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    • War News | Military History | Military News

    Military Ranks of the Luftwaffe (1935–45)

    Jack Beckett, Guest Author

    article-1327165-0594BFDA0000044D-203_634x432Rank Insignia

    Luftwaffe insignia Luftwaffe rank Approximate US/UK equivalent
    during World War II
    Shoulder Collar Sleeve,
    Flight suit
    General officer ranks
    Luftwaffe epaulette Reichsmarschall.svg Luftwaffe collar tabs Reichsmarschall 3D.svg Reichsmarschall No Equivalent
    Luftwaffe epaulette Generalfeldmarschall.svg Luftwaffe collar tabs Generalfeldmarschall 3D.svg Generalfeldmarschall General of the Army Marshal of the Air Force
    Luftwaffe epaulette Generaloberst.svg Luftwaffe collar tabs Generaloberst 3D.svg Luftwaffe paraman Generaloberst 3D.svg Generaloberst General Air Chief Marshal
    Luftwaffe epaulette General.svg Luftwaffe collar tabs General der Flieger 3D.svg Luftwaffe paraman General der Flieger 3D.svg General der Flieger (General Aviation),
    General der Fallschirmtruppe (Airborne),
    General der Luftnachrichtentruppe (Signals),
    General der Flakartillerie (Air Defense Artillery),
    General der Luftwaffe (Infantry and Armored units, Air Force Staff and educational institutions)    		 Lieutenant General Air Marshal
    Luftwaffe epaulette Generalleutnant.svg Luftwaffe collar tabs Generalleutnant 3D.svg Luftwaffe paraman Generalleutnant 3D.svg Generalleutnant Major General Air Vice-Marshal
    Luftwaffe epaulette Generalmajor.svg Luftwaffe collar tabs Generalmajor 3D.svg Luftwaffe paraman Generalmajor 3D.svg Generalmajor Brigadier General Air Commodore
    Officer ranks
    Luftwaffe epaulette Oberst.svg Luftwaffe collar tabs Oberst 3D.svg Luftwaffe paraman Oberst 3D.svg Oberst Colonel Group Captain
    Luftwaffe epaulette Oberstleutnant.svg Luftwaffe collar tabs Oberstleutnant 3D.svg Luftwaffe paraman Oberstleutnant 3D.svg Oberstleutnant Lieutenant Colonel Wing Commander
    Luftwaffe epaulette Major.svg Luftwaffe collar tabs Major 3D.svg Luftwaffe paraman Major 3D.svg Major Major Squadron Leader
    Luftwaffe epaulette Hauptmann.svg Luftwaffe collar tabs Hauptmann 3D.svg Luftwaffe paraman Hauptmann 3D.svg Hauptmann Captain Flight Lieutenant
    Luftwaffe epaulette Oberleutnant.svg Luftwaffe collar tabs Oberleutnant 3D.svg Luftwaffe paraman Oberleutnant 3D.svg Oberleutnant First Lieutenant Flying Officer
    Luftwaffe epaulette Leutnant.svg Luftwaffe collar tabs Leutnant 3D.svg Luftwaffe paraman Leutnant 3D.svg Leutnant Second Lieutenant Pilot Officer
    Non-Commissioned Officer ranks
    Luftwaffe epaulette Stabsfeldwebel.svg Luftwaffe collar tabs Stabsfeldwebel 3D.svg Luftwaffe paraman Stabsfeldwebel 3D.svg Stabsfeldwebel Master Sergeant Warrant Officer
    Luftwaffe collar tabs Oberfeldwebel 3D.svg Luftwaffe paraman Oberfeldwebel 3D.svg Oberfähnrich Flight cadet Acting pilot officer
    Luftwaffe epaulette Oberfeldwebel.svg Oberfeldwebel Technical Sergeant Flight Sergeant
    Luftwaffe epaulette Feldwebel.svg Luftwaffe collar tabs Feldwebel 3D.svg Luftwaffe paraman Feldwebel 3D.svg Feldwebel Staff Sergeant Sergeant
    Luftwaffe epaulette Faehnrich.svg Luftwaffe collar tabs Unterfeldwebel 3D.svg Luftwaffe paraman Unterfeldwebel 3D.svg Fähnrich Flight Cadet Officer Cadet
    Luftwaffe epaulette Unterfeldwebel.svg Unterfeldwebel Sergeant Corporal
    Luftwaffe collar tabs Unteroffizier 3D.svg Luftwaffe paraman Unteroffizier 3D.svg Fahnenjunker Flight Cadet Officer Cadet
    Luftwaffe epaulette Unteroffizier.svg Unteroffizier Sergeant Corporal
    Enlisted ranks
    Luftwaffe epaulette Mannschaften.svg Luftwaffe collar tabs Stabsgefreiter 3D.svg Luftwaffe paraman Stabsgefreiter 3D.svg Stabsgefreiter from 1944 Corporal Senior Aircraftman
    Luftwaffe epaulette Mannschaften.svg Luftwaffe collar tabs Hauptgefreiter 3D.svg Luftwaffe paraman Hauptgefreiter 3D.svg Hauptgefreiter until 1944 Corporal Senior Aircraftman
    Luftwaffe epaulette Mannschaften.svg Luftwaffe collar tabs Obergefreiter 3D 2.svg Luftwaffe paraman Obergefreiter 3D.svg Obergefreiter Corporal Leading Aircraftman
    Luftwaffe epaulette Mannschaften.svg Luftwaffe collar tabs Gefreiter 3D.svg Luftwaffe paraman Gefreiter 3D.svg Gefreiter Private First Class Aircraftman 1st Class
    Luftwaffe epaulette Mannschaften.svg Luftwaffe collar tabs Flieger 3D.svg Flieger Private Aircraftman 2nd Class

    Service colors (Waffenfarbe)

    The branch of the Luftwaffe in which personnel served was indicated by the color of the collar tabs (German: Kragenspiegel).

    Color Branch
    White General Officers and Marshals of the Air Force
    Gold Yellow Aircrews (Fliegertruppe)
    Airborne Parachute Troops (Fallschirmtruppe)
    Ground personnel
    Orange Recalled officers
    Crimson General Staff of the Air Force
    Brown Signals and Communications Command
    Purple Legal
    Red Anti-aircraft Defense troops (Flak Division)
    Ordnance
    Pink Air Force Engineers
    Black Pioneer
    Construction Units
    Blue Air Force Medical Corps
    Light Green Radar Units
    Light Blue Transportation
    Dark green Attached Wehrmacht troops under Luftwaffe command

    References

    Wiki