Chart of German Army Ranks, 1933 ~ 1945





 

German Army Rank Term British Army Equivalent ABBR.
     

MANNSCHAFTEN (MEN)

Schütze Private, infantry  
Grenadier Private, infantry  
Fusilier Private, infantry  
Musketier Private, infantry  
Jäger Private in a rifle battalion or mountain regiment  
Reiter Trooper, cavalry  
Kanonier Gunner, artillery  
Panzerschütze Tank crew member  
Panzergrenadier Infantry private, armored unit  
Pionier Sapper (Engineer)  
Funker Signaller  
Fahrer Driver, horse-drawn vehicles  
Kraftfahrer Driver, mechanized vehicles  
Musikerschütze Musician  
Trompeterreiter Cavalry trumpeter  
Sanitätssoldat Medical orderly  
Beschlagschmiedschütze Farrier  
Beschlagschmiedreiter Cavalry farrier  
Oberschütze Senior private  
Oberreiter Senior cavalry trooper  
Oberkanonier Senior gunner  
Panzeroberschütze Senior tank crew member  
Oberpanzergrenadier Senior infantry private, armored unit  
Oberpionier Senior sapper  
Oberfunker Senior signaller  
Oberkraftfahrer Senior driver, mechanized vehicles  
Oberfahrer Senior driver, horse-drawn vehicles  
Musikeroberschütze Senior musician  
Trompeteroberreiter Senior cavalry trumpeter  
Sanitätsobersoldat Senior medical orderly  
Beschlagschmiedoberschütze Senior farrier  
Beschlagschmiedoberreiter Senior cavalry farrier  
Gefreiter Lance-corporal  
Fahnenjunker-Gefreiter Cadet lance-corporal  
Sanitätsgefreiter Lance-corporal, medical troops  
Beschlagschmiedgefreiter Farrier lance-corporal  
Obergefreiter Corporal  
Beschlagschmiedobergefreiter Farrier corporal  
Sanitätsobergefreiter Corporal, medical troops  
Stabsgefreiter Senior staff corporal  

UNTEROFFIZIER OHNE PORTEPEE (JUNIOR NCO'S)

Unteroffizier Lance-sergeant  
Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier Cadet lance-sergeant  
Sanitätsunteroffizier Medical lance-sergeant  
Beschlagschmiedunteroffizier Farrier lance-sergeant  
Unterfeldwebel Sergeant in infantry, sappers, armored units, mechanized supply units, and smoke troops  
Unterwachtmeister Sergeant in the cavalry, artillery, signals, and horse-drawn supply troops  
Sanitätsunterfeldwebel Sergeant, medical troops  
Beschlagschmiedunterwachtmeister Farrier sergeant, cavalry  
Fähnrich Ensign  

UNTEROFFIZIER MIT PORTEPEE (SENIOR NCO's)

   
Feldwebel Company sergeant-major  
Wachtmeister Sergeant-major, cavalry  
Sanitätsfeldwebel Sergeant-major, medical troops  
Baschlagmeister Farrier sergeant-major  
Feuerwerker Ordnance sergeant-major  
Wallfeldwebel Fortifications sergeant-major  
Festungspionierfeldwebel Fortress engineer sergeant-major  
Funkmeister Signals sergeant-major  
Brieftaubmeister Sergeant-major, carrier pigeons  
Schirmeister Saddler sergeant-major  
Oberfeldwebel Battalion sergeant-major  
Oberwachtmeister Squadron sergeant-major  
Oberfähnrich Senior ensign  
Sanitätsoberfeldwebel Battalion sergeant-major, medical troops  
Oberbeschlagmeister Battalion farrier sergeant-major  
Oberfeuerwerker Battalion ordnance sergeant-major  
Walloberfeldwebel Fortifications battalion sergeant-major  
Festungspionieroberfeldwebel Fortress engineer battalion sergeant-major  
Oberfunkmeister Battalion sergeant-major, signals  
Oberbrieftaubenmeister Battalion sergeant-major, carrier pigeons  
Oberschirmeister Battalion saddler sergeant-major  
Hauptfeldwebel Regimental sergeant-major  
Hauptwachtmeister Regimental sergeant-major, cavalry  
Stabsfeldwebel Staff sergeant-major  
Stabswachtmeister Staff sergeant-major, cavalry  
Sanitätsstabsfeldwebel Staff sergeant-major, medical troops  
Stabsbeschlagmeister Farrier staff sergeant-major  
Stabsfeuerwerker Staff sergeant-major, ordnance  
Wallstabsfeldwebel Fortifications staff sergeant-major  
Festungspionierstabsfeldwebel Fortress engineer staff sergeant-major  
Stabsfunkmeister Staff master wireless operator  
Stabsbrieftaubenmeister Staff master carrier pigeon handler  
Stabschirmmeister Staff master saddler  
Hufbeschlaglehrmeister Farrier instruction master  
Festungswerkmeister Fortress construction master  
Oberhufbeschlaglehrmeister Senior farrier instruction master  
Festungsoberwerkmeister Senior fortress construction master  

LEUTNANTE (LIEUTENANTS)

Leutnant Second lieutenant Lt.
Assistensarzt Second lieutenant, medical corps  
Veterinär Veterinary second lieutenant  
Musikmeister Director of Music, second lieutenant  
Oberleutnant First lieutentant Oblt.
Oberarzt Medical lieutenant O.Arzt
Oberveterinär Veterinary lieutenant O.Vet.
Obermusikmeister Director of Music, lieutenant  

HAUPTLEUTE (CAPTAINS)

Hauptmann Captain, infantry Hptm.
Rittmeister Captain of cavalry and horse-drawn supply units Rttm.
Stabsarzt Captain, Medical Corps St.Arzt
Stabsveterinär Captain, Veterinary Corps St.Vet.
Stabsmusikmeister Director of Music, captain  

STABSOFFIZIERE (FIELD OFFICERS)

Major Major Maj.
Oberstabsarzt Major, Medical Corps O.St.Arzt
Musikinspizient Inspector of Music  
Oberstleutnant Lieutenant-colonel Obstlt.
Oberfeldarzt Lieutenant-colonel, Medical Corps O.Fld.Arzt
Oberfeldveterinär Veterinary lieutenant-colonel O.Fld.Vet.
Obermusikinspizient Senior Inspector of Music  
Oberst Colonel Obst.
Oberstarzt Colonel, Medical Corps Obst.Arzt
Oberstveterinär Colonel, Veterinary Corps Obst.Vet.

GENERALE (GENERALS)

Generalmajor Major-general Gen.Maj.
Generalarzt Medical general Gen.Arzt
Generalveterinär Veterinary general Gen.Vet.
Generalleutnant Lieutenant-general Gen.Lt.
Generalstabsarzt Deputy-general, medical services Gen.St.Arzt
Generalstabsveterinär Deputy-general, Army Veterinary Department Gen.St.Vet.
General der Infanterie General of infantry Gen.d.Inf.
General der Kavallerie General of cavalry Gen.d.Kav.
General der Artillerie General of artillery Gen.d.Art.
General der Pioniere General of engineres Gen.d.Pion.
General der Panzertruppe General of armored troops Gen.d.Pz.Tr.
General der Gebirgstruppe General of mountain troops Gen.d.Geb.Tr.
General der Nachrichtentruppe General of signals troops Gen.d.Na.Tr.
Generaloberstabsarzt Head of Army Medical Services Gen.Obst.St.Arzt
Generaloberstabsveterinär Head of Army Veterinary Services Gen.Obst.St.Vet.
Generaloberst Colonel-general Gen.Obst.
Generalfeldmarschall General field-marshal GFM


 

GERMAN ARMY WEHRMACHTBEAMTEN RANKS

I. Army Administration Officials Holding Positions Equivalent to General Class Army Officer Ranks
Generalstabsintendant General Staff commissariat commander  
Generalintendant General commissariat commander  
Heeresintendant Army commissary  
Ministerialdirektor Ministerial director  
Oberreichskriegsanwalt Judge Advocate General  
Senatspräsident President of a court martial  
Ministerialdirigent Administrative official, usually of lieutenant-general rank  
Gruppenintendant Army Group commissariat commander  
Korpsintendant Army Corps commissariat commander  
Ministerialrat (mit den Dienstgradeabzeichen des Generales) Ministerial adviso with the rank of general  
Oberreichskriegsanwalt Senior attorney in the War Office  
Senatspräsident beim Reichskriegsgericht President of the Reich court martial  
Reichskriegsgerichtsrat Army court martial counselor  
Präsident des Heeresarchivs Wien Presidnet of the Army Archives at Vienna  
Feldbischof Chaplain-General to the Forces  
Präsident President  
Vorstand des Heeres-Plankammer Head of the Army Chamber of Planning  
II. Administration Officials Holding Positions Equivalent to 'Stabsoffiziere" (Field Officer) Class Army Officer Ranks
Abteilungschef im Reichskreigs-Ministerium Departmental head in the War Ministry  
Ministerialrat Ministerial advisor  
Intendant Commissary  
Direktor Director  
Oberintendanturrat Lieutenant-colonel in commissariat  
Intendanturrat Major in commissariat  
Obermusikinspizient Senior Director of Music  
Heeresmusikinspizient Director of Army Music  
Ministerialbürodirektor Ministerial administration officer with the rank of lieutenant-colonel  
Amtsrat Senior administration official with the rank of Major  
Oberfeldzahlmeister Senior paymaster  
Intendanturamtmann Member of an army commissary department  
Oberstabszahlmeister Senior paymaster with the rank of major or lieutenant-colonel  
Oberstkriegsgerichtsrat Colonel on court martial committee  
Oberkriegsgerichtsrat Lieutenant-colonel on court martial committee  
Kriegsgerichtsrat Majo on court martial committee  
Heeresjustizamtmann Major in the army judicial service  
Bibliothekar Librarian  
Oberregierungsrat Senior administration official with the rank of lieutenant-colonel  
Regierungsrat Administration official with the rank of major  
Vermessungsamtmann Survey official with the rank of major  
Oberregierungsbaurat Construction or building administration official with the rank of lieutenant-colonel  
Regierungsbaurat Construction or building administration official with the rank of major  
Technischer-Oberamtsmann Technical administration official with the rank of major  
Verwaltungsamtmann Administration official with the rank of major  
Oberregierungschemiker Chemistry administration official with the rank of lieutenant-colonel