Ranks of the National People's Army

The Ranks of the National People's Army were the military insignia used by the National People's Army, the army of the German Democratic Republic, from 1956 to 1990.

Design

The design of the rank insignias followed the tradition of the German Army (Heer) with some modifications. For example, the cuff titles (chevron insignias) of the Gefreiter were replaced by Soviet-styled shoulder straps with cross-stripes.

Shoulder strap rank insignias

Commissioned officer ranks up to Oberst featured four-pointed golden stars in increasing number according to seniority, and arranged following the Soviet pattern.

Junior officer (lieutenant and captain ranks) shoulder straps were made of silver satin string (German: Silberplattschnur). Unterleutnant had a single golden star, Leutnant two side-by-side stars, and Oberleutnant three stars in a triangle. Hauptmann rank had a fourth star above the triangular formation.

Senior officer shoulder straps were twisted silver cords, Major had a single star, Oberstleutnant two stars, and Oberst three stars, again arranged following the Soviet example.

Generals wore twisted golden and silver cords with five-pointed stars numbering from one (Generalmajor) to four (Armeegeneral).

Ground forces, Air force, and Border troops

Remark: The different colours represent the appropriate service, branch, branch of service, or special troop.

Main article: Corps colours (NPA)

General and Officer ranks
Equivalent
NATO code		OF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D) and student officer

East Germany		 See below
Marschall der DDR Armeegeneral Generaloberst Generalleutnant Generalmajor Oberst Oberstleutnant Major Hauptmann Oberleutnant Leutnant Unterleutnant

Officer candidate or officer aspirant (OA)

The table below contains the Ofiziersschüler ranks (en: student officers; equivalent to officer candidate or officer aspirant (OA)).

Offiziersschüler (OF(D))
Academic year6th5th4th3rd2nd1stPreparation course
Shoulder boards
Corps colour/ Troops Air Force
(Luftstreitkräfte)		 Motorized infantry
(Mot.-Schützen)		 Engineers
(Pioniere)		 Armoured troops
(Panzertruppen)		 Communications
(Nachrichten)		 Motorized infantry

Warrant officers
Fähnrichkorps and Fähnrichschüler of the NPA
Sleeve insignia
(1979-1990)

(not to Fähnrich-student)		 Stabsoberfähnrich Stabsfähnrich Oberfähnrich Fähnrich Fähnrichschüler
W-4W-3W-2W-1 W (Student)
(Staff-senior-Warrant Officer) (Staff-Warrant Officer) (Senior-Warrant Officer) (Warrant Officer) (Warrant Officer-Cadet)
Sleeve insignia as to 1973-1979
20 years of service15 years of service10 years of service

NCO and enlisted ranks
Equivalent
NATO code		OR-9OR-8OR-7OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-2OR-1

East
Germany 		No
equivalent
Stabsfeldwebel Oberfeldwebel Feldwebel Unterfeldwebel Unteroffizier Stabsgefreiter Gefreiter der Ausbildung Unteroffiziersschüler Gefreiter Soldat

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, with the star arrangement for officers based on the Soviet rank insignia.

Officer ranks and insignia

Unlike most Warsaw pact navies, the People's Navy also used staff corps insignia on the sleeve following traditional German practice. The sleeve rank insignia shown are those of the line officer corps.

Equivalent
NATO code		OF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D) and student officer
East Germany No equivalent
Flottenadmiral Admiral Vizeadmiral Konteradmiral Kapitän zur See Fregattenkapitän Korvettenkapitän Kapitänleutnant Oberleutnant zur See Leutnant zur See Unterleutnant zur See Offiziersschüler
  • Command flags
  • Flottenadmiral
  • Admiral
  • Vizeadmiral
  • Konteradmiral

Warrant officers
Fähnrichkorps and Fähnrichschüler of the NPA
Sleeve insignia
(as to 1979-1990)

(not to Fähnrich-student)

 Stabsoberfähnrich Stabsfähnrich Oberfähnrich Fähnrich Fähnrichschüler
W-4W-3W-2W-1 W (Student)
(Staff-senior-Warrant Officer) (Staff-Warrant Officer) (Senior-Warrant Officer) (Warrant Officer) (Warrant Officer-Cadet)
Sleeve insignia as to 1973-1979
20 years of service15 years of service10 years of service

NCOs and enlisted
Equivalent
NATO code		OR-9OR-8OR-7OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-2OR-1
East Germany No
equivalent 		No
equivalent
Meister to Stabsobermeister
wore the career insignia on shoulder straps only
Stabsobermeister Obermeister Meister Obermaat Maat Stabsmatrose Obermatrose Matrose

Other insignia

Field insignia (1960–1964)
Officers
 
General officersField officersJunior officers
Insignia[1]
Ground and
air forces		 Armeegeneral Generaloberst Generalleutnant Generalmajor Oberst Oberstleutnant Major Hauptmann Oberleutnant Leutnant Unterleutnant
Enlisted
 
Insignia[1]
Ground and
air forces		 Hauptfeldwebel
Stabsfeldwebel		 Stabsfeldwebel
Oberfeldwebel		 Feldwebel Unterfeldwebel
Unteroffizier

Aviator and technician suit insignia
Officers
 
General officersField officersJunior officers
Insignia[2]
Ground and
air forces		 Marschall der DDR Armeegeneral Generaloberst Generalleutnant Generalmajor Oberst Oberstleutnant Major Hauptmann Oberleutnant Leutnant Unterleutnant
Navy Flottenadmiral Admiral Vizeadmiral Konteradmiral Kapitän zur See Fregattenkapitän Korvettenkapitän Kapitänleutnant Oberleutnant zur See Leutnant zur See Unterleutnant zur See
Officer candidate
 
Insignia[2]
Ground,
air forces &
navy		 4th year 3rd year 2nd year 1st year
Offiziersschüler
Warrant officers
 
Insignia[2]
Ground,
air forces &
navy		 Stabsoberfähnrich Stabsfähnrich Oberfähnrich Fähnrich 2nd year 1st year
Fähnrichschüler
Enlisted
 
Insignia[2]
Ground and
air forces		 Stabsfeldwebel Oberfeldwebel Feldwebel Unterfeldwebel Unteroffizier Stabsgefreiter Gefreiter der Ausbildung Gefreiter Soldat
Navy Stabsobermeister Obermeister Meister Obermaat Maat Stabsmatrose No equivalent Obermatrose Matrose

See also

References
  1. Krauß, Michael (2010). "Dienstgradabzeichen". flaechentarn-kraus.hpage.com (in German). Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  2. "DV 010/0/005 Uniformarten und ihre Trageweise- Bekleidungsvorschrift (1990)". nva-flieger.de (in German). Retrieved 7 January 2021.
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