Oberfähnrich (East Germany)

Oberfähnrich (short: OFähnr / in lists: OFR; en: Senior-fähnrich) was a military rank in the Army of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) from 1979 to 1990. Oberfähnrich did belong to the autonomous "Fähnrich rank group" between commissioned officer (CO) and non-commissioned officer (NCO) ranks.[1] The position of the "Fähnrich rank group" might have been compared to the Warrant Officer (WO) rank group in Anglophone armed forces.

Oberfähnrich

sleeve badge / shoulder board
Rank insignia NPA Fänrich rank
Utilisation 1979-1990
Rank group Fähnrich
Army, Air Force, Navy Oberfähnrich
NATO
equivalent
WO-2

The official manner, in line to NPA Handboock, of formal addressing of military people with the rank Oberfähnrich was Genosse/Genossin Oberfähnrich (en: comrade Obrfähnrich).[2]

The bottom up approach in that rank group was as follows:

⇒ see main article Ranks of the National People's Army

junior rank
Fähnrich

(NPA rank)
Oberfähnrich
senior rank
Stabsfähnrich
rank insignia Volksmarin
sleeve badge
shoulder board
corps colour
(naval blue)

References

edit
  1. ^ Dictionary to the German military history, 1st edition (Liz.5, P189/84, LSV:0547, B-Nr. 746 635 0), military publishing house of the GDR (VEB) – Berlin, 1985, Volume 1, page 190, definition: Oberfähnrich.
  2. ^ “Handbook basic military knowledge” (of the National People´s Army), part B: “The military discipline”, section 7: The military addressing, quote - Genosse Fähnrich (en: comrade Oberfähnrich) – end of quotation.
  3. ^ The abbreviation "WO/W" stands for " Warrant Officer, also warrant-officer ranks / de: ermächtigter Vorgesetzter / ru: уорент-офицер, между сержантами и младшими офицерами" between the rank groups CO and NCO