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:

Fähnrich WO-1,^[3] (en: Fähnrich)
Oberfähnrich WO-2, (Senior-fähnrich)
Stabsfähnrich WO-3, (Staff-fähnrich)
Stabsoberfähnrich WO-4, (Staff-senior-fähnrich)

⇒ 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

^ 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.
^ “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.
^ 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

Glossary of German military terms

[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.

[NATO-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

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