Kevin said:
There should be tress around the collar as well, correct? Or was that feature not incorporated into DAK uniforms? It is certainly missing from his, although in this shot, he does seem to have the correct shoulder straps:
Good spot. I've read that the 1st pattern DAK tropical uniform had tress around the collar.
The tress on the shoulder straps in the crate photo is open at one end, which narrows down his rank.
They're not like these for ranks Unterfeldwebel and upwards:
But these, denoting Unteroffizier:
In brief, Non-Commissioned Officer ranks worked like this in the Heer:
UNTEROFFIZIERE MIT PORTEPEE (WITH SWORD) / SENIOR NCOs
Stabsfeldwebel (NCO having served for 12 years) = Staff Sergeant Major
Hauptfeldwebel = Administrative role filled by either a Feldwebel, Oberfeldwebel or Stabsfeldwebel
Oberfeldwebel (after 3-12 months as Feldwebel, Deputy or Actual Platoon Leader) = Sergeant-Major
Feldwebel (after 1 year as Unteroffizier, Deputy or Actual Platoon Leader) = Senior Sergeant
UNTEROFFIZIER OHNE PORTEPEE (WITHOUT SWORD) / JUNIOR NCOs
Unterfeldwebel (after 4 years at Unteroffizier grade, Section Leader/Deputy Platoon Leader) = Sergeant
Unteroffizier/Oberjäger (Section Leader/Deputy Platoon Leader) = Corporal/'Lance-Sergeant'
Since the German Army gave more responsibilty to enlisted men, their private ranks can be equivalent to the NCOs of other armies:
MANNSCHAFTEN / OTHER RANKS
Stabsgefreiter (after 5 or 6 years with little hope of promotion) = Staff Lance-Corporal/Staff Veteran Senior Private
Obergefreiter (after 2 years showing potential, Section 2nd in Command) = Lance-Corporal/Veteran Senior Private
Gefreiter (after 6 months showing potential, Section 2nd in Command) = Senior Private
Oberschütze (after 6 months requiring more training) = Senior Private
Schütze/Grenadier/ Jäger/Kanonier/Pionier/Sanitätssoldat, etc. = Recruit Private
So the tough 'Sergeant' is more of a tough 'Corporal' !