Ranks and insignia of the Luftwaffe (1935–1945)

The Ranks of the Luftwaffe were similar to other branches of the Wehrmacht.

Rank Insignia

Luftwaffe insignia			Luftwaffe rank	Approximate US/UK equivalent during World War II
Shoulder	Collar	Sleeve, Flight suit
General officer ranks
			Reichsmarschall	No Equivalent
			Generalfeldmarschall	General of the Army	Marshal of the Air Force
			Generaloberst	General	Air Chief Marshal
			General der Flieger (General Aviation), General der Fallschirmtruppe (Airborne), General der Luftnachrichtentruppe (Signals), General der Flakartillerie (Air Defense Artillery), General der Luftwaffe (Infantry and Armored units, Air Force Staff and educational institutions)	Lieutenant General	Air Marshal
			Generalleutnant	Major General	Air Vice-Marshal
			Generalmajor	Brigadier General	Air Commodore
Officer ranks
			Oberst	Colonel	Group Captain
			Oberstleutnant	Lieutenant Colonel	Wing Commander
			Major	Major	Squadron Leader
			Hauptmann	Captain	Flight Lieutenant
			Oberleutnant	First Lieutenant	Flying Officer
			Leutnant	Second Lieutenant	Pilot Officer
Non-Commissioned Officer ranks
			Stabsfeldwebel	Master Sergeant	Warrant Officer
			Oberfähnrich	Flight cadet	Acting pilot officer
			Oberfeldwebel	Technical Sergeant	Flight Sergeant
			Feldwebel	Staff Sergeant	Sergeant
			Fähnrich	Flight Cadet	Officer Cadet
			Unterfeldwebel	Sergeant	Corporal
			Fahnenjunker	Flight Cadet	Officer Cadet
			Unteroffizier	Corporal	Corporal
Enlisted ranks
			Stabsgefreiter from 1944	Private First Class	Senior Aircraftman
			Hauptgefreiter until 1944	Private First Class	Senior Aircraftman
			Obergefreiter	Private First Class	Leading Aircraftman
			Gefreiter	Private First Class	Aircraftman 1st Class
			Flieger	Private	Aircraftman 2nd Class

Service colors (Waffenfarbe)

The branch of the Luftwaffe in which personnel served was indicated by the color of the collar tabs (German: Kragenspiegel).

Color	Branch
White	General Officers and Marshals of the Air Force
Gold Yellow	Aircrews (Fliegertruppe) Airborne Parachute Troops (Fallschirmtruppe) Ground personnel
Orange	Recalled officers
Crimson	General Staff of the Air Force
Brown	Signals and Communications Command
Purple	Legal
Red	Anti-aircraft Defense troops (Flak Division) Ordnance
Pink	Air Force Engineers
Black	Pioneer Construction Units
Blue	Air Force Medical Corps
Light Green	Radar Units
Light Blue	Transportation
Dark green	Attached Wehrmacht troops under Luftwaffe command

References

• Mitcham, Samuel W. (2008). The Rise of the Wehrmacht: The German Armed Forces and World War II, Volume 1. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-0-275-99659-8.
• Ruffner, Kevin Conley (1990). Luftwaffe Field Divisions 1941-45. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85532-100-7.