Table
of Ranks: Wehrmacht - Heer
The following table lists the various ranks
of the German Army, grouped according to category (Mannschaften (Men), Unteroffiziere
(Non-Commissioned Officers), Offiziere (Officers) and Generäle (Generals)). A
brief listing of rank-specific titles has been included also; this list has been greatly
simplified as there were dozens of rank titles for soldiers holding specific appointments,
from Senior Inspector of Music (Obermusikinspizient) to Army sports instructor
(Heeressportlehrer). Many of the intricacies and cumbersome
position/appointment/rank titles may indeed have been beyond the general knowledge even of
serving German soldiers themselves.
Mannschaften
(Men) |
|
Soldat |
The
term Soldat was generic; most soldiers had a rank title based on the type of unit they
were assigned to, or the trade in which they were employed.
In 1939, a private of infantry
was called Schütze. In 1942, Hitler personally replaced the term
Schütze with the title Grenadier, as an homage to the armies of
Frederick the Great.
Infantrymen in panzer divisions
were originally also called Schützen, but were renamed Panzergrenadier at about the same
time.
Other honorifics for infantrymen
included Füsilier (Fusilier in English) and Musketier (Musketeer). |
Obersoldat
 |
The
"ober" prefix was added to all the titles listed above to indicate this rank.
The term Oberjäger
was not used for this rank; a man holding this grade serving in Jäger and
Gebirgsjäger units was instead referred to as Oberschütze, as were, of
course, men in infantry units before use of the word Grenadier, and Schützen regiments
before being renamed Panzergrenadiere.
It is possible this grade was
not part of the normal rank progression. This grade was automatic upon one year's
service. However, most soldiers in the German Army could be expected to reach
Gefreiter in less than a year's time - the conclusion to draw is that anyone being made an
Oberschütze (etc.) probably was not considered a promising soldier. |
Gefreiter
 |
The
rank of Gefreiter did not denote a non-commissioned officer in any sense of the word; he
had no command authority and the rank he wore represented a raise in pay and little else. |
Obergefreiter
 |
Up
until 1942/43, an Obergefreiter with more than 6 years service wore a single chevron with
a pip added.
|
Stabsgefreiter
 |
After
1942/43 this insignia identified an Obergefreiter with more than six years service. |
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