Ranks of the Imperial Japanese Army a colonel in the army: "Taisa" (colonel), so the rank of "Rikugun Taisa" denoted an army colonel, while the rank of "Kaigun daisa" denoted a naval captain. Ranks of the Imperial Japanese Army The following tables present the rank insignia of the Imperial Japanese Army before and during World War II. These designs were worn on shoulders as passants (shoulder straps) between the years 1911 and 1938, then on collars afterwards until 1945, when the army was dissolved. The same officer ranks were used for both the Imperial Japanese Army and Imperial Japanese Navy, the only distinction being the placement
Ranks of the National People's Army Ranks of the National People's Army The Ranks of the National People's Army were the military insignia used by the National People's Army, the army of the German Democratic Republic from 1956 to 1990. The design of the rank insignias followed the tradition of the German Army ("Heer") with some modifications. For example, the cuff titles (chevron insignias) of the Gefreiter were replaced by shoulder straps with cross-strips like the Soviet rank. Commissioned officer ranks up to Oberst featured four-pointed golden stars in increasing number according to seniority, and arranged following the Soviet pattern. Junior officer (lieutenant and captain ranks)