Soldat (rank)
Soldat ([zɔlˈdaːt] short: S, plural Soldaten) is the lowest rank of enlisted men in the land-based armed forces of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It is usually grouped as OR-1 within the NATO ranking system, excluding the Swiss armed services which is not part of NATO.[1]
Germany[edit]
Soldat | |
---|---|
Country | Germany |
Service branch | German Army German Air Force |
Abbreviation | S |
Rank | German enlisted rank |
NATO rank code | OR-1 |
Non-NATO rank | E-1 |
Formation | 1955 |
Next higher rank | Gefreiter |
Next lower rank | None |
Equivalent ranks | Matrose |
The German term Soldat (equivalent to Soldier in English) has its roots as far back as the 16th-century, where it was a common designation for a paid or remunerated ordinary-rank member of a military infantry, especially one who was not an officer. In the German language Sold implies "pay", and as such the term Soldat designated a person in pay (being paid) for providing armed service.
Bundeswehr[edit]
In the Federal armed forces of Germany (Bundeswehr) it can be the collective term to any person in uniform, e.g. Officers (de: Offiziere), Non-Commissioned Officers (de: Unteroffiziere), and enlisted men (de: Mannschaften).
In the Bundeswehr it is used to describe conscripts (de: Wehrpflichtiger), short/long term serving volunteers (de: Zeitsoldat, or Soldat auf Zeit), and career or regular servicemen (de: Berufssoldat).[2]
It is grade A3 in the pay rules of the Federal Ministry of Defence.
The sequence of ranks (top-down approach) in that particular group is as follows:
- OR-4a: Oberstabsgefreiter
- OR-4b: Stabsgefreiter
- OR-3a: Hauptgefreiter
- OR-3b: Obergefreiter
- OR-2: Gefreiter
- OR-1: Soldat (Army, Air Force, Navy)
Preceded by junior rank None |
' (German enlisted rank) Soldat' |
Succeeded by senior rank Gefreiter |
Designation[edit]
The designation of the particular OR1-rank depends on the individual branch and career of the soldier as regulated in the Zentrale Dienstvorschrift 14/5. The sole OR1-rank designation in the Marine is Matrose, and Sanitätssoldat in the Bundeswehr medical service. Other OR1-designations are described in the table below.
Rank designation |
Abbrev.[3] | Carrier grout (e.g.[4]) |
---|---|---|
Flieger | Flg |
|
Funker | Fu | soldiers with the lowest OR1-rank
|
Grenadier | Gren | Heer uniformed personnel with the lowest OR1-rank serving in the Wachbataillon beim Bundesministerium der Verteidigung since 1991 (until 1991 Jäger) |
Jäger | Jg | soldiers with the lowest OR1-rank in the units of Jägertruppe, Fallschirmjägertruppe and Gebirgsjägertruppe |
Kanonier | Kan | soldier with the lowest OR1-rank
|
Matrose | Matr | German Navy uniformed personnel with the lowest OR1-rank |
Panzerfunker | PzFu | soldiers with the lowest OR1-rank of signal troops, integrated to units of the Armoured Corps |
Panzergrenadier | PzGren, PG |
|
Panzerjäger | PzJg | This OR1-rank was discontinued in line with the abolishment of the Panzerjägertruppe (Anti-tank troops) in 2006.
|
Panzerkanonier | PzKan | soldier with the lowest OR1-rank of Artillery Corps batteries equipped with armored self-propelled howitzers (de: Panzerhaubitze) |
Panzerpionier | PzPi |
|
Panzerschütze | PzSchtz | soldier with the lowest OR1-rank of units of the Panzertruppe (en: Armoured corps) |
Pionier | Pi |
|
Sanitätssoldat | SanSdt |
|
Schütze | Schtz | Normally all military personnel with the lower OR-1 rank serving in Heer that is not mentioned above. |
Wehrmacht until 1945[edit]
Waffen-SS | Heer (Army) | Luftwaffe (Air Force) | Kriegsmarine (Navy) |
---|---|---|---|
SS-Schütze | Schütze | Flieger | Matrose |
SS-Oberschütze | Oberschütze | ||
SS-Sturmmann | Gefreiter | Matrosengefreiter | |
SS-Rottenführer | Obergefreiter | Matrosenobergefreiter | |
No equivalent | Hauptgefreiter | Matrosenhauptgefreiter | |
No equivalent | Stabsgefreiter | Matrosenstabsgefreiter | |
No equivalent | Matrosenoberstabsgefreiter |
See also[edit]
- Soldat (Romania)
- Ranks of the German Bundeswehr
- Rank insignia of the German Bundeswehr
- Ranks and insignia of NATO armies enlisted
- Ranks and insignia of enlisted personnel in NATO air forces
References[edit]
- ^ Official Website (Bundeswehr): Dienstgrade und Uniformen der Bundeswehr (Service Ranks and Uniforms of the German Federal Defence Forces), in German. [1]
- ^ BROCKHAUS, The encyclopedia in 24 volumes (1796–2001), Volume 20: 3-7653-3680-7, page 396; definition «Soldat».
- ^ In lists indicated always „S“
- ^ The carrier enlisted art to be understood as an example. There are several exemptions. Moreover, the rank designations described may be used in other service branches as well.