() (English: Lieutenant Colonel) is a senior field officer rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to lieutenant colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland and Norway. The Swedish rank is a direct translation, as is the Finnish rank .
Austria
The Habsburg Monarchy used the rank (or ) in the 18th century.
Austria's armed forces, the , uses the rank Oberstleutnant}} as its sixth-highest officer rank. Like in Germany and Switzerland, are above and below . The term also finds usage with the Austrian (federal police force) and (prison guards corps). These two organizations are civilian in nature, but their ranks are nonetheless structured in a military fashion.
Belgium
Denmark
The Danish rank of is based around the German term. Ranked OF-4 within NATO and having the paygrade of M401, it is used in the Royal Danish Army and the Royal Danish Air Force. The equivalent rank in the Royal Danish Navy is . An is the lowest ranking officer to receive a commission from the reigning Monarch.
On 25 May 1671, the ranks were codified, by King Christian V, with the publication of the Danish order of precedence. Here there were two types of s. The of the Life Guards placed below s of the infantry and cavalry, and above . Standard s was below and above s.
As part of the Army Reform of 1867, the ranks of and were removed, making the only senior officer. By 1889, was reintroduced.
Germany
Typically, suffixes can be applied to the word Oberstleutnant to specify the individual type of officer. Retired officers that are not incapacitated (i.e. theoretically available for reactivation) from service continue to use their title with the suffix (Germany)Bundesbeamtengesetz (BBG) §86 or (Switzerland),Verordnung über die Militärdienstpflicht (VMDP), Artikel 95. an abbreviation of , 'out of service'. Suffixes that specify military specialization in active service include () for general staff officers or ('der Reserve') for reservists. The suffix ('im Ruhestand}}), implying retirement without the legal specification of a.D., is unofficial.
Bundeswehr The armed forces of West Germany and unified Germany since 1955, the uses the Oberstleutnant rank in the German Army and German Air Force. Equivalents in the other branches are for the German Navy, for medical staff, for naval medical staff, for apothecary staff, for naval apothecary staff, and for veterinary medical staff.
Within the German state employee paygrade system, the is placed within and receives either the A14 or A15 paygrades, depending on individual seniority. Thus, the is paid an equivalent wage to that of first-class consuls and legates in the foreign service (A14) or state-employed school directors, ambassadors and general consuls (A15).
The age limit for -rank officers is 61.Gesetz über die Rechtsstellung der Soldaten (Soldatengesetz - SG) §45 Abs. 2 (3)
The 's shoulder straps in Army and Air Force are marked by two vertically aligned stars above oak leaves.
Army Luftwaffe
Bundesgrenzschutz The Federal Border Guard () used the rank until 1976, after which it was replaced by the terms and as part of the government's effort to transform West Germany's federal border guard agency into a less militarized structure.Gesetz über die Personalstruktur des Bundesgrenzschutzes (BGSPersG), Art. 5
Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS The Wehrmacht (1935–1945) of Nazi Germany used the rank of for Army and Air Force, much in the same style the Bundeswehr does. The Waffen-SS (1933–1945) used the rank as an equivalent.
Nationale Volksarmee (NVA) The National People's Army (1956–1990) of East Germany used the rank (abbr. OSL) for its army and air force, whereas the Volksmarine used the term .
Norway
The rank of was introduced around the same time as Denmark, as Norway at the time was part of Denmark–Norway.
Sweden
The Swedish variant , is a senior field grade military officer rank in the Swedish Army and the Swedish Air Force, immediately below the rank of colonel and just above the rank of major. It is equivalent to the naval rank of Commodore captain in the Swedish Navy.
Switzerland
Swiss Guard
See also Ranks of the German Bundeswehr Rank insignia of the German Bundeswehr Comparative military ranks of World War I Comparative military ranks of World War II
References Citations
Bibliography
de:Oberstleutnant da:Oberstløjtnant