Flag officer ranks
Admiral ranks |
Title |
Großadmiral |
Generaladmiral |
Admiral |
Vizeadmiral |
Konteradmiral |
Epaulette |
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Sleeve lace |
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Command flag |
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Officer ranks
Line officers, Captains Lieutenant and Lieutenants |
Title |
Kommodore |
Kapitän zur See |
Fregattenkapitän |
Korvettenkapitän |
Kapitänleutnant |
Oberleutnant zur See |
Leutnant zur See |
Epaulette |
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Sleeve lace |
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Officer candidate ranks
Officer training ranks |
Title |
Oberfähnrich zur See |
Fähnrich zur See |
Seekadett |
Offiziersanwärter |
Shoulder board |
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No shoulder board |
Sleeve lace |
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Warrant officer and Chief petty officer ranks
Within the rank group of Unteroffiziere mit Portepee there were two career paths; one leading to Warrant officer equivalent, and one leading to Chief petty officer equivalent. The first path was based on the Imperial Navy Deckoffiziere, Warrant officers, and lead straight from Petty officer, third class equivalent to Warrant officer equivalent. The second led from Petty officer, third class equivalent, to Petty officer, second class equivalent, to Petty officer, first class equivalent, and finally to Chief petty officer equivalent, for those allowed to remain in service after the end of the twelve years service obligation.
Warrant and Chief Petty Officer Ranks |
Title |
Stabsoberfeldwebel |
Oberfeldwebel |
Stabsfeldwebel |
Feldwebel |
Shoulder board |
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Shore insignia |
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Petty officer ranks
Unteroffiziere ohne Portepee (also: Maate) |
Title |
Obermaat |
Maat |
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Collar tab |
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Shore insignia |
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Petty officers also wore a large rating badge on their left sleeve, beneath which were displayed authorized trade badges. Shore uniforms were worn with a Germany Army style sergeant's shoulder boards and golden collar trim.
Seamen ranks
Mannschaften (Seamen ranks) |
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Title |
Matrosenoberstabsgefreiter |
Matrosenstabsgefreiter |
Matrosenhauptgefreiter |
Matrosenobergefreiter |
Matrosengefreiter |
Matrose |
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Collar tab |
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Sleeve chevron |
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None |
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Shore insignia (shoulder boards) |
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Enlisted sailors also wore a rating badge above their rank chevrons while trade badges were displayed below. Enlisted chevrons on the shore uniform were gold colored with a dark green background.