Band Officers
(Musikmeister/Stabsmusikmeister/Musikinspizienten)

Band Officers in the German Army ranked between NCOs and Officers, and after March 1936 formed a separate rank class.  They did not have powers of command, though they were entitled to wear officers' uniforms and did hold officer-equivalent rank.  Musikinspizienten (Music Directors) were considered staff officers.  Bandmasters conducted the bands of infantry, light infantry (Jäger), cavalry, and artillery regimental bands, as well as the bands of engineer battalions.

Category Rank Assignment Equivalent Rank
Musikinspizienten
(Music Directors)
Obermusikinspizient Attached to Oberkommando des Heeres
(Army High Command)
Oberstleutnant
Musikinspizient Attached to Oberkommando des Heeres
(Army High Command)
Major
Stabsmusikmeister
(Senior Bandmaster)
Stabsmusikmeister Regimental Band Hauptmann
Musikmeister
(Junior Bandmaster)
Obermusikmeister Regimental Band Oberleutnant
Musikmeister Regimental Band Leutnant

Insignia

Shoulder boards worn by band officers were as follows:

The basic boards for Music Directors were similar to those of army field grade officers, with a red central stripe to the aluminium braids. band2.gif (2540 bytes)
The basic boards for Bandmasters were similar to those of army junior officers, with red cords alternating with the aluminium ones. band1.gif (1452 bytes)
Higher ranks were indicated by gilt rank stars, and a gilt lyre was worn by all band officers on the shoulder board as well.  Unit numbers were also sometimes worn.

harp2.jpg (4566 bytes)

Bandmasters also wore the waffenfarbe of the regiment or battalion to whom their band belonged.

Branch Musikmeister Obermusikmeister Stabsmusikmeister
 
Infantry bandltp.gif (1891 bytes) bandoblt.gif (2086 bytes) bandcap.gif (2215 bytes)
 
Light Infantry
(Jäger)
bandltp.gif (1891 bytes) bandoblt.gif (2086 bytes) bandcap.gif (2215 bytes)
 
Artillery bandltp.gif (1891 bytes) bandoblt.gif (2086 bytes) bandcap.gif (2215 bytes)
 
Cavalry bandltp.gif (1891 bytes) bandoblt.gif (2086 bytes) bandcap.gif (2215 bytes)
 
Engineer bandltp.gif (1891 bytes) bandoblt.gif (2086 bytes) bandcap.gif (2215 bytes)
 
Armoured bandltp.gif (1891 bytes) bandoblt.gif (2086 bytes) bandcap.gif (2215 bytes)
 

Music Directors wore red piping until 18 February 1943, after which they too wore waffenfarbe piping.

Musikinspizient Obermusikinspizient
musdir.gif (2744 bytes) musdir2.gif (2810 bytes)

Field-quality shoulder boards were also seen; the aluminium braid was replaced with matt aluminium, and later, field grey material.

Band Officers also wore gold staff-pattern collar patches (either bright or matt), and from 1938 wore aluminium and red silk aiguillettes for formal occasions. bandco.gif (2978 bytes)

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