Hauptfeldwebel (rank)

Hauptfeldwebel (HptFw or HF; lit. 'Head field usher') is the third highest Non-commissioned officer (NCO) grade in German Army and German Air Force.[1] It is grouped as OR-7 / OR-8 in NATO, equivalent to US Army Sergeant 1st Class and Master Sergeant.[2] In army/ air force context NCOs of this rank were formally addressed as Herr Hauptfeldwebel also informally / short Hauptfeld.

Not to be confused with the Hauptfeldwebel appointment used in the Wehrmacht (1938–1945) and the East German National People's Army (1956–1990).
Hauptfeldwebel
Heer and Luftwaffe shoulder insignia
Country Germany
Service branch German Army
 German Air Force
AbbreviationHptFw
RankUnteroffiziere mit Portepee grade
NATO rank codeOR-7 / OR-8
Non-NATO rankE-7
Formation1957
Next higher rankStabsfeldwebel
Next lower rankOberfeldwebel
Equivalent ranksHauptbootsmann

History

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

The assignment was also used in the GDR National People's Army from 1956 until 1990.

In 1957, the rank was introduced in the West German Armed Forces.

Rank sequence

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

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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