Military ranks of East Germany

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The Ranks of the National People's Army were the military insignia used by the National People's Army, the army of the German Democratic Republic, from 1956 to 1990.

Contents

Design

The design of the rank insignias followed the tradition of the German Army (Heer) with some modifications. For example, the cuff titles (chevron insignias) of the Gefreiter were replaced by Soviet-styled shoulder straps with cross-stripes.

Shoulder strap rank insignias

Commissioned officer ranks up to Oberst featured four-pointed golden stars in increasing number according to seniority, and arranged following the Soviet pattern.

Junior officer (lieutenant and captain ranks) shoulder straps were made of silver satin string (German : Silberplattschnur). Unterleutnant had a single golden star, Leutnant two side-by-side stars, and Oberleutnant three stars in a triangle. Hauptmann rank had a fourth star above the triangular formation.

Senior officer shoulder straps were twisted silver cords, Major had a single star, Oberstleutnant two stars, and Oberst three stars, again arranged following the Soviet example.

Generals wore twisted golden and silver cords with five-pointed stars numbering from one ( Generalmajor ) to four ( Armeegeneral ).

Ground forces, Air force, and Border troops

Remark: The different colours represent the appropriate service, branch, branch of service, or special troop.

General and Officer ranks

Rank groupGeneral / flag officersSenior officersJunior officers
Flag of East Germany.svg
East Germany [1] 		OF-10 Marschall der DDR.png OF9 Armeegeneral.png GDR Army OF8 Generaloberst.png DDR OF-7 Generalleutnant.png OF-6 Generalmajor.png OF-5 Oberst Pz.png OF-4 Oberstleutnant Pz.png OF-3 Major Mot.png OF-2 Hauptmann Ari.png OF-1a Oberleutnant Pz.png OF-1b Leutnant Med.png OF-1c Unterleutnant Na.png
Marschall der DDR [a] Armeegeneral [b] Generaloberst Generalleutnant Generalmajor Oberst Oberstleutnant Major Hauptmann Oberleutnant Leutnant Unterleutnant

Officer candidate or officer aspirant (OA)

The table below contains the Ofiziersschüler ranks (en: student officers; equivalent to officer candidate or officer aspirant (OA)).

Offiziersschüler (OF(D))
Academic year6th5th4th3rd2nd1stPreparation course
Shoulder boards OF-D1 OS VI Studienjahr Med.png OF-D2 OS V Studienjahr Med.png OF-D3 OS IV Studienjahr Mot.png OF-D4 OS III Studienjahr Pio.png OF-D5 OS II Studienjahr Pz.png OF-D6 OS I Studienjahr Na.png OF-D7 OS Ausb zur Hochschulreife Mot.png
Corps colour/ TroopsAir Force
(Luftstreitkräfte)		 Motorized infantry
(Mot.-Schützen)		Engineers
(Pioniere)		Armoured troops
(Panzertruppen)		Communications
(Nachrichten)		 Motorized infantry

Warrant officers

 Fähnrichkorps and Fähnrichschüler of the NPA
Sleeve insignia
(1979-1990)
WO1 Fahnrich V unter 5Jahre.png
(not worn by Fähnrich-schüler)		 Stabsoberfähnrich Stabsfähnrich Oberfähnrich Fähnrich Fähnrichschüler
W-4W-3W-2W-1W (Student)
16 Stabsoberfahnrich.png WO3 Stabsfahnrich Pz.png WO2 Oberfahnrich Pio.png WO1 Fahnrich Pz.png WO-D2 FS 2. Studienjahr Pz.png WO-D1 FS 1. Studienjahr Pz.png
(Staff-senior-Warrant Officer)(Staff-Warrant Officer)(Senior-Warrant Officer)(Warrant Officer)(Warrant Officer-Cadet)
Sleeve insignia as to 1973-1979
20 years of service15 years of service10 years of service
WO4 Fahnrich II 15Jahre.png
WO3 Fahnrich III 10Jahre.png
WO2 Fahnrich IV 5Jahre.png

NCO and enlisted ranks

Rank groupSenior NCOsJunior NCOsEnlisted
Flag of East Germany.svg
East
Germany		 OR8 Stabsfeldwebel Pz.png OR7 Oberfeldwebel Pz.png OR-6 Feldwebel Pz.png OR-5a Unterfeldwebel Pz.png OR-5b Unteroffizier Pz.png OR4 Stabs- gefreiter Pz.png OR-D1 Gefr UA Na 1Jahr.png OR-D1 Gefr UA Pz 1/2 Jahr.png OR2 Gefreiter Pz.png OR1 Soldat Pz.png
Stabsfeldwebel Oberfeldwebel Feldwebel Unterfeldwebel Unteroffizier Stabsgefreiter Gefreiter der Ausbildung Unteroffiziersschüler Gefreiter Soldat

Volksmarine

While the sleeve ranks of the Volksmarine officers were of the style used by the Soviet Navy, all shoulder board insignia used were German in origin, with the star arrangement for officers based on the Soviet rank insignia.

Officer ranks and insignia

Unlike most Warsaw pact navies, the People's Navy also used staff corps insignia on the sleeve following traditional German practice. The sleeve rank insignia shown are those of the line officer corps.

Rank groupGeneral / flag officersSenior officersJunior officers
Flag of warships of VM (East Germany).svg  Volksmarine [1] OF-9 Flottenadmiral (VM).png OF-8 Admiral VM.png OF-7 Vizeadmiral VM.png OF-6 Konteradmiral VM.png OF-5 Kapitan zur See.png OF-4 Fregattenkapitan.png OF-3 Korvettenkapitan.png OF-2 Kapitanleutnant.png OF-1a Oberleutnant zur See.png OF-1b Leutnant zur See.png OF-1c Unterleutnant zur See.png
DDR-Navy-OF-9.svg DDR-Navy-OF-8.svg DDR-Navy-OF-7.svg DDR-Navy-OF-6.svg DDR-Navy-OF-5.svg DDR-Navy-OF-4.svg DDR-Navy-OF-3.svg DDR-Navy-OF-2.svg DDR-Navy-OF-1c.svg DDR-Navy-OF-1b.svg DDR-Navy-OF-1a.svg
Flottenadmiral [c] Admiral Vize­admiral Konter­admiral Kapitän zur See Fregatten­kapitän Korvetten­kapitän Kapitän­leutnant Oberleutnant zur See Leutnant zur See Unterleutnant zur See

Officer candidate or officer aspirant (OA)

The table below contains the Ofiziersschüler ranks (en: student officers; equivalent to officer candidate or officer aspirant (OA)).

Offiziersschüler
Academic year6th5th4th3rd2nd1stPreparation course
Shoulder boards Blank.svg GDR Navy OF-D-Student V.png OF-D3OS 4. Lehrjahr VM.png OF-D4 OS 3. Lehrjahr VM.png OF-D5 OS 2. Lehrjahr VM.png OF-D6 OS 1. Lehrjahr VM.png OF-D7 OS Ausb zur Hochschulreife VM.png

Warrant officers

 Fähnrichkorps and Fähnrichschüler of the NPA
Sleeve insignia
(as to 1979–1990)
WO1 Fahnrich VM Armel.png

(not to Fähnrich-student)

 Stabsoberfähnrich Stabsfähnrich Oberfähnrich Fähnrich Fähnrichschüler
W-4W-3W-2W-1W (Student)
WO4 Stabsoberfahnrich VM.png WO3 Stabsfahnrich VM.png WO2 Oberfahnrich VM.png WO1 Fahnrich VM1.png WO-D1 FS 2. Studienjahr VM.png WO-D1 FS 1. Studienjahr VM.png
WO4 Stabsoberfahnrich VM Armelstreifen.png WO3 Stabsfahnrich VM Armelstreifen.png WO2 Oberfahnrich VM Armelstreifen.png WO1 Fahnrich VM Armelstreifen.png
(Staff-senior-Warrant Officer)(Staff-Warrant Officer)(Senior-Warrant Officer)(Warrant Officer)(Warrant Officer-Cadet)
Sleeve insignia as to 1973-1979
20 years of service15 years of service10 years of service
WO4 Fahnrich Armel VM 15Jahre.png
WO3 Fahnrich Armel VM 10Jahre.png
WO2 Fahnrich Armel VM 5Jahre.png

Petty officers and sailors

Rank groupSenior NCOsJunior NCOsEnlisted
Flag of warships of VM (East Germany).svg  Volksmarine [1] OR9 SStabsobermeister Technik.png OR8 Obermeister See.png OR7 Meister See.png OR6 Obermaat See.png OR5 Maat See.png OR4 Stabsmatrose.png OR2 Obermatrose.png OR1 Matrose.png
Meister to Stabsobermeister
wore the career insignia on shoulder straps only		 OR6 Obermaat Armel Technik.png OR5 Maat Armel See.png OR4 Stabsmatrose VM Armel Kuste.png OR2 Obermatrose VM Armel See.png OR1 Matrose VM See.png
Stabsobermeister Obermeister Meister Obermaat Maat Stabsmatrose Obermatrose Matrose

Other insignia

Field insignia (1960–1964)

Officers
Rank groupGeneral officersField officersJunior officers
Insignia [2]
Ground and
air forces		 Armeegeneral Generaloberst Generalleutnant Generalmajor Oberst Oberstleutnant Major Hauptmann Oberleutnant Leutnant Unterleutnant
Enlisted
Rank group
Insignia [2]
Ground and
air forces		 Hauptfeldwebel
Stabsfeldwebel 		Stabsfeldwebel
Oberfeldwebel 		Feldwebel Unterfeldwebel
Unteroffizier

Aviator and technician suit insignia

Officers

Rank groupGeneral officersField officersJunior officers
Insignia [3] DDR-Technician suit-Marschall der DDR.svg DDR-Technician suit-Armeegeneral.svg DDR-Technician suit-Generaloberst.svg DDR-Technician suit-Generalleutnant.svg DDR-Technician suit-Generalmajor.svg DDR-Technician suit-Oberst.svg DDR-Technician suit-Oberstleutnant.svg DDR-Technician suit-Major.svg DDR-Technician suit-Hauptmann.svg DDR-Technician suit-Oberleutnant.svg DDR-Technician suit-Leutnant.svg DDR-Technician suit-Unterleutnant.svg
Ground and
air forces		 Marschall der DDR Armeegeneral Generaloberst Generalleutnant Generalmajor Oberst Oberstleutnant Major Hauptmann Oberleutnant Leutnant Unterleutnant
Navy Flottenadmiral Admiral Vizeadmiral Konteradmiral Kapitän zur See Fregattenkapitän Korvettenkapitän Kapitänleutnant Oberleutnant zur See Leutnant zur See Unterleutnant zur See

Officer candidate

Rank group
Insignia [3] DDR-Technician suit-Offiziersschuler 4th year.svg DDR-Technician suit-Offiziersschuler 3rd year.svg DDR-Technician suit-Offiziersschuler 2nd year.svg DDR-Technician suit-Offiziersschuler 1st year.svg
Ground,
air forces &
navy		4th year3rd year2nd year1st year
Offiziersschüler

Warrant officers

Rank group
Insignia [3] DDR-Technician suit-Stabsoberfahnrich.svg DDR-Technician suit-Stabsfahnrich.svg DDR-Technician suit-Oberfahnrich.svg DDR-Technician suit-Fahnrich.svg DDR-Technician suit-Fahnrichschuler 2nd year.svg DDR-Technician suit-Fahnrichschuler 1st year.svg
Ground,
air forces &
navy		 Stabsoberfähnrich Stabsfähnrich Oberfähnrich Fähnrich 2nd year1st year
Fähnrichschüler

Enlisted

Rank groupSenior NCOsJunior NCOsEnlisted
Insignia [3] DDR-Technician suit-Stabsfeldwebel.svg DDR-Technician suit-Oberfeldwebel.svg DDR-Technician suit-Feldwebel.svg DDR-Technician suit-Unterfeldwebel.svg DDR-Technician suit-Unteroffizier.svg DDR-Technician suit-Gefreiter der Ausbildung.svg DDR-Technician suit-Stabsgefreiter.svg DDR-Technician suit-Gefreiter.svg DDR-Technician suit-Soldat.svg
Ground and
air forces		 Stabsfeldwebel Oberfeldwebel Feldwebel Unterfeldwebel Unteroffizier Gefreiter UA Stabsgefreiter Gefreiter Soldat
Navy Stabsobermeister Obermeister Meister Obermaat Maat Stabsmatrose Obermatrose Matrose

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Luft, Kathleen (1988). "National Security". In Burant, Stephen R. (ed.). East Germany: a country study. Area Handbook (3rd ed.). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. pp. 264–265. LCCN   87600490 . Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  2. 1 2 Krauß, Michael (2010). "Dienstgradabzeichen" [Rank badges]. flaechentarn-kraus.hpage.com (in German). Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "DV 010/0/005 Uniformarten und ihre Trageweise- Bekleidungsvorschrift (1990)" [DV 010/0/005 Types of uniforms and how they are worn - clothing regulations (1990)]. nva-flieger.de (in German). Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  1. ↑ Unused, war time only.
  2. ↑ Reserved for the Minister of National Defence.
  3. ↑ Unused; reserved for the Minister of National Defence if a Navy officer. However, the only person this applied to, Theodor Hoffmann, was only promoted to Admiral.
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