|
American |
British |
German army |
Waffen-SS |
|
Private |
Private/Trooper |
Schütze/Kanonier/Jäger |
Schütze |
|
Private First Class |
Oberschütze |
Oberschütze |
|
|
Lance-Corporal |
Gefreiter |
Sturmmann |
|
|
Corporal |
Corporal |
Obergefreiter |
Rottenführer |
|
Sergeant |
Sergeant |
Feldwebel/Wachtmeister |
Oberscharführer |
|
Staff Sergeant |
Staff/Colour Sergeant |
Oberfeldwebel |
Hauptscharführer |
|
Technical Sergeant |
Regtl Quartermaster Sgt |
||
|
Master Sergeant |
Coy/Sqn Sergeant Major |
Stabsfeldwebel |
Sturmscharführer |
|
Regimental Sergeant Major |
|||
|
2nd Lieutenant |
2nd Lieutenant |
Leutnant |
Untersturmführer |
|
Lieutenant |
Lieutenant |
Oberleutnant |
Obersturmführer |
|
Captain |
Captain |
Hauptmann/Rittmeister |
Hauptsturmführer |
|
Major |
Major |
Major |
Sturmbannführer |
|
Lieutenant Colonel |
Lieutenant Colonel |
Oberstleutnant |
Obersturmbannführer |
|
Colonel |
Colonel |
Oberst |
Standartenführer |
|
Brigadier General |
Brigadier * |
Generalmajor |
Oberführer |
|
Brigadeführer |
|||
|
Major General |
Major General ** |
Generalleutnant |
Gruppenführer |
|
Lieutenant General |
Lieutenant General *** |
General der Infanterie/ |
Obergruppenführer/ |
|
Artillerie/Panzertruppen |
General der Waffen-SS |
||
|
General |
General **** |
Generaloberst |
Oberstgruppenführer |
|
General of the Army |
Field Marshal***** |
Generalfeldmarschall |
This can only be an approximate guide to equivalent ranks since each army has its own variations. Some ranks have been omitted in the interests of simplicity. In the British and Canadian and US armies the following ranks command the following sub-units (below a battalion), units (battalion or regiment) and formations (brigade, division or corps).
|
Rank |
British and Canadian Army |
US Army |
Approx. number of men at full strength |
|
Corporal |
Section |
Squad |
8 |
|
2nd/Lieutenant |
Platoon |
Platoon |
30 |
|
Captain/Major |
Company |
Company |
120 |
|
Lieutenant Colonel |
Battalion or Armoured Regiment |
Battalion |
700 |
|
Colonel |
Regiment |
2,400 |
|
|
Brigadier |
Brigade |
Combat command |
2,400 |
|
Major General |
Division |
Division |
10,000 |
|
Lieutenant General |
Corps |
Corps |
30,000–40,000 |
|
General |
Army |
Army |
70,000–150,000 |
|
Field Marshal/ |
|||
|
General of the Army |
Army Group |
Army Group |
200,000–350,000 |
A complete Order of Battle is available online at www.antonybeevor.com