Luftwaffe Rank Question[s]

[Ian Jewison]

Just to add a little more to the rank of Stabsfeldwebel:

To achieve this rank an Oberfeldwebel must have reached 12 years service, after that period of time he was promoted to Stabsfw.

This rank is higher than Hauptfeldwebel as this was an appointed "Regimental Sergeant Major", however anyone with the rank of Unteroffizier and above could fill this position.....not based on time served! Hptfw. or "der Spieß" was the one to fear!!!

Similiar can be said about Stabsgefreiter, an Obergefreiter who has reached 6 years service is then promoted Stabsgefr.

Also Fahnenjunker does not mean Unteroffizier, it is an appointment that the Flieger/Soldat is an officer candidate and as such can have the rank Fahnenjunker-Gefreiter.

Normal sequence of officer candidate ranks would be:

Flieger - Wehrsoldgruppe 16
Fahnenjunker-Gefreiter - Wehrsoldgruppe 15
Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier - Wehrsoldgruppe 14
Fähnrich - Wehrsoldgruppe 13
Oberfähnrich - Wehrsoldgruppe 12
Leutnant - Wehrsoldgruppe 10

Oberfeldwebel and Stabsfeldwebel were in Wehrsoldgruppe 11

/Ian