Unterfeldwebel

Template:Short description Template:Italic title Template:More citations needed {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (Template:Literally) was a rank of the Wehrmacht from 1935 until 1945. It was also used in the East German National People's Army from 1956 to 1990. The equivalent to Unterfeldwebel in the Bundeswehr of West Germany and later the Federal Republic of Germany is the rank Stabsunteroffizier (OR-5).

History

Unterfeldwebel (in Cavalry, Artillery, and Armoured corps: Unterwachtmeister) was in Germany the designation to a person in uniform with the second lowest NCO-rank (after Unteroffizier). It was counted to the rank-group Unteroffiziere ohne Portepee.

The rank-designations Unterfeldwebel, respectively Unterfeldwebel were created by renaming of the Sergeant rank of the Imperial German Army

Independent to the military assignment an Unteroffizier could be promoted to Unterfeldwebel after a service time of three to four years. Since 1936 this rank could normally be skipped in Heer and Luftwaffe, and NCOs with the rank Unteroffizier were promoted to Feldwebel.

Rank designation of German forces until 1945

Branch	File:Heer - decal for helmet 1942.svg German Army	File:COA Luftwaffe eagle gold (looking sinister).svg Luftwaffe	File:Kriegsmarine insignia casco.svg Kriegsmarine	File:Flag of the Schutzstaffel.svg Waffen-SS
Collar	File:Collar tabs of Panzergrenadier.svg	File:Luftwaffe collar tabs Unterfeldwebel 3D.svg	File:Kriegsmarine OR5a-OMT col02 1945.svg	File:SS-Scharführer.svg
Shoulder	File:WMacht H OR5a UFw Inf h.svg	File:WMacht Lw OR5a UFw h 1945.svg	File:Kriegsmarine-Unterfeldwebel-Shore h.svg	File:SS-Scharführer h.svg
Sleeve	File:UFw Scha OR5a cam slv 1945.svg	File:Luftwaffe flightsuit Unterfeldwebel.svg	File:Kriegsmarine sleeve Oberbootsmannmaat.svg	File:UFw Scha OR5a cam slv 1945.svg
Name	Unterfeldwebel		Obermaat	SS-Scharführer

Junior rank Unteroffizier

File:Balkenkreuz.svg (Wehrmacht ranks) Unterfeldwebel

Senior rank Feldwebel

Nationale People's Army

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By the GDR National People's Army and the Border Troops the rank was introduced in 1962, comparable to NATO OR-6a.<ref name="NATO2">The abbreviation "OR" stands for "Other Rank, officers excepted / fr: sous-officiers et militaires du rang / ru:​Прочие звания, кроме офицерских"</ref> The rank insignia remained almost identically to these Wehrmacht and Reichswehr.

Junior rank Unteroffizier

File:Flag of NVA (East Germany).svg (NPA ranks) Unterfeldwebel (Obermaat)

Senior rank Feldwebel

Sources

• Dictionary to the German military history, 1st edition (Liz.5, P189/84, LSV:0547, B-Nr. 746 635 0), military publishing house of the GDR (VEB) – Berlin, 1985, Volume 2, page 1013.