, also Portepeeunteroffizier(e) (), is the designation for German senior non-commissioned officers in the armed forces of Germany. The title derives from the French porte-épée ("sword bearer"), as senior enlisted men would historically carry a sword into battle.
History Coloured sidearm tassels were introduced in the Prussian army in 1808. They were used as a decorative equipment and to differentiate companies within a regiment. Ranks below were issued either the or depending on their unit. The was used by infantry, artillery, pioneer, signal, anti-tank and supply troops, while the was worn by cavalry and rifle troops. Some units would wear honorary tassels of Russian red leather, to indicate their relation to the 1st Regiment of (Prussian) Grenadier Guards. would wear tassels independently of their company relations.
The top-down sequence of ranks in that group is: OR-9: Oberstabsfeldwebel / Oberstabsbootsmann this rank was introduced by the Bundeswehr in 1983 OR-8: Stabsfeldwebel / Stabsbootsmann (in the Kriegsmarine Stabsoberbootsmann, Stabsobersteuermann, and Stabsobermaschinist) OR-7: Hauptfeldwebel (Oberfähnrich)/ Hauptbootsmann (Oberfähnrich zur See), this rank was introduced by the Bundeswehr after an assignment/position of service (informally Spieß and officially now Kompaniefeldwebel in the Reichswehr, Wehrmacht, and National People's Army) OR-6: Oberfeldwebel / Oberbootsmann OR-6: Feldwebel / Bootsmann
Naval equivalents—replacing Feldwebel with Bootsmann—and, historically, the Cavalry and Artillery (replacing with Wachtmeister). The latter is not to be confused with the Navy's "Kompaniefeldwebel" of today which are also called Wachtmeister.
German NCOs were identified by the use of metallic lace (called Tresse) on the collar of the uniform jacket, as well as the edges of the shoulder straps. Senior non-commissioned officers in the Wehrmacht also used silver "stars" on the shoulder strap to differentiate between ranks; one star for a Feldwebel, two for an Oberfeldwebel, and three for a Stabsfeldwebel.
Table of Portepee-ranks Rank insignia to Portepee-NCOs of Heer, Luftwaffe and MarineGerman payment level A9Z A9 A8Z A7mZ A7 Shoulder strapsservice uniform/field uniform rank Oberstabsfeldwebel Stabsfeldwebel Hauptfeldwebel(Oberfähnrich) Oberfeldwebel Feldwebel(Fähnrich) Shoulder strapscuff insigniasfield uniform rank Oberstabsbootsmann Stabsbootsmann Hauptbootsmann(Oberfähnrich zur See) Oberbootsmann Bootsmann(Fähnrich zur See) NATO rank scale code OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6
See also Unteroffiziere ohne Portepee - NCOs without portepee Rank insignia of the German Bundeswehr
References