The German empire had no uniform Landheer. Rather the armies Bayerns, Saxonia and existed away. Equipment and army organization oriented themselves however by the example of Prussia. The army contingents of the smaller principalities had been anyway already integrated 1870 ago into the Prussian army. These troops carried Prussian uniforms and led at the helmet beside the Prussian own Landeskokarde as only distinguisher. The highest authority was with the German emperor, for whom the king of Prussia was intended always. The Bavarian army stepped however only in the Kriegsfall under imperial supreme command.

After the establishment of the empire the rank designations of the other contingents followed gradually the Prussian example specified here.

Crews

• infantryman, hunter, Musketier, Dragoon, Hussar, Ulan, Kanonier etc.
• One year's turned Wollschnur in the national colors along the edge of the shoulder flaps
• Kapitulant: narrow Tresse in the national colors crosswise over the lower edge of the shoulder flaps; Bayonet Troddel and/or sword bayonet knot in national colors (similar the NCO badge)

Note: One year's and Kapitulant were not ranks, but voluntarily serving military-requiring. The special badges were not put down in case of possible transports.

• Private first class: Sergeantenknopf on both collar sides, however in smaller diameter (since 1853)
• Upper private first class (only with the foot artillery): like private first classes, Unteroffizierstroddel and/or bayonet knots at the bayonet (bayonet and/or rider sword)

NCOs without Portepee

• NCO and/or upper hunter (hunter troop): Tresse (silver or gold metal) around edge of collar and sleeve impacts, bayonet Troddel and/or rider sword bayonet knots in national colors (e.g. Prussia black-and-white, Bavaria blue-white), garrison cap (since 1875)
• Wo1: like NCO, Portepee at the bayonet, Offizierskokarde at the head coverage
• Sergeant: like NCO, Sergeantenknopf (with impressed Landeswappen: Prussian eagle, Bavarian lion etc.)

NCOs with Portepee

• Vice-sergeant and/or vice-being awake master: like Sergeant, officer side weapon (with Portepee) to crew ouple, officer buttons, Offizierskokarde at the head coverage
• Portepee wo1: similarly vice-sergeants, however without Kragentressen. Officer over skirt (then side weapon put at foot troops by the left skirt lap, at mounted troops under)
• Budget-moderate sergeant and/or Wachtmeister: like vice-sergeants, since 1889 second (narrow) circulating Metalltresse over sleeve impacts ("“piston ring"”)
• Officer deputy: like vice-sergeant, Metalltresse around shoulder flaps, officer head coverage,

Note: Wo1 and Portepee wo1 were ranks of the candidates to the career officer ("“Avantageure"”). As far as the transport to the wo1 the Avantageur carried the crew uniform. The transport to the Portepee wo1 took place after existed officer exam.

Carrying metal Winkeltressen with the NCO ranks came starting from 1893 into use, with the again introduced blouse-like Litewka. Instead of the usual badges of rank on the left upper arm the upward open angles were carried as follows: NCO - an angle; Sergeant - two angles; Vice-sergeant - three angles; Sergeant - four angles

The Winkeltressen was put on also by the colonial forces in the German colonies.

Officers

Subalternoffiziere

• Sergeant second lieutenant: like vice-sergeant, pieces of shoulder such as second lieutenant
• Second lieutenant: Pieces of shoulder from eight flat cords lying side by side (silver)
• First lieutenant: like second lieutenant, (squarely, more posed on the point) a golden star

Main people

• Captain - with the Kavallerie and other mounted troops (e.g. Train) "“ride master"” calling: like second lieutenant, two golden stars

Staff officers

• Major: twisted shoulder pieces (from silver flat cords)
• Lieutenant colonel: like major, a golden star
• Colonel: like major, two golden stars

Generals

• Major general: twisted shoulder pieces (golden)
• Lieutenant general: like major general, a silver star
• General of the infantry and/or Kavallerie and/or artillery: like major general, two silver stars
• Colonel general: like major general, three silver stars (arranged to the triangle pyramid)
• Colonel general with the rank of a general field marshal: like major general, four stars (arranged in the square)
• General field marshal: like major general, two silver crossed command staffs

Literature

• Paul Pietsch: The formation and university forming history of the Prussian army, Berlin 1912, and/or 2. Edition Hamburg 1963
• George local castle, Ingo Prussian-German uniforms of 1640-1918, (Orbis publishing house), Munich 1991

See also:

• Ranks of the imperial navy

Related links

• "“Group of representations "“old person army"”"”

• Association for the study of the officer university forming of the Kaiser era

Articles in category "Ranks in the army of the German empire"

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