It inherited the various traditions and military ranks of its constituent states.
Critics long believed that the Army's officer corps was heavily dominated by Junker aristocrats, so that commoners were shunted into low-prestige branches, such as the heavy artillery or supply.
However, by the 1890s, the top ranks were opened to highly talented commoners.
They, however, wore a specific uniform distinction (twisted wool piping along their shoulder epaulette edging for Einjährig-Freiwilliger, the Kapitulant a narrow band across their lower shoulder epaulette) in the colours of their respective nation state.
This distinction was never removed throughout their military service nor during any rank grade advancements.