Luftwaffe appointments

Geschwaderkommodore (short also Kommodore) is a Luftwaffe position or appointment (not rank), originating during World War II. A Geschwaderkommodore is usually an OF5-rank of Oberst (colonel) or Kapitän zur See (naval captain). A Geschwaderkommodore will command a Geschwader (Wing), which in turn contains Gruppen (Groups) each commanded by a Gruppenkommandeur (Group Commander).

Gruppenkommandeur is a Luftwaffe position (not rank), that is the equivalent of a commander of a group or wing in other air forces. A Gruppenkommandeur usually has the rank of Major or Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel), and commands a Gruppe, which is a sub-unit of a Geschwader. A Gruppe usually consists of three or four Staffeln (each of which is commanded by a Staffelkapitän).

thumb|Oberleutnant Egon Albrecht, Staffelführer in [[Zerstörergeschwader 76.]] Staffelkapitän is a command appointment, rather than a military rank, in the air force units of German-speaking countries.