untersturmfuhrer |
2nd Lieutenant |
| Oberleutnant |
Obersturmfuhrer |
Lieutenant |
| Hauptmann |
Hauptsturmfuhrer |
Captain |
| Major |
Sturmbannfuhrer |
Major |
| Oberstleutnant |
Obersturmbannfuhrer |
Lieutenant Colonel |
| Oberst |
Standartenfuhrer |
Colonel |
| no equivalent |
Oberfuhrer |
Brigadier |
| Generalmajor |
Brigadefuhrer |
Major General |
| Generalleutnant |
Gruppenfuhrer |
Lieutenant General |
| General der .... (whatever arm) |
Obergruppenfuhrer |
General |
| Generaloberst |
Oberstgruppenfuhrer |
no equivalent |
| Generalfeldmarschall |
no equivalent |
Field Marshall |
| |
From left to right: Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant); Oberleutnant (Lieutenant); Hauptmann (Captain); Major (Major); Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel); Oberst (Colonel) |
Fahnrich, Oberfahnrich, Fahnenjunker (Sven`s rank)
Also difficult to explain as Britain doesn`t have this system of officer candidates in the ranks (I wish we did). Sven would have held an NCO rank of say Unteroffizier for example with the Fahnenjunker bit attached, thus becoming Fahnenjunker-unteroffizier. Bit of a mouth-full isn`t it.
The rank of Gauleiter is a political rank, a Gau is a district and leiter is leader so you have district leader. They were part of the NSDAP`s vast government system and held a lot of power in their home districts. These among others were known as `Golden pheasants` by the population, due to the fancy uniforms they wore.
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