Wehrmacht Ranks

Below are listed Wehrmacht small unit ranks and their equivalents in the British and American armies. On the left is the appropriate shoulder board to the rank and any rank badges that were worn on the left sleeve. Please note that Officer candidates are not included.

Wehrmacht          British           American

Schutze                                             Private                                    Private

Oberschutze                                    None                                       Private 1^st Class

Gefreiter                                            Lance Corporal                    None

Obergefreiter                                     None                                       None

Obergefreiter(+6 years service) #  None                                        None   

Unteroffizier                                      Corporal                                  Corporal

Unterfeldwebel                                Sergeant                                Sergeant

Feldwebel                                         Staff Sergeant                        Staff Sergeant

Oberfeldwebel                                 Warrant Officer                      Master Sergeant

                                                             Second Class

Stabsfeldwebel                               Warrant Officer                        Warrant Officer

                                                                First Class

Leutnant                                            Second Lieutenant               Second Lieutenant

Oberleutnant                                    Lieutenant                               Lieutenant

Hauptmann                                     Captain                                      Captain

# This was abolished after 1942