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 and insignia of the Ordnungspolizei their police titles (for example: SS-"Obergruppenführer und General der Polizei"). In 1944, all Orpo generals also gained equivalent "Waffen-SS" rank so that, in the event of capture by the Allies, the Orpo general would hold status as a military officer instead of a police official. Orpo personnel who were also members of the "Allgemeine-SS" were authorized to wear an embroidered SS "Sigrunen" patch on the breast pocket. In addition to collar and shoulder insignia, "Ordnungspolizei" also wore the wreathed police eagle on the upper left sleeve. The collar patch and shoulderboards were backed, and the sleeve eagle (below the rank