Kriegsmarine ranks

Flag officer ranks

Admiral ranks
Title	Großadmiral	Generaladmiral	Admiral	Vizeadmiral	Konteradmiral
Epaulette
Sleeve lace
Command flag

Officer ranks

Line officers, Captains Lieutenant and Lieutenants
Title	Kommodore	Kapitän zur See	Fregattenkapitän	Korvettenkapitän	Kapitänleutnant	Oberleutnant zur See	Leutnant zur See
Epaulette
Sleeve lace

Officer candidate ranks

Officer training ranks
Title	Oberfähnrich zur See	Fähnrich zur See	Seekadett	Offiziersanwärter
Shoulder board			No shoulder board
Sleeve lace

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
Shore insignia

Petty officer ranks

Unteroffiziere ohne Portepee (also: Maate)
Title	Obermaat	Maat
Collar tab
Shore insignia

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)
Title	Matrosenoberstabsgefreiter	Matrosenstabsgefreiter	Matrosenhauptgefreiter	Matrosenobergefreiter	Matrosengefreiter	Matrose
Collar tab
Sleeve chevron						None
Shore insignia (shoulder boards)

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.