Soldat ([zɔlˈdaːt] short: S, plural Soldaten) is the lowest rank of enlisted men in the land-based armed forces of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It is usually grouped as OR-1 within the NATO ranking system, excluding the Swiss armed services which is not part of NATO.[1]

Germany

Soldat
Heer and Luftwaffe shoulder insignia
Country Germany
Service branch German Army
 German Air Force
AbbreviationS
RankGerman enlisted rank
NATO rank codeOR-1
Non-NATO rankE-1
Formation1955
Next higher rankGefreiter
Next lower rankNone
Equivalent ranksMatrose

The German term Soldat (equivalent to Soldier in English) has its roots as far back as the 16th-century, where it was a common designation for a paid or remunerated ordinary-rank member of a military infantry, especially one who was not an officer. In the German language Sold implies "pay", and as such the term Soldat designated a person in pay (being paid) for providing armed service.

Bundeswehr

In the Federal armed forces of Germany (Bundeswehr) it can be the collective term to any person in uniform, e.g. Officers (de: Offiziere), Non-Commissioned Officers (de: Unteroffiziere), and enlisted men (de: Mannschaften).

In the Bundeswehr it is used to describe conscripts (de: Wehrpflichtiger), short/long term serving volunteers (de: Zeitsoldat, or Soldat auf Zeit), and career or regular servicemen (de: Berufssoldat).[2]

It is grade A3 in the pay rules of the Federal Ministry of Defence.

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

Preceded by
junior rank
None
(German enlisted rank)
'Soldat'		 Succeeded by
senior rank
Gefreiter

Designation

The designation of the particular OR1-rank depends on the individual branch and career of the soldier as regulated in the Zentrale Dienstvorschrift 14/5. The sole OR1-rank designation in the Marine is Matrose, and Sanitätssoldat in the Bundeswehr medical service. Other OR1-designations are descript in the table below.

Rank
designation		Abbrev.[3]Carrier grout (e.g.[4])
FliegerFlg
FunkerFusoldiers with the lowest OR1-rank
  • in the Signal Corps, not involved to units of tactical combat forces like Armoured Corps
  • of the Heer in stationary communications centers
  • in signal units of the Electronic Warfare
  • in units of the Operational Communications
GrenadierGrenHeer uniformed personnel with the lowest OR1-rank serving in the Wachbataillon beim Bundesministerium der Verteidigung since 1991 (until 1991 Jäger)
JägerJgsoldiers with the lowest OR1-rank in the units of Jägertruppe, Fallschirmjägertruppe and Gebirgsjägertruppe
KanonierKansoldier with the lowest OR1-rank
  • of the Artillery Corps (except Panzerhaubitze units)
  • in the Flugabwehrraketengeschwader 1 of the Luftwaffe
  • of the Geo-Information Service belonging to the Heer
MatroseMatrGerman Navy uniformed personnel with the lowest OR1-rank
PanzerfunkerPzFu soldiers with the lowest OR1-rank of signal troops, integrated to units of the Armoured Corps
PanzergrenadierPzGren, PG
  • soldier with the lowest OR1-rank in units of the Panzergrenadiertruppe
  • Panzergrenadier is also the collective name to all personnel of the Panzergrenadiertruppe
PanzerjägerPzJg This OR1-rank was discontinued in line with the abolishment of the Panzerjägertruppe (Anti-tank troops) in 2006.
  • from 1955 to 2006 it was the lowest OR1-rank of the Panzerjägertruppe
  • Panzerjäger was also the collective name for all Panzerjägertruppe personnel
PanzerkanonierPzKan soldier with the lowest OR1-rank of Artillery Corps batteries equipped with armored self-propelled howitzers (de: Panzerhaubitze)
PanzerpionierPzPi
  • soldier with the lowest OR1-rank of Panzerpionier units (en: Armored engineer)
  • Panzerpionier is also the collective name to all persons in uniform of the Bundeswehr Panzerpionier companies / Panzerpionier battalions
PanzerschützePzSchtz soldier with the lowest OR1-rank of units of the Panzertruppe (en: Armoured corps)
PionierPi
  • soldier with the lowest OR1-rank of Pioniertruppe (en: Combat engineering), with the exception of armored engineer units
  • Pionier is also the collective name for all Pioniertruppe personnel
SanitätssoldatSanSdt
  • soldier with the lowest OR1-rank in the Joint Medical Service (Germany) or the Heer medical service
  • Sanitätssoldat is also the collective name for personnel of the Sanitätsdienst der Bundeswehr (en: Bundeswehr Medical Service)
SchützeSchtz Normally all military personnel with the lower OR-1 rank serving in Heer that is not mentioned above.

Wehrmacht until 1945

Final ranks to enlisted men until 1945
Waffen-SS Heer (Army) Luftwaffe (Air Force) Kriegsmarine (Navy)
SS-Schütze Schütze Flieger Matrose
SS-Oberschütze Oberschütze
SS-Sturmmann Gefreiter Matrosengefreiter
SS-Rottenführer Obergefreiter Matrosenobergefreiter
No equivalent Hauptgefreiter Matrosenhauptgefreiter
No equivalent Stabsgefreiter Matrosenstabsgefreiter
No equivalent Matrosenoberstabsgefreiter

See also

References

  1. ↑ Official Website (Bundeswehr): Dienstgrade und Uniformen der Bundeswehr (Service Ranks and Uniforms of the German Federal Defence Forces), in German.
  2. ↑ BROCKHAUS, The encyclopedia in 24 volumes (1796–2001), Volume 20: 3-7653-3680-7, page 396; definition «Soldat».
  3. ↑ In lists indicated always „S“
  4. ↑ The carrier enlisted art to be understood as an example. There are several exemptions. Moreover, the rank designations described may be used in other service branches as well.
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