Oberfeldwebel
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| Oberfeldwebel | |
|---|---|
  Heer and Luftwaffe shoulder insignia | |
| Country |  Germany |
| Service branch |  German Army German Air Force |
| Abbreviation | OFw |
| Rank | Unteroffiziere mit Portepee grade |
| NATO rank code | OR-6 |
| Pay grade | A 7mA |
| Formation | 1920 (historic) 1957 |
| Next higher rank | Hauptfeldwebel |
| Next lower rank | Feldwebel |
| Equivalent ranks | Oberbootsmann |
Oberfeldwebel (OFw or OF) is the fourth highest non-commissioned officer (NCO) rank in German Army and German Air Force.[1]
History[edit]
The rank was introduced first by the German Reichswehr in 1920. Preferable most experienced Protégée-NCO of the old army have been promoted.
Within the Reichswehr, Oberfeldwebel was taken over as second-highest Protégée-NCO rank by the German Wehrmacht in 1935. In the military branch cavalry, artillery and anti-aircraft artillery it was called Oberwachtmeister.
The equivalent rank to the Oberfeldwebel in the Waffen-SS was the SS-Hauptscharführer from 1938 until 1945.
The rank has been used in the GDR National People's Army from 1956 until 1990 as well.
Rank information[edit]
It is grouped as OR6 in NATO, equivalent in the US Army to Staff Sergeant, or in British Army / RAF to Sergeant.
In army/ air force context NCOs of this rank were formally addressed as Herr Oberfeldwebel also informally / short Oberfeld.
The sequence of ranks (top-down approach) in that particular group (Senior NCOs with portepee) is as follows:
- OR-9: Oberstabsfeldwebel / Oberstabsbootsmann
- OR-8: Stabsfeldwebel / Stabsbootsmann
- OR-7: Hauptfeldwebel / Hauptbootsmann
- OR-6: Oberfeldwebel / Oberbootsmann
- OR-6: Feldwebel / Bootsmann
- Remark
The abbreviation "OR" stands for "Other Ranks / fr: sous-officiers et militaires du rang / ru:другие ранги, кроме офицероф"!
| junior Rank Feldwebel |
  (German NCO rank) |
senior Rank Hauptfeldwebel |
| Oberfähnrich |
References[edit]
- ^ "SLV - Einzelnorm". www.gesetze-im-internet.de. Archived from the original on 2016-04-06.
Sources[edit]
- Die Enzyklopädie in 24 Bänden (1796–2001), Band 5 (in German). Brockhaus. 2001. p. 487. ISBN 3-7653-3665-3.
- Die Enzyklopädie in 24 Bänden (1796–2001), Band 7 (in German). Brockhaus. 2001. p. 185. ISBN 3-7653-3676-9.