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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 (Heer) with some modifications. For example, the cuff titles (chevron insignias) of the Gefreiter were replaced by Soviet-styled shoulder straps with cross-stripes.

Shoulder strap rank insignias

Commissioned officer ranks up to Oberst featured four-pointed golden stars in increasing number according to seniority, and arranged following the Soviet pattern.

Junior officer (lieutenant and captain ranks) shoulder straps were made of silver satin string (German: Silberplattschnur). 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 (Generalmajor) to four (Armeegeneral).

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

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
East Germany^[1]
	Marschall der DDR^[a]		Armeegeneral^[b]		Generaloberst		Generalleutnant		Generalmajor		Oberst		Oberstleutnant		Major		Hauptmann		Oberleutnant		Leutnant		Unterleutnant

Officer candidate or officer aspirant (OA)

The table below contains the Ofiziersschüler ranks (en: student officers; equivalent to officer candidate or officer aspirant (OA)).

Offiziersschüler (OF(D))
Academic year	6th	5th	4th	3rd	2nd	1st	Preparation course
Shoulder boards
Corps colour/ Troops	Air Force (Luftstreitkräfte)		Motorized infantry (Mot.-Schützen)	Engineers (Pioniere)	Armoured troops (Panzertruppen)	Communications (Nachrichten)	Motorized infantry

Warrant officers

Fähnrichkorps and Fähnrichschüler of the NPA
W-4	W-3	W-2	W-1	W (Student)
Sleeve insignia (1979-1990) (not worn by Fähnrich-schüler)	Stabsoberfähnrich	Stabsfähnrich	Oberfähnrich	Fähnrich	Fähnrichschüler

	(Staff-senior-Warrant Officer)	(Staff-Warrant Officer)	(Senior-Warrant Officer)	(Warrant Officer)	(Warrant Officer-Cadet)

Sleeve insignia as to 1973-1979
20 years of service	15 years of service	10 years of service

NCO and enlisted ranks

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
East Germany
East Germany							Stabsfeldwebel		Oberfeldwebel		Feldwebel						Unterfeldwebel			Unteroffizier			Stabsgefreiter				Gefreiter der Ausbildung	Unteroffiziersschüler	Gefreiter						Soldat

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.

Rank group					Senior officers			Junior officers
Volksmarine^[1]

	Flottenadmiral^[c]	Admiral	Vizeadmiral	Konteradmiral	Kapitän zur See	Fregattenkapitän	Korvettenkapitän	Kapitänleutnant	Oberleutnant zur See	Leutnant zur See	Unterleutnant zur See

Command flags
Flottenadmiral
Admiral
Vizeadmiral
Konteradmiral

Officer candidate or officer aspirant (OA)

The table below contains the Ofiziersschüler ranks (en: student officers; equivalent to officer candidate or officer aspirant (OA)).

Offiziersschüler
Academic year	6th	5th	4th	3rd	2nd	1st	Preparation course
Shoulder boards

Warrant officers

Fähnrichkorps and Fähnrichschüler of the NPA
W-4	W-3	W-2	W-1	W (Student)
Sleeve insignia (as to 1979–1990) (not to Fähnrich-student)	Stabsoberfähnrich	Stabsfähnrich	Oberfähnrich	Fähnrich	Fähnrichschüler


	(Staff-senior-Warrant Officer)	(Staff-Warrant Officer)	(Senior-Warrant Officer)	(Warrant Officer)	(Warrant Officer-Cadet)

Sleeve insignia as to 1973-1979
20 years of service	15 years of service	10 years of service

Petty officers and sailors

Rank group						Junior NCOs	Enlisted
Volksmarine^[1]
	Meister to Stabsobermeister wore the career insignia on shoulder straps only
	Stabsobermeister	Obermeister	Meister	Obermaat	Maat	Stabsmatrose	Obermatrose	Matrose

Other insignia

Field insignia (1960–1964)

Officers

Rank group	General officers				Field officers			Junior officers
Insignia^[2]

Ground and air forces	Armeegeneral	Generaloberst	Generalleutnant	Generalmajor	Oberst	Oberstleutnant	Major	Hauptmann	Oberleutnant	Leutnant	Unterleutnant

Enlisted

Rank group
Insignia^[2]

Ground and air forces	Hauptfeldwebel Stabsfeldwebel	Stabsfeldwebel Oberfeldwebel	Feldwebel	Unterfeldwebel Unteroffizier

Aviator and technician suit insignia

Officers

Rank group	General officers					Field officers			Junior officers
Insignia^[3]

Ground and air forces	Marschall der DDR	Armeegeneral	Generaloberst	Generalleutnant	Generalmajor	Oberst	Oberstleutnant	Major	Hauptmann	Oberleutnant	Leutnant	Unterleutnant
Navy		Flottenadmiral	Admiral	Vizeadmiral	Konteradmiral	Kapitän zur See	Fregattenkapitän	Korvettenkapitän	Kapitänleutnant	Oberleutnant zur See	Leutnant zur See	Unterleutnant zur See

Officer candidate

Rank group
Insignia^[3]

Ground, air forces & navy	4th year	3rd year	2nd year	1st year
Ground, air forces & navy	Offiziersschüler

Warrant officers

Rank group
Insignia^[3]

Ground, air forces & navy	Stabsoberfähnrich	Stabsfähnrich	Oberfähnrich	Fähnrich	2nd year	1st year
Ground, air forces & navy	Stabsoberfähnrich	Stabsfähnrich	Oberfähnrich	Fähnrich	Fähnrichschüler

Enlisted

Rank group						Junior NCOs		Enlisted
Insignia^[3]
Ground and air forces	Stabsfeldwebel	Oberfeldwebel	Feldwebel	Unterfeldwebel	Unteroffizier	Stabsgefreiter	Gefreiter der Ausbildung	Gefreiter	Soldat
Navy	Stabsobermeister	Obermeister	Meister	Obermaat	Maat	Stabsmatrose		Obermatrose	Matrose

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Luft, Kathleen (1988). "National Security". In Burant, Stephen R. (ed.). East Germany: a country study. Area Handbook (3rd ed.). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. pp. 264–265. LCCN 87600490. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
^ ^a ^b Krauß, Michael (2010). "Dienstgradabzeichen" [Rank badges]. flaechentarn-kraus.hpage.com (in German). Retrieved 7 January 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "DV 010/0/005 Uniformarten und ihre Trageweise- Bekleidungsvorschrift (1990)" [DV 010/0/005 Types of uniforms and how they are worn - clothing regulations (1990)]. nva-flieger.de (in German). Retrieved 7 January 2021.

^ Unused, war time only.
^ Reserved for the Minister of National Defence.
^ Unused; reserved for the Minister of National Defence if a Navy officer. However, the only person this applied to, Theodor Hoffmann, was only promoted to Admiral.