The Rank insignias of the German Bundeswehr, known collectively as armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany, are designed in order to indicate the particular ranks of the Bundeswehr. Further it enables the attribution of the soldier to the group of uniform carrier group Heer (German Army), Luftwaffe (German Air Force), or Marine (German Navy).
Additional elements do specify the career of the particular soldier and the membership to a military branch, service branch, or armed service, etc. These additional elements are necessary to discriminate military ranks and careers within a rank class or group. Generic soldiers, which do not carry rank insignias, may carry additional elements.
Ranks insignias are part of the Bundeswehr uniform. Competent legal basis is the Presidential order on rank designation and uniform of soldiers[1] The 'ZdV-37/10 – Anzugsordnung für Soldaten der Bundeswehr' gives the dress order and design veriations. Further, the Federal Office of Equipment, IT, and in-service support of the Bundeswehr (Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr) provides numerous details.
- See also
⇒ Article Ranks of the German Bundeswehr
Types[]
Basically, the different types of rank insignias might be distinguished as follows:
- Shoulder straps or - boards:
- Cuff titles or sleeve insignias:
- Mounting loops or - straps (in de: Aufziehschlaufen):
Basic structure of shoulder straps and sleeve insignias[]
The rank insignias of all grads will be explained initially on the example of shoulder straps to the basic uniform or everyday uniform in order provide a general overflew.
As to naval persons in uniform there will be additionally depicted sleeve insignias on the uniform jacket. Pertaining army persons in uniform there will be shown next shoulder straps of the uniform jacket. Variations of the in the first instance depicted rank insignias will be explained in more detail.
Enlisted personnel (de: Mannschaften)[]
| Rank |  NATO |
Person in uniform | Remark | |||
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| OR-1[2] | 
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| Gefreiter | OR-2 | 
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| Obergefreiter | OR-3 | 
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| Hauptgefreiter | 
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| Stabsgefreiter | OR-4 | 
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| Oberstabsgefreiter | 
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Non-commissioned officers (NCO/ de: Unteroffiziere)[]
| Rank* | NATO |
Person in uniform | Remark | ||||||
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| Non-commissioned officers "without Portepee"/ Unteroffizier "ohne Portepee" | |||||||||
| Unteroffizier Maat |
OR-5 |  |
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| Fahnenjunker Seekadett |
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| Stabsunteroffizier Obermaat |
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| Non-commissioned officers "with Portepee"/ Unteroffiziere "mit Portepee" | |||||||||
| Feldwebel Bootsmann |
OR-6 |  |
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| Fähnrich Fähnrich zur See |
OF-6 OF(D)[3] |
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| Oberfeldwebel Oberbootsmann |
OR-6 |  |
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| Hauptfeldwebel Hauptbootsmann |
OR-7 |  |
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| Oberfähnrich Oberfähnrich zur See |
OF-7 OF(D) |
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| Stabsfeldwebel Stabsbootsmann |
OR-8 |  |
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| Oberstabsfeldwebel Oberstabsbootsmann |
OR-9 |  |
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* above: description to person in uniform “ Heer Bundeswehr“ (Federal armed forces´ Army) and „Luftwaffe Bundeswehr“ (Federal armed forces´ Air Force) ; below – Description to person in uniform “Deutsche Marine” (German Navy)
Commissioned officers (CO/ de: Offiziere)[]
| Rank* | NATO |
Person in uniform | Remark | |||
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| Lieutenant ranks (de: Leutnante) | ||||||
| Leutnant Leutnant zur See |
OF-1b[4] OF-1a |
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| Oberleutnant Oberleutnant zur See |
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| Captain ranks (de: Hauptleute) | ||||||
| Hauptmann Kapitänleutnant |
OF-2b OF-2a |
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| Stabshauptmann Stabskapitänleutnant |
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| Staff officers | ||||||
| Major Korvettenkapitän |
OF-3 |  |
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| Oberstleutnant Fregattenkapitän |
OF-4 |  |
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| Oberst Kapitän zur See |
OF-5 |  |
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| Generals / Flag officers | ||||||
| Brigadegeneral Flottillenadmiral |
OF-6 |  |
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| Generalmajor Konteradmiral |
OF-7 |  |
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| Generalleutnant Vizeadmiral |
OF-8 |  |
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| General Admiral |
OF-9 |  |
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* above: description to person in uniform “ Heer Bundeswehr“ (Federal armed forces´ Army) and „Luftwaffe Bundeswehr“ (Federal armed forces´ Air Force) ; below – Description to person in uniform “Deutsche Marine” (German Navy)
Variations[]
Army- and Air Force persons in uniform of the commissioned officers rank group may carry in line with ZDV 37/10 self-procured hand stitched rank insignias (File: d.) instead of the metallic version (File: e.). However, this type of rank insignias is rather seldom in practice. Beside the rank insignia on light-grey shoulder straps, as shown above, there is to army persons in uniform a version (see image a.) on dark grey cloth. This version of shoulder straps will be worn to uniform shirt and overcoat.
Naval persons in uniform, of the enlisted personnel rank group, wear relatively seldom the dark blue jacket with the above indicated cuff titles, because enlisted mariner in the age below 30 years prefer to wear the white shirt or blue shirt instead of the uniform jacked. Sleeve insignias on shirts more simple, but pertaining form and dimensions identically to those on jackets.
.jpg "Hauptmann (Gesellschaftsanzug).jpg (211 KB)")
In the place of stripes, with parts of metallic spinning fibers wire yarn, the oblique chevrons are made from golden-yellow or steel-blue spinning fibers without any metallic parts of wire yarn (see images b and c.). For Army and Air Force personnel in Bundeswehr dress uniform, as well as for all female soldiers, shoulder straps are mandatory. However, male naval persons in uniform wear cuff titles, known from the jacket.
  Dress uniform, male Heer |
  Dress uniform, female Heer |
Particularities[]
Deviating from the description above, naval enlisted personnel of the Guard Battalion on MOD-Germany (de: Wachbataillon beim BMVg) doesn’t wear any sleeve insignia.
In opposition to the ZDv 37/10, in representative military units (e.g. Guard Battalion of MOD-Germany and Staff Military Band) for enlisted personnel and non commissioned officers the background of the basic uniform gorget patches shows the specific corps colour of the appropriate armed service, special troop, corps or assignment.[5]
Also in deviation from the description above, on the service jacket and skiing blouse colour pipings or cops background colour on gorget patches are dropped.[5]
Basic form of mounting straps[]
Mounting straps or loops (de: Aufziehschlaufen) are in principle absolutely identical to the design of the shoulder straps, depicted above. From this point of few it might be sufficient to demonstrate exemplarily the different versions of design, instead to show a complete list. Official procured mounting straps are weaved. The field uniform type of mounting straps, used most, shows black or golden emblems on stone-grey/ olive-colour basic textile.
| Rank | Person in uniform | Remark | ||
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| Enlisted personnel | 
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| Noncommissioned officers | 
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| Staff officers | 
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| General ranks Flag officers |
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ZDv 37/10-conforme variations[]
Almost similar performed mounting straps do exist for different coloured uniform parts as well as to Army, Air Force and Navy persons in uniform. Army persons in uniform for example wear on shoulder straps to the grey pullover, black mounting straps with bright-grey (for generals gold-yellow) emblems (see image a.).
For naval persons dark-blue mounting straps are widespread in particular to the ship-parka (see image c.).
For Air Force pilots´ flying suits there exists a version of mounting straps with bright-grey (generals golden-yellow) emblems on dark-blue basic textile (without double-wing). The Air Force double-wing is mounted to other parts of the flying suit, and is intentional omitted on mounting straps.
Running out visions[]
By amendment of the Presidential Order on Rank Designation and Uniform of Soldiers as to February 7, 1996” was provided, that on the so-called fighting suit in camouflage print (de: Kampfanzug Tarndruck) the silver-colored rank insignias became obsolete and will be replaced by black-colored one’s. [6]
The ZDv 37/10 was supplemented by the following sentence:”Until official procurement of the new designed olive-green mounting loops with black-colored rank insignias (for enlisted personnel, non commissioned officers, and commissioned officers including colonel grads of Heer and Luftwaffe), the old fashioned mounting loop version with grey-colour rank insignias has to be worn out. In the meanwhile this sentence in the ZDV 37/10 was deleted. In practice the replacement of the obsolete grey-colored mounting loops by the new fashioned black-colour version is almost completed. However, on unicolored flying suits of army pilots and aviation technicians, mounting loops with grey-colored rank insignias are Bundeswehr regulations conform.
Tolerated versions[]
The following below depicted gallery of mounting loops are practically in use in conjunction with the 5- or 3 color flecktarn fighting suit. However, this particular versions aren´t neither mentioned and depicted in the ZDv 37/10, nor officially procured. De facto are mounting loops in 5- and 3 color flecktarn in contradiction to the Presidential Order on Rank Designation and Uniform of Soldiers, and might be only procured individually. However, the below depicted mounting loops in 5- and 3 color flecktarn with black-, grey- or yellow-colored emblems are tolerated and worn op to highest rank groups and grades. In daily service, normal visibility of some black-color emblems, e.g. for the grades feldwebel, lieutenant or major, might be difficult.
Additional elements[]
Diverse additional elements complete all versions of rank insignias, illustrated above. In most cases they do characterize a rank – or career group within the Bundeswehr. Additional elements are not components of the rank insignia, because the rank or grad level is already clearly defined or specified by any above mentioned particular rank insignia. However, to licensed medical officers as well as to officer designated personnel of the NCO rank group, equipped with specific rang insignias which are differing to the normal one`s, additional elements are significant, in order to define the rank or grad unequivocal.
Double wing[]
The double wing (also: aviator wing) is part of the mounting loop to any uniform of the Luftwaffe. It is weaved in the color of all other emblems (in most cases: black (image b.) – or gold-colored by general grads (image c.)). The double wing, also part of other elements on aviator´s uniform, serves as unmistakable discrimination feature to the stone-grey/ olive-colored mounting strap to the uniform of the Heer. Double wing mounting loops are longer and wider than other one`s. The double wing is even part of the otherwise empty mounting loop to the lowest private OR1-rank (de: Flieger; see image a.), in order to distinguish between the Air Force – and Army personnel in tarnfleck uniform.
Corps color[]
Corps [or troop-function] colours (de: Waffenfarben) have been traditionally used in German armed forces since the 19th century. By German Bundeswehr personnel in uniform of Heer and Luftwaffe corps colored pippin and padding (4mm broad plain braiding) on shoulder straps and cuffs are used in order to characterise the membership to an armed service, a special force, or a particular assignment. Corps colored loops might be used on mounting straps to the field uniform. The collar patches on uniform jackets show corps colors as well.
- Here some examples of corps colors
- Collar patches of general grades Heer/ Luftwaffe OF6 – OF7: deep-red
- Officers in general staff assignment (i.G.): carmine
- Personnel in uniform Luftwaffe: gold-yellow
Assignment badges[]
Assignment badges (de: Laufbahnabzeichen) of the German Marine are equivalent to the corps colors of Heer and Luftwaffe and have corresponding functions respectively.
Naval personnel in uniform of the rank groups enlisted personnel and non commissioned officers wear on shoulder straps (not on mounting straps or appliquéd cuff title in waved performance) and sleeves specific marks of distinction or badges, in order to characterize the appropriate assignment. Exempted are officer designated (OF(D)) grades.
As well as rank insignias on shoulder straps, assignment badges are metallic gold-colored embossed pins or badges. Both are identically in color and design. However, the assignment badges on sleeves are performed as embroidery or machine-embroidery. Only the steel-blue assignment badges of white shirts to enlisted personnel are waved. Seamen (recruit OR-1) wear assignment badges on shoulder strap or upper-sleeve which are apart from that empty. Assignment badges are normally positioned as follows:
- to enlisted personnel: in the middle below of the rank insignia
- to NCO with portepeed (sword knot): in the middle above of the rank insignia
- to Maat and Obermaat: in the middle of the square, built by the stripes
Assignment badges on shoulder straps should be normally symmetric and are worn between head and rank insignia. Exempted from that are only the asymmetric badges to health service (assignment series 81), where the Hippocratic snack shows always ahead.
References and external links[]
- ↑ In Germany, the Presidential Order on Rank Designation and Uniform of Soldiers (Anordnung des Bundespräsidenten über die Dienstgradbezeichnungen und die Uniform der Soldaten) is a presidential decree on the ranks and uniforms of the German Federal Defence Forces (Bundeswehr).
- ↑ The abbreviation "OR" stands for "Other Ranks / sous-officiers et militaires du rang"
- ↑ 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 "OF" stands for "officer / officier"
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 vgl. "An- und einnähbare Schulterklappen für Heer und Luftwaffe (paspeliert oder unterlegt)" (in German) (PDF). Bundesamt für Wehrtechnik und Beschaffung. 2006-09-26. http://daten.bwb.org/AG-Bund/TL/Daten/84550087.pdf. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
- ↑ Bundespräsident Roman Herzog, Bundeskanzler Helmut Kohl, Bundesminister der Verteidigung Volker Rühe, ed. (22 02 1996), [Digitalisat (PDF) "Anordnung zur Änderung der Anordnung des Bundespräsidenten über die Dienstgradbezeichnungen und die Uniform des Soldaten. Vom 7. Februar 1996"] (in German), Bundesgesetzblatt (Bonn) 1996 Teil I (10), Digitalisat (PDF)
The original article can be found at Rank insignias of the German Bundeswehr and the edit history here.