Ranks and insignia of the Luftwaffe (1935–1945)

The Luftwaffe, from its founding in 1933 to the end of World War II in 1945, used ranks 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

[edit]

Insignia[3] | Title  | Approximate equivalents during World War II

|
|

Collar  | Shoulder  | Sleeve
(Flight suit) | US[4] | UK[5]
Generalsränge
|  | —  | Reichsmarschall | —  | —
|  |  | Generalfeldmarschall | General of the Army | 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

[edit]

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:[6][7]

## See also

[edit]

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

## References

[edit]

Citations

1. ^ "World war 2 German officer hats and equipments". www.worldwar2-militaria.com. Archived from the original on 7 October 2017. Retrieved 2017-10-06.
2. ^ "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.
3. ^ Stedman 2002, pp. 17–19.
4. ^ War Department 1945.
5. ^ CIA 1999, p. 18.
6. ^ Davis 1999, pp. 58–64.
7. ^ Jurado, Carlos Caballero (2006). The Condor Legion. Elite. Osprey Publishing. p. 19\. ISBN 978-1841768991.

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.`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

* v
* t
* e

Ranks, uniforms and insignia of Nazi Germany

Uniforms|

* Heer
* Luftwaffe
* Kriegsmarine
* SS
* SA
* DJ
* League of German Girls

Ranks and insignia|

* Comparative ranks of Nazi Germany

| Wehrmacht|

* Heer
* Luftwaffe
* Kriegsmarine
* Geheime Feldpolizei

|

Schutzstaffel|

* Waffen-SS
* Allgemeine SS
* (see also Esoteric insignia of the SS)

|

Nazi Paramilitary ranks|

* Nazi Party
* SA
* National Socialist Flyers Corps
* German Air Sports Association
* National Socialist Motor Corps
* Reichsluftschutzbund
* Reich Labour Service
* German Red Cross
* Volkssturm
* Organisation Todt
* Hitler Youth
* Women's Auxiliary Services

|

Reichsbahn|

* Bahnschutzpolizei

|

Reich Security Main Office|

* Kriminalpolizei
* Gestapo
* Sicherheitsdienst
* Zollgrenzschutz
* Sicherheitspolizei

|

Ordnungspolizei|

* Administrative police
* Gendarmerie
* Feuerschutzpolizei
* Luftschutzpolizei
* Postschutz
* Schutzmannschaft
* Technische Nothilfe

|

Rosenberg|

* RMBO
* Reichsleiter Rosenberg Taskforce

|

Speer|

* Transportflotte
* Legion
* Transportkorps

|

Forest Service|

* Forstschutzkommando
* Deutsche Jägerschaft

|

Collaborationist forces|

* Denmark
* DNSAP
* Vichy France
* Groupe mobile de réserve
* Milice française
* Norway
* Rikshirden
* Statspolitiet
* Italy
* Black Brigades
* Italian Social Republic
* Poland
* Blue Police
* Soviet Union
* Armenian Legion
* Byelorussian Home Defence
* Russian Liberation Army
* RONA
* Trawniki
* Yugoslavia
* Einsatzstaffel
* Independent State of Croatia
* Russian Protective Corps in Serbia
* Czechoslovakia
* Slovak Republic
* Vládní vojsko

|

Corps colours|

* Heer
* Luftwaffe
* Waffen-SS
* SA

Decorations|

* Orders, decorations, and medals of Nazi Germany
* Nazi Party

Flags|

* Wehrmacht and Heer
* Luftwaffe
* Kriegsmarine
* Blutfahne

* v
* t
* e

Military ranks and insignia by country

* List of comparative military ranks

Africa|

* Algeria
* Angola
* Benin
* Botswana
* Burkina Faso
* Burundi
* Cameroon
* Cape Verde
* Central African Republic
* Chad
* Comoros
* DR Congo
* Republic of the Congo
* Djibouti
* Egypt
* Equatorial Guinea
* Eritrea
* Eswatini
* Ethiopia
* Gabon
* Gambia
* Ghana
* Guinea
* Guinea-Bissau
* Ivory Coast
* Kenya
* Lesotho
* Liberia
* Libya
* Madagascar
* Malawi
* Mali
* Mauritania
* Morocco
* Mozambique
* Namibia
* Niger
* Nigeria
* Rwanda
* São Tomé and Príncipe
* Senegal
* Seychelles
* Sierra Leone
* Somalia
* South Africa
* South Sudan
* Sudan
* Tanzania
* Togo
* Tunisia
* Uganda
* Zambia
* Zimbabwe

States with
limited recognition|

* Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
* Somaliland

Former|

* People's Republic of Angola
* Biafra
* Bophuthatswana
* Ciskei
* Kingdom of Egypt
* Ethiopian Empire
* Katanga
* People's Republic of Mozambique
* Rhodesia
* South West Africa
* Transkei
* Venda
* Zaire

Comparative|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Apartheid States in Southern Africa

Americas|

* Antigua and Barbuda
* Argentina
* Bahamas
* Barbados
* Belize
* Bolivia
* Brazil
* Canada
* Chile
* Colombia
* Cuba
* Dominican Republic
* Ecuador
* El Salvador
* Guatemala
* Guyana
* Haiti
* Honduras
* Jamaica
* Mexico
* Nicaragua
* Paraguay
* Peru
* Saint Kitts and Nevis
* Suriname
* Trinidad and Tobago
* United States
* Officers:
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Coast Guard
* Enlisted:
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Coast Guard
* Other:
* Marine Corps
* Space Force
* Warrant officer
* Opposing forces
* Uruguay
* Venezuela

Former|

* Canada (pre-Unification)
* Confederate States of America
* Union
* Army
* Navy
* Costa Rica
* Empire of Brazil
* Panama
* Republic of Texas
* Army
* Navy
* United States Army enlisted
* World War I
* World War II

Comparative|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Asia|

* Afghanistan
* Bahrain
* Bangladesh
* Bhutan
* Brunei
* Cambodia
* PR of China
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* East Timor
* India
* Army
* Air Force
* Navy
* Coast Guard
* Border Roads Organisation
* Paramilitary forces
* Indonesia
* Iran
* Iraq
* Israel
* Japan
* Jordan
* Kazakhstan
* Korea
* North
* South
* Kuwait
* Kyrgyzstan
* Laos
* Lebanon
* Malaysia
* Maldives
* Mongolia
* Myanmar
* Nepal
* Oman
* Pakistan
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Marines
* Civil Armed Forces
* Maritime Security Agency
* Philippines
* Qatar
* Saudi Arabia
* Singapore
* Sri Lanka
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Coast Guard
* Syria
* Tajikistan
* Thailand
* Turkmenistan
* United Arab Emirates
* Uzbekistan
* Vietnam
* Yemen

States with
limited recognition|

* Abkhazia
* Artsakh
* Palestine
* South Ossetia
* Taiwan (Republic of China)

Former|

* China
* Empire
* Republic (1912–1949)
* Dutch East Indies
* East Turkestan (Second Republic)
* People's Republic of Kampuchea
* Imperial Iran
* Imperial Japan
* Army
* Navy
* Korea
* Empire
* Liberation Army
* Kingdom of Laos
* Manchukuo
* Mengjiang
* Mongolian People's Republic
* Vietnam
* State
* South
* South Yemen
* Tibet
* Tuva

Comparative|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Europe|

* Albania
* Armenia
* Austria
* Azerbaijan
* Belarus
* Belgium
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Home Guard
* Estonia
* Finland
* France
* Army
* Navy
* Gendarmerie
* Air and Space Force
* Foresters
* Germany
* Georgia
* Greece
* Hungary
* Iceland
* Land Forces
* Coast Guard
* Ireland
* Italy
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Carabinieri
* Finance Guard
* Latvia
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* North Macedonia
* Malta
* Moldova
* Monaco
* Montenegro
* Netherlands
* Norway
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Russia
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Cossacks
* Between 1994 and 2010
* San Marino
* Serbia
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Spain
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* Turkey
* Ukraine
* United Kingdom
* Army officers
* Army other ranks
* Navy officers
* Navy ratings
* Air Force officers
* Air Force other ranks
* Vatican

States with
limited recognition|

* Kosovo
* Northern Cyprus
* Transnistria

Former|

* Albania
* Kingdom
* People's Socialist Republic
* Austria–Hungary
* Army
* Navy
* Bulgaria
* Kingdom
* People's Republic
* Independent State of Croatia
* Czechoslovakia
* German Empire
* Weimar Republic
* Nazi Germany
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* East Germany
* Kingdom of Greece
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* France
* Napoleonic Grand Army
* Hungary
* Kingdom
* People's Republic
* Italy
* Kingdom
* Social Republic
* Ottoman Empire
* Polish People's Republic
* Republika Srpska
* Romania
* Kingdom
* Socialist Republic
* Russian Empire
* White Movement
* Slovakia (First Republic)
* Soviet Union
* 1918–35
* 1935–40
* 1940–43
* 1943–55
* 1955–91
* Spain
* 2nd Republic
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* State
* Yugoslavia
* Kingdom
* Socialist Federal Republic
* Federal Republic

Comparative|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Oceania|

* Australia
* Fiji
* New Zealand
* Papua New Guinea
* Tonga
* Vanuatu

Comparative|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Language|

| Anglophone|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

|

Arabophone|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Francophone|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Hispanophone|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Lusophone|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Military police
* Officers
* Enlisted

Post-Soviet states|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Commonwealth of Nations|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

European Union|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

NATO|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air Force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Comparative ranks of

* Highest ranks
* Star ranking
* Officers of World War I
* Officers of World War II
* Women's Services in World War II
* Marine forces
* Space forces
* Gendarmeries
* UK and US

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