Ranks and insignia of the Luftwaffe (1935–1945)

The Luftwaffe, from its founding in 1933 to the end of World War II in 1945, used ranks similar to other air forces at the time; however, some Luftwaffe ranks had no equivalent in the Allied air forces. While many ranks might have equivalents in other air forces, in reality the Luftwaffe military had a far greater responsibility; while officers of the Royal Air Force, the British Air Force, were graded to a higher rank when performing higher rank functions, Luftwaffe officers maintained their rank while performing functions, regardless of size of the responsibility assigned to them.[1][2]

Luftwaffe
Insignia[3] Title Approximate equivalents during World War II
Collar Shoulder Sleeve
(Flight suit)		 US[4] UK[5]
Generalsränge
— Reichsmarschall — —
Generalfeldmarschall General of the Army Marshal of the Royal Air Force
Generaloberst General Air chief marshal
General der Waffengattung 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)
en: Request for creation and upload of a picture! Stabsfeldwebel-Fahnenjunker N/A
Stabsfeldwebel Sergeant major Warrant officer
en: Request for creation and upload of a picture! Fahnenjunker-Oberfeldwebel Flight cadet Acting pilot officer
Oberfeldwebel Master sergeant —
en: Request for creation and upload of a picture! Fahnenjunker-Feldwebel N/A
Feldwebel Technical sergeant Flight sergeant
Fahnenjunker-Unterfeldwebel Flight cadet Officer cadet
Unterfeldwebel Staff sergeant Sergeant
en: Request for creation and upload of a picture! 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
— Flieger Airman basic Aircraftman 2nd class

Condor Legion
Main article: Condor Legion
Insignia German Rank Spanish
equivalent
Chest Cuff
— Generalleutnant General de división
— Generalmajor General de brigada
— Oberst Coronel
— Oberstleutnant
— Major Teniente coronel
— Hauptmann Comandante
— Oberleutnant Capitán
— Leutnant Teniente
— Feldwebel, Oberfeldwebel, Stabsfeldwebel Alférez
— Unteroffizier, Unterfeldwebel Sargento
— Legionär Cabo
Source:[6]

See also

References
Citations
  1. "World war 2 German officer hats and equipments". www.worldwar2-militaria.com. Archived from the original on 7 October 2017. Retrieved 2017-10-06.
  2. "Hierarquia e insígnias da Luftwaffe". www.luftwaffe39-45.historia.nom.br (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 23 March 2016. Retrieved 2017-10-06.
  3. Stedman 2002, pp. 17–19.
  4. War Department 1945.
  5. CIA 1999, p. 18.
  6. Davis 1999, pp. 58–64.
Bibliography
  • CIA (24 August 1999). "Records Integration Title Book" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 23, 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  • Davis, Brian L. (1999). Uniforms & Insignia of the Luftwaffe, 1933-1940. Vol. I (2nd ed.). Arms & Armour. ISBN 978-1854094971.
  • 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.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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