, 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 from French ''port''(e)-''épée''. First introduced in the Prussian army in 1808, the coloured sidearm

tassel A tassel is a finishing feature in fabric and clothing decoration. It is a universal ornament that is seen in varying versions in many cultures around the globe. History and use In the Hebrew Bible, the Lord spoke to Moses instructing him to ...

s were used as a decorative piece of equipment and to differentiate between companies within a regiment. Ranks below were issued either the or depending on their unit. The was used by infantry, artillery, pioneer, signal, anti-tank and supply troops, while the was worn by cavalry and rifle troops. Additionally, some units would wear honorary tassels of Russian red leather, to indicate their relation to the 1st Regiment of (Prussian) Grenadier Guards. would wear tassels independently of their company relations. The sequence of ranks (top-down approach) in that particular group is as follows: *OR-9:

Oberstabsfeldwebel ''Oberstabsfeldwebel'' (OStFw or OSF, ) is the highest Non-commissioned officer (NCO) rank in German Army and German Air Force. It is grouped as OR9 in NATO, equivalent to a Sergeant Major in the United States Army and a Warrant Officer ...

Oberstabsbootsmann ''Oberstabsbootsmann''BROCKHAUS, Die Enzyklopädie in 24 Bänden (1796–2001), Band 16: 3-7653-3676-9, S. 102 (OStBtsm or OSB) is the highest Non-commissioned officer (NCO) rank in the German Navy. It is grouped as OR9 in NATO, equivalent to a ...

this rank was introduced by the

Bundeswehr The ''Bundeswehr'' (, meaning literally: ''Federal Defence'') is the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. The ''Bundeswehr'' is divided into a military part (armed forces or ''Streitkräfte'') and a civil part, the military part con ...

in 1983 *OR-8:

Stabsfeldwebel ''Stabsfeldwebel '' (StFw or SF; ) is the second highest Non-commissioned officer (NCO) rank in German Army and German Air Force. It is grouped as OR-8 in NATO, equivalent to a First Sergeant in the United States Army, and to Warrant Officer C ...

/ ''Stabsbootsmann'' (in the

Kriegsmarine The (, ) was the navy of Germany from 1935 to 1945. It superseded the Imperial German Navy of the German Empire (1871–1918) and the inter-war (1919–1935) of the Weimar Republic. The was one of three official branches, along with the a ...

''Stabsoberbootsmann'', ''Stabsobersteuermann'', and ''Stabsobermaschinist'') *OR-7:

Hauptfeldwebel In the German Wehrmacht, Hauptfeldwebel (short: HptFw; address: ''Herr Hauptfeldwebel'') was not a rank but a position title, assignment or appointment, equivalent to the Commonwealth company sergeant major or U.S. company-level first serge ...

(

Oberfähnrich (OFähnr or OFR) designates in the Heer of the Bundeswehr a military person or member of the armed forces with the last or highest Officer Aspirant (OA – de: ) rank. According to the salary class it is equivalent to the ranks of or , an ...

)/ ''Hauptbootsmann'' (

Oberfähnrich zur See ''Oberfähnrich zur See'' (OFähnr zS or OFRZS) designates in the German Navy of the Bundeswehr a military person or member of the armed forces with the last or highest Officer Aspirant (OA – german: Offizieranwärter) rank. According to the ...

), this rank was introduced by the

after being an assignment/ position of service (informally ''Spieß'' and officially now Kompaniefeldwebel in the

Reichswehr ''Reichswehr'' () was the official name of the German armed forces during the Weimar Republic and the first years of the Third Reich. After Germany was defeated in World War I, the Imperial German Army () was dissolved in order to be reshaped ...

Wehrmacht The ''Wehrmacht'' (, ) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the ''Heer'' (army), the ''Kriegsmarine'' (navy) and the ''Luftwaffe'' (air force). The designation "''Wehrmacht''" replaced the previous ...

, and

National People's Army The National People's Army (german: Nationale Volksarmee, ; NVA ) were the armed forces of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) from 1956 to 1990. The NVA was organized into four branches: the (Ground Forces), the (Navy), the (Air Force) an ...

) *OR-6a:

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 arm ...

/ ''Oberbootsmann'' *OR-6b:

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 ...

Bootsmann () is a naval rank used in some navies. Finland Germany The German term ''Bootsmann'' translates to Boatswain, i.e. the senior crewman of the deck department. In a military context, '' Bootsmann '' (Btsm or B) is the lowest Portepeeunterof ...

And equivalents of the Navy—replacing ''Feldwebel'' with ''Bootsmann''—and, historically, the Cavalry and Artillery (with ''Wachtmeister''). The latter is not to be confused with the Navy's "Kompaniefeldwebel" of today which are also called Wachtmeister. German non-commissioned officers were identified by the use of metallic lace (called ''Tresse'') on the collar of the uniform jacket, as well as the edges of the shoulder straps. Senior non-commissioned officers in the

also used silver "stars" on the shoulder strap to differentiate between ranks; one star for a Feldwebel, two for an Oberfeldwebel, and three for a Stabsfeldwebel.

Table of Portepee-ranks

References

* {{cite book , last1=Davis , first1=Brian L. , title=German Army: Uniforms and Insignia 1933-1945 , date=1998 , publisher=Brockhampton Press , location=London , isbn=1-86019-869-4 Military ranks of Germany

Table of Portepee-ranks

See also

References