Official designations of the Federal Border Guard
The official designations of the Federal Border Police (also known colloquially as ranks ), as well as the corresponding shoulder pieces, have undergone serious changes in the history of the organization. The main change is the alignment of the official titles with those of the police forces of the federal states with the simultaneous abolition of the simple police enforcement service through the law on the personnel structure of the Federal Border Guard (BGSPersG) of June 3, 1976.
The following tables show the sequence of ranks and their correspondence in the shoulder pieces. The respective career group is shown in bold.
Since the change in the personnel structure in the Federal Border Police in 1976, the designation is actually no longer a rank, but an official designation.
1956 to 1971
| Rank | Underground | description |
|---|---|---|
| Frontier hunters | ||
| Frontier hunters | green, edge interwoven with white threads (except "Grenzjäger") | |
| Border troop hunters | a star, silver | |
| Grenzoberjäger | two stars, silver | |
| Frontier main fighter | three stars, silver | |
| Unterführer | ||
| Sergeant in the BGS | green, thick white border interwoven with green | |
| Fahnenjunker in the BGS | silver braid | |
| Oberwachtmeister in the BGS | a star, silver | |
| Main sergeant in the BGS | two stars, silver | |
| Ensign in the BGS | two stars, silver with braid | |
| NCOs | ||
| Master in the BGS | white border interwoven with green, inside a green and white woven cord | |
| Obermeister in the BGS | a star, silver | |
| Staff master in the BGS | two stars, silver | |
| Chief Staff Officer in the BGS | three stars, silver | |
| Officers | ||
| Lieutenants and captains | ||
| Lieutenant in the BGS | silver with a green border | |
| First lieutenant in the BGS | silver with a star on it, gold | |
| Captain in the BGS | silver with two stars on it, gold | |
| Staff officers | ||
| Major in the BGS | silver, braided cord | |
| Lieutenant Colonel in the BGS | silver braided cord with a star, gold | |
| Colonel in the BGS | silver braided cord with two stars, gold | |
| general | ||
| Brigadier General in the BGS | white and gold cord, braided | |
1972 to 1976
Career of the frontier hunters and sub-leaders
| Rank | Underground | description |
|---|---|---|
| Border fighters, GS sailors | ||
| Grenzjäger, sailor i. BGS | 4 green flat cords, the two outer ones interwoven with silver | no star |
| Border troop hunter, foreman i. BGS | a star, silver | |
| Grenzoberjäger, senior seaman i. BGS | two stars, silver | |
| Grenzhauptjäger, chief seaman i. BGS | three stars, silver | |
| GS sergeant, GS mate | ||
| Oberwachtmeister in the BGS, Maat i. BGS | 4 flat cords, the two inner green, the two outer silver (green interwoven) | a star, silver |
| Main sergeant in the BGS, Obermaat i. BGS | two stars, silver | |
| GS master, GS boatmen | ||
| Master in the BGS, boatswain in the BGS | silver border (interwoven with green), inside green-silver woven cord | no star |
| Obermeister in BGS, Oberbootsmann in BGS | a star, silver | |
| Main master in the BGS, main boatman in the BGS | two stars, silver | |
| Staff master in the BGS, staff boat man in the BGS | 4 silver flat cords (interwoven with green); Staff boatmen analog | no star |
| Oberstabsmeister in the BGS, Oberstabsbootsmann in the BGS | a star, silver | |
Career of border guards
| Rank | Underground | description |
|---|---|---|
| GS officer candidate | ||
| Grenzjäger, sailor in the BGS | green | |
| Border troop hunters, foremen in the BGS | green with a thin white border | a star, silver |
| Fahnenjunker in the BGS, midshipman in the BGS | green with a thick white border (green interlaced) | silver braid |
| Ensign in the BGS, ensign in the sea in the BGS | green with a thick white border (green interlaced) | silver braid, a silver star |
| Oberfähnrich in the BGS, Oberfähnrich zur See in the BGS | white border, green and white woven cord | silver wire, two silver stars |
| GS officers | ||
| GS lieutenant | ||
| Lieutenant in the BGS, lieutenant at sea in the BGS | silver | |
| First lieutenant in the BGS, first lieutenant at sea in the BGS | a gold star | |
| Captain in the BGS, captain lieutenant in the BGS | two gold stars | |
| GS staff officers | ||
| Major in the BGS, corvette captain in the BGS | silver, braided cord | |
| Lieutenant Colonel in the BGS, frigate captain in the BGS | a star, gold | |
| Colonel in the BGS | two stars, gold | |
| GS generals | ||
| Brigadier General in the BGS | white and gold cord, braided | |
| Major General in the BGS | a gold star | |
1976 to 1998
On July 1, 1976, several changes were made through the law on the personnel structure of the Federal Border Guard:
- Abolition of the career of border hunters
- Conversion of the military ranks into official titles, as they are also customary with the protective police of the federal states
Transfer of ranks
| Law enforcement service | |
|---|---|
| Rank old | Office title new |
| Grenzjäger, sailor in the BGS | Police Oberwachtmeister in the BGS |
| Border troop hunters, foremen in the BGS | Police Oberwachtmeister in the BGS |
| Grenzoberjäger, senior seaman in the BGS | Police Oberwachtmeister in the BGS |
| Grenzhauptjäger, chief seaman in the BGS | Police Oberwachtmeister in the BGS |
| Oberwachtmeister in the BGS, Maat in the BGS | Police Oberwachtmeister in the BGS |
| Fahnenjunker in the BGS, midshipman in the BGS | Police Oberwachtmeister in the BGS |
| Main sergeant in the BGS, chief mate in the BGS | Police sergeant in the BGS |
| Master in the BGS, boatswain in the BGS | Police officer in the BGS |
| Ensign in the BGS, ensign in the sea in the BGS | Police officer in the BGS |
| Obermeister in BGS, Oberbootsmann in BGS | Police chief in the BGS |
| Main master in the BGS, main boatman in the BGS | Police chief in the BGS |
| Oberfähnrich in BGS, Oberfähnrich zur See in BGS | Police chief in the BGS |
| Staff master in the BGS, staff boat man in the BGS | Staff master in the BGS |
| Oberstabsmeister in the BGS, Oberstabsbootsmann in the BGS | Chief Staff Officer in the BGS |
| Lieutenant in the BGS, lieutenant at sea in the BGS | Police commissioner in the BGS |
| First lieutenant in the BGS, first lieutenant at sea in the BGS | Police chief commissioner in the BGS |
| Captain in the BGS, captain lieutenant in the BGS | Police chief inspector in the BGS |
| Major in the BGS, corvette captain in the BGS | Police council in the BGS |
| Lieutenant Colonel in the BGS, Frigate Captain in the BGS (BesGr. A 14) | Higher Police Council in the BGS |
| Lieutenant Colonel in the BGS, Frigate Captain in the BGS (BesGr. A 15) | Police director in the BGS |
| Colonel in the BGS (BesGr. A 16) | Chief Police Director in the BGS |
| Colonel in the BGS (BesGr. B 3) | Director in the Federal Border Police - in the Federal Ministry of the Interior Director in the Federal Border Guard - as the permanent representative of the commander of the Border Guard School |
| Brigadier General in the BGS | Commander in the Federal Border Guard - as the commander of a border guard command |
| Major General in the BGS - as an inspector | Inspector of the Federal Border Guard |
| medical corps | |
|---|---|
| Rank old | Office title new |
| Medical officer in the BGS | Medical Council in the BGS |
| Senior staff physician in the BGS | Senior Medical Council in the BGS |
| Senior field doctor in the BGS | Medical director in the BGS |
| Senior Physician in the BGS (BesGr. A 16) | Senior Medical Director in the BGS |
| Senior Physician in the BGS (BesGr. B 3) | Director in the Federal Border Police - in the Federal Ministry of the Interior |
Rank badge
| Law enforcement service | ||
|---|---|---|
| Official title | Underground | description |
| Medium Grade | ||
| Police chief sergeant candidate in the BGS | green | |
| Police sergeant in the BGS | green with a thick silver border | |
| Police Oberwachtmeister in the BGS | a star, silver | |
| Police sergeant in the BGS | two stars, silver | |
| Police officer in the BGS | silver edge, green-silver woven cord | |
| Police chief in the BGS | a star, silver | |
| Police chief in the BGS | two stars, silver | |
| Staff master in the BGS | silver, interwoven with green | |
| Chief Staff Officer in the BGS | a star, silver | |
| Higher service | ||
| Police commissioner in the BGS | silver | |
| Police chief commissioner in the BGS | a star, gold | |
| Police chief inspector in the BGS | two stars, gold | |
| First police chief inspector in the BGS | three stars, gold | |
| Higher service | ||
| Police council in the BGS | silver braided cords | |
| Higher Police Council in the BGS | a star, gold | |
| Police director in the BGS | two small stars lying next to each other, gold | |
| Chief Police Director in the BGS | two stars, gold | |
| Director in the BGS | three stars, gold | |
| Director of the Border Guard Directorate | predominantly silver braided with a gold button
predominantly gold braided with a gold button predominantly gold braided with a gold button |
|
| Commander in the BGS | ||
| BGS inspector | a star big, silver | |
| medical corps | ||
|---|---|---|
| Official title | Underground | description |
| Medical Council in the BGS | silver braided cords | Staff of Aesculapius with snake |
| Senior Medical Council in the BGS | a star, gold, above it Aesculapius staff with a snake, gold | |
| Medical director in the BGS | two small stars lying next to each other, gold, above them the staff of Aesculapius with snake, gold | |
| Senior Medical Director in the BGS | two stars, gold, between the stars Aesculapian staff with snake, gold | |
1998 to 2001
| Law enforcement service | ||
|---|---|---|
| Official title | Underground | description |
| Medium Grade | ||
| Police chief candidate in the BGS | silver edge with green angles, green inner part | |
| Police officer in the BGS | silver border with green angles,
green-silver woven cord on the inside |
|
| Police chief in the BGS | a star, silver | |
| Police chief in the BGS | two stars, silver | |
| Staff master in the BGS | silver, interwoven with green | |
| Chief Staff Officer in the BGS | a star, silver | |
| Higher service | ||
| Police commissioner in the BGS | silver | |
| Police chief commissioner in the BGS | a star, gold | |
| Police chief inspector in the BGS | two stars, gold | |
| First police chief inspector in the BGS | three stars, gold | |
| Higher service | ||
| Police council in the BGS | silver braided cords | |
| Higher Police Council in the BGS | a star, gold | |
| Police director in the BGS | two small stars lying next to each other, gold | |
| Chief Police Director in the BGS | two stars, gold | |
| Director in the BGS | three stars, gold | |
| Director of the Border Guard Directorate | predominantly silver braided with a gold button
predominantly gold braided with a gold button predominantly gold braided with a gold button |
|
| Commander in the BGS | ||
| BGS inspector | a star big, silver | |
| medical corps | ||
|---|---|---|
| Official title | Underground | description |
| Medical Council in the BGS | silver braided cords | Staff of Aesculapius with snake |
| Senior Medical Council in the BGS | a star, gold, above it Aesculapius staff with a snake, gold | |
| Medical director in the BGS | two small stars lying next to each other, gold, above them the staff of Aesculapius with snake, gold | |
| Senior Medical Director in the BGS | two stars, gold, between the stars Aesculapian staff with snake, gold | |
Other badges up to 2000
The badges were worn from 1972 to 2000 and were used in part to distinguish between individual service and associations.
- Administrative officers in the individual border guard service and in the associations
- Mercury staff in silver (middle service), gold (senior service) and gold with oak leaves (senior service).
- Border Guard Group 9
- Police officers in GSG 9: Federal eagle with oak leaves, carried on the right breast.
- Parachutists in GSG 9: Swinging with oak leaves and a stylized parachute.
- Flight service
- Helicopter pilots with the BGS-Fliegergruppe or BGS-Fliegerstaffeln: wings, worn on the left chest.
- Other badges
- Grenzschutzbergführer: pin in edelweiss shape and patch, round with edelweiss and two crossed ice axes and the inscription "Grenzschutzbergführer"
- Head of the Sanitary Department: Directors in the BGS who performed this task wore an Aesculapian staff with a snake on their left breast .
- Collar Tabs
- Middle service: green background with two silver-colored bars open on the inside
- Upper and higher service: green background with two silver-colored, decorated bars
- Commanders and inspectors: green background with stylized gold leaf
Collar tabs were attached to the uniform jacket, but not to the uniform shirt.
2001 to 2005
Epaulets are now a uniform green and tapered to a point. In the Grenzschutzamt-See the underground is navy blue. The badges consist of narrow and wide golden strands . These are shortened for applicants.
| Law enforcement service | ||
|---|---|---|
| Service / office title | Land units | Border Guard Lake |
| Middle service green with silver braided, silver button | ||
| Police chief candidate in the BGS | silver cords outside and green inside | |
| Police officer in the BGS | two narrow strands | |
| Police chief in the BGS | a star silver | three narrow strands |
| Police chief in the BGS (also with official allowance) | two stars silver | four narrow strands |
| High service silver cords, silver button | ||
| Police commissioner in the BGS | a wide strand | |
| Police chief commissioner in the BGS | a star big, gold | two wide strands |
| Police chief inspector in the BGS | two stars, gold | wide strands, narrow strands, wide strands |
| First police chief inspector in the BGS | three stars, gold | wide strand, two narrow strands, wide strand |
| Higher service silver braided, silver button | ||
| Police council in the BGS | three wide strands | |
| Higher Police Council in the BGS | a star big, gold | one wide strand, one narrow strand, two wide strands |
| Police director in the BGS | two small stars side by side, gold | four wide strands |
| Chief Police Director in the BGS | two stars, gold | |
| Department president in the BGS | three little stars, gold | |
| Director in the BGS | three stars, gold | |
| Director of the Border Guard Directorate | predominantly silver braided with a gold button | |
| President of a Border Guard Presidium (Pres) | predominantly gold braided with a gold button | |
| BGS inspector | a star big, silver
predominantly gold braided with a gold button |
|
The shoulder pieces for law enforcement officers of the middle police force are provided with a silver braid at the beginning of the promotion training for the higher service, those for PVB of the higher service with a gold braid with the beginning of the promotion training for the higher service. In the Grenzschutzamt-See, the shoulder pieces are provided with an additional short, wide braid at the beginning of the ascent training.
| medical corps | ||
|---|---|---|
| Official title | description | Description (Grenzschutzamt-See) |
| Doctor in the BGS (VB) | Aesculapian staff, gold | Aesculapian staff, gold |
| Medical Council in the BGS | Aesculapian staff, gold | three broad strands and Aesculapian staff, gold |
| Senior Medical Council in the BGS | Aesculapian staff and a star, large, gold | two broad, one narrow, one broad braid and Aesculapian staff, gold |
| Medical director in the BGS | Aesculapian staff and two small stars, gold | four broad strands and Aesculapian staff, gold |
| Head of the Medical Service of a Border Guard Presidium (VB) | Aesculapian staff and two stars, large, gold | |
- Border Guard Orchestra
Employees wear dark blue shoulder pieces with a stylized golden harp ( lyre ), the orchestra director also wear oak leaves, civil servants wear the badges they are otherwise entitled to.
Note on the official designations of staff master and senior staff master
When the career system was changed in 1976 at the Federal Border Guard, staff master and senior staff master continued to exist as permissible official titles. However, the office of staff master was no longer awarded, but already appointed staff master could be promoted to senior staff master. These offices belonged to the middle law enforcement service. Staff masters who passed a promotion test for the senior police enforcement service were promoted directly to the police superintendent, all other active staff masters were promoted to senior staff officers or they were given posts in the senior police enforcement service. There have been no active staff masters since 2005.
See also
- Official titles of the Federal Police
- Official designations of the German customs administration
- Official designations of the railway police
- Police uniform (Germany)