Fähnrich (East Germany)

Not to be confused with German Bundeswehr Officer Aspirant ranks Fähnrich (Army) / Fähnrich zur See (Navy), equivalent to Cadet sergeant / Midshipman in Anglophone armed forces.

Fähnrich
Sleeve insignias Army / Volksmarine
Rank insignia	NPA Fänrich rank
Introduction	1973
Rank group	Fähnrichs
Army / Air Force	Fähnrich
Navy	Fähnrich
NATO equivalent	WO-1
Army	Warrant Officer 1
Navy	Warrant Officer 1

Fähnrich (short: Fähnr / in lists: FR) was a military rank in the Army of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) from 1956 to 1990. It was also the designation of the autonomous “Fähnrich rank group” between commissioned officer (CO) and non commissioned officer (NCO) ranks.

The position of that career group might be compared to the Warrant Officer (WO) rank group in English speaking armed forces.

With that concept the NPA administration followed the Soviet military doctrine, who introduced to the Soviet Army the praporshchik (ru: пра́порщик) rank in 1972, along with the michman (ru: ми́чман; "midshipman") rank in the Soviet Navy. Most other Warsaw Pact countries followed this approach. However, most countries used historical rank designations in order to pursue national military traditions.

Fähnrichs served for at least fifteen years.

Countries with otheer rank designations

• Czechoslovakia ⇒ Praporčík or also Poddůstojník
• Hungary ⇒ Zászlós
• Poland ⇒ Chorąży / Chorąży marynarki
• Romania ⇒ Meistru militar principal (Military master class IV, III, II, I and Senior-military-master)
• Russian Federation ⇒ Прапорщик (Praporshchik) / мичмван (michman)
• Soviet Union ⇒ Прапорщик (Praporshchik) / мичман (michman)
• Yugoslavia ⇒ Заставник (Sastawnik)

NPA Fähnrich ranks

	Air Force, land forces, and border troops					Volksmarine
Colour	Armor	Engineers	Airborne troops	Border toops	Field suit	Navy blue
					50px
	Stabsoberfähnrich	Stabsfähnrich	Oberfähnrich	Fähnrich	Fähnrichschüler	Stabsoberfähnrich	Stabsfähnrich	Oberfähnrich	Fähnrich	Fähnrichschüler
	(Staff-senior-fähnrich)	(Staff-fähnrich)	(Senior-fähnrich)	(Fähnrich)	(Fähnrich-student 2nd year of studies)	(Staff-senior-fähnrich)	(Staff-fähnrich)	(Senior-fähnrich)	(Fähnrich)	(Fähnrich-student 2nd year of studies)
rank	WO-4	WO-3	WO-2	WO-1		WO-4	WO-3	WO-2	WO-1

⇒ see main article Ranks of the National People's Army ⇒ see main article Corps colours (NPA)

Junior Rank Stabsfeldwebel

(NPA rank) Fähnrich

Senior Rank Oberfähnrich

See also

• Glossary of German military terms