Heer

Between the ranks of private (Schutze) and Stabsgefreiter the ranking appeared in the form of insignia on the upper left arm; the shoulder-straps remained plain, apart from the waffenfarbe. (In 1942 the title Schutze was changed to Grenadier. An Obergefreiter with less than six years’ service wore a double chevron, and the same rank with six years’ service wore a single chevron with a pip in the center of the triangle. A Stabsgefreiter wore a double chevron with a pip. In 1942 the rank of Stabsgefreiter was discontinued. From that point on, the Obergefreiter with six years’ service wore a double chevron with a pip.

Non-commisioned officers' rank was worn on collar and shoulder-straps. An Unteroffizier wore a strip of broad silver lace (Tresse) around the long and rounded edges of the shoulder strap inside the Waffenfarbe piping. An Unterfeldwebel wore an additional strip of Tresse along the bottom edge. A Feldwebel, Oberfeldwebel and Stabsfeldwebel also wore one, two and three silver pips respectively. All grades of NCO also wore a strip of Tresse around the bottom edge of the collar and up its front edges. Within the individual unit, the senior NCO – equivalent to a Regimental Sergeant-Major – was identified by the term Hauptfeldwebel ( colloquially, "Der Speiss"). He was identified by two stripes of silver Tresse around each forearm 100 mm (3 15/16 inches) above the bottom of the sleeve. "Der Speiss" might be either an Oberfeldwebel or Stabsfeldwebel, and would also wear the shoulder straps of his rank.

Officers’ ranking appeared only on the shoulder-straps. These were constructed of dull silver cord on a backing of waffenfarbe which showed at the long and rounded edges; the straight outer edge of the strap was sewn down into the shoulder seam of the tunic.

The straps of company officers of were of ribbed "Russia braid"; two double strips were led along the backing, round the button-hole and back along the strap, giving the effect of eight widths of cord. The junior commissioned rank, Leutnant, worn no additional insignia. The Oberleutnant wore a single gold pip near the outer end; the Hauptmann, two pips equally spaced. Field officers wore more elaborate shoulder-straps of interlaced cord, giving a plaited effect. Majors wore them without additional insignia; the Oberstleutnant was marked by a single gold pip, the Oberst by two.

Mannschaften

Shoulder strap   Chevron Collar-patch
Rank	Schütze Oberschütze Gefreiter Unteroffizier- anwärter Fahnen junker Gefreiter Obergefreiter Obergefreiter more than 6 years service Stabsgefreiter

Unteroffiziere ohne/mit portepee

Shoulder strap   Collar-patch
Rank	Unteroffizier Fahnenjunker Unteroffizier Unteroffizier Offizier- anwärter Unterfeldwebel Feldwebel Oberfeldwebel Stabsfeldwebel

Offiziere

Shoulder strap   Collar-patch
Rank	Leutnant Oberleutnant Hauptmann Major Oberstleutnant Oberst

Generale

Shoulder strap   Collar-patch
Rank	Generalmajor Generalleutnant General der Inf., Pz., Art., Kav. Generaloberst

Generalfeldmarschall, Collar-style after 1941

 

Camo-ranks