Oberstabsgefreiter
German military rank
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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
Country
Germany
GermanyService branch
German Army
German Navy
German Air Force
German Army
German Navy
German Air ForceAbbreviationOStGefr.
Rank groupEnlisted rank
| 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.
| 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
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) |
senior Rank Korporal |
