Unteroffizier
Unteroffizier is a military rank of the German Bundeswehr that has existed since the 19th century. The rank existed as a title as early as the 17th century with the first wide spread usage occurring in the Bavarian Army of the 1800s. Translated literally as “Junior Officer”, this is perhaps misleading as an Unteroffizier is in actuality a junior enlisted rank. The rank of Unteroffizier was first created to "bridge the gap" between career professional soldiers and enlisted conscripts. Typically, the rank of Feldwebel was reserved for veteran soldiers while Gefreiter was a rank held by junior and less experienced personnel. Unteroffizier was then established as a rank between Gefreiter and Feldwebel and was more or less regarded as a full Corporal. Unteroffizier is one of the few German military ranks whose insignia has remained unchanged over the past one hundred years. The shoulder boards of a modern Unteroffizier are relatively similar to the World War I and World War II designs. A modern day Army Unteroffizier typically commands squad sized formations or acts as an assistant platoon NCO. The rank is also used in the modern day German Luftwaffe. The German Bundesmarine (Navy) equivalent of Unteroffizier is a rank known as Maat, equivalent to a Petty Officer in other navies.
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