# Ranks and insignia of the Luftwaffe (1935–1945)

"none" is preferred when the title is already sufficiently detailed; see [[WP:SDNONE]]
The Luftwaffe, from its founding in 1933 to the end of World War II in 1945, used ranks similar to other air forces at the time; however, some Luftwaffe ranks had no equivalent in the Allied air forces. While many ranks might have equivalents in other air forces, in reality the Luftwaffe military had a far greater responsibility; while officers of the Royal Air Force, the British Air Force, were graded to a higher rank when performing higher rank functions, Luftwaffe officers maintained their rank while performing functions, regardless of size of the responsibility assigned to them.[better source needed]

## Luftwaffe

| Insignia | Insignia | Insignia | Title | Approximate equivalents during World War II | Approximate equivalents during World War II |
| Collar | Shoulder | Sleeve (Flight suit) | Title | US | UK |
| Generalsränge ||||||
| | | — | Reichsmarschall | — | — |
| | | | Generalfeldmarschall | General of the Army | Marshal of the Royal Air Force |
| | | | Generaloberst | General | Air chief marshal |
| | | | General der Waffengattung General der Fallschirmtruppe General der Flakartillerie General der Flieger General der Luftnachrichtentruppe General der Luftwaffe | Lieutenant general | Air marshal |
| | | | Generalleutnant | Major general | Air vice-marshal |
| | | | Generalmajor | Brigadier general | Air commodore |
| Offiziersränge ||||||
| | | | Oberst | Colonel | Group captain |
| | | | Oberstleutnant | Lieutenant colonel | Wing commander |
| | | | Major | Major | Squadron leader |
| | | | Hauptmann | Captain | Flight lieutenant |
| | | | Oberleutnant | First lieutenant | Flying officer |
| | | | Leutnant | Second lieutenant | Pilot officer |
| Unteroffiziere and Offizieranwärter (OA) ||||||
| | | | Stabsfeldwebel-Fahnenjunker | N/A | N/A |
| | | | Stabsfeldwebel | Sergeant major | Warrant officer |
| | | | Fahnenjunker-Oberfeldwebel | Flight cadet | Acting pilot officer |
| | | | Oberfeldwebel | Master sergeant | — |
| | | | Fahnenjunker-Feldwebel | N/A | N/A |
| | | | Feldwebel | Technical sergeant | Flight sergeant |
| | | | Fahnenjunker-Unterfeldwebel | Flight cadet | Officer cadet |
| | | | Unterfeldwebel | Staff sergeant | Sergeant |
| | | | Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier | Flight cadet | Officer cadet |
| | | | Unteroffizier | Sergeant | Corporal |
| Mannschaften ||||||
| | | | Stabsgefreiter | Senior airman | Leading aircraftman |
| | | | Hauptgefreiter (used until 1944) | Senior airman | Leading aircraftman |
| | | | Obergefreiter | Airman first class | Leading aircraftman |
| | | | Gefreiter | Airman | Leading aircraftman |
| | | — | Flieger | Airman basic | Aircraftman 2nd class |

## Condor Legion

| Insignia | Insignia | German Rank | Spanish equivalent |
| Chest | Cuff | German Rank | Spanish equivalent |
| — | | Generalleutnant | General de división |
| — | | Generalmajor | General de brigada |
| — | | Oberst | Coronel |
| | — | Oberstleutnant | Coronel |
| | — | Major | Teniente coronel |
| | — | Hauptmann | Comandante |
| | — | Oberleutnant | Capitán |
| | — | Leutnant | Teniente |
| | — | Feldwebel, Oberfeldwebel, Stabsfeldwebel | Alférez |
| | — | Unteroffizier, Unterfeldwebel | Sargento |
| | — | Legionär | Cabo |
| Source: ||||