Kriegsmarine Ranks

Oberleutnant zur See

Lieutenant-Senior


Oberleutnant

In the prewar years the Leutnant needed one year and six to nine months to reach this rank. During 1938 about 2 years was the norm.

The Oberleutnant zur See wear one star on the plain shoulder-strap, the Oberleutnant (Ing.) has a cog-wheel on the shoulder-strap.

They had one stripe on the shade of cap. On the sleeve they wear two stripes and the star (engineer officers also wore the cog-wheel).

During WWII this was the most common rank of U-boat commanders.

Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant Siegfried Koitschka
Commander of U-616.


oberleutnant
Oberleutnant Erich Topp
as commander of U-552.
oberleutnant
Oberleutnant (Ing.) Erich Zürn
the LI of U-48.


Leutnant zur See - Oberleutnant zur See - Kapitänleutnant


Kriegsmarine Ranks