The ranks of the German Armed Forces, (in German: Bundeswehr), were set up by the
President
President most commonly refers to:
*President (corporate title)
*President (education), a leader of a college or university
*President (government title)
President may also refer to:
Automobiles
* Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...
with the ''
Anordnung des Bundespräsidenten über die Dienstgradbezeichnungen und die Uniform der Soldaten'' on the basis o
section 4 paragraph 3 of the ''Soldatengesetz'' (
federal law
Federal law is the body of law created by the federal government of a country. A federal government is formed when a group of political units, such as states or provinces join in a federation, delegating their individual sovereignty and many po ...
concerning the legal status of
soldiers
A soldier is a person who is a member of an army. A soldier can be a conscripted or volunteer enlisted person, a non-commissioned officer, or an officer.
Etymology
The word ''soldier'' derives from the Middle English word , from Old French ...
). The ''Bundesbesoldungsordnung'' (Federal Salary Scale Regulation) regulates the salary scales of all Federal office holders and employees including soldiers. The 'ZdV-64/10 – Abkürzungen in der Bundeswehr' gives the abbreviations and a list of the abbreviations.
Rank structure
In all three branches of the German armed forces there are three career paths: officers (''Offiziere''),
NCOs
A non-commissioned officer (NCO) is a military officer who has not pursued a commission. Non-commissioned officers usually earn their position of authority by promotion through the enlisted ranks. (Non-officers, which includes most or all enli ...
(''Unteroffiziere'', non-commissioned officers) and enlisted soldiers (''Mannschaften''). Officers are subdivided into Lieutenants (''Leutnante''), Captains (''Hauptleute''), Staff Officers (''Stabsoffiziere'') and Admirals (''Admiräle'') or Generals (''Generäle''). NCOs are divided into those with or without a sword knot
lanyard
A lanyard is a cord, length of webbing, or strap that may serve any of various functions, which include a means of attachment, restraint, retrieval, and activation and deactivation. A lanyard is also a piece of rigging used to secure or lower ...
(''mit / ohne
Portepee'').
The names of ranks in the army and air force are identical; those of the navy and of medical officers are different. Female soldiers hold the same rank as their male counterparts. A (w) abbreviation is still sometimes added for women, but this is wholly without legal basis – the only additions allowed and maintained in ZDv 14/5 bzw. in the ZDv 20/7 are:
* UA / RUA – NCO Candidate (''Unteroffizieranwärter'') / Reserve NCO Candidate (''Reserveunteroffizier-Anwärter'')
* FA / RFA – Sergeant Candidate (''Feldwebelanwärter'') / Reserve Sergeant Candidate (''Reservefeldwebel-Anwärter'')
* OA / ROA – Officer Candidate (''Offizieranwärter'') / Reserve Officer Candidate (''Reserveoffizier-Anwärter'')
* SanOA – Medical Officer Candidate (''Sanitätsoffizieranwärter'')
* MilMusikOA – Military Musical Officer Candidate (''Militärmusikoffizier-Anwärter'')
Retired personnel
After retirement from active duty, former career soldiers are entitled to use their former rank with the addition of the abbreviation '' a.D. (außer Dienst'' = ret.) in correspondence.
Retired soldiers may obtain a permission to wear dress uniform on formal social occasions. The uniform also shows the branch and the emblem of the last unit the soldier has served in.
Reservists
Reservists serving as enlisted men, NCOs or Officers add ''d.R. (der Reserve = of the reserve)'' after their rank, but only when not on active duty (during an exercise or DVag they are just soldiers, like any other active soldier – there is nothing to mark that they are "only" Reservists) and in correspondence, not in speaking their rank. Like in the active duty, epaulettes demonstrate rank, supplemented by a colored cord which shows the branch the soldier is serving. Special additional cord colors are:
Silver: Offizieranwärter (Officer Candidate)
Gold: Feldwebelanwärter (Sergeant Candidate)
Officer, Sergeant or NCO candidates in the reserve add ''ROA'', ''RFA'' or ''RUA'', while active officer, Sergeant or NCO candidates add ''OA'', ''FA'' or ''UA''.
Reservists have the same promotion periods and service times as active soldiers. Reservists can go through a part of military exercises when they are summoned to join a unit.
Promotion
The promotion ceremony is performed during a regular unit meeting, at a special event or in private. A suitable commander will announce the promotion by reading the order to that effect, while the soldiers to be promoted will stand forward at attention facing the unit. If regular
battledress
A combat uniform, also called field uniform, battledress or military fatigues, is a casual type of uniform used by military, police, fire and other public uniformed services for everyday fieldwork and combat duty purposes, as opposed to dress ...
is worn, it is customary that two fellow soldiers from the same rank group, but slightly senior, replace the shoulder strap sleeves from both sides with a pair indicating the new rank. They will then stand in front of the soldier and apply a simultaneous slap with one outstretched arm each on the respective shoulder, so as if to indicate the added weight and responsibility of the new rank.
Table of ranks
Army and air force
Rank insignia are worn on both shoulders.
;See also:
⇒ Article:
Rank insignia of the German Bundeswehr
Enlisted personnel
Enlisted personnel (''Mannschaften'') were largely made up of
conscripts
Conscription (also called the draft in the United States) is the state-mandated enlistment of people in a national service, mainly a military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and it continues in some countries to the present day und ...
serving their term which could be voluntarily extended to a maximum total of 23 months. Since July 2011, compulsory military service has now been suspended during
peace
Peace is a concept of societal friendship and harmony in the absence of hostility and violence. In a social sense, peace is commonly used to mean a lack of conflict (such as war) and freedom from fear of violence between individuals or groups. ...
time. Since this was replaced by a purely voluntary service, still a large part of the enlisted personnel are serving less than two years (voluntary military service – two years or more contracts are called Soldier for a Period of Time). Starting as ''
Schütze
''Schütze'' in German means "rifleman" or "shooter", or in older terms originally connoted "archer" before the advent of the rifle. It also occasionally occurs as a surname, or as Schütz, as in the opera ''Der Freischütz''. The word itself is ...
'' (Rifleman) or trooper a promotion to ''Gefreiter'' rank is expected after primary
recruit training
Military recruit training, commonly known as basic training or boot camp, refers to the initial instruction of new military personnel. It is a physically and psychologically intensive process, which resocializes its subjects for the unique deman ...
(usually after three or six months depending on the service unit). After an additional three months of service (usually consisting of special training required for their branch of service) a soldier is usually promoted to ''Obergefreiter'' rank unless they fail even most basic requirements. Enlisted soldiers will usually receive their ''Hauptgefreiter'' promotion after nine months to award outstanding performance or after twelve months of service. With higher qualification it is also possible to be promoted to ''Hauptgefreiter'' by the first day.
To be promoted ''Stabsgefreiter'' a soldier requires at least three years of enlisted service. Soldiers may opt to sign long-term contracts as enlisted soldiers, but most enlisted soldiers serving long terms in fact applied for NCO (non-commissioned officer) careers but failed their training requirements and opted to serve their term as enlisted soldiers rather than being released from service immediately.
To be promoted to ''Oberstabsgefreiter'' a soldier requires at least four years of enlisted service.
The most important distinction between NCOs and enlisted men is that the latter cannot give any order even to lower-ranking soldiers unless specific circumstances apply (e.g. while on guard duty or to soldiers ordered to do so by their regular chain of command).
The rank ''Soldat'' is replaced by ranks specific to their ''Truppengattung'' (branch of service):
* Flieger (Flg) ''Airman''
* Funker (Fu) ''
Signaller
A signaller, signalman, colloquially referred to as a radioman or signaleer in the armed forces is a specialist soldier, sailor or airman responsible for military communications. Signallers, a.k.a. Combat Signallers or signalmen or women, are ...
''
*
Grenadier
A grenadier ( , ; derived from the word '' grenade'') was originally a specialist soldier who threw hand grenades in battle. The distinct combat function of the grenadier was established in the mid-17th century, when grenadiers were recruited fr ...
(Gren) ''
Grenadier
A grenadier ( , ; derived from the word '' grenade'') was originally a specialist soldier who threw hand grenades in battle. The distinct combat function of the grenadier was established in the mid-17th century, when grenadiers were recruited fr ...
''
*
Jäger (Jg) ''Ranger'' (lit. ''Hunter'')
* Kanonier (Kan) ''Gunner/Bombardier''
*
Matrose (M) ''Seaman/Sailor''
* Pionier (Pi) ''
Engineer
Engineers, as practitioners of engineering, are professionals who invent, design, analyze, build and test machines, complex systems, structures, gadgets and materials to fulfill functional objectives and requirements while considering the l ...
''
* Panzerfunker (PzFu) ''Mech. Radioman''
*
Panzergrenadier
''Panzergrenadier'' (), abbreviated as ''PzG'' (WWII) or ''PzGren'' (modern), meaning '' "Armour"-ed fighting vehicle "Grenadier"'', is a German term for mechanized infantry units of armoured forces who specialize in fighting from and in conjunc ...
(PzGren) ''Mech. Grenadeer''
* Panzerjäger (PzJg) ''Tank Destroyer/Hunter''
* Panzerkanonier (PzKan) ''Armour Gunner''
* Panzerpionier (PzPi) ''Armour Pioneer''
* Panzerschütze (PzSchtz) ''Tanker/Armour Rifleman''
* Panzersoldat (PzSdt) ''Tanker''
* Sanitätssoldat (SanSdt) ''
Medic
A medic is a person involved in medicine such as a medical doctor, medical student, paramedic or an emergency medical responder.
Among physicians in the UK, the term "medic" indicates someone who has followed a "medical" career path in postgradu ...
''
* Schütze (Schtz) ''
Rifleman
A rifleman is an infantry soldier armed with a rifling, rifled long gun. Although the rifleman role had its origin with 16th century hand cannoneers and 17th century musketeers, the term originated in the 18th century with the introduction o ...
'' (catch-all rank for supply and other branches)
Non-commissioned officers
NCOs (''Unteroffiziere'') play an important role in the Heer as they are entrusted the command of most sub-company units. They often are referred to as the backbone of the army. Especially ''
Feldwebel
''Feldwebel '' (Fw or F, ) is a non-commissioned officer (NCO) rank in several countries. The rank originated in Germany, and is also used in Switzerland, Finland, Sweden, and Estonia. The rank has also been used in Russia, Austria-Hungary, occupi ...
s'' and above carry similar responsibilities officers have. This is largely due to the German military doctrine of ''
Auftragstaktik
Mission-type tactics ( German: ''Auftragstaktik'', from ''Auftrag'' and ''Taktik''; also known as mission command in the US and UK) is a form of military tactics in which the emphasis is placed on the outcome of a mission rather than the specif ...
'': German orders usually do not include specific instructions, but rather a task, the available time and the available means. This gives leaders of smaller units a great deal of freedom and responsibility.
Since the ancient time of Prussian Army, the non-commissioned officers or subofficers of German armies are distinguished into
a) Unteroffiziere ohne Portepee (sub-officers without lanyard)
b)
Unteroffiziere mit Portepee
, also Portepeeunteroffizier(e) (), is the designation for German senior NCO in the armed forces of Germany. The name derives from earlier traditions in which senior enlisted men would carry a sword into battle. The word ''portepee'' derives ...
(sub-officers with lanyard)
These terms originate from the tradition that Prussian NCOs from the rank of Feldwebel upwards were entitled to bear a lanyard on their sabre.
Soldiers have the possibility to start with the rank of an ''Unteroffizier'' or even ''Stabsunteroffizier'' if they already have a civil apprenticeship which qualifies them for any army-equivalent position. Civil master craftsman of army-relevant jobs may directly start as ''Feldwebel''. The army decides depending on the availability of positions.
The promotion to ''Oberfeldwebel'' is regularly given after one year as ''Feldwebel''. Any higher rank requires a certain number of years in their previous rank and performance. Soldiers with at least eight years active duty (six for flying crews and those in some other positions), of which five are as a feldwebel, are eligible for promotion to ''hauptfeldwebel''. Those serving for at least 12 years have the chance to become a ''Stabsfeldwebel''. 16 years after promotion to Feldwebel, and six years after promotion to hauptfeldwebel a soldier may be eligible for promotion to ''Oberstabsfeldwebel''.
These rules apply for navy sub-officers in the same way.
Officer education in the army
Career officers usually start out as enlisted personnel with the lowest rank in one of the three officer candidate battalions of the German Army located in
Hammelburg
Hammelburg is a town in Bavaria, Germany. It sits in the district of Bad Kissingen, in Lower Franconia. It lies on the river Franconian Saale, 25 km west of Schweinfurt. Hammelburg is the oldest winegrowing town (''Weinstadt'') in Franconi ...
,
Idar-Oberstein
Idar-Oberstein () is a town in the Birkenfeld district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. As a ''Große kreisangehörige Stadt'' (large city belonging to a district), it assumes some of the responsibilities that for smaller municipalities in ...
and
Munster
Munster ( gle, an Mhumhain or ) is one of the provinces of Ireland, in the south of Ireland. In early Ireland, the Kingdom of Munster was one of the kingdoms of Gaelic Ireland ruled by a "king of over-kings" ( ga, rí ruirech). Following the ...
. After six months of officer candidate training course in these battalions, containing basic military drill, military law and history, the officer candidates proceed with the Officer's Course 1.
These are held at the Officer's School in
Dresden
Dresden (, ; Upper Saxon: ''Dräsdn''; wen, label=Upper Sorbian, Drježdźany) is the capital city of the German state of Saxony and its second most populous city, after Leipzig. It is the 12th most populous city of Germany, the fourth larg ...
for three months, followed by a 10-week period for training English and three months of active service, the so-called ''Truppenkommando'' as regular soldier in a military unit.
After 15 months, the officer candidates attend one of the two
Universities of the German Federal Armed Forces in Munich and Hamburg to attain a master's degree after four years of study.
After promotion to ''Leutnant'' (second lieutenant) they continue with the Officer's Course 2 at the Army Officer's School and the Officer's Course 3 at their respective branch-schools.
Furthermore, they attend required special training courses like a survival or driving school for the different vehicles of their branch.
When this six-year-training is concluded, the officers are promoted to ''Oberleutnant'' (first lieutenant) and transferred to their army-units for regular service.
Officer education in the air force
In the air force the career starts at the air force academy in
Fürstenfeldbruck
Fürstenfeldbruck () is a town in Bavaria, Germany, located 32 kilometres west of Munich. It is the capital of the district of Fürstenfeldbruck. it has a population of 35,494. Since the 1930s, Fürstenfeldbruck has had an air force base.
Th ...
(Fürsti) near
Munich
Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and most populous city of the States of Germany, German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the List of cities in Germany by popu ...
. The basic officers training consists of 11 months of basic training, military drill, theoretical education and a few weeks in a ''Luftwaffenausbildungsregiment'' (air force training regiment) as a deputy instructor with the rank of ''Obergefreiter OA''. With the completion of the ''Offizierschule der Luftwaffe (OSLw)'' they are promoted to ''Fahnenjunker'' and either start with their studies at one of the two universities in Munich and Hamburg, or start with their basic flight training.
Field grade officers
In order to be promoted to ''Major'' (major; a rank only career officers can achieve), the officers have to complete successfully a course called ''Basislehrgang Stabsoffizier (BLS)'' (field grade officer basic course). It takes a minimum of 10 years of officer's service to become a major. ''Oberstleutnant'' '(lt.-col.) is the standard final rank for career officers which can be awarded after 17 years of service. The salary of this rank depends on the respective function (A 14 or A 15 in the German salary scheme). ''Oberst'' (colonel) is the highest field grade rank (promotion requires a minimum of 17 years of officer's service, i.e. 20 years of service overall).
Officers in General Staff Service
About 1.5 percent of each cohort are chosen to take part in the Generalstabslehrgang (general staff course) at the ''
Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr
)
, established = 15 May 1957(15 October 1810 as ''Prussian Military Academy'')
, type = Staff college and senior military academy of the German Armed Forces, the Bundeswehr
, endowment =
, staff =
, faculty =
, president =
, provost =
, principal ...
'' (military academy) at
Hamburg
(male), (female) en, Hamburger(s),
Hamburgian(s)
, timezone1 = Central (CET)
, utc_offset1 = +1
, timezone1_DST = Central (CEST)
, utc_offset1_DST = +2
, postal ...
. This course lasts two years after the completion of which the participants put a "i.G." after their rank in case they serve on a corresponding post in a staff (at least in a brigade staff), meaning ''im Generalstabsdienst'' (in general staff service). Having completed this course, the minimum rank those officers achieve is usually ''Oberst'' (colonel). The ''Generalstabslehrgang'' is a necessary requirement for the promotion to a General's rank.
Notable cases
Officers of the medical service
Officers of the medical service of the Bundeswehr are non-line officers in the special careers of the medical, dental, veterinary and pharmacy branches. Medical service officer have rank titles that are different from line-officers and with slight differences between branches, e.g. a medical officer holding a rank equivalent to
Hauptmann
is a German word usually translated as captain when it is used as an officer's rank in the German, Austrian, and Swiss armies. While in contemporary German means 'main', it also has and originally had the meaning of 'head', i.e. ' literally ...
is called
Stabsarzt
Stabsarzt (short: StArzt or SA), in English ''Staff Surgeon'', is a military commissioned officer rank in German speaking armed forces. In the German Bundeswehr and the former Wehrmacht and Reichswehr, it describes a qualified or licensed surgeon ...
, a dental officer
Stabszahnarzt, a veterinary officer
Stabsveterinär and a pharmacy officer
Stabsapotheker
Stabsarzt (short: StArzt or SA), in English ''Staff Surgeon'', is a military commissioned officer rank in German speaking armed forces. In the German Bundeswehr and the former Wehrmacht and Reichswehr, it describes a qualified or licensed surge ...
.
HA OS5 11 Sanitätssoldat SanOA San TM R.svg, Sanitätssoldat
''Soldat'' ( short: ''S'', plural ''Soldaten'') is the lowest rank of enlisted men in the land-based armed forces of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It is usually grouped as OR-1 within the NATO ranking system, excluding the Swiss armed servi ...
SanOA[''SanOA'' (Army Medical Officer Candidate with the equivalent rank of private E2)
LD B 12 Gefreiter SanOA HM L.svg, ]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; D ...
SanOA
(Airforce Medical Officer Candidate with the equivalent rank of Airman)
HA OS5 32 Oberfeldwebel SanOA San TM L.svg, Oberfeldwebel
(OFw or OF) is the fourth-lowest non-commissioned officer (NCO) rank in German Army and German Air Force.
History
The rank was introduced first by the German Reichswehr in 1920. Preferable most experienced Protégée-NCO of the old army ...
SanOA
(Army Veterinary Officer Candidate with the equivalent rank of Staff Sergeant)
MA OG5 31a Fähnrich zur See SanOA PHx L.svg, Fähnrich zur See
''Fähnrich zur See'' (Fähnr zS or FRZS) designates in the German Navy of the Bundeswehr a military person or member of the armed forces with the second highest Officer Aspirant (OA – german: Offizieranwärter) rank. According to the salary ...
SanOA
(Naval Pharmacy Cadet with the equivalent rank of Petty Officer 1st Class)
MDS 41a Leutnant zur See SanOA San HM L.svg, Leutnant zur See
''Leutnant zur See'' (''Lt zS'' or ''LZS'') is the lowest officer rank in the German Navy. It is grouped as OF1 in Ranks and insignia of officers of NATO Navies, NATO, equivalent to an Ensign (rank), Ensign in the United States Navy, and an Acti ...
SanOA
Naval Medical Officer Student with the rank of Ensign)
HD H 43b Stabsarzt San HM L.svg, Stabsarzt
Stabsarzt (short: StArzt or SA), in English ''Staff Surgeon'', is a military commissioned officer rank in German speaking armed forces. In the German Bundeswehr and the former Wehrmacht and Reichswehr, it describes a qualified or licensed surgeon ...
(Army Medical Officer with the equivalent rank of Captain)
LA OS5 51d Oberstabsapotheker PH L.svg, Oberstabsapotheker
(Air Force Pharmacy Officer with the equivalent rank of Major)
MDJA 53b Flottenarzt San HM Lu.svg, Flottenarzt
(Naval Medical Officer with the equivalent rank of Captain)
HA SWG 52b Oberfeldarzt HFlg HMx L.svg, Oberfeldarzt
Oberfeldarzt (short: OFArzt or OFA) is a military rank in German speaking armed forces. It denotes a medical staff officer surgeon or medical staff officer dentist and is comparable in rank to lieutenant colonel (de: Oberstleutnant) or (nava ...
(Army Medical Officer with the equivalent rank of Lieutenant Colonel)
HD H 53e Oberstveterinär San TM L.svg, Oberstveterinär
(Army Medical Officer with the equivalent rank of Colonel)
HD H 61c Generalarzt ZM L.svg, Generalarzt ''Generalarzt'' (short: ''GenArzt'' or ''GA'') is the designation of a military rank as well as the official title in German speaking armed forces. It is equivalent to the ''Admiralarzt'' / ''Generalapotheker'' and Brigadegeneral / Flottillenadmiral ...
(Army Dental Officer with the equivalent rank of Brigadier General)
LA OS5 62b Generalstabsarzt HM L.svg, Generalstabsarzt
Generalstabsarzt and Admiralstabsarzt are in German armed forces the rank designations of the second highest grad of the generals rank group.
Germany
Bundeswehr
Generalstabsarzt and Admiralstabsarzt are the second highest general ranks of the ...
(Airforce Medical Officer with the equivalent rank of Major General)
SanH 331-Generaloberstabsarzt-(Zahnmedizin).png, Generaloberstabsarzt
''Generaloberstabsarzt'' and ''Admiraloberstabsarzt'' are the top Joint Medical Service OF8-ranks of the German ''Bundeswehr''. The equivalent to this ranks in the ''Heer'' is ''Generalleutnant'' and in the German Navy the ''Vizeadmiral''.
...
(Army Dental Officer with the rank of Lieutenant General)
''Generalmajor'' and ''Generalleutnant''
While a major by far outranks a lieutenant, a lieutenant general outranks a major general. This phenomenon, which the Bundeswehr shares with most armed forces (including English-speaking ones) and the former Wehrmacht (where the ranks were one degree lower, as there did not exist a brigadier general), requires explanation. The reason is that in the Early Modern Period, a company would be commanded by a captain, with assistance of a lieutenant and a ''Wachtmeister'' (sergeant, similar to ''Feldwebel''). A regiment, on the other hand would be commanded by a colonel (''Oberst'', i. e. ''Obersthauptmann'' - literally "supreme captain"), with assistance of a lieutenant colonel and an ''Oberstwachtmeister'' (
sergeant major
Sergeant major is a senior non-commissioned rank or appointment in many militaries around the world.
History
In 16th century Spain, the ("sergeant major") was a general officer. He commanded an army's infantry, and ranked about third in the ...
). A whole army, then, quite logically was commanded by a general (''Generalhauptmann'' -
captain general
Captain general (and its literal equivalent in several languages) is a high military rank of general officer grade, and a gubernatorial title.
History
The term "Captain General" started to appear in the 14th century, with the meaning of Command ...
), with assistance of a lieutenant general and a ''Generalwachtmeister'' (
sergeant major general
Sergeant major general is a now mostly extinct name of military rank. A prominent example was Philip Skippon in the English New Model Army as organized by Oliver Cromwell.
Over the course of the 17th century, the increasing professionalisation o ...
). When for the ''Oberstwachtmeister'' the name major became common, it was also adapted to the ''Generalwachtmeister'', which then became major general while still inferior to lieutenant general. (Outside Germany, the former Wachtmeister on the company-size by the same transfer became known as the
sergeant major
Sergeant major is a senior non-commissioned rank or appointment in many militaries around the world.
History
In 16th century Spain, the ("sergeant major") was a general officer. He commanded an army's infantry, and ranked about third in the ...
.)
Historical ranks in the Prussian Army of Frederick the Great
References
External links
Rank-insignia learning at simsso.deUniformen
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rank Insignia Of The German Armed Forces
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...