Leutnant

















































Flag of Germany.svg
Leutnant





DH211-Leutnant.png


Rank insignia
German officer rank
Introduction 1871
Rank group
Commissioned officers
Army / Air Force
Leutnant
Navy
Leutnant zur See
NATO
equivalent
OF-1b
Army
Second lieutenant
Air Force
Second lieutenant
Navy
Ensign (rank)

Leutnant (German pronunciation: [ˈlɔʏtnant]; OF-1b) is the lowest Lieutenant officer rank in the armed forces of Germany (Bundeswehr), Austrian Armed Forces, and military of Switzerland.




Contents






  • 1 History


  • 2 Germany


    • 2.1 Bundeswehr


      • 2.1.1 Rank




    • 2.2 National People's Army


    • 2.3 Nazi Germany




  • 3 Other countries


    • 3.1 Austria


      • 3.1.1 Austro-Hungarian Army




    • 3.2 Switzerland




  • 4 References





History


The German noun (with the meaning “Stellvertreter” (in English "deputy") from Middle High German «locum tenens» Platzhalter (in English "place holder") was derived from the French word «Lieutenant» about 1500. In most German-speaking armies it is the lowest officer rank (in German-speaking navies «Leutnant zur See» (English "Lieutenant at sea"). In the German Bundeswehr the ranks Leutnant OF1b and Oberleutnant OF1a belong to the Leutnant rank group. In some other armed forces (such as the former National People's Army) there is the lower grade of Unterleutnant (OR1c).


From about 1500 until the middle of the 17th century the designation of «Leutnant» was commonly used for any deputy to a commanding officer. So at the army level there was the appointment of General-Leutnant (English "lieutenant-general"), at the regimental level there was that of Oberst-Leutnant (English "lieutenant-colonel"), and at the company level the Leutnant was deputy to a Hauptmann (English "captain").


With the formation of standing armies in the second half of the 17th century, the term commonly came to designate the rank of the least senior commissioned officer.


In the 18th and 19th century, at the unit level several Leutnants served as platoon leaders. At that time the ranks of Premier-Lieutenant and Seconde-Lieutenant came into existence. With effect from January 1, 1899 in the German Empire these ranks were renamed as Oberleutnant and Leutnant.[1]



Germany


The term «Leutnant» (OF1b-rank) has been used in German armed forces since 1899.



Bundeswehr




In the Bundeswehr today the «Leutnant» (OF1b-rank) will be normally appointed as platoon leader. However, the rank of «Leutnant» might also be held while a junior officer is studying at the University of the German Federal Armed Forces or at another training or education establishment. The «Leutnant» of the Bundeswehr belongs to the Leutnant’s rank group (also: subaltern officer rank group).



Rank


In Germany Leutnant (short.: Lt / on lists also: L) is the designation of a soldier of the lowest officer rank. The equivalent in the German Navy (Deutsche Marine) is the Leutnant zur See.






junior Rank
Oberstabsfeldwebel

Bundeswehr Logo Heer with lettering.svgBundeswehr Logo Luftwaffe with lettering.svg

(German officer rank)
Leutnant


senior Rank
Oberleutnant


































Rank insignias «Leutnant» / «Leutnant zur See» (OF-1b)

Bundeswehr Logo Heer with lettering.svg

Bundeswehr Logo Luftwaffe with lettering.svg

Bundeswehr Logo Marine with lettering.svg

HD H 41 Leutnant FschJg.svg

211-Leutnant.png

215-Leutnant-dR.png

SanH 211-Leutnant-SanOA-(Veterinärmedizin).png

LD B 41 Leutnant.svg

LA OS5 41 Leutnant.svg

LA OS5 41 Leutnant SanOA ZM L.svg

MDS 41 Leutnant zur See Trp.svg

MDS 41a Leutnant zur See SanOA San HM L.svg

MDJA 41 Leutnant zur See Trp Lu.svg

MA OG5 41 Leutnant zur See.svg
Uniform
(basic version
Jägertruppe)

Field
uniform
(Jägertruppe)
Field
uniform
(Reservist Logistik)
Field
uniform
(SanOA (vet.))
Uniform
(basic version)
Field
uniform
Field
uniform
(Lw SanOA (dent.))
Shoulder
board
Shoulder
board
(SanOA (hum.))
Cuff title
Mounting
loop

Soldiers with that particular OF1b-rank, are mandated and authorized to provide military orders as to the so-called Superior-subordinate relations to private ranks (OR1 to OR4 / de: Mannschaften), NCOs without port épée (OR5b and OR5a / de: Unteroffiziere ohne port épée), as well as to Senior NCOs with port épée (OR6 to OR9 / de: Unteroffizier mit port épée).



National People's Army



In the GDR National People's Army (NPA) the OF1b-rank «Leutnant» was the second lowest commissioned offer (CO) rank until 1990. This was in reference to the Soviet military doctrine and in line to other armed forces of the Warsaw pact.


The equivalent rank of the Volksmarine (en: GDR Navy) was the Leutnant zur See, later simple Leutnant. However, internal the wording Leutnant zur See was used continuously. In reference to the Soviet armed forces and to other armed forces of the Warsaw pact Leutnant was the second lowest officer rank until 1990.






Junior Rank
Unterleutnant

Flag of NVA (East Germany).svg
National People's Army rank
Leutnant
(Leutnant zur See)
Senior Rank
Oberleutnant





















Rank insignias «Leutnant» / «Leutnant zur See» (OF-1b)

Emblem of the Ground Forces of NVA (East Germany).svg Land forces

Emblem of aircraft of NVA (East Germany).svg Air Force

Vehicle roundel of Border Troops of GDR.svg GDR Border troops

Flag of warships of VM (East Germany).svg Volksmarine

None.svg

GDR Air Force OF1 Leutnant.gif

Leutnant GT Schulterstück.jpg

OF-1b Leutnant zur See.png

OF-1b Leutnant zur See VM, Ärmelstreifen.png
Leutnant
Leutnant zur See


Nazi Germany




In Nazi Germany, within the SS and Waffen-SS, the rank of SS-Untersturmführer was considered to be the equivalent of an Leutnant (OF1b) in the German Army. However, in the SA the equivalent to Leutnant was SA-Sturmführer.[2][3]



Other countries



Austria








































Flag of Austria (state).svg
Leutnant in Austria






Anzug 75/03Schulterstück (Panzertruppe)Tellerkappe

     suit 75/03      jacket gorget       flat cap



Rank insignia
Austrian Bundesheer
Introduction
Rank group Offiziere (en: Commissioned officers)
Army / Air Force Leutnant
Navy
no equivalent
Lower:
Higher:

Fähnrich

Oberleutnant
NATO
equivalent
OF1-b

In Austria the Leutnant (short: Lt) is the second lowest CO rank. Mandatory to be promoted to that OF1b-rank is a six terms course of high school studies (until August 2008 eight terms) with 180 ECTS points on the Theresian Military Academy in the Wiener Neustadt. The studies are focused on “Military Command and Control” (C2) and the academy-leaver graduate to Bachelor.


The career in the Militia is structured in a different way. Here the modular education comprises the so-called one-year volunteer year (de: Einjährig-Freiwilliger [EF][4]) as well as several courses, seminars, and exercises with a final aptitude test. After an overall service time of five years the promotion to «Leutnant» is possible.


Moreover, the appointment designation «Leutnant» is possible for leading officials (E1) of the Austrian executive, e.g. the Austrian Federal Police (ge: Bundespolizei) and prison authority personnel (de: Justizwache).



Austro-Hungarian Army



Until 1918 Leutnant (hu: Hadnagy) was in the Austria-Hungarian Army the lowest CO-rank as well, equivalent to Assistenz-Arzt and Leutnant-Rechnungsführer.






























Leutnant rank insignias of the k.u.k. Army
Description
Rank
Insignia
German Hungarian English class Army Mountain infantry

Low grade officers
Leutnant also:

  • Assistenz-Arzt

  • Leutnant-Rechnungsführer


Hadnagy Second lieutenant XI


K.u.k. Leutnant orangegelbe Eaglisierung.png


Leutnant k.k. Gebirgstruppe 1907-18.png



Switzerland







































Flag of Switzerland.svg
Leutnant in Switzerland






Schulterstück eines Leutnants der Schweizer Armee

Rank insignia
Swiss army
Introduction
Rank group
Subalternoffiziere (en: Subaltern commissioned officers)
Army / Air Force Leutnant
Navy
no equivalent
Lower:
Higher:

Chefadjutant

Oberleutnant
NATO
equivalent
OF-1b


In the military of Switzerland the Leutnant (Lt; lieutenant, tenente) is a commissioned officer rank (NATO-Code: OF-1b). At the contrary to the so-called Army-95 time a Leutnant / platoon leader might not be promoted to Oberleutnant automatically. However, he remains Leutnant during two reiteration courses.


In United Nations missions and in NATO Partnership for Peace the rank Leutnant will be designated in English with Second lieutenant (2Lt), NATO-Code: OF-1b.



References





  1. ^ BROCKHAUS, The encyclopedia in 24 volumes (1796–2001), Volume 13: 3-7653-3673-4, page 354; definition: «Leutnant».


  2. ^ Flaherty 2004, p. 148.


  3. ^ McNab 2009, p. 15.


  4. ^ Langenscheidt´s Encyclopaedic Dictionary of the English and German language: „Der Große Murat-Sander“, Part II German-English First Volume A–K, 9th edition 2002, p. 449




  • Die Streitkräfte der Republik Österreich, 1918-1968, Heeresgeschichtliches Museum, Militärwissenschaftliches Institut, 1968.



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