🇩🇪
Germany vs Poland Military Ranks
The German Army has 29 ranks — 14 officer and 15 enlisted — from Soldat up to General. Below: all 87 ranks across 3 branches (Army, Navy, Air Force), aligned tier by tier with their Polish equivalents.
Branches
3
Ranks documented
87
Active personnel
183K
Army
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 26 of 29 matched
| 🇩🇪 Germany · Army | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
General
|
OF-9 General |
Generał
|
Generalleutnant
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Generał broni
|
Generalmajor
|
OF-7 Major General |
Generał dywizji
|
Brigadegeneral
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Generał brygady
|
Oberst
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Pułkownik
|
Oberstleutnant
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Podpułkownik
|
Major
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Major
|
Stabshauptmann
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Kapitan
|
Hauptmann
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Kapitan
|
Oberleutnant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Porucznik
Podporucznik
|
Leutnant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Porucznik
Podporucznik
|
Oberfähnrich
|
OF-D Student Officer | – |
Fähnrich
|
OF-D Student Officer | – |
Fahnenjunker
|
OF-D Student Officer | – |
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Oberstabsfeldwebel
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Starszy chorąży sztabowy
Starszy chorąży
|
Stabsfeldwebel
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Chorąży
|
Hauptfeldwebel
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Młodszy chorąży
|
Oberfeldwebel
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Starszy sierżant
|
Feldwebel
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Starszy sierżant
|
Stabsunteroffizier
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Sierżant
|
Unteroffizier
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Sierżant
|
Stabskorporal
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Plutonowy
Starszy kapral
|
Korporal
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Plutonowy
Starszy kapral
|
Oberstabsgefreiter
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Plutonowy
Starszy kapral
|
Stabsgefreiter
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Plutonowy
Starszy kapral
|
Hauptgefreiter
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Kapral
|
Obergefreiter
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Kapral
|
Gefreiter
|
OR-2 Private |
Starszy szeregowy
|
Soldat
|
OR-1 Private |
Szeregowy
|
Navy
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 29 of 29 matched
| 🇩🇪 Germany · Navy | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Admiral
|
OF-9 General |
Admirał
|
Vizeadmiral
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Admirał floty
|
Konteradmiral
|
OF-7 Major General |
Wiceadmirał
|
Flottillenadmiral
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Kontradmirał
|
Kapitän zur See
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Komandor
|
Fregattenkapitän
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Komandor porucznik
|
Korvettenkapitän
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Komandor podporucznik
|
Stabskapitänleutnant
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Kapitan marynarki
|
Kapitänleutnant
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Kapitan marynarki
|
Oberleutnant zur See
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Porucznik marynarki
Podporucznik marynarki
|
Leutnant zur See
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Porucznik marynarki
Podporucznik marynarki
|
Oberfähnrich zur See
|
OF-D Student Officer | Podchorąży |
Fähnrich zur See
|
OF-D Student Officer | Podchorąży |
Seekadett
|
OF-D Student Officer | Podchorąży |
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Oberstabsbootsmann
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Starszy chorąży sztabowy marynarki
Starszy chorąży marynarki
|
Stabsbootsmann
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Chorąży marynarki
|
Hauptbootsmann
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Młodszy chorąży marynarki
|
Oberbootsmann
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Starszy bosman
|
Bootsmann
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Starszy bosman
|
Obermaat
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Bosman
|
Maat
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Bosman
|
Stabskorporal
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Bosmanmat
Starszy mat
|
Korporal
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Bosmanmat
Starszy mat
|
Oberstabsgefreiter
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Bosmanmat
Starszy mat
|
Stabsgefreiter
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Bosmanmat
Starszy mat
|
Hauptgefreiter
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Mat
|
Obergefreiter
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Mat
|
Gefreiter
|
OR-2 Private |
Starszy marynarz
|
| Matrose | OR-1 Private |
Marynarz
|
Air Force
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 29 of 29 matched
| 🇩🇪 Germany · Air Force | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
General
|
OF-9 General |
Generał
|
Generalleutnant
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Generał broni
|
Generalmajor
|
OF-7 Major General |
Generał dywizji
|
Brigadegeneral
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Generał brygady
|
Oberst
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Pułkownik
|
Oberstleutnant
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Podpułkownik
|
Major
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Major
|
Stabshauptmann
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Kapitan
|
Hauptmann
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Kapitan
|
Oberleutnant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Porucznik
Podporucznik
|
Leutnant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Porucznik
Podporucznik
|
Oberfähnrich
|
OF-D Student Officer | Podchorąży |
Fähnrich
|
OF-D Student Officer | Podchorąży |
Fahnenjunker
|
OF-D Student Officer | Podchorąży |
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Oberstabsfeldwebel
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Starszy chorąży sztabowy
Starszy chorąży
|
Stabsfeldwebel
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Chorąży
|
Hauptfeldwebel
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Młodszy chorąży
|
Oberfeldwebel
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Starszy sierżant
|
Feldwebel
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Starszy sierżant
|
Stabsunteroffizier
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Sierżant
|
Unteroffizier
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Sierżant
|
Stabskorporal
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Plutonowy
Starszy kapral
|
Korporal
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Plutonowy
Starszy kapral
|
Oberstabsgefreiter
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Plutonowy
Starszy kapral
|
Stabsgefreiter
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Plutonowy
Starszy kapral
|
Hauptgefreiter
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Kapral
|
Obergefreiter
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Kapral
|
Gefreiter
|
OR-2 Private |
Starszy szeregowy
|
Flieger
|
OR-1 Private |
Szeregowy
|
Overview
The German armed forces, known as the "Bundeswehr," consist of several branches responsible for national defense and security:
- German Army (Heer): The German Army is responsible for land-based military operations, including infantry, armored units, artillery, and support units. It plays a key role in both national defense and international missions.
- German Navy (Deutsche Marine): The German Navy focuses on maritime defense and security, operating a variety of vessels, including submarines, surface ships, and naval aircraft. It is responsible for protecting Germany's maritime interests.
- German Air Force (Luftwaffe): The German Air Force is responsible for aerial operations, with a fleet of fighter aircraft, transport planes, and helicopters. It ensures air defense and contributes to NATO's air capabilities.
- Joint Support Service (Streitkräftebasis): This branch provides logistical and support services to the entire Bundeswehr, including medical, transportation, and communication support.
- Cyber and Information Space Command (Kdo CIR): This branch focuses on cyber defense and information warfare, safeguarding Germany's digital infrastructure.
Germany Military
Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) and other open sources.
Insignia image credits
- TUBS — CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons: General (Army), Generalleutnant (Army), Generalmajor (Army), Brigadegeneral (Army), Oberst (Army), Oberstleutnant (Army), Major (Army), Stabshauptmann (Army), Hauptmann (Army), Oberleutnant (Army), Leutnant (Army), Oberfähnrich (Army), Fähnrich (Army), Fahnenjunker (Army), Oberstabsfeldwebel (Army), Stabsfeldwebel (Army), Hauptfeldwebel (Army), Oberfeldwebel (Army), Feldwebel (Army), Stabsunteroffizier (Army), Unteroffizier (Army), Stabskorporal (Army), Korporal (Army), Oberstabsgefreiter, Stabsgefreiter (Army), Hauptgefreiter (Army), Obergefreiter (Army), Gefreiter (Army), Soldat, General (Air Force), Generalleutnant (Air Force), Generalmajor (Air Force), Brigadegeneral (Air Force), Oberst (Air Force), Oberstleutnant (Air Force), Major (Air Force), Stabshauptmann (Air Force), Hauptmann (Air Force), Oberleutnant (Air Force), Leutnant (Air Force), Oberfähnrich (Air Force), Fähnrich (Air Force), Fahnenjunker (Air Force), Oberstabsfeldwebel (Air Force), Stabsfeldwebel (Air Force), Hauptfeldwebel (Air Force), Oberfeldwebel (Air Force), Feldwebel (Air Force), Stabsunteroffizier (Air Force), Unteroffizier (Air Force), Stabskorporal (Air Force), Korporal (Air Force), Oberstabsgefreiter, Stabsgefreiter (Air Force), Hauptgefreiter (Air Force), Obergefreiter (Air Force), Gefreiter (Air Force), Flieger
- Skjoldbro — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Admiral, Vizeadmiral, Konteradmiral, Flottillenadmiral, Kapitän zur See, Fregattenkapitän, Korvettenkapitän, Stabskapitänleutnant, Kapitänleutnant, Oberleutnant zur See, Leutnant zur See, Oberfähnrich zur See, Fähnrich zur See, Seekadett, Oberstabsbootsmann, Stabsbootsmann, Hauptbootsmann, Oberbootsmann, Bootsmann, Obermaat, Maat, Stabskorporal, Korporal, Oberstabsgefreiter, Stabsgefreiter, Hauptgefreiter, Obergefreiter, Gefreiter