Fähnrich

Fähnrich is an officer candidate rank in the Austrian Bundesheer and German Bundeswehr. However, Fähnrich ranks are often incorrectly compared with the rank of ensign, which shares a similar etymology but is a full-fledged (albeit junior) commissioned officer rank. The word Fähnrich comes from an older German military title, Fahnenträger (flag bearer), and first became a distinct military rank in Germany 1 January 1899. In the German Landsknecht armies, recorded from ca. 1480, the equivalent rank of a Cornet existed. The cornet carried the troop standard, known as a "cornet".

Fähnrich of the Bundeswehr
A Fähnrich of the Bundeswehr is a soldier who serves in the ranks, first as Fahnenjunker (OR-5, comparable to the junior non-commissioned officer rank Unteroffizier), then in subsequent grades: Fähnrich (OR-6, equivalent to Feldwebel), and Oberfähnrich (OR-7 equivalent to Hauptfeldwebel).

In the German Bundeswehr, an officer candidate (German: Offiziersanwärter) can reach the rank of Fähnrich after 21 months of service. The German Navy equivalent is Ensign at sea" (German: Fähnrich zur See'').

An officer candidate's career is indicated by the enlisted rank with a thin silver cord on the shoulder strap.

Fähnrich in Nazi-Germany until 1945
Until 1945 in the Heer and Luftwaffe of the Wehrmacht there were also three appropriate officer candidate ranks:
 * Fahnenjunker, equivalent to Unteroffizier
 * Fähnrich, equivalent to Unterfeldwebel
 * Oberfähnrich, equivalent to Oberfeldwebel

The status of an officer candidate's career was indicated by additional two silver strips as on the appropriate rank epaulet.

In the Waffen-SS there were the four ranks of SS-Junker, SS-Oberjunker, SS-Standartenjunker and SS-Oberstandartenjunker for officer candidates and officer cadets.

Other countries
The rank also exists in a few other European military organizations, often with historical ties to the German system. Examples are the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Finland (see Fänrik). The French Army has a similar position called an Aspirant.

In the Finnish landforces and airforce, Vänrikki (Fenrik) is the lowest commissioned officer rank, which is granted to the soldiers in the national service on the day they are released from their 362-day service. Finnish Vänrikki are thus of equal rank to the German lieutenant (also a platoon leader).

The rank name was in use in East Germany NPA as a direct counterpart from the Soviet Praporshchik rank.