World War II Armed Forces – Orders of Battle and Organizations

Last Updated 27.06.01

German Army and Waffen-SS Ranks

 

•	German Army		Waffen-SS		US Army	•
	General Ranks		General Ranks		General Ranks
G5	Gen.Feldm.	Generalfeldmarschal	–	–	General of the Army	G5
G4	Gen.Ob.	Generaloberst	SS-Obstgruf.	SS-Oberstgruppenführer	General (lit.: "Colonel General")	G4
G3	Gen.d.Art. Gen.d.Inf. Gen.d.Kav. Gen.d.Pz.Tr. Gen.d. ...	General der Artillerie General der Infanterie General der Kavallerie General der Panzertruppen General der ...	SS-Ogruf.	SS-Obergruppenführer	Lieutenant General ("Artillery") Lieutenant General ("Infantry") Lieutenant General ("Cavalry") Lieutenant General ("Armor") Lieutenant General (" ... ")	G3
G2	Gen.Lt.	Generalleutnant	SS-Gruf.	SS-Gruppenführer	Major General	G2
G1	Gen.Maj.	Generalmajor	SS-Brig-Fhr.	SS-Brigadeführer	Brigadier General	G1
	Officer Ranks		Officer Ranks		Officer Ranks
•	–	–	SS-Oberf.	SS-Oberführer	(lit.: "Senior Colonel")	•
O6	Ob. / Obst.	Oberst	SS-Staf.	SS-Standartenführer	Colonel	O6
O5	Oberstlt.	Oberstleutnant	SS-Obstubaf.	SS-Obersturmbannführer	Lieutenant Colonel	O5
O4	Maj	Major	SS-Stubaf.	SS-Sturmbannführer	Major	O4
O3	Hptm. Rttm.	Hauptmann Rittmeister	SS-Hstuf.	SS-Hauptsturmführer	Captain Captain ("Cavalry")	O3
O2	Oblt.	Oberleutnant	SS-Ostuf.	SS-Obersturmführer	1st Lieutenant	O2
O1	Lt.	Leutnant	SS-Ustuf.	SS-Untersturmführer	2nd Lieutenant	O1
As with many European armies, the rank designation of Brigadier General did not exist in the German Army, and Colonels were promoted directly the rank with the designation Major General (Generalmajor). The US Army equivalent ranks indicated here can therefor only be an indication of the hierarchy.
See also: Military Personnel Billet Groups, Functions, and Ranks Discussed Military Personnal Job Descriptions