Ranks and insignia of the Luftwaffe (1935–1945)
The Ranks and insignia of the Luftwaffe were the ranks used by Luftwaffe, from its founding in 1933 to the end of World War II in 1945. The ranks were similar to other air forces at the time, however, some Luftwaffe ranks had no equivalent in the Allied air forces. While many ranks might have equivalents in other air forces, in reality the Luftwaffe military had a far greater responsibility; while officers of the Royal Air Force, the British Air Force, were graded to a higher rank when performing higher rank functions, Luftwaffe officers maintained their rank while performing functions, regardless of size of the responsibility assigned to them.[1][2][better source needed]
Luftwaffe[]
Insignia[3] | Title | Approximate equivalents during World War II | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Collar | Shoulder | Sleeve (Flight suit) |
US[4] | UK[5] | ||
Generalsränge | ||||||
N/A | Reichsmarschall | General of the Armies | N/A | |||
Generalfeldmarschall | General of the Air Force | Marshal of the Royal Air Force | ||||
Generaloberst | General | Air chief marshal | ||||
General der Waffengattung | Lieutenant general | Air marshal | ||||
Generalleutnant | Major general | Air vice-marshal | ||||
Generalmajor | Brigadier general | Air commodore | ||||
Offiziersränge | ||||||
Oberst | Colonel | Group captain | ||||
Oberstleutnant | Lieutenant colonel | Wing commander | ||||
Major | Major | Squadron leader | ||||
Hauptmann | Captain | Flight lieutenant | ||||
Oberleutnant | First lieutenant | Flying officer | ||||
Leutnant | Second lieutenant | Pilot officer | ||||
Unteroffiziere and Offizieranwärter (OA) | ||||||
Stabsfeldwebel-Fahnenjunker | N/A | |||||
Stabsfeldwebel | Sergeant major | Warrant officer | ||||
Fahnenjunker-Oberfeldwebel | Flight cadet | Acting pilot officer | ||||
Oberfeldwebel | Master sergeant | N/A | ||||
Fahnenjunker-Feldwebel | N/A | |||||
Feldwebel | Technical sergeant | Flight sergeant | ||||
Fahnenjunker-Unterfeldwebel | Flight cadet | Officer cadet | ||||
Unterfeldwebel | Staff sergeant | Sergeant | ||||
Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier | Flight cadet | Officer cadet | ||||
Unteroffizier | Sergeant | Corporal | ||||
Mannschaften | ||||||
Stabsgefreiter | Senior airman | Leading aircraftman | ||||
Hauptgefreiter (used until 1944) | ||||||
Obergefreiter | Airman first class | |||||
Gefreiter | Airman | |||||
N/A | Flieger | Airman basic | Aircraftman 2nd class |
Condor Legion[]
Insignia | German Rank | Spanish equivalent | |
---|---|---|---|
Chest | Cuff | ||
N/A | Generalleutnant | General de división | |
N/A | Generalmajor | General de brigada | |
N/A | Oberst | Coronel | |
N/A | Oberstleutnant | ||
N/A | Major | Teniente coronel | |
N/A | Hauptmann | Comandante | |
N/A | Oberleutnant | Capitán | |
N/A | Leutnant | Teniente | |
N/A | Feldwebel, Oberfeldwebel, Stabsfeldwebel | Alférez | |
N/A | Unteroffizier, Unterfeldwebel | Sargento | |
N/A | Legionär | Cabo | |
Source:[6] |
See also[]
- World War II German Army ranks and insignia
- Corps colours of the Luftwaffe (1935–45)
- Luftwaffe personnel structure
References[]
- Citations
- ^ "World war 2 German officer hats and equipments". www.worldwar2-militaria.com. Archived from the original on 7 October 2017. Retrieved 2017-10-06.
- ^ "Hierarquia e insígnias da Luftwaffe". www.luftwaffe39-45.historia.nom.br (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 23 March 2016. Retrieved 2017-10-06.
- ^ Stedman 2002, pp. 17–19.
- ^ War Department 1945.
- ^ CIA 1999, p. 18.
- ^ Davis 1999, pp. 58–64.
- Bibliography
- CIA (24 August 1999). "Records Integration Title Book" (PDF). Retrieved 11 December 2018.
- Davis, Brian L. (1999). Uniforms & Insignia of the Luftwaffe, 1933-1940. Vol. I (2nd ed.). Arms & Armour. ISBN 978-1854094971.
- Stedman, Robert (2002). Luftwaffe Air and Ground Crew 1939-1945. Men-at-Arms. Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. ISBN 978-1841764047.
- War Department (15 March 1945). "Chapter IX: Uniforms, Insignia, and Individual Equipment". War Department Technical Manual TM-E 30-451. Plate XI–XII.
Categories:
- Luftwaffe
- Military insignia
- Military ranks of Germany