Oberstabsgefreiter (abbr. OStGefr, on lists OSG) is the highest enlisted rank in the German Bundeswehr,[1] that might be comperable to corporal (OR-4a[2]) in Anglophone armed forces.[3] However, as distinguished from the corporal, the Oberstabsgefreiter belongs to the rank group of enlisted men.
 (Heer / Luftwaffe / Marine) | |||||
| |||||
| Rank insignia | Bw enlisted ranks (de: Bw Mannschaften) | ||||
| Introduction | 1995 | ||||
| Rank group | Enlisted personnel (OR1-OR4) | ||||
| Army / Air Force | Oberstabsgefreiter | ||||
| Navy | Oberstabsgefreiter | ||||
| NATO equivalent |
OR-4a | ||||
NATO  |
| ||||
rank insignia field- and battle dress
History[]
The rank was first introduced by the Kriegsmarine in 1940 and was named Matrosenoberstabsbefreiter. However, in Heer and Luftwaffe it didn't exist.
equivalent |
Heer (Army) | Luftwaffe (Air Force) | Kriegsmarine (Navy) |
| OR-1 | Soldat (private) | Flieger (aircraftman) | Matrose (seaman) |
| Oberschütze | |||
| OR-2 | Gefreiter | Matrosengefreiter | |
| Obergefreiter | Matrosenobergefreiter | ||
| OR3 | no equivalent | Hauptgefreiter | Matrosenohauptgefreiter |
| Stabsgefreiter | Matrosenstabsgefreiter | ||
| no equivalent | Matrosenoberstabsgefreiter | ||
- See also main articles
- Nazi-Rank structure
Bundeswehr[]
A private of the German Bundeswehr might be promoted to that OR4a-rank after a regular service time of 48 months.[4]
| junior Rank Stabsgefreiter (OR4b) |
  (German enlisted men rank) |
senior Rank Unteroffizier (OR5b) |
- See also
Main article: Ranks and insignia of NATO armies enlisted
External links[]
References[]
- ↑ BROCKHAUS, The encyclopedia in 24 volumes (1796–2001), Volume 20: 3-7653-3680-7, page 700.
- ↑ The abbreviation "OR" stands for "Other Ranks / fr: sous-officiers et militaires du rang / ru:другие ранги, кроме офицероф"
- ↑ Official Website (Bundeswehr): Dienstgrade und Uniformen der Bundeswehr (Service Ranks and Uniforms of the German Federal Defence Forces), in German. [1]
- ↑ Soldatenlaufbahnordnung (soldier´s career order) of the Bundsewehr, § 9.1 service time.
The original article can be found at Oberstabsgefreiter and the edit history here.