() 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
Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from "cheval" meaning "horse") are soldiers or warriors who fight mounted on horseback. Cavalry were the most mobile of the combat arms, operating as light 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 German
Empire 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
Nationale People's Army
By the GDR
National People's Army and the
Border Troops the rank was introduced in 1962, comparable to NATO
OR-6a.
[The abbreviation "OR" stands for ''"Other Rank, officers excepted / fr: sous-officiers et militaires du rang / ru:Прочие звания, кроме офицерских"''] The rank insignia remained almost identically to these
Wehrmacht and
Reichswehr.
References
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.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Unterfeldwebel
Military ranks of Germany