Ranks of the National People's Army
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This article comprises the Ranks and rank insignias of the National People's Army (NPA), that was the Army of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) from 1956 to 1990.
Design
The design of the rank insignias followed, with some modifications, the tradition of the German Wehrmacht. For example the cuff titles (chevron insignias) of the Gefreiter where replaced by cross-strips on the shoulder straps.
Shoulder straps, tucks and sleeve insignias
The shoulder straps of the lieutenant and captain ranks where made from silver satin string (de: Silberplattschnur). The Unterleutnant was characterized by one golden CO star, the Leutnant by two rank stars (side by side), and the Oberleutnant by tree stars, triangular mounted. Pertaining to Hauptmann there was an additional star above the triangular formation.
Staff officers where characterize by twisted silver shoulder straps, with one star for Major, two stars for Oberstleutnant, and three stars for Oberst.
Ground forces, Air force, and Border troops
Remark: The different colours characterize several corps colours in relation to the appropriate service, branch, branch of service, or special troop.
⇒ see main article Corps colours (NPA)
Generals
| General ränks of the NVA | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marschall der DDR | Armeegeneral | Generaloberst | Generalleutnant | Generalmajor | |
| Ground forces | Air Force | Border troops | |||
| OF-10[1] | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | |
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| (Marshal of the GDR) | (Army general) | (Colonel general) | (Lieutenant general) | (Major general) | |
Commissioned officers
| Commissioned officer ranks of the NPA | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oberst | Oberstleutnant | Major | Hauptmann | Oberleutnant | Leutnant | Unterleutnant | Offiziersschüler |
| Rocket troops/Artillery | Mech. infantry | Logistics & supply | Rocket troops/Artillery | Communications | Air Force | Engineer corps | 3rd year of studies |
| OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | OF-D[2] | ||
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| (Colonel) | (Lieutenant colonel) | (Major) | Hauptmann | (First lieutenant) | (Second lieutenant) | (Under lieutenant) | (Officer-student) |
Fähnrich ranks
| Fähnrichkorps and Fähnrichschüler of the NPA | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sleeve insignia (not to Fähnrich-student) |
Stabsoberfähnrich | Stabsfähnrich | Oberfähnrich | Fähnrich | Fähnrichschüler |
| Armor | Mil. engineering | Airborne troops | Border troops | Air Force | |
| W-4[3] | W-3 | W-2 | W-1 | W-1 (Student) | |
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| (Staff-senior-fähnrich) | (Staff-fähnrich) | (Senior-fähnrich) | (Fähnrich) | (Fähnrich-student) | |
Non commissioned officer ranks
| Unteroffiziere of the NPA | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stabsfeldwebel | Oberfeldwebel | Feldwebel | Unterfeldwebel | Unteroffizier |
| Rocket troops/Artillery | Communications | Mil. engineers | Air defence | Border troops |
| OR-8[4] | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 |
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| (Staff-feldwebel) | (Senior-feldwebel) | (Feldwebel) | (Under-feldwebel) | (Underofficer) |
Enlisted men ranks
| Enlisted rank soldiers of the NPA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Unteroffiziersschüler | Stabsgefreiter | Gefreiter | Soldat |
| Armor | Air Force | Mech. infantry | Rocket troops/Artillery |
| OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |
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| (Underofficier-student) | (Staff-gefreiter) | (Gefreiter) | (Private) |
Volksmarine
While the sleeve ranks of the Volksmarine officers were of the style used by the Soviet Navy, all shoulder board insignia used were German in origin wih the star arrangement for officers being on the basis of the Soviet rank insignia.
Flag officer ranks
| Flag officer ranks of the Volksmarine (dark blue / navy blue) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF-6 to OF-9 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | |
| Arabesken | Lampassen | Flottenadmiral | Admiral | Vizeadmiral | Konteradmiral |
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| Cuff insignia |  |
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| (Arabesques) | (Lampasses) | (Fleet admiral) | (Admiral) | (Vice admiral) | (Counter admiral) |
Commissioned officers
| Commissioned officer ranks of the Volksmarine | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kapitän zur See |
Fregatten- kapitän |
Korvetten- kapitän |
Kapitän- leutnant |
Ober- leutnant |
Leutnant | Unter leutnant |
Offiziersschüler |
| OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | OF-D | ||
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| (nautical career) | (administrative career) | (medical career) | (costal career) | (judicial career) | (engineering resp. techn. career) |
(nautical career) | (Studen-officer 2nd year of studies) |
Fähnrich ranks
| Fähnrichkorps and Fähnrichschüler of the of the Volksmarine | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sleeve insignia | Stabsoberfähnrich | Stabsfähnrich | Oberfähnrich | Fähnrich | Fähnrichschüler (2nd year of studies) |
| W-4 | W-3 | W-2 | W-1 | W-1 (Student) | |
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Non commissioned officers
| Unteroffiziere of the Volksmarine | ||||||
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| Stabsobermeister (techn. career) |
Obermeister (nautical career) |
Meister | Obermaat | Obermaat auf Zeit |
Maat | Maat auf Zeit |
| OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | ||
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Enlisted ratings
| Enlisted rating insignia of the Volksmarine | ||
|---|---|---|
| Stabsmatrose | Obermatrose | Matrose |
| OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 |
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References
- ↑ The abbreviation "OF" stands for "officer / officier"
- ↑ Ranks designated as OF(D): In some NATO countries, the term "officer designate"is used. In the NATO rank scale, it comes below the grade of OF-1 and is annotated as OF(D).
- ↑ The abbreviation "WO/W" stands for " Warrant Officer, also warrant-officer ranks / de: ermächtigter Vorgesetzter / ru: уорент-офицер, между сержантами и младшими офицерами" between the rank groups CO and NCO
- ↑ The abbreviation "OR" stands for "Other Ranks / fr: sous-officiers et militaires du rang / ru:другие ранги, кроме офицероф"