Oberstabsgefreiter
Heer shoulder and Marine sleeve insignia
Country Germany
Service branch German Army
 German Navy
 German Air Force
AbbreviationOStGefr.
Rank groupEnlisted rank
NATO rank codeOR-4
Pay grade5A
Formation1995
Next higher rankKorporal
Next lower rankStabsgefreiter

Oberstabsgefreiter (abbreviated OStGefr, on lists OSG; "Senior Staff Gefreiter") was the highest enlisted rank in the German Bundeswehr[1] before the new ranks Korporal and Stabskorporal were introduced in October 2021.[2] The rank can be comparable to corporal in Anglophone armed forces.[3]

rank insignia field- and battle dress
Heer
Luftwaffe
Marine

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.

Final ranks to enlisted men until 1945
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

Bundeswehr

Main article: Ranks and insignia of NATO armies enlisted

A private of the German Bundeswehr might be promoted to that OR4-rank after a regular service time of 48 months.[4]

junior Rank
Stabsgefreiter

(German enlisted men rank)
Oberstabsgefreiter

senior Rank
Korporal

External links

References

  1. ^ BROCKHAUS, The encyclopedia in 24 volumes (1796–2001), Volume 20: 3-7653-3680-7, page 700.
  2. ^ Cingi, Hanife (25 August 2020). "Korporal und Stabskorporal – Frequently Asked Questions für Soldaten und Soldatinnen". bundeswehr.de (in German). Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  3. ^ Official Website (Bundeswehr): Dienstgrade und Uniformen der Bundeswehr (Service Ranks and Uniforms of the German Federal Defence Forces) (in German)
  4. ^ Soldatenlaufbahnordnung (soldier´s career order) of the Bundsewehr, § 9.1 service time.


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