🇨🇳
China vs Germany Military Ranks
The Chinese Army has 19 ranks — 10 officer and 9 enlisted — from 陆军列兵 (Private) up to 陆军上将 (General). Below: all 57 ranks across 3 branches (Army, Navy, Air Force), aligned tier by tier with their German equivalents.
Branches
3
Ranks documented
57
Active personnel
2M
Army
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 19 of 19 matched
| 🇨🇳 China · Army | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
陆军上将 (General)
|
OF-9 General |
General
|
陆军中将 (Lieutenant General)
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Generalleutnant
|
陆军少将 (Major General)
|
OF-7 Major General |
Generalmajor
|
陆军大校 (Senior Colonel)
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Brigadegeneral
|
陆军上校 (Colonel)
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Oberst
|
陆军中校 (Lieutenant Colonel)
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Oberstleutnant
|
陆军少校 (Major)
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Major
|
陆军上尉 (Captain)
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Stabshauptmann
Hauptmann
|
陆军中尉 (First Lieutenant)
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Oberleutnant
Leutnant
|
陆军少尉 (Second Lieutenant)
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Oberleutnant
Leutnant
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
陆军一级军士长 (First Class Sergeant Major)
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Oberstabsfeldwebel
|
陆军二级军士长 (Second Class Sergeant Major)
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Stabsfeldwebel
|
陆军三级军士长 (Third Class Sergeant Major)
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Hauptfeldwebel
|
陆军一级上士 (First Class Master Sergeant)
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Oberfeldwebel
Feldwebel
|
陆军二级上士 (Second Class Master Sergeant)
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Stabsunteroffizier
Unteroffizier
|
陆军中士 (Sergeant)
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Stabskorporal
Korporal
Oberstabsgefreiter
Stabsgefreiter
|
陆军下士 (Corporal)
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Hauptgefreiter
Obergefreiter
|
陆军上等兵 (Private First Class)
|
OR-2 Private |
Gefreiter
|
陆军列兵 (Private)
|
OR-1 Private |
Soldat
|
Navy
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 19 of 19 matched
| 🇨🇳 China · Navy | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
海军上将 (Admiral)
|
OF-9 General |
Admiral
|
海军中将 (Vice Admiral)
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Vizeadmiral
|
海军少将 (Rear Admiral)
|
OF-7 Major General |
Konteradmiral
|
海军大校 (Senior Captain)
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Flottillenadmiral
|
海军上校 (Captain)
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Kapitän zur See
|
海军中校 (Commander)
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Fregattenkapitän
|
海军少校 (Lieutenant Commander)
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Korvettenkapitän
|
海军上尉 (Lieutenant)
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Stabskapitänleutnant
Kapitänleutnant
|
海军中尉 (Sub-Lieutenant)
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Oberleutnant zur See
Leutnant zur See
|
海军少尉 (Ensign)
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Oberleutnant zur See
Leutnant zur See
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
海军一级军士长 (First Class Sergeant Major)
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Oberstabsbootsmann
|
海军二级军士长 (Second Class Sergeant Major)
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Stabsbootsmann
|
海军三级军士长 (Third Class Sergeant Major)
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Hauptbootsmann
|
海军一级上士 (First Class Master Sergeant)
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Oberbootsmann
Bootsmann
|
海军二级上士 (Second Class Master Sergeant)
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Obermaat
Maat
|
海军中士 (Sergeant)
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Stabskorporal
Korporal
Oberstabsgefreiter
Stabsgefreiter
|
海军下士 (Corporal)
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Hauptgefreiter
Obergefreiter
|
海军上等兵 (Seaman First Class)
|
OR-2 Private |
Gefreiter
|
| 海军列兵 (Seaman Recruit) | OR-1 Private | Matrose |
Air Force
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 19 of 19 matched
| 🇨🇳 China · Air Force | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
空军上将 (General)
|
OF-9 General |
General
|
空军中将 (Lieutenant General)
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Generalleutnant
|
空军少将 (Major General)
|
OF-7 Major General |
Generalmajor
|
空军大校 (Senior Colonel)
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Brigadegeneral
|
空军上校 (Colonel)
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Oberst
|
空军中校 (Lieutenant Colonel)
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Oberstleutnant
|
空军少校 (Major)
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Major
|
空军上尉 (Captain)
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Stabshauptmann
Hauptmann
|
空军中尉 (First Lieutenant)
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Oberleutnant
Leutnant
|
空军少尉 (Second Lieutenant)
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Oberleutnant
Leutnant
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
空军一级军士长 (Master sergeant first class)
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Oberstabsfeldwebel
|
空军二级军士长 (Master sergeant second class)
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Stabsfeldwebel
|
空军三级军士长 (Master sergeant third class)
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Hauptfeldwebel
|
空军一级上士 (Technical sergeant)
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Oberfeldwebel
Feldwebel
|
空军二级上士 (Staff sergeant)
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Stabsunteroffizier
Unteroffizier
|
空军中士 (Sergeant)
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Stabskorporal
Korporal
Oberstabsgefreiter
Stabsgefreiter
|
空军下士 (Corporal)
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Hauptgefreiter
Obergefreiter
|
空军上等兵 (Airman First Class)
|
OR-2 Private |
Gefreiter
|
空军列兵 (Airman)
|
OR-1 Private |
Flieger
|
Overview
The armed forces of China, known as the "People's Liberation Army" (PLA), are among the largest and most powerful military forces in the world. The PLA consists of several branches, each with specific roles and responsibilities:
- People's Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF): The PLAGF is responsible for land-based military operations. It includes infantry, armored units, artillery, and support units. It plays a crucial role in national defense and territorial integrity.
- People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN): The PLAN focuses on maritime defense and security, operating a variety of vessels, including aircraft carriers, submarines, surface ships, and patrol boats. It is responsible for safeguarding China's extensive coastline and maritime interests in the South China Sea and beyond.
- People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF): The PLAAF is responsible for aerial defense and operations. It operates fighter aircraft, transport planes, and helicopters, ensuring air superiority and national defense.
- People's Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF): The PLARF oversees China's missile forces, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), which form a critical part of China's nuclear deterrent.
- People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force (PLASSF): The PLASSF focuses on electronic warfare, cyber operations, and space-based capabilities, providing support for the PLA's modern warfare needs.
China Military
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