Ranks of the German Bundeswehr

See also: Rank insignia of the German Bundeswehr

The ranks of the German Bundeswehr, known collectively as armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany, were set up by the President with the Anordnung des Bundespräsidenten über die Dienstgradbezeichnungen und die Uniform der Soldaten on the basis of section 4, paragraph 3 of the Soldatengesetz (federal law concerning the legal status of soldiers). The Bundesbesoldungsordnung (Federal Salary Scale Regulation) regulates the salary scales of all Federal office holders and employees including soldiers. The 'ZdV-64/10 - Abkürzungen in der Bundeswehr' gives the abbreviations and a list of the abbreviations.

Rank structure

In all three branches of the German armed forces there are three career paths: officers (Offiziere), NCOs (Unteroffiziere, non-commissioned officers) and enlisted soldiers (Mannschaften). Officers are subdivided into Lieutenants (Leutnante), Captains (Hauptleute), Staff Officers (Stabsoffiziere) and Admirals (Admiräle) or Generals (Generäle). NCOs are divided into those with or without a sword knot lanyard (mit / ohne Portepee).

The names of ranks in the army and air force are identical; those of the navy and of medical officers are different. Female soldiers hold the same rank as their male counterparts. A (w) abbreviation is still sometimes added for women, but this is wholly without legal basis - the only additions allowed and maintained in ZDv 14/5 bzw. in the ZDv 20/7 are:

• UA / RUA - NCO Candidate (Unteroffizieranwärter) / Reserve NCO Candidate (Reserveunteroffizier-Anwärter)
• FA / RFA - Sergeant Candidate (Feldwebelanwärter) / Reserve Sergeant Candidate (Reservefeldwebel-Anwärter)
• OA / ROA - Officer Candidate (Offizieranwärter) / Reserve Officer Candidate (Reserveoffizier-Anwärter)
• SanOA - Medical Officer Candidate (Sanitätsoffizieranwärter)
• MilMusikOA - Military Musical Officer Candidate (Militärmusikoffizier-Anwärter)

Retired personnel

After retirement from active duty, former career soldiers are entitled to use their former rank with the addition of the abbreviation a.D. (außer Dienst = ret.) in correspondence.

Retired soldiers may obtain a permission to wear dress uniform on formal social occasions. While doing so, their uniform shows their non-active status by a supplemental twisted black-red-gold cord, worn on the lower end of the rank-epaulettes (Navy: Golden letter R on epaulettes or jacket sleeve). The uniform also shows the branch and the emblem of the last unit the soldier has served in.

Reservists

Reservists serving as enlisted men, NCOs or Officers add d.R. (der Reserve = of the reserve) after their rank, but only when not on active duty (during an exercise or DVag they are just soldiers, like any other active soldier - there is nothing to mark that they are "only" Reservists) and in correspondence, not in speaking their rank. Like in the active duty, epaulettes demonstrate rank, supplemented by a colored cord which shows the branch the soldier is serving. Special additional cord colors are: Silver: Offizieranwärter (Officer Candidate) Gold: Feldwebelanwärter (Sergeant Candidate) Black-red-gold: Reservist außerhalb Dienstverhältnis (Reservist without employment) Officer, Sergeant or NCO candidates in the reserve add ROA, RFA or RUA, while active officer, Sergeant or NCO candidates add OA, FA or UA. Reservists have the same promotion periods and service times as active soldiers. Reservists can go through a part of military exercises when they are summoned to join a unit.

Table of ranks

Army and air force

Rank insignia are worn on both shoulders.

See also

⇒ Article: Rank insignia of the German Bundeswehr

Enlisted personnel

Enlisted personnel (Mannschaften) were largely made up of conscripts serving their term which could be voluntarily extended to a maximum total of 23 months. Since July 2011, compulsory military service has now been suspended during peacetime. Since this was replaced by a purely voluntary service, still a large part of the enlisted personnel are serving less than two years (voluntary military service - two years or more contracts are called Soldier for a Period of Time). Starting as Schütze (Rifleman) or trooper a promotion to Gefreiter rank is expected after primary recruit training (usually after three or six months depending on the service unit). After an additional three months of service (usually consisting of special training required for their branch of service) a soldier is usually promoted to Obergefreiter rank unless they fail even most basic requirements. Enlisted soldiers will usually receive their Hauptgefreiter promotion after nine months to award outstanding performance or after twelve months of service.

To be promoted Stabsgefreiter a soldier requires at least three years of enlisted service. With higher qualification it is also possible to be promoted to Hauptgefreiter by the first day. Soldiers may opt to sign long-term contracts as enlisted soldiers, but most enlisted soldiers serving long terms in fact applied for NCO (non-commissioned officer) careers but failed their training requirements and opted to serve their term as enlisted soldiers rather than being released from service immediately.

To be promoted to Oberstabsgefreiter a soldier requires at least four years of enlisted service.

The most important distinction between NCOs and enlisted men is that the latter cannot give any order even to lower-ranking soldiers unless specific circumstances apply (e.g. while on guard duty or to soldiers ordered to do so by their regular chain of command).

The rank Soldat is replaced by ranks specific to their Truppengattung (branch of service):

• Flieger (Flg) Airman
• Funker (Fu) Signaller
• Grenadier (Gren) Grenadier
• Jäger (Jg) Ranger (lit. Hunter)
• Kanonier (Kan) Gunner/Bombardier
• Matrose (M) Seaman/Sailor
• Pionier (Pi) Engineer
• Panzerfunker (PzFu) Mech. Radioman
• Panzergrenadier (PzGren) Mech. Grenadeer
• Panzerjäger (PzJg) Tank Destroyer/Hunter
• Panzerkanonier (PzKan) Armour Gunner
• Panzerpionier (PzPi) Armour Pioneer
• Panzerschütze (PzSchtz) Tanker/Armour Rifleman
• Panzersoldat (PzSdt) Tanker
• Sanitätssoldat (SanSdt) Medic
• Schütze (Schtz) Rifleman (catch-all rank for supply and other branches)

Heer, Luftwaffe	NATO	Rank insignia
Heer: Soldat (Soldier) Luftwaffe: Flieger (Airman)	OR-1
Gefreiter (Private)	OR-2
Obergefreiter (Private 1st Class)	OR-3
Hauptgefreiter (Private 2nd Class)
Stabsgefreiter (Private 3rd Class)	OR-4
Oberstabsgefreiter (Private 4th Class)

Non-commissioned officers

Heer, Luftwaffe	NATO	Rank insignia
Non-commissioned Officers "without swordknot"/ Unteroffiziere "ohne Portepee"
Unteroffizier (Lance Corporal)	OR-5
Stabsunteroffizier (Corporal)
Non-commissioned Officers "with swordknot"/ Unteroffiziere "mit Portepee"
Feldwebel (Sergeant)	OR-6
Oberfeldwebel (Staff Sergeant)	OR-6
Hauptfeldwebel (Sergeant Major)	OR-7
Stabsfeldwebel (Corp Sergeant Major)	OR-8
Oberstabsfeldwebel (Field Sergeant)	OR-9

NCOs (Unteroffiziere) play an important role in the Heer as they are entrusted the command of most sub-company units. They often are referred to as the backbone of the army. Especially Feldwebels and above carry similar responsibilities officers have. This is largely due to the German military doctrine of Auftragstaktik: German orders usually do not include specific instructions, but rather a task, the available time and the available means. This gives leaders of smaller units a great deal of freedom and responsibility.

Since the ancient time of Prussian Army, the non-commissioned officers or subofficers of German armies are distinguished into a) Unteroffiziere ohne Portepee (sub-officers without lanyard) b) Unteroffiziere mit Portepee (sub-officers with lanyard)

These terms originate from the tradition that Prussian NCOs from the rank of Feldwebel upwards were entitled to bear a lanyard on their sabre.

Soldiers have the possibility to start with the rank of an Unteroffizier or even Stabsunteroffizier if they already have a civil apprenticeship which qualifies them for any army-equivalent position. Civil master craftsman of army-relevant jobs may directly start as Feldwebel. The army decides depending on the availability of positions.

The promotion to Oberfeldwebel is regularly given after one year as Feldwebel. Any higher rank requires a certain amount of years in their previous rank and performance. Soldiers serving for at least 12 years have the chance to become a Hauptfeldwebel.

These rules apply for navy sub-officers in the same way.

Heer, Luftwaffe	NATO	Rank insignia
Non-commissioned Officers - Officer Cadets
Fahnenjunker (Ensign esquire)	OR-5
Fähnrich (Ensign)	OR-6
Oberfähnrich (Leading ensign)	OR-7

Officer education in the army

Career officers usually start out as enlisted personnel with the lowest rank in one of the three Officer Candidate Battalions of the German Army located in Hammelburg, Idar-Oberstein and Munster. After six months of officer candidate training course in these Battalions, containing basic military drill, military law and history, the officer candidates proceed with the Officer's Course 1.

These are held at the Officer's School in Dresden for three months, followed by a 10-week period for training English and three months of active service, the so-called Truppenkommando as regular soldier in a military unit.

After 15 months, the officer candidates attend one of the two Universities of the German Federal Armed Forces in Munich and Hamburg to attain a Master's degree after four years of study.

After promotion to Leutnant (second lieutenant) they continue with the Officer's Course 2 at the Army Officer's School and the Officer's Course 3 at their respective branch-schools.

Furthermore they attend required special training courses like a survival or driving school for the different vehicles of their branch.

When this six-year-training is concluded, the officers are promoted to Oberleutnant (first lieutenant) and transferred to their army-units for regular service.

Officer education in the air force

In the air force the career starts at the air force academy in Fürstenfeldbruck (Fürsti) near Munich. The basic officers training consists of 11 months of basic training, military drill, theoretical education and a few weeks in a Luftwaffenausbildungsregiment (air force training regiment) as a deputy instructor with the rank of Obergefreiter OA. With the completion of the Offizierschule der Luftwaffe (OSLw) they are promoted to Fahnenjunker and either start with their studies at one of the two University in Munich and Hamburg or start with their basic flight training.

Heer, Luftwaffe	NATO	Rank insignia
Lieutenants (de: Leutnante)
Leutnant (Lieutenant)	OF-1b OF-1a
Oberleutnant (2nd Lieutenant)
Captains and Captains lieutenant (de: Hauptleute)
Hauptmann (Captain)	OF-2b OF-2a
Stabshauptmann (Staff captain)
Senior officers (de: Stabsoffiziere)
Major (Major)	OF-3
Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant colonel)	OF-4

Field grade officers

In order to be promoted to Major (major; a rank only career officers can achieve), the officers have to complete successfully a course called Stabsoffizierlehrgang (SOL) (field grade officer basic course). It takes a minimum of 10 years of officer's service to become a major. Oberstleutnant '(lt.-col.) is the standard final rank for career officers which can be awarded after 17 years of service. The salary of this rank depends on the respective function (A 14 or A 15 in the German salary scheme). Oberst (colonel) is the highest field grade rank (promotion requires a minimum of 17 years of officer's service, i.e. 20 years of service overall).

Officers in General Staff Service

Heer, Luftwaffe	NATO	Rank insignia
Oberst (Colonel)	OF-5
Brigadegeneral (Brigade General)	OF-6
Generalmajor (Major General)	OF-7
Generalleutnant (Lieutenant General)	OF-8
General	OF-9

About 1.5 percent of each cohort are chosen to take part in the Generalstabslehrgang (general staff course) at the Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr (military academy) at Hamburg. This course lasts two years after the completion of which the participants put a "i.G." after their rank, meaning im Generalstabsdienst (in general staff service). Having completed this course, the minimum rank those officers achieve is usually Oberst (colonel). The Generalstabslehrgang is a necessary requirement for the promotion to a General's rank.

German Navy

	NATO	Rank insignia (Sleeve and Shoulder)
Matrose (Sailor)	OR-1
Gefreiter (Exempted man)	OR-2
Obergefreiter (Leading exempted man)	OR-3
Hauptgefreiter (Principal exempted man)
Stabsgefreiter (Staff exempted man)	OR-4
Oberstabsgefreiter (Leading staff exempted man)
Non-commissioned Officers "without swordknot"/ Unteroffiziere "ohne Portepee"
Maat (Ship's mate)	OR-5
Obermaat (Leading mate)
Non-commissioned Officers - Officer Cadets
Seekadett (Sea Cadet)	OR-5
Fähnrich zur See (Ensign-at-Sea)	OR-6
Non-commissioned Officers "with swordknot"/ Unteroffiziere "mit Portepee" + Officer Cadet Rank
Bootsmann (Boatswain)	OR-6
Oberbootsmann (Leading boatswain)	OR-6
Hauptbootsmann (Principal Boatswain)	OR-7
Oberfähnrich zur See (Leading ensign-at-sea)(OA)	OR-7
Stabsbootsmann (Staff boatswain)	OR-8
Oberstabsbootsmann (Leading staff boatswain)	OR-9

Naval officers

NATO		Rank insignia (shoulder and sleeve)
	Lieutenants (de: Leutnante)
OF-1b OF-1a	Leutnant zur See (Lieutenant-at-sea)
	Oberleutnant zur See (Principal lieutenant-at-sea)
Captains and Captains lieutenant (de: Hauptleute)
OF-2b OF-2a	Kapitänleutnant (Captain-lieutenant)
	Stabskapitänleutnant (Staff captain-lieutenant)
Senior officers (de: Stabsoffiziere)
OF-3	Korvettenkapitän (Corvette Captain)
OF-4	Fregattenkapitän (Frigate captain)
OF-5	Kapitän zur See (Captain-at-Sea)
OF-6	Flottillenadmiral (Flotilla Admiral)
OF-7	Konteradmiral (Counter Admiral)
OF-8	Vizeadmiral (Vice Admiral)
OF-9	Admiral

Notable cases

Medical officers

The specialty badge is different for medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and pharmacy. The "head of the snake" points forward, i.e. the direction the soldier is facing.

• Versions for officers of the medical service including officer candidates
• 

  Sanitätssoldat SanOA(Heer, field uniform, study course veterinary medicine)

• 

  Gefreiter SanOA
  (Luftwaffe, service uniform, study course medicine)

• HA OS5 32 Oberfeldwebel SanOA San TM L.svg

  Oberfeldwebel SanOA
  (Heer, field uniform, study course veterinary medicine, mounting loop interrupting border)

• MA OG5 31a Fähnrich zur See SanOA PHx L.svg

  Fähnrich zur See SanOA
  (Marine, field uniform, study course pharmacy, badge patch not interrupting border)

• MDS 41a Leutnant zur See SanOA San HM L.svg

  Leutnant zur See SanOA
  (Marine, service uniform shirt, study course medicine)

• HD H 43b Stabsarzt San HM L.svg

  Stabsarzt
  (Heer, service uniform, physician)

• LA OS5 51d Oberstabsapotheker PH L.svg

  Oberstabsapotheker
  (Luftwaffe, field uniform, pharmacist)

• MDJA 53b Flottenarzt San HM Lu.svg

  Flottenarzt
  (Marine, cuff insignias, physician)

• HA SWG 52b Oberfeldarzt HFlg HMx L.svg

  Oberfeldarzt
  (Heer, sweater, physician)

• HD H 53e Oberstveterinär San TM L.svg

  Oberstveterinär
  (Heer, service uniform, veterinarian)

• HD H 61c Generalarzt ZM L.svg

  Generalarzt
  (Heer, service uniform, dentist)

• LA OS5 62b Generalstabsarzt HM L.svg

  Generalstabsarzt
  (Luftwaffe, field uniform, physician)

• SanH 331-Generaloberstabsarzt-(Zahnmedizin).png

  Generaloberstabsarzt
  (Heer, field uniform, dentist)

Medial officers of the army

Medical officers of the German Navy

Admiraloberstabsarzt (Vizeadmiral / Vice Admiral) Admiralstabsarzt (Konteradmiral / ) Admiralarzt (); Admiralapotheker ()

Flottenarzt (), Flottenapotheker Flottillenarzt; Flottillenapotheker Oberstabsarzt; Oberstabsapotheker, Oberstabsveterinär

Oberstabsarzt; Oberstabsapotheker, Oberstabsveterinär Stabsarzt, Stabsapotheker, Stabsveterinär

Generalmajor and Generalleutnant

While a major by far outranks a lieutenant, a lieutenant general outranks a major general. This phenomenon, which the Bundeswehr shares with most armed forces (including English-speaking ones) and the former Wehrmacht (where the ranks were only one degree lower, as there did not exist a Brigadier general), requires explanation. The reason is that in the Early Modern Period, a company would be commanded by a captain, with assistance of a lieutenant and a Wachtmeister (sergeant, similar to Feldwebel). A regiment, on the other hand would be commanded by a colonel (Oberst, i. e. Obersthauptmann, literally supreme captains), with assistance of a lieutenant-colonel and an Oberstwachtmeister. A whole army, then, quite logically was commanded by a general (Generalhauptmann, general [normal English adjective] captain), with assistance of a lieutenant-general and a Generalwachtmeister. When for the Oberstwachtmeister the name major became common, it was also adapted to the Generalwachtmeisters, which then became majors-general while still inferior to lieutenants-general. (Outside Germany, the former Wachtmeister on the company-size by the same transfer became known as the sergeant major.)

External links

• Rank-insignia learning at simsso.de
• Uniformen