♦ German Armed Forces World War II ♦

Table of Officer Ranks

 
HEER LUFTWAFFE KRIEGSMARINE WAFFEN-SS
GENERAL OFFICERS
Generalfeldmarschall
Field Marshal		 Generalfeldmarschall
Field Marshal		 Großadmiral  •  Grand Admiral See Notes
Generaloberst  •  Colonel-General Generaloberst  •  Colonel-General Generaladmiral  •  General-Admiral SS-Oberst-Gruppenführer und Generaloberst der Waffen-SS
General der Waffengattung *
General of Arm/Branch		 General der Waffengattung *
General of Arm/Branch		 Admiral  •  Admiral SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS
Generaleutnant
Lieutenant-General		 Generaleutnant
Lieutenant-General		 Vizeadmiral  •  Vice-Admiral SS-Gruppenführer und Generaleutnant der Waffen-SS
Generalmajor  •  Major-General Generalmajor  •  Major-General Konteradmiral  •  Rear-Admiral SS-Brigadeführer und  Generalmajor der Waffen-SS
FIELD GRADE & COMPANY GRADE OFFICERS
Oberst  • Colonel Oberst  • Colonel Kommodore *** / Kapitän zur See
Senior Captain / Captain		 SS-Oberführer †
 SS-Standartenführer
Oberstleutnant
Lieutenant-Colonel		 Oberstleutnant
Lieutenant-Colonel		 Fregattenkapitän  •  Commander SS-Obersturmbannführer
Major  •  Major Major  •  Major Korvettenkapitän
 Lieutenant-Commander		 SS-Sturmbannführer
Hauptmann / Rittmeister **
Captain		 Hauptmann  •  Captain Kapitänleutnant
 Senior Lieutenant		 SS-Hauptsturmführer
Oberleutnant  •  First Lieutenant Oberleutnant  •  First Lieutenant Leutnant zur See  •  Lieutenant SS-Obersturmführer

Leutnant  •  Lieutenant

 Leutnant  •  Lieutenant Leutnant  •  Sub-Lieutenant SS-Untersturmführer


Notes

Waffen-SS rank titles originated with the Nazi Party's paramilitary organization, the Sturmabteilung (SA or Stormtroopers), of which the SS was originally a part. Those given above were in use from 1942. There was no Waffen-SS rank equivalent to Generalfeldmarschall; Heinrich Himmler's rank of Reichführer-SS denoted his status as commander of the entire SS organization, which encompassed many branches.

* A General der Waffengattung appended his branch of service to his rank title, e.g. General der Panzertruppe (Heer), General der Flieger (Luftwaffe).

** Rittmeister was the rank title for captains of the cavalry branch of service.

*** The Kommodore was not considered a flag officer and is best characterized as a senior captain.

† The SS-Oberführer is best characterized as a senior colonel.
 

 

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