Fähnrich () is an
officer candidate rank in the
Austrian Bundesheer and
German Bundeswehr. The word comes from an older German military title, (flag bearer), and first became a distinct
military rank
Military ranks is a system of hierarchy, hierarchical relationships within armed forces, police, Intelligence agency, intelligence agencies, paramilitary groups, and other institutions organized along military organisation , military lines, such ...
in Germany on 1 January 1899. However, ranks are often incorrectly compared with the
rank of ensign, which shares a similar etymology but is a full-fledged (albeit junior)
commissioned officer
An officer is a person who holds a position of authority as a member of an armed force or uniformed service.
Broadly speaking, "officer" means a commissioned officer, a non-commissioned officer (NCO), or a warrant officer. However, absent ...
rank.
In the German
Landsknecht
The (singular: , ), also rendered as Landsknechts or Lansquenets, were German mercenaries used in pike and shot formations during the early modern period. Consisting predominantly of pikemen and supporting foot soldiers, their front line was ...
armies, recorded from ca. 1480, the equivalent rank of a
Cornet existed. The cornet carried the troop standard, also known as a "cornet".
The rank also exists in a few other European military organizations, often with historical ties to the German system. Examples are the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland (see
Fänrik). The
French Army
The French Army, officially known as the Land Army (, , ), is the principal Army, land warfare force of France, and the largest component of the French Armed Forces; it is responsible to the Government of France, alongside the French Navy, Fren ...
has a similar position called an ''Aspirant''.
In the Finnish Army and Air Force, () is the lowest commissioned officer rank, which is granted to the soldiers in the national service that have completed their reserve officer course on the day they are released from their 347-day service. Finnish are thus of equal rank to the German lieutenant (also a platoon leader).
Austria
Austrian Bundesheer
, short , is the lowest
commissioned officer
An officer is a person who holds a position of authority as a member of an armed force or uniformed service.
Broadly speaking, "officer" means a commissioned officer, a non-commissioned officer (NCO), or a warrant officer. However, absent ...
rank in the
Austrian Armed Forces.
Austria-Hungary (until 1918)
was the lowest officer rank in the k.u.k.
Common Army. In 1838 it was renamed to , from 1849 to , since 1868 to
Unterleutnant, and finally approximately from 1868 to . In 1908 was re-introduced as lowest cadet-officer rank in order to replace the 1869 rank designation . , respectively completed training and education on the less famous so-called k.u.k. . As the was the highest NCO-rank, became a separate rank-class. However, graduates from the much more famous became the officer patent for .
In the k.u.
Royal Hungarian Honvéd
The Royal Hungarian () or Royal Hungarian (), commonly known as the (; Mass noun, collectively, the ), was one of the four Austro-Hungarian Army, armed forces ( or ) of Austria-Hungary from 1867 to 1918, along with the Imperial-Royal Landw ...
army was the equivalent to the rank. It accounted immediately to the officer corps.
Denmark
(formerly spelled ) was a
commissioned officer
An officer is a person who holds a position of authority as a member of an armed force or uniformed service.
Broadly speaking, "officer" means a commissioned officer, a non-commissioned officer (NCO), or a warrant officer. However, absent ...
rank used in the
Royal Danish Army, equivalent to the cavalry rank of and of the artillery.
The rank was later reintroduced as a
warrant officer
Warrant officer (WO) is a Military rank, rank or category of ranks in the armed forces of many countries. Depending on the country, service, or historical context, warrant officers are sometimes classified as the most junior of the commissioned ...
rank also used by the
Royal Danish Navy and
Royal Danish Air Force.
In 1609,
Christian IV of Denmark
Christian IV (12 April 1577 – 28 February 1648) was King of Denmark and King of Norway, Norway and List of rulers of Schleswig-Holstein, Duke of Holstein and Schleswig from 1588 until his death in 1648. His reign of 59 years and 330 days is th ...
created a permanent
organization
An organization or organisation (English in the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth English; American and British English spelling differences#-ise, -ize (-isation, -ization), see spelling differences) is an legal entity, entity—such as ...
with regiments of the
Royal Danish Army. A regiment would be assigned one , one , one , and two s.
By 1717, the ranks of and of the
Royal Life Guards were placed in the Eight class in the
Danish order of precedence, normal s and s were placed in the Ninth class. The rank was abolished in 1812.
Between 1951 and 1970, and were used by all there branches and were part of , which served as
Warrant officer
Warrant officer (WO) is a Military rank, rank or category of ranks in the armed forces of many countries. Depending on the country, service, or historical context, warrant officers are sometimes classified as the most junior of the commissioned ...
s.
Finland
Germany
Bundeswehr
A of the Bundeswehr is a soldier who serves in the ranks, first as (OR-5, comparable to the junior
non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer (NCO) is an enlisted rank, enlisted leader, petty officer, or in some cases warrant officer, who does not hold a Commission (document), commission. Non-commissioned officers usually earn their position of authority b ...
rank ), then in subsequent grades: (OR-6, equivalent to ), and (OR-7 equivalent to ).
In the ''German Bundeswehr'', an officer candidate () can reach the rank of after 21 months of service. The
German Navy
The German Navy (, ) is part of the unified (Federal Defense), the German Armed Forces. The German Navy was originally known as the ''Bundesmarine'' (Federal Navy) from 1956 to 1995, when ''Deutsche Marine'' (German Navy) became the official ...
equivalent is "Ensign at sea" ().
An officer candidate's career is indicated by the enlisted rank with a thin silver cord on the shoulder strap.
History
Imperial German Army
National People's Army
Following the creation of the
National People's Army
The National People's Army (, ; NVA ) were the armed forces of the East Germany, German Democratic Republic (DDR) from 1956 until 1990.
The NVA was organized into four branches: the (Ground Forces), the (Navy), the (Air Force) and the (Bord ...
, a rank group was created.
Norway
In the
Norwegian Armed Forces
The Norwegian Armed Forces () are the armed forces responsible for the defence of Norway. It consists of five branches, the Norwegian Army, the Royal Norwegian Navy, which includes the Norwegian Coast Guard, Coast Guard, the Royal Norwegian Air ...
, the rank of is the lowest ranking
commissioned officer
An officer is a person who holds a position of authority as a member of an armed force or uniformed service.
Broadly speaking, "officer" means a commissioned officer, a non-commissioned officer (NCO), or a warrant officer. However, absent ...
,
with the
NATO code of OF-1.
File:Norway-army-OF-1a.svg, Army
File:Generic-Navy-2.svg, Navy
File:Norway-air force-OF-1a.svg, Air Force
Sweden
Fänrik (second lieutenant) is a rank in the Swedish Army, Swedish Air Force and in the Swedish Navy (Coastal Artillery 1902–2000, Amphibious Corps 2000–present).
See also
*
Fähnrich zur See
References
;Sources
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fanrik
Military ranks of Austria
Military ranks of Germany