Military ranks of the Weimar Republic

Summary

The military ranks of the Weimar Republic were the military ranks used by the Reichswehr.

Military ranks of the Peacetime Army (1919) edit

The Peacetime Army (German: Friedensheeres) continued to use the uniforms of the Imperial German Army, however, the ranks were influenced by Soviet insignia. The ranks were used from January 1919 to May 1919.[1]

Commissioned officers edit

Rank group Generals Officers
  Heer
[2][3]
                 
General der Waffengattung Generalleutnant Generalmajor Oberst Oberstleutnant Major Hauptmann Oberleutnant Leutnant
Feldwebelleutnant

Enlisted personnel edit

Rank group NCOs Other ranks
  Heer
[2][3][4]
           
Feldwebel Vizefeldwebel Fähnrich
Sergeant
Unteroffizier Gefreiter Soldat

Military ranks of the Provisional Reichswehr (1919–1920) edit

The Provisional Reichswehr (German: Vorläufigen Reichswehr) introduced slightly more elaborate insignia than the Peacetime Army.[5]

Commissioned officers edit

Rank group Generals Officers
  Heer
[6][3]
                 
General der Waffengattung Generalleutnant Generalmajor Oberst Oberstleutnant Major Hauptmann Oberleutnant Leutnant/
Feldwebelleutnant

Enlisted personnel edit

Rank group NCOs Other ranks
  Heer
[6][3][4]
             
Offiziersstellvertreter Feldwebel Vizefeldwebel Fähnrich/
Sergeant
Unteroffizier Obergefreiter Gefreiter Wehrmann

Military ranks of the Reichswehr (1920–1935) edit

Commissioned officers edit

Rank group Generals Officers
  Heer
[7]
                 
General der Waffengattung Generalleutnant Generalmajor Oberst Oberstleutnant Major Hauptmann Oberleutnant Leutnant
  Reichsmarine                  
Admiral Vizeadmiral Konteradmiral Kapitän zur See Fregatten­kapitän Korvetten­kapitän Kapitän­leutnant Oberleutnant
zur See
Leutnant
zur See

Enlisted personnel edit

Rank group NCOs Other ranks
  Heer
[4][7]
                No insignia
Oberfeldwebel Feldwebel Unterfeldwebel Unteroffizier Stabsgefreiter
(introduced 1927)[8]
Obergefreiter Gefreiter Oberschütze Schütze
  Reichsmarine
[9]
              No insignia
Oberfeldwebel Feldwebel Obermaat Maat Obergefreiter Gefreiter Obermatrose Matrose

Waffenfarben edit

Regiment or Battalion type[10] Colour[a]
General officers
Artillery
Ordnance troops
Scarlet

(Hochrot)

Staff Corps of the Reichswehr
Veterinary service
Carmine

(Karmesin)

Infantry White
Motor transport Rose-pink

(Rosa)

Signals Light brown
Cavalry Golden yellow
Jäger (light infantry) Dark green
Transport (horse-drawn) Light blue
Medical service Dark blue
Engineers Black

Notes edit

  1. ^ In addition to the colours, monograms and symbols were used to denominate services or units.

References edit

Citations edit

  1. ^ Jurado 2001, p. 62.
  2. ^ a b Antique Photos1 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d Jurado 2001, p. 44.
  4. ^ a b c Kidd 2013, p. 55.
  5. ^ Jurado 2001, p. 63.
  6. ^ a b Antique Photos2 2011.
  7. ^ a b F. A. Brockhaus 1926.
  8. ^ Penzkofer, Andreas (16 April 2019). "Die Ärmeldienstgradabzeichen". phalerika.de (in German). Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  9. ^ Hoyer, K; Brennecke, F (1925). Die Uniformen des Reichsheeres und der Reichsmarine nebst amtlichen Uniformtafeln; mit Genehmigung des Reichswehrministeriums (in German). Charlottenburg: Verlag "Offene Worte, ". OCLC 44571687.
  10. ^ Knötel & Knötel 1956, p. 48-50.

Bibliography edit

  • Antique Photos1 (2011). "Uniforms and ranks of the Peacetime Army (19.01.1919-05.05.1919)". Antique Photos. Archived from the original on 14 April 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • Antique Photos2 (2011). "Ranks and insignia of the Provisional Reichswehr (05.05.1919-06.12.1920)". Antique Photos. Archived from the original on 14 April 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • F. A. Brockhaus (1926). "Uniformen des Reichsheers und der Reichsmarine" (in German). F. A. Brockhaus. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  • Jurado, Carlos Caballero (2001). The German Freikorps 1918–23. Elite. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1841761848.
  • Kidd, R Spencer (2013). Military Uniforms In Europe 1900 - 2000 Volume One (Volume 1). Lulu.com. ISBN 978-1291187441. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  • Knötel, Richard; Knötel, Herbert (1956). Handbuch der Uniformkunde: Die militärische Tracht in ihrer Entwicklung bis zur Gegenwart (in German) (6th ed.). Hamburg: Helmut Gerhard Schulz.

Further reading edit

  • Haarcke, Ingo G (1983). Die Uniformen des Friedensheeres, der vorlaufigen Reichswehr und die Reichsheeres von 1919 bis 1921 (in German). Hamburg: Verlag Militaria-Archiv Klaus D. Patzwall.
  • Schlicht, Adolf; Kraus, Jürgen (2006). Rest, Stefan (ed.). The German Reichswehr: Uniforms and Equipment of the German Army from 1919 to 1932. Verlag Militaria. ISBN 978-3902526014.
  • Saßmann, Anton. Die Deutsche Reichswehr in ihrer neuesten Bekleidung, Bewaffnung und Ausrüstung (in German). Leipzig: Moritz Ruhl.