Gefreiter

Gefreiter (, abbr. Gefr.; plural ''Gefreite'') is a German, Swiss and Austrian military rank that has existed since the 16th century. It is usually the second rank or grade to which an enlisted soldier, airman or sailor could be promoted.Duden; Definition of Gefreiter, in German

/ref>Official Website (Bundeswehr): Dienstgrade und Uniformen der Bundeswehr (Service Ranks and Uniforms of the German Federal Defence Forces), in German

/ref>

Within the combined Ranks and insignia of NATO, NATO rank scale, the modern-day rank of ''Gefreiter'' is usually equivalent to the NATO-standard rank scale OR-2. The word has also been lent into the Russian language (''russian: yefreytor/ефрейтор''), and is in use in several Russian and post-Soviet militaries.

History

Historically the military rank of ''Gefreiter'' (female and plural form: ''Gefreite'') emerged in 16th-century Europe for the German ''Landsknechte'' foot soldiers,Duden; Origin and meaning of "Landsknecht", in German

/ref> predominantly made up of German and Swiss mercenary pikemen and supporting infantry foot soldiers."Gefreiter" - Allgemeine Encyclopädie der Wissenschaften und Künste, Erste Section, A-G, (Universal Encyclopaedia of the Sciences and Arts, First Section, A-G), Author: Johann Samuel Ersch and Johann Gottfried Gruber, Publisher: F. A. Brockhaus, Leipzig, 1852, Page 471-472, in German

/ref>Corpus Juris Militaris Des Heiliges Römisches Reich (Military Law of the Holy Roman Empire), Volume 2, Author: Johann Christian Lünig, Leipzig, 1723, in German.The Landsknechts, Author: Douglas Miller, Publisher: Osprey Publishing, Great Britain, 1976, .Landsknecht Soldier 1486-1560, Author: John Richards, Publisher: Osprey Publishing, Great Britain, 2002, . Those soldiers who proved especially reliable and experienced were appointed to ''gefreyten Knechten'' (exempted/freed Servants/Soldiers; a cognate to 'knight') and were installed in critical battlefield positions; along with their extra rank privileges they were exempted in general from sentry duties.

From the 18th century, ''Gefreite'' were the first line members of a military company, and every ''Gefreiter'' led and commanded a section or squad of ''Gemeine''Duden; Origin and meaning of "Gemeine", in German

/ref> (ordinary-rank soldiers). The rank existed in the cavalry, infantry, pioneers, and artillery where the ''Gefreiter'' rank received a greater rank-class status. ''Gefreiter'' was the only enlisted rank until 1918 within the Royal Prussian Army and respectively the imperial army of the German Empire to which an exceptional enlisted soldier could be promoted on the recommendation of the ''Hauptmann'' (Captain) or '' Rittmeister'' (Cavalry-Master otherwise Captain) and ultimately endorsed by the ''Regiments-Commandeur'' (Regimental Colonel), with exception of the rank '' Obergefreiter'' (since 1859) in the foot artillery which later replaced the artillery ''Bombardier'' (Corporal) rank. The ''Gefreiter'' rank was also considered a transition rank for promotion to and wherefrom replacements were selected to the ''Unteroffizier'' (Corporal)Duden; Origin and meaning of "Korporal", in German

/ref> rank. Within the Royal Prussian Army and respectively the imperial army of the German Empire, the rank ''Gefreiter'' was a deputy to the ''Unteroffizier'' (Corporal), and were distinguished by the wearing of a ''Auszeichnungsknopf'' (''rank'' Distinction-button) known as the ''Gefreitenknopf'' (Gefreiter-button) on each side of their uniform collar, similar to the slightly larger rank collar side-buttons worn by both the ''Sergeant'' and ''Feldwebel'' ranks.

In the Royal Prussian Army until its reorganization after 1806, there existed along with ''Gefreiter'' the rank of ''Gefreite-Korporale'' who wore a silver ''Portepee'' (sword lanyard). These were officer cadets specifically selected for higher advancement, they stood equal with their officer cadet counterpart the ''Portepee- Ensign (rank), Fähnriche''. The ''Gefreite-Korporale'' was a rank that also existed along with ''Gefreiter'' in the Austrian Army during the Thirty Years' War.

From the 1920s the German rank of ''Gefreiter'' has expanded into several additional ranks and duties, those being ''Obergefreiter'' (Senior Lance Corporal otherwise Second Corporal in the Prussian Army since 1859); ''Hauptgefreiter'' (Leading Lance Corporal in the Luftwaffe during 1935–1944, the Kriegsmarine during 1938–1945, and the Heer from 1955); ''Stabsgefreiter'' (Staff Lance Corporal in the Reichswehr since 1927, the Kriegsmarine until 1945, the Luftwaffe from 1944 temporarily replacing ''Hauptgefreiter'' rank); and ''Oberstabsgefreiter'' (Senior Staff Lance Corporal in the Kriegsmarine since 1940, not in the Heer or Luftwaffe until 1996). All ''Gefreiter'' ranks are now in use with the German army, air force, and navy.

The female form, ''Gefreite'', is not used by the military; the formal address is "''Frau Gefreiter''".

Germany

Bundeswehr

''Gefreiter'' (abbr. ''Gefr.'' or ''G.'') is the second enlisted rank grade within the modern-day Army (''Heer''), Air Force (''Luftwaffe'') and Navy (''Marine'') of the Bundeswehr. Following the NATO ranking system, Gefreiter equates to OR-2 on the NATO-standard rank scale, the rank is thus equivalent to either private, private first class, vice corporal or corporal rank depending on the chosen NATO-allied force used for the comparison. It is grade A4 in the pay scale of the Federal Ministry of Defence.

The sequence of ranks (top-down approach) in this particular group is as follows:
*OR-4a: '' Oberstabsgefreiter''
*OR-4b: '' Stabsgefreiter''
*OR-3a: '' Hauptgefreiter''
*OR-3b: '' Obergefreiter''
*OR-2: Gefreiter
*OR-1: '' Soldat/Schütze'' (Army), ''Flieger'' (Air Force), '' Matrose'' (Navy)

In line with Bundeswehr rank advancement conditions, enlisted personnel OR-1 may be promoted to OR-2 level after passing primary recruit training (usually after three months) to the rank of ''Gefreiter''.

''Wehrmacht''

Throughout the periods of the Royal Prussian Army, Imperial Army of the German Empire, ''Reichswehr'' and the German ''Wehrmacht'', the rank of ''Gefreiter'' was considered the equivalent to a junior Lance Corporal rank, with ''Obergefreiter'' as senior lance corporal or rather second corporal in the artillery, and a full corporal rank known as ''Unteroffizier'' (subordinate non-commissioned officer) which replaced the ''Korporal'' rank from 1856. Within the army branch of the German ''Wehrmacht'', a rank of '' Oberschütze'' (senior rifleman) once existed between the ranks of ''Gefreiter'' and '' Schütze/Soldat'' (" nlistedordinary-rank rifleman/soldier"). A Gefreiter was considered an "exempted man", who was not normally assigned more menial duties, such as guard detail. A soldier promoted to Gefreiter was seen as showing some promise of leadership capability, while those who did not were promoted to Oberschütze.

Bohemian corporal

The best-known holder of the rank of ''Gefreiter'' was Adolf Hitler, who held the rank in the Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment 16 of the Royal Bavarian Army during World War I.

''Bohemian corporal'' was a derogatory term used (privately) in World War II for Adolf Hitler by German generals (many of whom were Prussian aristocrats: '' von'') dissatisfied with Hitler's military leadership and detailed control, e.g. Gerd von Rundstedt, Erich von Manstein and Friedrich Paulus. Von Rundstedt said often during and after the war: ''Without Hitler’s consent, I can’t even move my own sentry from my front door around to the back!'' Wilhelm Keitel once said to Hitler ''Do you realise that Rundstedt called you a Bohemian corporal''; Hitler replied ''Yes, but he’s the best field marshal I have''. Von Rundstedt used the term ''Dieser böhmische Gefreiter'' which he got in the 1930s from World War I hero, President Paul von Hindenburg. Hindenburg (he and Hitler took an instant dislike to each other on first meeting) mistook Hitler's home town of Braunau in Austria (Braunau am Inn) for another town of the same name ( Broumov; "Braunau" in German) in Bohemia; initially he said that ''Austrian corporal'' but later used ''Bohemian corporal''; a pejorative term as he regarded Bohemians as ''essentially gypsies'' unlike the more cultured Prussians or even Austrians.

Switzerland

Austria

''Gefreiter'' (abbr. Gfr) is a military rank of the Austrian Bundesheer. It might be comparable to enlisted men OR2/ private 1st Class ranks in Anglophone armed forces. However, in the Bundesheer it belongs to the so-called charges rank group (OR2 to OR4).

Austro-Hungarian Army

In the k.u.k. Austro-Hungarian Army (1867–1918) ''Gefreiter'' ( hu, Őrvezetö) was corresponding to Patrouilleführer, and Vormeister. It was used by the k.u.k. Kaiserjäger as well as the Feldjäger, Standschützen troops, k.u.k. Cavalry, Medical corps, and Infantry.

Then rank insignia was a single white celluloid-star on the stand-up collar of the so-called ''Waffenrock'' (en: Tunic) on gorget patch (de: Paroli). Stand-up collar and background of the gorget patch showed a particular egalisation colour.

; Rank insignia:

;Gefreiter in adjustation of the infantry

Gefreiter im k.u.k. InfRgt 7.png,
Gefreiter im k.u.k. InfRgt 25.png,
Gefreiter im k.u.k. InfRgt 33.png,
Gefreiter im k.u.k. InfRgt 37.png,
Gefreiter im k.u.k. InfRgt 41.png,
Gefreiter im k.u.k. InfRgt 50.png,
Gefreiter im k.u.k. InfRgt 62.png,
Gefreiter im k.u.k. InfRgt 69.png,
Gefreiter im k.u.k. InfRgt 77.png,
Gefreiter im k.u.k. InfRgt 87.png,
Gefreiter im k.u.k. InfRgt 92.png,
Gefreiter im k.u.k. InfRgt 99.png,
Gefreiter im k.u.k. InfRgt 101.png,

; See also:

Russia

''Yefreytor'' (russian: Ефрейтор) is a German loanword in Russian and denotes a similar rank in the Russian army.

In Russia, the rank of ''yefreytor'' was introduced by Peter I in 1716 to the infantry, cavalry and engineer forces. The rank was not used after 1722. During the reign of Paul I it was made an equivalent rank to private, which after the reign of Alexander I was used only for the Imperial Guard. ''Yefreytor'' was re-introduced in the course of the military reforms of 1826.

In the armed forces of the Soviet Union (and later the Russian Federation) ''yefreytor'' is the highest rank of enlisted personnel. According to NATO-rank system the rank might be comparable to OR-4 in Anglophone armed forces.

Rank insignia

Imperial Russian Army

1908ur03-e02.png,
1911-ir001-p02-1.png,
1914 Gefreiter of Russian Life Guards Uhlan Regiment of Her Majesty p02 (re-enlistee 2nd category in Guard).png,

Red Army (RA) and Soviet Armed Forces (SA)

RA A R2PVT col 1943.PNG,
1943avia-p19-1.png,
Rank insignia of ефрейтор of the Soviet Army.svg,
Rank insignia of ефрейтор of the Soviet Air Force.svg,

Russian Liberation Army

File:ROA-Gefreiter h.svg,

Russian Armed Forces

RAF AF-ABTr R2Kursant 2010.png,
Rus efreitor.png,
Rus efreitor field.svg,
Russia-Army-OR-2-2010.svg,
Russia-Airforce-OR-2-2010.svg,
2efr.png,

See also

* Ranks of the Imperial German Army
* World War II German Army ranks and insignia
* Rank insignia of the German armed forces
* Ranks and insignia of NATO armies enlisted
* History of Russian military ranks

References

{{Authority control

Military ranks of Germany
Military ranks of Switzerland
Military ranks of Austria
Military ranks of the Soviet Union
Military ranks of Russia