Gefreiter

Modern German Gefreiter insignia

Gefreiter is the German equivalent for Private in the armed services. Gefreiter was the lowest rank to which an ordinary soldier could be promoted. As a military rank it has existed since at least the 16th century. In the 20th century Gefreiter has expanded into several ranks, those being Obergefreiter, Hauptgefreiter, Stabsgefreiter and Oberstabsgefreiter.

In today's German Bundeswehr, almost every soldier or sailor successfully passing the 3 months basic training and subsequent 3 months of special training is promoted to Gefreiter. Following the NATO-RANK-CODE, Gefreiter ranks as Private (OR-2), Obergefreiter as PFC (OR-3 lower half), Hauptgefreiter as Lance-Corporal (OR-3 upper half), Stabsgefreiter and Oberstabsgefreiter as Corporal (OR-4).

Second World War Gefreiter Chevron

Many sources erroneously report that during World War I and World War II, Gefreiter was considered more to be a lance corporal, with the rank of full corporal known as Unteroffizier (lowest grading Junior Non-Commissioned Officer), which ranked between an American sergeant and corporal and approximately equivalent to a British corporal in responsibility. However, in practice, soldiers holding the rank of Gefreiter or Obergefreiter were equal in status only to private soldiers; they had no powers of command or authority, and the rank represented little more than a pay raise. They were not non-commissioned officers (in German, Unteroffiziere mit Portepee (Senior NCO) or Unteroffiziere ohne Portepee (Junior NCO).)

The German Navy, Kriegsmarine, has also periodically maintained a rank known as Matrosengefreiter, translated as "Seaman Corporal", and equivalent to an Able Seaman or Leading Seaman.

One of the best known holders of the rank of Gefreiter was Adolf Hitler, who held the rank in the Bavarian Infantry during World War I.

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