The military ranks of the German Empire were the ranks used by the military of the German Empire. It inherited the various traditions and military ranks of its constituent states.
State | Bavaria | Brunswick | Hesse | Mecklenburg-Schwerin | Mecklenburg-Strelitz | Prussia | Saxony | Württemberg |
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Button | ||||||||
NCO sword knot (infantry) |
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NCO sword knot (cavalry) |
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Officer sword knot |
Critics long believed that the Army's officer corps was heavily dominated by Junker aristocrats, so that commoners were shunted into low-prestige branches, such as the heavy artillery or supply. However, by the 1890s, the top ranks were opened to highly talented commoners.[1][2]
Rank group | General Officers | |||||
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Insignia | ||||||
Rank designation | Generalfeldmarschall | Generaloberst mit dem Rang als Generalfeldmarschall |
Generaloberst | General der Waffengattung | Generalleutnant | Generalmajor |
(English designation) | General Field Marshal | Colonel General in the rank of Field Marshal | Colonel General | General of the branch | Lieutenant General | Major General |
Rank group | Staff Officers | ||
---|---|---|---|
insignia | |||
Rank designation | Oberst | Oberstleutnant | Major |
(English designation) | Colonel | Lieutenant Colonel | Major |
Rank group | Subalterns | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
insignia | ||||
Rank designation | Hauptmann/Kapitän I Klasse: infantry and artillery Rittmeister I Klasse: cavalry |
Hauptmann/Kapitän II Klasse: infantry and artillery Rittmeister II Klasse: cavalry |
Oberleutnant Feuerwerksoberleutnant |
Leutnant: infantry, cavalry and other arms Feuerwerksleutnant: artillery |
(English designation) | Captain | Staff Captain[a] | 1st Lieutenant | 2nd Lieutenant |
Rank group | Unteroffizier mit Portepee | Unteroffizier ohne Portepee | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Collar | ||||
Epaulette | ||||
Title | Etatmäßiger feldwebel | Vizefeldwebel | Sergeant | Unteroffizier |
Cavalry/ Artillery |
Etatmäßiger wachtmeister | Vizewachtmeister |
Rank group | Enlisted | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Collar | |||||
Epaulette | |||||
Title | Kapitulant | Einjährig-freiwilliger | Obergefreiter | Gefreiter | Soldat |
English designation | Capitulant | One-Year Volunteer Enlistee | Senior Lance Corporal | Lance Corporal | Private |
Additionally, the following voluntary enlistees were distinguished:
Note: Einjährig-Freiwilliger and Kapitulant were not ranks as such during this specific period of use, but voluntary military enlistee designations. They, however, wore a specific uniform distinction (twisted wool piping along their shoulder epaulette edging for Einjährig-Freiwilliger, the Kapitulant a narrow band across their lower shoulder epaulette) in the colours of their respective nation state. This distinction was never removed throughout their military service nor during any rank grade advancements.
The Imperial German Navy's rank and rating system combined that of Prussia's with the navies of other northern states.
The rank insignia of commissioned officers.
Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Epaulette[9] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sleeve insignia [10][11] |
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Großadmiral | Admiral | Vizeadmiral | Konteradmiral | Kapitän zur See/ Kommodore |
Fregattenkapitän | Korvettenkapitän | Kapitänleutnant | Oberleutnant zur See | Leutnant zur See |
Title | Großadmiral | Admiral | Vizeadmiral | Konteradmiral |
---|---|---|---|---|
Command flag |
Title | Oberfähnrich zur See | Fähnrich zur See | Seekadett |
Epaulette[9] | |||
Sleeve | |||
English designation | Midshipman | Sea cadet | Junior sea cadet |
Warrant officers | |||
---|---|---|---|
Title | Deckoffiziere als Offizier-Stellvertreter |
Oberdeckoffizier | Deckoffizier |
Shoulder[9] | |||
English designation | Chief Warrant Officer as Acting Commissioned Officer. |
Chief Warrant Officer | Warrant Officer |
Specialty designations | Offizier-Stellvertreter | Oberbootsmann Obersteuermann Oberfeuerwerker |
Bootsmann Steuermann Feuerwerker |
English designation | Acting Commissioned Officer | Chief Boatswain Chief Helmsman Chief Artificer |
Boatswain Helmsman Artificer |
Senior Petty Officers | Junior Petty Officers | |||
Title | Feldwebel | Vize-Feldwebel | Obermaat | Maat |
Sleeve[9] | ||||
English designation | Chief Petty Officer 1st Class (with additional stripe around the sleeve) |
Chief Petty Officer | Petty Officer 1st Class
(Chief Mate) |
Petty Officer
(Mate) |
Seamen | |||
---|---|---|---|
Title | Obermatrose | Einjährig-Freiwilliger | Matrose |
Sleeve[9] | |||
English designation | Seaman 1st Class | Seaman Volunteer (i.e.: Reserve Officer Candidate) |
Seaman |