Ranks of the National People's Army


The Ranks of the National People's Army were the military insignia used by the National People's Army, the army of the German Democratic Republic, from 1956 to 1990.

Design

The design of the rank insignias followed the tradition of the German Army with some modifications. For example, the cuff titles of the Gefreiter were replaced by Soviet-styled shoulder straps with cross-stripes.

Shoulder strap rank insignias

ranks up to Oberst featured four-pointed golden stars in increasing number according to seniority, and arranged following the Soviet pattern.
Junior officer shoulder straps were made of silver satin string. Unterleutnant had a single golden star, Leutnant two side-by-side stars, and Oberleutnant three stars in a triangle. Hauptmann rank had a fourth star above the triangular formation.
Senior officer shoulder straps were twisted silver cords, Major had a single star, Oberstleutnant two stars, and Oberst three stars, again arranged following the Soviet example.
Generals wore twisted golden and silver cords with five-pointed stars numbering from one to four.

Ground forces, Air force, and Border troops

Remark: The different colours represent the appropriate service, branch, branch of service, or special troop.

General and Officer ranks

Officer candidate or officer aspirant (OA)

The table below contains the Ofiziersschüler ranks.

Warrant officers

NCO and enlisted ranks

Volksmarine

While the sleeve ranks of the Volksmarine officers were of the style used by the Soviet Navy, all shoulder board insignia used were German in origin, with the star arrangement for officers based on the Soviet rank insignia.

Officer ranks and insignia

Unlike most Warsaw pact navies, the People's Navy also used staff corps insignia on the sleeve following traditional German practice. The sleeve rank insignia shown are those of the line officer corps.

Warrant officers

NCOs and enlisted