German Ranks

WWI German Ranks

German Army Officers
Generalfeldmarshall FM general of the armies
Generaloberst GenObst general
General der Infanterie GendInf __ (general of infantry
General der Kavallerie GendKav __ (general of cavalry)
General der Artillerie GendArt __ (general of artillery)
Generalleutnant Genltn lieutenant general
Generalmajor Genmaj Major general
Oberst Obst colonel
Oberstleutnant Obstltn lieutenant colonel
Major Maj Major
Hauptmann Hptm Captain
Rittmeister Rittm __ (cavalry captain)
Oberleutnant Obltn first lieutenant
Leutnant Ltn Second lieutenant
Fähnrich Fhn ensign/cadet
Kadett Kdt Cadet
German Army Enlisted Men
Feldwebel-Leutnant Fwltn Sergeant Major Lieutenant (Warrant Officer)
Offizierstellvertreter Offstv __ (acting or deputy officer)
Feldwebel Fw sergeant major
Wachtmeister Wtm sergeant major (cavalry, artillery)
Vizefeldwebel Vzfw sergeant 1st class (vice sergeant major)
Sergeant Sgt Sergeant
Unteroffizer Uffz Corporal
Oberjäger Objäg corporal (Jäger only)
Obergefreiter ObGefr acting corporal (artillery only)
Gefreiter Gefr private 1st Class  
Flieger Flg private (flyer in army air service)
Pionier Pion private (pioneer in Bavarian Flying Corps)
German Naval Officers
Grossadmiral GAdm admiral of the fleet
Admiral Adm Admiral
Vizeadmiral VAdm vice admiral
Konteradmiral Kadm rear admiral
Kommodore Kdm commodore
Kapitän Kpt Captain
Korvettenkapitän KKpt commander
Fregattenkapitän FrgKpt commander
Kapitänleutnant KptLtn lieutenant commander
Oberleutnant zur See Obltn.z.S lieutenant
Leutnant zur See Ltn.z.S lieutenant (j.g.)
Fähnrich zur See Fhr.z.S midshipman
German Naval Enlisted Men
Oberstabsbootsmann OStBm Warrant officer
Oberbootsmann Obm chief petty officer
Stabsbootsmann StBm petty officer 1st Class
Unterbootsmann UBm petty officer 2nd Class
Bootsmannsmaat BmMt petty officer 3rd Class
Quartiermeister Meist quartermaster
Matrose 1.Klasse Matr.I seaman 1st. Class
Matrose 2.Klasse Matr.2 seaman 2nd Class
Matrose 3.Klasse Matr.3 __ (seaman 3rd Class)
Matrose 4.Klasse Matr.4 __ (seaman 4th Class)
German Naval Enlisted Aviation
Flugmeister Flgm flying petty officer
Vizeflugmeister Vflgm flying vice petty officer

List of Ranks