Ranks and insignia of the Luftwaffe (1935–1945)

The ranks of the Luftwaffe were similar to other branches of the Wehrmacht.

Rank insignia

Insignia[1]			Title	Approximate equivalents during World War II
Collar	Shoulder	Sleeve (Flight suit)		US[2]	UK[3]
Generalsränge
		N/A	Reichsmarschall	General of the Armies	N/A
			Generalfeldmarschall	General of the Air Force	Marshal of the Royal Air Force
			Generaloberst	General	Air Chief Marshal
			General der Waffengattung General der Flieger General der Fallschirmtruppe General der Luftnachrichtentruppe General der Flakartillerie 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	N/A
			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
		N/A	Flieger	Airman basic	Aircraftman 2nd Class

Condor Legion (1936–1939)

Insignia		Title
Chest	Cuff
N/A		Generalleutnant
N/A		Generalmajor
N/A		Oberst
	N/A	Oberstleutnant
	N/A	Major
	N/A	Hauptmann
	N/A	Oberleutnant
	N/A	Leutnant
	N/A	Feldwebel
	N/A	Unteroffizier
	N/A	Legionär

References

Citations

1. Stedman 2002, pp. 17–19.
2. War Department 1945.
3. CIA 1999, p. 18.

Bibliography

• CIA (24 August 1999). "Records Integration Title Book" (PDF). Retrieved 11 December 2018.
• 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.

See also

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