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.

Luftwaffe

Insignia			Title	Approximate equivalents during World War II
Collar	Shoulder	Sleeve (Flight suit)		US	UK
Generalsränge
		—	Reichsmarschall	General of the Armies	—
			Generalfeldmarschall	General of the Air Force	Marshal of the Royal Air Force
			Generaloberst	General	Air chief marshal
			General der Waffengattung General der Fallschirmtruppe General der Flakartillerie General der Flieger General der Luftnachrichtentruppe General der Luftwaffe	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	—
			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
		—	Flieger	Airman basic	Aircraftman 2nd class

Condor Legion

Main article: Condor Legion

Insignia		German Rank	Spanish equivalent
Chest	Cuff
—		Generalleutnant	General de división
—		Generalmajor	General de brigada
—		Oberst	Coronel
	—	Oberstleutnant
	—	Major	Teniente coronel
	—	Hauptmann	Comandante
	—	Oberleutnant	Capitán
	—	Leutnant	Teniente
	—	Feldwebel, Oberfeldwebel, Stabsfeldwebel	Alférez
	—	Unteroffizier, Unterfeldwebel	Sargento
	—	Legionär	Cabo
Source:

See also

• World War II German Army ranks and insignia
• Corps colours of the Luftwaffe (1935–45)
• Luftwaffe personnel structure

References

Citations

Bibliography

• CIA (24 August 1999). "Records Integration Title Book" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 23, 2017. 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.