Hauptfeldwebel (rank)

Hauptfeldwebel (HptFw or HF) is the third highest Non-commissioned officer (NCO) grade in German Army and German Air Force[1].

Not to be confused with the Hauptfeldwebel as position title, appointment, or assignment in the German Nazi Wehrmqacht (1938–1945), and the East German National People's Army (1956–1990), equivalent to CSM in some anglophone armed forces.
Hauptfeldwebel
Heer and Luftwaffe shoulder insignia
Country Germany
Service branch German Army
 German Air Force
AbbreviationHptFw
RankUnteroffiziere mit Portepee grade
NATO rankOR-7 / OR-8
Non-NATO rankE-7
Formation1957
Next higher rankStabsfeldwebel
Next lower rankOberfeldwebel
Equivalent ranksHauptbootsmann

History

The Hauptfeldwebel was introduced by the German Wehrmacht in 1938 not as a military rank but as the assignment to “company sergeant (de: Kompaniefeldwebel or Spiess). Most experienced Portepée-NCO with the rank Stabsfeldwebel or Oberfeldwebel (more seldom Feldwebel) have been assigned to that distinguished position.

The assignment Spiess/Hauptfeldwebel, equivalent to the company sergeant major in Anglo-phonic armed forces, has been used before in the GDR National People's Army from 1956 until 1990 as well.

The equivalent assignment to the company sergeant major in the Waffen-SS was the SS-Stabsscharführer from 1938 until 1945 .

Rank information

It is grouped as OR-7 / OR-8 in NATO, equivalent to US Army Sergeant 1st Class and Master Sergeant, US Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant and Master Sergeant, US Air Force Master Sergeant, and to US Navy Chief Petty Officer and Senior Chief Petty Officer.[2]

In army/ air force context NCOs of this rank were formally addressed as Herr Hauptfeldwebel also informally / short Hauptfeld.

The sequence of ranks (top-down approach) in that particular group (Senior NCOs with portepee) is as follows:

Remark

The abbreviation "OR" stands for "Other Ranks / fr: sous-officiers et militaires du rang / ru:другие ранги, кроме офицероф"!

Junior rank
Oberfeldwebel

(German NCO rank)
Hauptfeldwebel

 Senior rank
Stabsfeldwebel
Oberfähnrich

Equivalent in other NATO countries Army/Air Force
  • – Rreshter/no equivalent
  • – 1er sergeant-major; 1ste sergeant-majoor
  • – Старши сержант (en: Strshi sershant)
  • – Warrant Officer; Adjudant
  • – Nadnarednik
  • – praporčík/
  • – Oversergent
  • – Vanemveebel/
  • – no equivalent
  • – Επιλοχίας; Epilochias/N.N.
  • – Főtörzsőrmester/N.N.
  • – no equivalent
  • – Sergente maggiore capo
  • – Štāba virsseržants/N.N.
  • – Štabo seržantas/N.N.
  • – N.N.
  • – Sergeant-majoor; Opperwachtmeester/Sergeant-majoor
  • – no equivalent
  • – Szef kompanii
  • – Sargento-ajudante
  • – Maistru Militar clasa III
  • – rotmajster
  • – štabni vodnik
  • – Sargento primero
  • – Astsubay Kıdemli Üstçavuş and Astsubay Üstçavuş/
  • – Старшина (en: Starshina)
  • – Staff Sergeant and Colour Sergeant/Flight sergeant, Flight sergeant aircrew and Chief sergeant
  • – Master Sergeant/Sergeant First Class

Reference
  1. https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/slv_2002/__18.html
  2. "STANAG 2116 NATO code of ranks" (PDF). Hungarian University of Public Service, Ludovika. 1996-03-13.

Sources
  • BROCKHAUS, Die Enzyklopädie in 24 Bänden (1796–2001), Band 5: 3-7653-3665-3, S. 487, Definition: Hauptfeldwebel/Oberfähnrich
  • BROCKHAUS, Die Enzyklopädie in 24 Bänden (1796–2001), Band 7: 3-7653-3676-9, S. 185, Hauptfeldwebel
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