Oberstabsgefreiter

Oberstabsgefreiter (German: [oːbɐˈʃtaːpsɡəˌfʁaɪ̯tɐ] ^ⓘ, abbreviated OStGefr, on lists OSG; "Senior Staff Gefreiter") was the highest enlisted rank in the German Bundeswehr^[1] before the new ranks Korporal and Stabskorporal were introduced in October 2021.^[2] The rank can be comparable to corporal in Anglophone armed forces.^[3]

rank insignia field- and battle dress

Heer

Luftwaffe

Marine

Oberstabsgefreiter
Heer shoulder and Marine sleeve insignia
Country	Germany
Service branch	German Army  German Navy  German Air Force
Abbreviation	OStGefr.
Rank group	Enlisted rank
NATO rank code	OR-4
Pay grade	5A
Formation	1995
Next higher rank	Korporal
Next lower rank	Stabsgefreiter

History

The rank was first introduced by the Kriegsmarine in 1940 and was named Matrosenoberstabsgefreiter ("Seaman Senior Staff Gefreiter"). In Heer and Luftwaffe, the rank did not exist.

Final ranks to enlisted men until 1945

• v
• t
• e

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

Bundeswehr

Main article: Ranks and insignia of NATO armies enlisted

A private of the German Bundeswehr might be promoted to that OR4-rank after a regular service time of 48 months.^[4]

junior Rank Stabsgefreiter

(German enlisted men rank) Oberstabsgefreiter

senior Rank Korporal

External links

• Rank-insignia learning at simsso.de
• Uniformen