Comparative ranks of Nazi Germany
The comparative ranks of Nazi Germany contrasts the ranks of the Wehrmacht to a number of national-socialist organisations in Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945 in a synoptic table. Nazi organisations used a hierarchical structure, according to the so-called Führerprinzip (leader principle), and were oriented in line with the rank order system of the Wehrmacht.[1]
Nazi rank structure in comparison to the Wehrmacht[]
Officer ranks[]
| Equivalent UK Army |
None | Field marshal | General | Lieutenant-general | Major-general | Brigadier | Colonel | Lieutenant-colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | Second lieutenant | |||||||||||||||||
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 Heer & Luftwaffe [2][3][4][5] |
 Reichs-marschall |
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| Generalfeldmarschall | Generaloberst | General der Waffengattung | Generalleutnant | Generalmajor | Oberst | Oberstleutnant | Major | Hauptmann | Oberleutnant | Leutnant | |||||||||||||||||||
 Navy[6][7][8] |
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| Großadmiral | Generaladmiral | Admiral | Vizeadmiral | Konteradmiral | Kommodore | Kapitän zur See | Fregattenkapitän | Korvettenkapitän | Kapitänleutnant | Oberleutnant zur See | Leutnant zur See | ||||||||||||||||||
 Technische Nothilfe(TENO) [9][10][11] |
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| Chef der TN | Stellvertretender chef der TN | TN-Landesführer | TN-Bezirksführer | TN-Hauptbereitschaftsführer | TN-Bereitschaftsführer | TN-Gefolgschaftsführer | TN-Gemeinschaftsführer | TN-Kameradschaftsführer | |||||||||||||||||||||
 German Red Cross(DRK) [12][13] |
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| Generalhauptführer | Generalführer | Oberstführer | Oberfeldführer | Feldführer | Hauptführer | Oberwachführer | Wachführer | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equivalent UK Army |
None | Field marshal | General | Lieutenant-general | Major-general | Brigadier | Colonel | Lieutenant-colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | Second lieutenant | |||||||||||||||||
 Waffen-SS & Allgemeine SS[14][15][16][4][17] |
No insignia |  
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| Oberster Führer der Schutzstaffel | Reichsführer-SS[a] | SS-Oberst-Gruppenführer[b] | SS-Obergruppenführer | SS-Gruppenführer | SS-Brigadeführer | SS-Oberführer | SS-Standartenführer | SS-Obersturmbannführer | SS-Sturmbannführer | SS-Hauptsturmführer[c] | SS-Obersturmführer | SS-Untersturmführer | |||||||||||||||||
 Ordnungspolizei(Orpo) [20][21] |
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| Chef der Deutschen Polizei | Generaloberst der Polizei |
General der Polizei |
Generalleutnant der Polizei |
Generalmajor der Polizei |
Oberst der Polizei |
Oberstleutnant der Polizei |
Major der Polizei |
Hauptmann der Polizei |
Oberleutnant der Polizei |
Leutnant der Polizei | |||||||||||||||||||
 Sturmabteilung(SA) [22][23][17] |
No insignia | 
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| Oberster SA-Führer | Stabschef SA[24] | SA-Obergruppenführer | SA-Gruppenführer | SA-Brigadeführer | SA-Oberführer | SA-Standartenführer | SA-Obersturmbannführer | SA-Sturmbannführer | SA-Hauptsturmführer (until 1939 SA-Sturmhauptführer) |
SA-Obersturmführer | SA-Sturmführer | ||||||||||||||||||
 National Socialist Motor Corps(NSKK) [25][1][26][27] |
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| NSKK-Korpsführer | NSKK-Obergruppenführer | NSKK-Gruppenführer | NSKK-Brigadeführer | NSKK-Oberführer | NSKK-Standartenführer | NSKK-Obersturmbannführer | NSKK-Sturmbannführer | NSKK-Hauptsturmführer | NSKK-Obersturmführer | NSKK-Sturmführer | |||||||||||||||||||
 National Socialist Flyers Corps(NSFK) [28][29][30][11] |
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| NSFK-Korpsführer | NSFK- | NSFK-Obergruppenführer | NSFK-Gruppenführer | NSFK-Brigadeführer | NSFK-Oberführer | NSFK-Standartenführer | NSFK-Obersturmbannführer | NSFK-Sturmbannführer | NSFK-Hauptsturmführer | NSFK-Obersturmführer | NSFK-Sturmführer | ||||||||||||||||||
 Reichsluftschutzbund(RLB) [31][32][11] |
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| RLB-Präsident | GeneralHauptluftschutzführer | Generalluftschutzführer | Oberstluftschutzführer | Oberststabsluftschutzführer | Stabsluftschutzführer | Hauptluftschutzführer | Oberluftschutzführer | Luftschutzführer | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Equivalent UK Army |
None | Field marshal | General | Lieutenant-general | Major-general | Brigadier | Colonel | Lieutenant-colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | Second lieutenant | |||||||||||||||||
 Reich Labour Service(RAD) [33][34][27] |
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| Reichs-arbeitsführer | Generaloberstfeldmeister | Generalfeldmeister | Obergeneralarbeitsführer | Generalarbeitsführer | Oberstarbeitsführer | Oberarbeitsführer | Arbeitsführer | Oberstfeldmeister | Oberfeldmeister | Feldmeister | |||||||||||||||||||
 Organisation Todt(OT) [35][36][37] |
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| Amtschef OT | OT-Einsatzgruppenleiter I | OT-Einsatzgruppenleiter II | OT-Einsatzleiter | OT-Hauptbauleiter | OT-Oberbauleiter | OT-Bauleiter | OT-Hauptbauführer | OT-Oberbauführer | OT-Bauführer | ||||||||||||||||||||
 Hitler Youth(HJ) [22][38][27] |
 Reichsjugendführer |
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| Stabsführer | Obergebietsführer | Gebietsführer | Hauptbannführer | Oberbannführer | Bannführer | Oberstammführer | Stammführer | Hauptgefolgschaftsführer | Obergefolgschaftsführer | Gefolgschaftsführer | |||||||||||||||||||
 Deutsches Jungvolk(DJ) |
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| Oberjungstammführer | Jungstammführer | Hauptfähnleinführer | Oberfähnleinführer | Fähnleinführer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
 League of German Girls & Jungmädelbund[39] |
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| Reichsreferentin | Gebietsmädelführerin | Hauptmädelführerin | Bannmädelführerin | Ringführerin | Hauptgruppenführerin | Gruppenführerin | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 Nazi Party(NSDAP) [40] |
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| Reichsleiter | Gauleiter | Hauptbefehlsleiter | Oberbefehlsleiter | Befehlsleiter | Hauptdienstleiter | Oberdienstleiter | Dienstleiter | Hauptbereichsleiter (Kreisleiter) | Bereichsleiter | Hauptabschnittsleiter | Oberabschnittsleiter | Abschnittsleiter | Hauptgemeinschaftsleiter (Ortsgruppenleiter) | Obergemeinschaftsleiter | Gemeinschaftsleiter | Haupteinsatzleiter | Obereinsatzleiter | Einsatzleiter | |||||||||||
| Equivalent UK Army |
None | Field marshal | General | Lieutenant-general | Major-general | Brigadier | Colonel | Lieutenant-colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | Second lieutenant | |||||||||||||||||
Enlisted[]
| Equivalent UK Army |
Regimental sergeant major | Sergeant major | Staff sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Lance corporal | Senior Private | Private (or equivalent) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Heer & Luftwaffe [2][3][41] |
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| Stabsfeldwebel | Oberfeldwebel | Feldwebel | Unterfeldwebel | Unteroffizier | Stabsgefreiter | Hauptgefreiter (only Luftwaffe) |
Obergefreiter | Gefreiter | Obersoldat | Soldat | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kriegsmarine [6][42][8] |
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| Oberbootsmann | Stabsbootsmann | Bootsmann | Obermaat | Maat | Matrosenoberstabsgefreiter | Matrosenstabsgefreiter | Matrosenhauptgefreiter | Matrosenobergefreiter | Matrosengefreiter | Matrose | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technische Nothilfe (TENO) [9][10] |
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| TN-Stabsscharführer | TN-Hauptscharführer | TN-Oberscharführer | TN-Scharführer | TN-Obervormann | TN-Vormann | TN-Mann | TN-Anwärter | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| German Red Cross (DRK) [12][13] |
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| DRK-Haupthelfer (mit Zugführer Prüfung) |
DRK-Haupthelfer | DRK-Oberhelfer | DRK-Vorhelfer (mit Gruppenführer Prüfung) |
DRK-Vorhelfer | DRK-Helfer | DRK-Anwärter | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equivalent UK Army |
Regimental sergeant major | Sergeant major | Staff sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Lance corporal | Senior Private | Private (or equivalent) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Waffen-SS & Allgemeine SS [14][15][16][41] |
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| SS-Sturmscharführer | SS-Hauptscharführer | SS-Oberscharführer | SS-Scharführer | SS-Unterscharführer | SS-Rottenführer | SS-Sturmmann | SS-Oberschütze | SS-Schütze[d] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ordnungspolizei (Orpo) [20][21] |
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No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Meister | Revier Oberwachtmeister |
Oberwachtmeister | Wachtmeister | Unterwachtmeister | Anwärter | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sturmabteilung (SA) [22][23] |
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| SA-Haupttruppführer | SA-Obertruppführer | SA-Truppführer | SA-Oberscharführer | SA-Scharführer | SA-Rottenführer | SA-Sturmmann | SA-Mann | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National Socialist Motor Corps (NSKK) [25][1][26] |
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| NSKK-Haupttruppführer | NSKK-Obertruppführer | NSKK-Truppführer | NSKK-Oberscharführer | NSKK-Scharführer | NSKK-Rottenführer | NSKK-Sturmmann | NSKK-Mann | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National Socialist Flyers Corps (NSFK) [28][29][30] |
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| NSFK-Obertruppführer | NSFK-Truppführer | NSFK-Oberscharführer | NSFK-Scharführer | NSFK-Rottenführer | NSFK-Sturmmann | NSFK-Mann | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reichsluftschutzbund (RLB) [31][32][11] |
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| Luftschutzobertruppmeister | Luftschutztruppmeister | Luftschutzobertruppwart | Luftschutztruppwart | Luftschutzobertruppmann | Luftschutztruppmann | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equivalent UK Army |
Regimental sergeant major | Sergeant major | Staff sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Lance corporal | Senior Private | Private (or equivalent) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reich Labour Service (RAD) [33][34] |
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| Obertruppführer | Truppführer | Arbeitsmann | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Organisation Todt (OT) [35][36][37][11] |
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| OT-Haupttruppführer | OT-Obertruppführer | OT-Truppführer | OT- | OT-Meister | OT- | OT- | OT-Arbeiter | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hitler Youth (HJ) [22][38] |
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| Oberscharführer | Scharführer | Oberkameradschaftsführer | Kameradschaftsführer | Oberrottenführer | Rottenführer | Hitlerjunge | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deutsches Jungvolk (DJ) [39] |
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No insignia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pimpfe[e] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| League of German Girls & Jungmädelbund [39] |
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| (Jung)-Mädelscharführerin | (Jung)-Mädelschaftsführerin | BDM- / Jungmädel | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nazi Party (NSDAP) [40] |
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| Hauptbereitschaftsleiter | Oberbereitschaftsleiter | Bereitschaftsleiter | Hauptarbeitsleiter | Oberarbeitsleiter | Arbeitsleiter | Oberhelfer | Helfer | Anwärter | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equivalent UK Army |
Regimental sergeant major | Sergeant major | Staff sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Lance corporal | Senior Private | Private (or equivalent) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
See also[]
- Comparative military ranks of World War II
- Glossary of German military terms
- Glossary of Nazi Germany
- World War II German Army ranks and insignia
Notes[]
- ^ Heinrich Himmler's title became an actual rank after the Night of the Long Knives in 1934. From that point on, Reichsführer-SS became the highest rank of the SS and was considered on paper the equivalent of a Generalfeldmarschall in the Wehrmacht; however, as Himmler's position and authority grew in Nazi Germany, so did his rank in a "de facto" sense.[18]
- ^ Decree paper of the Waffen-SS, 3rd (annual) volume – Berlin, June 15, 1942 – number 12 – p.46: “The Reichsführer-SS gave order regarding the spelling of the new service rank “SS-Oberst-Gruppenführer” (quotation: “SS-Oberst-Gruppenführer” (en: SS-Supreme-Group leader]), in order to avoid confusion to the SS-Obergruppenführer (en: SS-Senior group leader)”.[19]
- ^ Until castration of the SA in summer 1934 the designation of that particular rank in the SS was SS-Sturmhauptführer (SS-Storm head leader). However, the rank was renamed to SS-Hauptsturmführer (SS-Head storm leader). In line with the formation of the SA-Defence crews (SA-Wehrmannschaften) in 1939/40 it was renamed to “Hauptsturmführer” in the SA and in all other Nazi organizations.
- ^ Mann for the Allgemeine SS
- ^ The youngest members of the Hitler Youth organization in Nazi Germany
References[]
Citations[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Weiß 2002, Appendix.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Verlag Moritz Ruhl 1936, Table 3-4,7-8.
- ^ Jump up to: a b CIA 1999, p. 18.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Zabecki 2014, p. 1639.
- ^ Davis 1980, pp. 219, 220.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Verlag Moritz Ruhl 1936, Table 9-10.
- ^ Zabecki 2014, pp. 1640–1641.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Davis 1980, p. 219.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Verlag Moritz Ruhl 1942, table 13.
- ^ Jump up to: a b CIA 1999, p. 33.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Davis 1980, p. 222.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Verlag Moritz Ruhl 1942, Table 14.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Davis 1980, p. 223.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Verlag Moritz Ruhl 1936, Table 14.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Williamson 1994, p. 250.
- ^ Jump up to: a b CIA 1999, p. 30.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Davis 1980, p. 220.
- ^ McNab 2009, pp. 9, 30, 46–47.
- ^ Klietmann 1967.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Verlag Moritz Ruhl 1936, Table 23.
- ^ Jump up to: a b CIA 1999, pp. 20, 31.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Verlag Moritz Ruhl 1936, Table 20.
- ^ Jump up to: a b CIA 1999, p. 29.
- ^ Specialist editor of the Bibliographical Institute 1938, p. 203.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Verlag Moritz Ruhl 1936, Table 18.
- ^ Jump up to: a b CIA 1999, p. 23.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Davis 1980, p. 221.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Verlag Moritz Ruhl 1936, Table 17.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Ley 1937, Table 73.
- ^ Jump up to: a b CIA 1999, p. 24.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Verlag Moritz Ruhl 1936, Table 19.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Verlag Moritz Ruhl 1942, Table 22.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Verlag Moritz Ruhl 1936, Table 13.
- ^ Jump up to: a b CIA 1999, p. 27.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Absolon 1969, p. 59.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Lepage 2015, p. 22.
- ^ Jump up to: a b MIRS 1945, Table II–III.
- ^ Jump up to: a b CIA 1999, p. 21.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Littlejohn 1989,[page needed].
- ^ Jump up to: a b CIA 1999, pp. 25–26.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Zabecki 2014, p. 1640.
- ^ Zabecki 2014, pp. 1640–1642.
Bibliography[]
- Absolon, Rudolf (1969). Die Wehrmacht im Dritten Reich (in German). IV. Boppard am Rhein: Harald Boldt Verlag. ISBN 978-3764619404.
- CIA (24 August 1999). "Records Integration Title Book" (PDF). Retrieved 11 December 2018.
- Davis, Brian Leigh (1980). German Uniforms of the Third Reich 1933-1945 (1st ed.). Poole, Dorset: Blandford Press. ISBN 0-7137-0881-6.
- Klietmann, Kurt-Gerhard (1967). Feldgrau (in German). Berlin: Die Ordens-Sammlung. 13 (1). Missing or empty
|title=(help) - Lepage, Jean-Denis G. G. (2015). Hitler's Armed Forces Auxiliaries: an illustrated history of the Wehrmachtsgefolge, 1933-1945. McFarland. ISBN 978-0786497454.
- Ley, Robert (1937). Organisationsbuch der NSDAP (in German). Zentralverlag.
- Littlejohn, David (1989). The Hitler Youth. Agincourt Publishers. ISBN 978-0934870214. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
- McNab, Chris (2009). The SS: The Growth and Organisation of Himmler's Stormtroopers. Amber Books. ISBN 978-1906626495.
- MIRS (1945). Handbook of the organisation TODT (OT). London: MIRS.
- Specialist editor of the Bibliographical Institute, ed. (1938). Schlag nach Wissenswerte Tatsachen aus allen Gebieten (in German). Leipzig: Bibliographisches Institut AG Leipzig.
- Verlag Moritz Ruhl (1936). Deutsche Uniformen (in German). Leipzig: Verlag Moritz Ruhl.
- Verlag Moritz Ruhl (1942). Deutsche Uniformen (in German). Leipzig: Verlag Moritz Ruhl.
- Weiß, Hermann, ed. (2002). Biographisches Lexikon zum Dritten Reich [Biographical lexicon to the Third Reich] (in German). Frankfurt am Main: Fischer Taschenbuch Verlag. ISBN 978-3596130863.
- Williamson, Gordon (1994). The SS: Hitler's Instrument of Terror. Chartwell Books, Inc. p. 250. ISBN 978-0785830122.
- Zabecki, David T., ed. (2014). Germany at War: 400 Years of Military History. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1598849806.
Further reading[]
- Wolfgang Benz (editor): Wie wurde man Parteigenosse? Die NSDAP und ihre Mitglieder. Fischer-Taschenbuch-Verlag, Frankfurt am Main 2009, ISBN 978-3-596-18068-4 (Fischer 18068 Die Zeit des Nationalsozialismus).
- Davis, Brian L. (1942). Badges and Insignia of the Third Reich 1933-1945. Cassell. ISBN 978-1854095121.
Categories:
- Wehrmacht
- Sturmabteilung
- Nazi SS
- Nazi Party
- Military comparisons