Ranks and insignia of the German Red Cross

Nurses of the German Red Cross (Deutsches Rotes Kreuz, DRK) wearing paramilitary uniforms at a leadership school in 1939

The ranks and insignia of the German Red Cross (Deutsches Rotes Kreuz, abbr. DRK) were the paramilitary rank system used by the national Red Cross Society in Germany during World War II.

Insignia

Armband of the DRK as part of a nurse's clothing

Armband with the DRK version of the "eagle-and-swastika"

Men's uniforms and insignia of the German Red Cross (Deutsches Rotes Kreuz, DRK) during the Nazi era would include helmets with special decals with the Red Cross eagle. Likewise, belt buckles were also issued with the same eagle.^[1][2]

Rank insignia

Uniforms and rank insignia of male members of the German Red Cross during World War II. Book plate from Deutsche Uniformen ("German Uniforms") published around 1942

Shoulder insignia[3]	Name[3]	Translation	Heer equivalent[4]
	Generalhauptführer	General chief leader	Generalleutnant
	Generalführer	General leader	Generalmajor
	Oberstführer	Colonel leader	Oberst
	Oberfeldführer	Senior field leader	Oberstleutnant
	Feldführer	Field leader	Major
	Hauptführer	Chief leader	Hauptmann
	Oberwachführer	Senior watch leader	Oberleutnant
	Wachführer	Watch leader	Leutnant
Enlisted
	Haupthelfer mit Zugführer Prüfung	Head helper with platoon exam	Stabsfeldwebel
	Haupthelfer	Head helper	Oberfeldwebel
	Oberhelfer	Senior helper	Feldwebel
	Vorhelfer mit Gruppenführer Prüfung	Front helper with group leader exam	Unterfeldwebel
	Vorhelfer	Front helper	Unteroffizier
	Helfer	Helper	Gefreiter
	Anwärter	Candidate	Soldat

Nurse ranks

Uniforms and rank insignia of female members and nurses of the German Red Cross during World War II. Book plates from Deutsche Uniformen c. 1942

Collar insignia[5]	Name[4]	Translation	Heer equivalent[4]
	Generalhauptführerin	General chief leader	Generalleutnant
	Generalführerin	General leader	Generalmajor
	Oberstführerin	Colonel leader	Oberst
	Oberfeldführerin	Senior field leader	Oberstleutnant
	Feldführerin	Field leader	Major
	Hauptführerin	Chief leader	Hauptmann
	Oberwachführerin	Senior latch leader	Oberleutnant
	Wachführerin	Watch leader	Leutnant
	Haupthelferin	Head helper	Oberfeldwebel
	Oberhelferin	Senior helper	Feldwebel
	Vorhelferin	Front helper	Unteroffizier
	Anwärter	Candidate	Soldat

See also

• Comparative ranks of Nazi Germany

References

1. "German Red Cross". Germania International. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
2. "Deutsches Rotes Kreuz". Archived from the original on 25 November 2003. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
3. "Uniform und Abzeichen des Deutsches Rotes Kreuz". Deutsche Uniformen. Leipzig: Verlag Moritz Ruhl. 1943. p. Table 14. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
4. Davis 1980, p. 223.
5. "German Red Cross (Female)". Uniform Insignia. 7 March 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2019.

• Davis, Brian Leigh (1980). German Uniforms of the Third Reich 1933-1945 (1st ed.). Poole, Dorset: Blandford Press. ISBN 0-7137-0881-6.