Ranks and insignia of Royal Danish Army

The ranks and insignia of Royal Danish Army follows the NATO system of ranks and insignia, as does the rest of the Danish Defence. The ranks are based around German and French military terms.^[1]

Current ranks

The current insignia for the Royal Danish Army was introduced along with the introduction of the MultiCam uniform. This sand coloured insignia replaced the older standard green slip-on and all other special slip-ons.^[2]

Officers

The officers can be split into two groups: the leadership level (OF-9–OF-4) and the management level (OF-3–OF-1).^[3]

The highest rank is General which is reserved for the Monarch and Chief of Defence (only when this seat is occupied by an army/air force officer). Lieutenant general is reserved for the Chief of the Defense Staff and the Chief of Acquisition, previously the Chief of the Royal Danish Army, which is now a Major general. Other major generals include Commander, Joint Arctic Command, Commander, Special Operations Command and Chief of Defence Estate Agency. Brigade general is usually the chief of a brigade as well as keepers of high-office positions.

NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1
Group[3]	Leadership level (Chefniveau)														Management level (Lederniveau)
Royal Danish Army[4] v t e
			General		Generalløjtnant		Generalmajor		Brigadegeneral		Oberst		Oberstløjtnant		Major		Kaptajn		Premierløjtnant		Løjtnant		Sekondløjtnant
Medical[5]									Generallæge		Stabslæge I Stabstandlæge I Stabsdyrlæge I		Stabslæge II Stabstandlæge II Stabsdyrlæge II		Overlæge Overtandlæge Overdyrlæge Afdelingslæge Afdelingstandlæge Afdelingsdyrlæge		Reservelæge I Reservetandlæge I Reservedyrlæge I		Reservelæge II Reservetandlæge II Reservedyrlæge II		Reservelæge III Reservetandlæge III Reservedyrlæge III
Danish Pay Grade[6]	M406				M405		M404		M403		M402		M401		M332 M331 M322		M321		M312		M311		M310

Other ranks

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
Group[3]	Middle management level (Mellemlederniveau)																						Manual level (Manuelt niveau)
Service uniform
Royal Danish Army[4] v t e
	Chefsergent						Seniorsergent		Oversergent								Sergent			Sergent (Officerselev)			Korporal				Overkonstabel af 1. grad		Overkonstabel						Konstabel
Danish Pay Grade[6]	M232						M231		M221								M212			M211			M113				M112

Additional ranks

NATO Code	OR-9		OR-8	OR-5	OR-3	OR-2	OR-1
Service uniform
Shoulder board[4]
Danish	Hærchefsergenten	Regiments-, brigade- og skole chefsergent	Regiments- og brigade-, seniorsergent	Sergentelev	Overkonstabel 1. grad, meniggruppefører	Overkonstabel, meniggruppefører	Konstabel, meniggruppefører	Konstabelelev	Meniggruppefører
English[7]	Sergeant Major of the Army	Command sergeant major	Command sergeant major	Sergeant trainee	Lance corporal, section commander	Private first class, section commander	Private, section commander	Private recruit	Conscript, section commander

Clerical personnel

• Clerical personnel
• 
  Army Dean
• 
  Army Chaplain
• 
  Army Conscript Chaplain

Types of rank insignia

Rank (example)	TAN499[8]	MTS[8]	M/69			Galla
			Shoulder	Shirt	Sleeve	Red	Blue
Chefsergent			None[a]
Kaptajn					None

Historical ranks

Officer ranks

In 1801, new uniforms were introduced for the whole army. Along with the new uniforms, epaulette ranks were introduced for officers.^[10][11] Following the defeat in the English Wars in 1812, Denmark was on the brink of financial bankruptcy, resulting in drastic reductions in the military.^[12] Therefore, only generals were allowed to wear epaulettes, with other ranks reverting to cuff insignia.^[12] In 1822, epaulettes were introduced to all ranks.^[13]

Timeline

Order of precedence

See also: Danish order of precedence

Rank group	First class						Third class		Fourth class				Fifth class					Sixth class				Seventh class			Eight class					Ninth class
1671–1680[14]	Ober-Feldt-Marskalk	Feldt-Marschalks	General Feldt-Tøymester	Feldtmarskal Lieutenant	Generaler til Hest eller Fods	General-Lieutenant til Hest eller til Foeds	General-Major	Obersten over Liv-Guarden			Oberster til Hest og til Foeds		Oberstlieutenant over Vores Liv-Guarde	General-Qvarteermester	Oberstlieutenant	Major
1680–1693
1693–1699[15]	General-Feldtmarskalk	Feldtmarskalk	General-Feldt-Tøygmester	Feldtmarskalk-Lieutenant	General til Hest eller Fods	General-Lieutenant til Hest eller Fods	General-Major	Oberst af Garderne eller Artolleriet	Brigadier	Oberst over Lif-Regimenterne	Oberst til Hest eller Fods		Oberst-Lieutenant af Garderne	Oberst-Lieutenant af Lif-Regimenterne og Artolleriet	Oberst-Lieutenant	Major af Garderne	General-Qvarteer-Mester	Major over Lif-Regimenterne og Artolleriet	Major	Ritmester og Capitain af Garderne		Ritmester og Capitain ved Lif-Regimenterne og Artolleriet	Ritmester/ Capitain-Lieutenanter ved Garderne, Capitainer til Lands	Premier-Lieutenanter ved Garderne
1699–1717
1717–1730[16]	General Feltmarskalk	Feltmarskalk	Feltmarskalk-Lieutenant	General-Feldt-Tøygmester	General til Hest eller Fods	General-Lieutenant til Hest eller Fods	General-Major	Oberst af Garderne eller Artolleriet	Brigadier	Oberst over Lif-Regimenterne	Oberst til Hest eller Fods	Oberst-Lieutenant af Garderne		Oberst-Lieutenant af Lif-Regimenterne og Artolleriet	Oberst-Lieutenant	Major af Garderne	General-Qvarteer-Mester	Major over Lif-Regimenterne og Artolleriet	Major	Ritmester og Capitain af Garderne	General-Qvarteer-Mester-Lieutenant	Ritmester og Capitain	Premier-Lieutenant ved Garderne			Premier-Lieutenant	Second Lieutenant ved Garderne	Second Lieutenant	Cornet og Fendrich ved Garderne	Cornet og Fendrich
Rank group	First class						Third class		Fourth class				Fifth class					Sixth class				Seventh class			Eight class					Ninth class

Modern ranks

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
1801–1812 [10]
	Feltmarskal		General		General-Lieutenant		General-Major				Oberst		Oberst-Lieutenant		Major		Capitain	Stabs-Capitain	Premier-Lieutenant		Second-Lieutenant		Fendrich
1812–1816 [17]
	Feltmarskal		General		Generallieutenant		Generalmajor				Oberst		Oberst-Lieutenant		Major		Capitain	Stabs-Capitain	Premier-Lieutenant			Second-Lieutenant
1816–1821 [18]	No insignia
	Feltmarskal		General		Generallieutenant		Generalmajor				Oberst		Oberstlieutenant		Major		Captain		Premierlieutenant			Secondlieutenant
1821–1842 [19]	No insignia
	Feltmarskal		General		Generallieutenant		Generalmajor				Oberst		Oberstlieutenant		Major		Captain		Premierlieutenant			Secondlieutenant
1842–1848 [20][21]	No insignia
	Feltmarskal		General		Generallieutenant		Generalmajor				Oberst		Oberstlieutenant		Major		Captain		Premierlieutenant			Secondlieutenant
1849–1858 [22]
			General		Generallieutenant		Generalmajor				Oberst		Oberstlieutenant		Major		Captain		Premierlieutenant			Secondlieutenant
1858–1869 [23][24]
			General		Generallieutenant		Generalmajor				Oberst		Oberstlieutenant		Major		Captain		Premierlieutenant			Secondlieutenant
1869–1889 [25][23][26]
			General[b]		Generallieutenant		Generalmajor				Oberst						Captain		Premierlieutenant		Lieutenant af Forstærkningen		Sekondlieutenant
1889–1903 [23][27]
			General		Generallieutenant		Generalmajor				Oberst		Oberstlieutenant				Captain		Premierlieutenant		Lieutenant af Forstærkningen		Sekondlieutenant
1903–1910 [28]
			General		Generalløjtnant		Generalmajor				Oberst		Oberstløjtnant				Kaptajn		Premierløjtnant		Løjtnant		Sekondløjtnant
1910–1915 [29][30]
			General		Generalløjtnant		Generalmajor				Oberst		Oberstløjtnant				Kaptajn	Intendant	Premierløjtnant		Løjtnant		Sekondløjtnant
1915–1923 [31][32]
			General		Generalløjtnant		Generalmajor				Oberst		Oberstløjtnant				Kaptajn		Premierløjtnant		Løjtnant af Reserven		Sekondløjtnant
1923–1962 [33][34][35]
			General		Generalløjtnant		Generalmajor				Oberst		Oberstløjtnant				Kaptajn	Kaptajnløjtnant	Premierløjtnant		Løjtnant af Reserven		Sekondløjtnant
1962–1983 [36]
			General		Generalløjtnant		Generalmajor				Oberst		Oberstløjtnant		Major		Kaptajn		Premierløjtnant		Løjtnant af Reserven		Sekondløjtnant
1983–1986 [11]
			General		Generalløjtnant		Generalmajor		Brigadegeneral		Oberst		Oberstløjtnant		Major		Kaptajn		Premierløjtnant		Løjtnant af Reserven		Sekondløjtnant
1986–1989 [37][38]
1989–2009
2009–2018
2018–present
			General		Generalløjtnant		Generalmajor		Brigadegeneral		Oberst		Oberstløjtnant		Major		Kaptajn		Premierløjtnant		Løjtnant		Sekondløjtnant
NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1

Other ranks

From 1789 up to 1812, ncos were typically told apart from rank & file by a short epaulette, worn on the right shoulder, and by gold lace on their hats. Most of them also carried a cane, and up to 1805, a polearm. Sergeants were typically told apart by wearing metallic lace edging on their shoulder straps.

During the 1801 - 1803 period, lance-corporals of most branches of the army but the line infantry adopted lighter distinctions, such as silver cords on their hats, sword knots, metallic shoulder straps, NCO belt buckles (in the cavalry) and prickers (in the light infantry).

In 1806, corporals were allowed to wear short epaulettes on both shoulders, in those corps where lance-corporals wore a single epaulette themselves.

Around 1808, the sergeant's epaulette became much wider, and they were also allowed to wear double cords on their new shakos.

As of 1806, the sergeant-major was told apart by a metallic sword knot and tassel. It should be noted, however, that the ranks of "commandeer-sergeant" and "sergeant" were pretty much the same in most branches of the army during this time period, with the exception of the artillery. There was typically a single sergeant or commandeer-sergeant per company, both paid at the same rate. The distinction was typically in the company itself. While grenadier and centre companies had sergeants, light and rifle companies had sergeant-majors.^[39]

In 1812, with the adoption of cuff insignia, standardized distinctions were finally introduced. Lance-corporals were allowed to wear a single chevron and a yellow and red sword knot, corporals were allowed 2 and the same sword knot, sergeants were allowed 3 and had silver thread mixed into the sword knot. Additional grades were told apart by a rosette, worn in the middle of the cuff. These distinctions were sewn on the cuffs themselves, not right above them like those of field officers.

Timeline

Rank group	NCO						Enlisted
1812–1843 [40][41]
			Commandeer-Sergeant	Sergeant	Foureer	Corporal		Over-Constabel (Artillery only)	Gefreider	Mand
1843–1848 [42]
		Overkommandersergent	Kommandersergent	Sergeant		Korporal		Underkorporal		Menig
1848–1867 [43]
		Overkommandersergent	Kommandersergent	Sergeant		Korporal		Underkorporal		Menig
1867–1903 [42]
		Stabssergent	Oversergent	Sergent		Korporal		Underkorporal		Menig
1903–1910 [44]
		Stabssergent	Oversergent	Sergent		Korporal		Underkorporal		Menig
1910–1915 [45]
		Stabssergent	Oversergent	Sergent	Kornet	Korporal		Underkorporal		Menig
1915–1923
		Stabssergent	Oversergent	Sergent	Kornet	Korporal		Underkorporal		Menig
1923–1951[34]
			Oversergent	Sergent	Kornet	Korporal		Underkorporal		Menig
1951–1962 [46][47]
			Oversergent	Sergent		Korporal		Befalingsmandselev		Math	Mathelev
1962–? [48]
			Oversergent	Sergent		Korporal			Overkonstabel	Konstable	Konstabelelev
1965–1970 [49]
	Seniorsergent af 1. grad	Seniorsergent af 2. grad	Oversergent	Sergent		Korporal			Overkonstabel	Konstable	Konstabelelev
1970–1982 [50]
	Seniorsergent af 1. grad	Seniorsergent af 2. grad	Oversergent	Sergent		Korporal		Overkonstabel af 1. grad	Overkonstabel af 2. grad	Konstable	Konstabelelev
1982–2008
	Chefsergent	Seniorsergent	Oversergent	Sergent		Korporal		Overkonstabel af 1. grad	Overkonstabel	Konstable	Konstabelelev
2008–2018
	Chefsergent	Seniorsergent	Oversergent	Sergent			Korporal	Overkonstabel af 1. grad	Overkonstabel	Konstable	Konstabelelev
NATO code	OR-9	OR-8	OR-7	OR-5		OR-4		OR-3	OR-2	OR-1

Warrant officers

In 1922, a new reform of the Army was adopted. Here Underofficer af Linien (Non-commissioned officers of the line) were replaced with Officiantgruppen.^[51]

Kaptajn (Ritmester) af Reserven	—		Premierløjtnant	Løjtnant af Reserven	Sekondløjtnant
—	Korpsofficiant af 1. Grad	Korpsofficiant af 2. Grad	Stabsofficiant	Overofficiant	Officiant

Rank group	Warrant officers
1923–1951[34]
	Korpsofficiant	Stabsofficiant	Overofficiant	Officiant
1951–1970 [46][47]
			Overfenrik	Fenrik

Notes

1. NCOs of the Guard Hussar Regiment, Royal Life Guards wear the Queen's monogram, NCOs in the Jutland Dragoon Regiment wear Prince Henrik's monogram.^[9]
2. Between 1867 and 1880, only a single "general" rank existed. Generals wore one–star. However, the King still wore three–stars, while former Generallieutenants were allowed to keep their two–stars.^[24]

References

Citations

1. Danske Soldater 1935, p. 3.
2. Hærchefsergent 2018.
3. "Bekendtgørelse om militære grader mv. for personel i det militære forsvar". retsinformation.dk (in Danish). 24 March 2010. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
4. "Hærens Gradstegn" (PDF). forsvaret.dk (in Danish). Danish Defence. October 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
5. Hærchefsergent 2018, p. 17.
6. "Historik". forpers.dk (in Danish). Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
7. "Badges and Insignia of the Royal Danish Army" (PDF). forsvaret.dk. November 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
8. Hærchefsergent 2021, p. 29.
9. Hærchefsergent 2021, pp. 51–52.
10. Petersen 2014, p. 42.
11. Hedegaard 1986.
12. Petersen 2014, p. 47.
13. Borg 1974, p. 41.
14. danmarkshistorien.dk (17 May 2017). "Rangforordningen, 25. maj 1671" (in Danish). danmarkshistorien.dk. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
15. danmarkshistorien.dk (21 June 2016). "Rangforordningen, 11. februar 1693" (in Danish). danmarkshistorien.dk. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
16. Ilsøe, Lars. "Holberg og rangvæsenet". holbergsskrifter.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 4 November 2023.
17. Petersen 2014, p. 113.
18. Petersen 2021, p. 874.
19. Petersen 2021, p. 875.
20. Borg 1974, pp. 51–52.
21. Petersen 2021, pp. 877–878.
22. Petersen 2021, pp. 881–882.
23. Hansen, Løvschall & Nilsson 1997, p. 196.
24. Petersen 2021, p. 883.
25. Klint 1965, p. 8.
26. Petersen 2021, p. 886.
27. Petersen 2021, p. 887.
28. Hansen & Løvschall 2006, pp. 122–124.
29. Hansen 2010, pp. 124, 133–134.
30. "Hærens Gradstegn 1914 — 1923". chakoten.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 29 March 2021.
31. Finsted.
32. "Royal Danish Army - 1915 field uniform". Retrieved 1 November 2018.
33. Hillmos.
34. Historisk forening ved Hærens Sergentskole 2020.
35. "Kaptajn". Den Danske Ordbog (in Danish). Det Danske Sprog- og Litteraturselskab. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
36. L132 1962, §30.
37. Davis 1988, pp. 68–69.
38. "Sekondløjtnant". Den Danske Ordbog. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
39. "Rescripter, Resolutioner og Collegialbreve den danske Krigsmagt til Lands angaaende. Vol. 1; 1801-1804" (PDF). 1805. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
40. Petersen 2014, p. 106.
41. 1812
42. Hansen, Løvschall & Nilsson 1997, pp. 201–202.
43. Kannik 1964, pp. 167–168.
44. Hansen & Løvschall 2006, p. 123-124.
45. Hansen 2010, pp. 124, 135.
46. Ministry of Defence 1954, p. 249.
47. Nørholtz 2019.
48. Hærkommandoen 1962, p. 281.
49. Hærkommandoen 1965, p. 297.
50. Hærkommandoen 1970, p. 254.
51. "Lov om Hærens Ordning". Krigsvidenskab (in Danish). 18 February 1922. Retrieved 1 September 2024.

References

• Borg, E. (1974). Den danske Marines uniformer gennem tre århundre [The Danish Navy's uniforms through three centuries] (in Danish). Strubes Forlag. ISBN 87-7508-164-4.
• Davis, Brian L. (1988). NATO Forces: An Illustrated Reference to Their Organization and Insignia. Blandford Press. ISBN 0-7137-1737-8. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
• "Grads-Betegnelserne i Hæren" [The rank designations in the Army]. Danske Soldater (in Danish). 2 (2). 12 February 1935.
• Finsted, Per. "Supplement til Danske Uniformer for Hær og Flaade, 1916" [Supplement to Danish Uniforms for Army and Navy, 1916]. chakoten.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 24 October 2018.
• Hansen, Bert; Løvschall, Frans; Nilsson, Birger (1997). Skøtt, Ole (ed.). "Den Danske Hær og Flådes Uniformer 1886" [Uniforms of the Danish Army and Navy 1886]. Vaabenhistoriske Aarsbøger (in Danish). 42. Devantier. ISSN 0108-707X.
• Hansen, Bert; Løvschall, Frans (2006). Skøtt, Ole (ed.). "Den danske enhedsuniform M 1903 og dens videre skæbne i det danske forsvar" [The Danish unit uniform M 1903 and its further fate in the Danish defense]. Vaabenhistoriske Aarsbøger (in Danish). 51: 99–167. ISSN 0108-707X.
• Hansen, Bert (2010). Skøtt, Ole (ed.). "Danske Uniformer 1910–1920 del 1" [Danish Uniforms 1910–1920 part 1]. Vaabenhistoriske Aarsbøger (in Danish). 55. Devantier. ISSN 0108-707X.
• Hedegaard, Ole A. (1 January 1986). "Nyt militært gradstegn - en ny/gammel tradition!" [New military insignia - a new/old tradition!]. Krigsvidenskab.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 28 August 2018.
• Hillmos, Finn. "Hærens gradstegn 1923" [Army insignia 1923] (PDF). chakoten.dk. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
• Historisk forening ved Hærens Sergentskole (2020). "Grader gennem tiden" [Degrees over time]. Historisk forening ved Hærens Sergentskole (in Danish).
• Hærchefsergent (July 2018). "Gradstegn og anden distinktionering" [Degrees and other distinctions]. Uniformsbestemmelser for hæren (UBH) Jul 2018 [Uniform regulations for the army (UBH) Jul 2018] (in Danish).
• Hærchefsergent (March 2021). FKOBST H. 628-1 Uniformsbestemmelser for Hæren (UBH) [Uniform Regulations for the Army] (PDF) (in Danish). Retrieved 11 November 2023.
• Hærkommandoen (November 1962). Lærebog for hærens menige [Textbook for Army privates] (in Danish). Copenhagen: N. Olaf Møller.
• Hærkommandoen (March 1965). Lærebog for hærens menige [Textbook for Army privates] (in Danish). Copenhagen: N. Olaf Møller.
• Hærkommandoen (1970). Lærebog for hærens menige [Textbook for Army privates] (in Danish). Copenhagen: S. L. Møllers Bogtrykkeri.
• Kannik, Preben (1964). "Uniformer og udrusting" [Uniforms and equipment]. In Askgaard, Finn; Hoff, Arne; Kannik, Preben (eds.). Tøjhusmuseets bog om 1864: Våben og uniformer [Tøjhusmuseet's book about 1864: Weapons and uniforms] (in Danish). Copenhagen: Nordlundes bogtrykkeri. pp. 159–215.
• Klint, Helge (1965). "Træk af Hærstabens historie" [Features of Army Staff History]. Hærkommandoens Årsskrift (in Danish). Nyt Nordisk Forlag: 5–11.
• Ministry of Defence (November 1954). Lærebog for hærens menige [Textbook for Army privates] (in Danish). Copenhagen: N. Olaf Møller.
• Nørholtz, Tine (2019). "HKKF: 60 år" [HKKF: 60 years] (PDF). Fagligt Forsvar (in Danish). 3. Hærens Konstabel- og Korporalforening: 19–22.
• Petersen, Karsten Skjold (2014). Kongens klæder - Hærens uniformer og udrustning i Danmark-Norge [The king's clothes - Army uniforms and equipment in Denmark-Norway] (in Danish) (1st ed.). Slovenia: Historika. ISBN 978-87-932-2900-6.
• Petersen, Karsten Skjold (2021). Kongens klæder 2 – Uniformer og udrustning i den danske hær 1816-1903 [The King's Clothes 2 - Uniforms and equipment in the Danish army 1816-1903] (in Danish). Syddansk Universitetsforlag. ISBN 978-87-408-3338-6.
• Forslag til Lov om forsvarets personel [Proposal for an Act on Defense Personnel] (PDF) (132) (in Danish). Folketinget. 10 May 1962. Retrieved 27 March 2022.

External links

• Badges of Rank for the Royal Danish Army, 2018
• Badges of Rank for the Royal Danish Army, 2018 (in Danish)