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Fähnrich (German pronunciation:[ˈfɛːnʁɪç]) is anofficer candidate rank in theAustrian Bundesheer andGerman Bundeswehr. The wordFähnrich comes from an older German military title,Fahnenträger (flag bearer), and first became a distinctmilitary rank in Germany on 1 January 1899. However,Fähnrich ranks are often incorrectly compared with therank of ensign,^{[citation needed]} which shares a similar etymology but is a full-fledged (albeit junior)commissioned officer rank.

In the GermanLandsknecht armies, recorded from ca. 1480, the equivalent rank of aCornet existed. The cornet carried the troop standard, also known as a "cornet".

The rank also exists in a few other European military organizations, often with historical ties to the German system. Examples are the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland (seeFänrik). TheFrench Army has a similar position called anAspirant.

In the Finnish Army and Air Force,Vänrikki (Fänrik) is the lowest commissioned officer rank, which is granted to the soldiers in the national service that have completed their reserve officer course on the day they are released from their 347-day service. FinnishVänrikki are thus of equal rank to the German lieutenant (also a platoon leader).

Fähnrich
Field and service uniform insignia
Country	Austria
Service branch	Austrian Armed Forces
Abbreviation	Fhr
Rank group	Junior officer
Non-NATO rank	OF-1[1]
Formation	1955
Next higher rank	Leutnant
Next lower rank	Vizeleutnant

Fähnrich, shortFhr, is the lowestcommissioned officer rank in theAustrian Armed Forces.

Fähnrich was the lowest officer rank in the k.u.k.Common Army. In 1838 it was renamed toUnterleutnant 2. Gebürnisklasse, from 1849 toUnterleutnant 2. Klasse, since 1868 toUnterleutnant, and finally approximately from 1868 toLeutnant. In 1908Fähnrich was re-introduced as lowest cadet-officer rank in order to replace the 1869 rank designationKadett-Offiziersstellvertreter.Fähnrich,Kadett-Offiziersstellvertreter respectively completed training and education on the less famous so-called k.u.k.Kadettenschule. As theKadett-Offiziersstellvertreter was the highest NCO-rank, becameFähnrich a separate rank-class. However, graduates from the much more famousMilitärakademie became the officer patent forLeutnant.

In the k.u.Royal Hungarian Honvéd armyZászlós was the equivalent to theFähnrich rank. It accounted immediately to the officer corps.

Designation	Cadet officer-deputy until 1908		Fähnrich 1908-1918
Paroli
Rank description	Kadett-Offizierstellvertreter		Fähnrich
(Hungarian)	(Hadapród-Tiszthelyettes)		(Zászlós)

In 1609,Christian IV of Denmark created a permanentorganization with regiments of theRoyal Danish Army. A regiment would be assigned oneritmester, oneløjtnant, onefænrik, and twokorporals.^[2]

By 1717, the ranks ofFendrich andCornet of theRoyal Life Guards were placed in the Eight class in theDanish order of precedence, normalFendrichs andCornets were placed in the Ninth class.^[3]

Between 1951 and 1970,Fenrik andOverfenrik were part ofFenriksgruppen, which served asWarrant officers.^[4][5]

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Fähnrich
Heer andLuftwaffe shoulder insignia
Country	Germany
Service branch	German Army  German Air Force
Abbreviation	Fähnr
Rank	German NCO rank
NATOrank code	OR-6
Non-NATO rank	E-6
Formation	1956
Next higher rank	Oberfähnrich
Next lower rank	Fahnenjunker
Equivalent ranks	Fähnrich zur See

AFähnrich of the Bundeswehr is a soldier who serves in the ranks, first asFahnenjunker (OR-5, comparable to the juniornon-commissioned officer rankUnteroffizier), then in subsequent grades:Fähnrich (OR-6, equivalent toFeldwebel), andOberfähnrich (OR-7 equivalent toHauptfeldwebel).

In theGerman Bundeswehr, an officer candidate (German:Offiziersanwärter) can reach the rank ofFähnrich after 21 months of service. TheGerman Navy equivalent is "Ensign at sea" (German:Fähnrich zur See).

An officer candidate's career is indicated by the enlisted rank with a thin silver cord on the shoulder strap.

NATO code	OR-7	OR-6	OR-5
German Army
German Air Force
	Oberfähnrich	Fähnrich	Fahnenjunker

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Following the creation of theNational People's Army, aFähnrich rank group was created.

In theNorwegian Armed Forces, the rank ofFenrik is the lowest rankingcommissioned officer,^[6] with theNATO code of OF-1.^[7]

• Rank insignia forFenrik
• 
  Army^[6]
• 
  Navy^[6]
• 
  Air Force^[6]

This section is empty. You can help byadding to it.(July 2022)

• Fähnrich zur See

Sources

• NATO (2021).STANAG 2116 NATO (7th ed.). Brussels, Belgium: NATO Standardization Agency.

• Military ranks of Austria
• Military ranks of Germany

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