''Rekrut'' (en: recruit, fr:recrue, it:recluta) is the designation of a military appointment, position or status in German-speaking countries and in the 18th and 19th century

Russian Empire The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended the Great Northern War. ...

(see

Conscription in the Russian Empire Conscription in the Russian Empire was introduced by Peter I of Russia. The system was called "conscript obligation" (russian: рекрутская повинность). Prior to 18th century Russian tsars before Peter maintained professional he ...

) that characterizes newly recruited or sought personnel during the initial period of the basic military training. However, in some countries, e.g. Austria and Switzerland, ''Rekrut'' might be the lowest rank of enlisted men, comparable to NATO OR-1.The abbreviation "OR" stands for "Other Ranks / fr: ''sous-officiers et militaires du rang'' / ru:''другие ранги, кроме офицероф''"

Historical roots

''Rekrut'' was derived from the french: recruter (to seek new soldiers), an Franch: ''recrue'' (rising staff or troops, replacements, than the single man of this replacements, the junior trainee or soldier). The French ''recroître'', on the other hand, is derived from the Latin ''recrescere'' (regrow, grow again, or back). The noun was acclimatized to German language in the 17th century.Word and tradition in the German Army (de: Heer), by Transfeldt – v. Brand – Quenstedt, 6th increased edition, Hamburg 11 H.G. Schulz 1967, p. 9/§12, definition: ''Rekrut''

Germany

In the German Bundeswehr ''Rekrut'' is the generic term for a military person (de: Soldat, or Soldatin) during the basic training. In most cases it may refer to the lowest rank of

enlisted men An enlisted rank (also known as an enlisted grade or enlisted rate) is, in some armed services, any rank below that of a commissioned officer. The term can be inclusive of non-commissioned officers or warrant officers, except in United States ...

e.g. '' Soldat'' of the

German Army The German Army (, "army") is the land component of the armed forces of Germany. The present-day German Army was founded in 1955 as part of the newly formed West German ''Bundeswehr'' together with the ''Marine'' (German Navy) and the ''Luftwaf ...

, ''Flieger'' of the

German Air Force The German Air Force (german: Luftwaffe, lit=air weapon or air arm, ) is the aerial warfare branch of the , the armed forces of Germany. The German Air Force (as part of the ''Bundeswehr'') was founded in 1956 during the era of the Cold War a ...

, or ''Matrose'' of the

German Navy The German Navy (, ) is the navy of Germany and part of the unified ''Bundeswehr'' (Federal Defense), the German Armed Forces. The German Navy was originally known as the ''Bundesmarine'' (Federal Navy) from 1956 to 1995, when ''Deutsche Mari ...

. *See also:

Austria

In the Austrian Bundesheer ''Rekrut'' (until 1998 ''Wehrmann'', en: soldier) is the lowest rank in Heer and Luftwaffe. It belongs to the so-called Rekruten rank group (en: recruits rank group / enlisted men) and is comparable to OR-1 in NATO. During United Nations missions and in NATO's Partnership for Peace the rank ''Rekrut'' is designated in English with

Private (rank) A private is a soldier, usually with the lowest rank in many armies. Soldiers with the rank of Private may be conscripts or they may be professional (career) soldiers. The term derives from the medieval term "private soldiers" (a term still us ...

(Prv) and is equivalent to NATO-Rank code ''OR-1b''. ; See also: ⇒

Ranks of the Austrian Bundesheer The Military ranks of Austria (or Ranks of the ) are the military insignia used by the Austrian Armed Forces. Austria is a landlocked country and has no navy. Military ranks Commissioned officer ranks The rank insignia of commissioned officers. ...

Military of Switzerland

In the

Swiss Armed Forces The Swiss Armed Forces (german: Schweizer Armee, french: Armée suisse, it, Esercito svizzero, rm, Armada svizra; ) operates on land and in the air, serving as the primary armed forces of Switzerland. Under the country's militia system, re ...

''Rekrut'' (short: ''Rek'') is the lowest rank in Heer and Luftwaffe comparable to NATO OR-1b. However, it is also the generic term for newly recruited military personnel during basic training. ; See also: ⇒

Military ranks of the Swiss Armed Forces The Military ranks of Switzerland are the military insignia used by the Swiss Armed Forces. The ranks have changed little over the centuries, except for the introduction, in 2004, of a new set of warrant officers. The ranks are worn on shoulder ...

References

* BROCKHAUS, The encyclopedia in 24 volumes (1796–2001), Volume 18: 3-7653-3678-5, page 231; definition «Rerkrut». {{DEFAULTSORT:Rekrut Military insignia Military ranks of Austria Military ranks of Germany Military ranks of Switzerland