(, abbreviated OStGefr, on lists OSG; "Senior Staff
Gefreiter
Gefreiter (, abbr. Gefr.; plural ''Gefreite'') is a military rank used in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria since the 16th century. It is typically the second rank or grade to which an Enlisted rank, enlisted soldier, airman, or sailor can be prom ...
") was the highest
enlisted rank
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 ...
in the German
Bundeswehr
The (, ''Federal Defence'') are the armed forces of the Germany, Federal Republic of Germany. The is divided into a military part (armed forces or ''Streitkräfte'') and a civil part, the military part consists of the four armed forces: Germ ...
before the new ranks Korporal and
Stabskorporal were introduced in October 2021.
The rank can be comparable to
corporal
Corporal is a military rank in use by the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. The rank is usually the lowest ranking non-commissioned officer. In some militaries, the rank of corporal nominally corr ...
in Anglophone armed forces.
[Official Website (Bundeswehr): Dienstgrade und Uniformen der Bundeswehr](_blank)
(Service Ranks and Uniforms of the German Federal Defence Forces)
History
The rank was first introduced by the Kriegsmarine in 1940 and was named Matrosenoberstabsgefreiter ("Seaman Senior Staff ''Gefreiter''"). In Heer and Luftwaffe, the rank did not exist.
Bundeswehr
A private of the German Bundeswehr might be promoted to that OR4-rank after a regular service time of 48 months.
[Soldatenlaufbahnordnung (soldier´s career order) of the Bundsewehr, § 9.1 service time.]
External links
Rank-insignia learning at simsso.deUniformen
References
Military ranks of Germany
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