Flak ranks

[Fenix78]

Does anybody help me that exist in flak artilerie ranks:
Stabswachtmeister and Hauptwachtmeister ???
It was different ranks or it was the same maybe ??
The same question about Kanonier and Oberkanonier ?
Exist in flak Oberkanonier or perhaps after Kanonier was Gefreiter ?

[JAL]

Here is a internet site I thought describes flak rank best.
http://www.wehrmacht-lexikon.de/luft...abzeichen.php#

[Fenix78]

Thank you but this page has in my opinion mistake.

1. This not include ranks Fähnrich and Oberfähnrich.
2. Rank Haupgefreiter liquidate 12.05.1944 (no info about this)
3. The last rank is Generalfeldmarschal - Where is Reichsmarschall ??? !!!

I am looking for any info about confirmation or denial info that Stabswachtmeister and Hauptwachtmeister it was the same rank.

Hauptwachtmeister very often was the "Spieß" in baterie.

[JAL]

I believe that the rank of Fähnrich first introduced after ww2 and Hauptwachtmeister is the same rank as Oberwachtmeister.
Stabswachtmeister are over and have three stars on his shoulder.
the title of reichsmarschall is Hermann himself.

[peterm]

"Hauptfeldwebel" and also "Hauptwachtmeister" is not a RANK, it is a FUNCTION (=Dienstführender Unteroffizier, known as "Spieß"). This company-related function a soldier could have from the rank "Feldwebel / Wachtmeister" over "Oberfeldwebel / Oberwachtmeister" up to "Stabsfeldwebel / Stabswachtmeister". Same case in the Waffen-SS (Oberscharführer, Hauptscharführer, Stabsscharführer - as "Spieß" called " Sturmscharführer".

Best regards, Peter

p.s. "Reichsmarschall" must be seen more or less as a political rank created only for Hermann Göring.

[Fenix78]

If Hauptwachtmeister is a function that Stabswachtmeister is a rank. Now is clear.
I agree that Stabswachtmeister has a three stars

Rank Fähnrich was after Unterofficzier but before Unterwachtmeister
Rank Oberfähnrich was after Wachtmeister but before Oberwachtmeister

Fähnrich - clear chevron with two beams
Oberfähnrich - chevron with two stars and two beams

In my opinion ranks list in flak was like this:

Kanonier
Oberkanonier (If exist , because I am not sure)
Gefreiter
Obergefreiter
Haupgefreiter (liquidate 12.05.1944)
Stabsgefreiter
Oberstabsgefreiter (not exist in flak artilerie)
Unteroffizier
Fähnrich
Unterwachtmeister
Wachtmeister
Oberfahnrich
Oberwachtmeister
Stabswachtmeister
Leutnant
OberLeutnant
Hauptmann
Major
Oberstleutnant
Oberst
Generalmajor
Generalleutnant
General der Flak Artillerie
Generaloberst
Generalfeldmarschal
Reichsmarschall

Ranks Oberfähnrich nd Fähnrich exist during war. I have memories few flakhelfers where are mentioned persons with this ranks.

Regards
Janusz

[JAL]

Thank you Peter for info
I have doubts about candidate ranks as Fähnrich and Oberfähnich?
see here
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fähnrich

[peterm]

"Fähnrich" and "Oberfähnrich" are only temporary ranks for officer-candidates. They are "in-betweens" - no longer really non commissioned and also not full officer ranks. Therefore they wore non-commissioned rank-tabs but were allowed to wear officers cokades and bullion eagles.

Oberschütze, Oberpionier, Obergrenadier, Oberkanonier... all existed but were seldom used ranks in the war. Mostly soldiers were promoted to"Gefreiter" without given the rank of "Ober...." before.

Best, Peter

[JAL]

I thought I had more check on it.
learn a little bit every day.
Thanks Janusz and Peter

[Fenix78]

Short info about Fähnrich from flakhelfer:

.......Fähnrich and Oberfähnrich were ranks (steps before becoming
officer). Maybe you should know that officers mostliy did not come from
common men unless in rare cases. The officers career started already
when you signed as volunteer for a officers career after you left the
gymnasium with about 17 or 18 years. Then you got the fundamental
militäry education as every man, but after some month you were sent to
special courses (or even to military academie). So most officers had a
school education with "Abitur", because they had attended gymnasium.

In the battery they got varius functions in order to gain experience,
for ihstance in Meßstaffel oder Geschützstaffel. They did not stay very
long in this function - just long enaugh to be familiar with the job.
Because as officers (for instance head of a battery) they should know al
lot about everything,

Alredy the Fähnrich was not a common soldier - he was allowed to visit
the officers mess or officer hotels. In this respect he was already
regarded as part of the officers community......


Please look also on this file:
http://srv3.sendfile.pl/pobierz/9221...1326980696.jpg

I am author this list.

[JAL]

Unteroffiziersanwärter

Fahnenjunker Gefreiter ?

[JAL]

As I understand it?
a young boy is selected to be Officer.
1st Period = Fahnenjunker Gefreiter = rank of Gefreiter. 2nd period = Fahnenjunker = rank of Unteroffizier. 3rd period = Fähnrich = rank of Unterwachtmeister. 4rd period = Oberfähnich = rank of Oberwachtmeister. ?