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Comparative WWII Army Ranks
(Great Britain, USA, Germany)

American flag
United States
Army
Flag of Great Britain
British
Army
German flag
German
Army
German flag
German
S.S.
Private Private Grenadier SS Schütz
Private
First Class
Lance Corporal Obergrenadier SS-Oberschütz

Corporal
Corporal Unteroffizier Unterscarführer
Sergeant Sergeant Unterfeldwebel Scharführer
Staff
Sergeant
(no equivalent) Feldwebel Oberscharführer
Master
Sergeant
C. Sgt-Major Oberfeldwebel Hauptscharführer
Warrant Officers Reg. Sgt-Major Stabsfeldwebel Sturmscharführer
Second
Lieutenant
Second
Lieutenant
Leutnant Untersturmführer
First
Lieutenant
Lieutenant Oberleutnant Obersturmführer
Captain Captain Hauptmann Hauptsturmführer
Major Major Major Sturmbannführer
Lieutenant
Colonel
Lieutenant
Colonel
Oberstleutnant Obersturmbannführer
Colonel Colonel Oberst Standartenführer
General General General General
Ranks in this table are listed from lowest to highest. In the German Army and SS, there are many in-between ranks not included here. This list is based on the US equivalents.

Today's German Army (Bundeswehr) retains the same ranks as those listed above for the older Heer (Wehrmacht). All Nazi Party-related ranks and titles (as per the SS) have been discarded.

(Thank you to Andrew Bellenkes for providing the information. Flag icons created by Mario Paesani.)

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