Feuerwerker

Feuerwerker (ordnance technician or specialist, literally 'fire worker') are specialists in the armed forces of German-speaking countries responsible for the maintenance of ammunition.

Kanonier (left) and Feuerwerker (right) of the Russian Imperial Army (1878)

From the late Middle Ages until the Early modern period a Feuerwerker was a highly specialised artisan with detailed knowledge of the closely guarded secrets of making gunpowder. Since the 19th century Feuerwerker became a distinguished career in Austrian, German and Russian (Russian: Фейерверкер; Feyerverker) armed forces.

Germany

In the modern German Bundeswehr, Feuerwerker is the collective designation to non-commissioned officers (OR5 to OR9) and officers of the military functional service (German: Offizier(e) militärfachlischer Dienst, OF1 and OF2) with several years of special training pertaining to construction, maintenance, and destruction of ammunition.

Austro-Hungarian Empire

Feuerwerker was a military rank of the Austro-Hungarian Armed Forces (1867–1918).

In the Austro-Hungarian Armed Forces Feuerwerker was equivalent to:

  • Beschlagmeister I. Klasse (Master-Blacksmith 1st class) cavalry,
  • Feldwebel (en: Master-Sergeant) infantry,
  • Oberjäger (en: Master-Sergeant) of the mountain troops,
  • Rechnungs-Unteroffizier I. Klasse (en: Fiscal master-sergeant 1st class),
  • Regimentshornist (en: Regiment bugler),
  • Regimentstambour (en: Regiment drummer),
  • Wachtmeister (en: Master-Sergeant) cavalry,
  • Waffenmeister I. Klasse (en: Weapon master 1st class) artillery and weapon arsenal,
    • Einjährig-Freiwilliger-Feldwebel (en:Feldwebel - volunteer serving one year), and
    • Kadett-Feldwebel (Officers-Aspirant in rank of Master-Sergeant).
Junior rank
Zugsführer
(Austro-Hungarian
armed forces rank)
Feuerwerker		 Senior rank
Stabsfeuerwerker

The rank insignia was a gorget patch on the stand-up collar of the so-called Waffenrock (en: tunic), and consisted of three white stars on 13 mm ragged yellow silk galloon. The gorget patch and the stand-up collar showed the particular Waffenfarbe (en: corps colour).

Examples (selection)
DesignationNon-commissioned officers OR5/ Feldwebel ranks
Paroli
Rank description Feuerwerker Wachtmeister Oberjäger Feldwebel
Branch ArtilleryCavalryMountain
infantry		InfantryMilitärwachkorps
(English) (Artillery Master Sergeant) (Cavalry Master Sergeant) (Rifles Master Sergeant) (Sergeant) (Master Sergeant of Military Guard Service)

See also
Main articles: Rank insignias of the Austro-Hungarian armed forces, Waffenfarbe (Austria), and Adjustierung

References / sources
    • Word and tradition in the German Army (de: Heer), by Transfeldt – v. Brand – Quenstedt, 6th increased edition, Hamburg 11 H.G. Schulz 1967, p. 80/§104, definition: Feuerwerker.
    • BROCKHAUS, The encyclopedia in 24 volumes (1796–2001), Volume 7: 3-7653-3676-9, page 267, definition: Feuerwerker, Militärwesen.
    • Rest-Ortner-Ilmig: Des Kaisers Rock im 1. Weltkrieg – Uniformierung und Ausrüstung der österreichisch-ungarischen Armee von 1914 bis 1918. Verlag Militaria, Wien 2002. ISBN 3-9501642-0-0.
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