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| Hauptfeldwebel (Wehrmacht) (position title or appointment) | |
|---|---|
 appointment insignia, ("double piston rings") | |
| Country |  Germany |
| Service branch |  German Army |
| Abbreviation | HptFw |
| Rank | senior NCOs, e.g.
|
| Formation | 1938 |
| Abolished | 1945 |
| Equivalent ranks | SS-Stabsscharführer |
In the GermanWehrmacht,Hauptfeldwebel (German:[ˈhaʊ̯ptˌfɛltveːbl̩]ⓘ,lit. 'Seniorfield usher'; short:HptFw; address:Herr Hauptfeldwebel) was not a rank but a position title, assignment or appointment, equivalent to the Commonwealthcompany sergeant major or U.S. company-levelfirst sergeant. There was one suchnon-commissioned officer (NCO) in every infantry company, artillery battery, cavalry squadron, etc. He was the senior NCO of his subunit, but his duties were largely administrative and he was not expected to accompany his unit into an assault or a firefight.
The Hauptfeldwebel had many nicknames, includingSpieß ("Spear") andMutter der Kompanie ("mother of the company"). He wore two 10mm broad rings of NCO braid around the cuff of his sleeves, nicknamedKolbenringe ("piston rings"), and carried aMeldetasche (reporting pouch) tucked into the tunic front, in which he carried blank report forms, rosters and other papers related to his duties. The German Army had no equivalent of the CommonwealthRegimental Sergeant Major.
The appointment could be held by a senior non-commissioned officer (Unteroffizier mit Portepee), normallyStabsfeldwebel or Oberfeldwebel. If the billet was filled out of necessity by anUnteroffizier ohne Portepee, he was termed aHauptfeldwebeldiensttuer, or "one serving as Hauptfeldwebel." The equivalent appointment in anglophone armed forces might have beencompany sergeant major or U.S.company-level first sergeant.
In theWaffen-SS the equivalent to the appointmentHauptfeldwebel in Heer and Luftwaffe, was theSS-Stabsscharführer until 1945. The traditional nicknames "spear" and "company mother" were used as well. He also wore two rings of NCO braid around the cuff of his sleeves, similar to the Wehrmacht.
In theNational People's Army (1956-1990)Hauptfeldwebel was also an appointment, held by a senior non-commissioned officer ranks, e.g. Oberfeldwebel or Stabsfeldwebel laterFähnrich. It was used in
The appointment insignia on the uniform jacket and the overcoat, were almost identical to those used in the Wehrmacht until 1945, but constisted of one "piston ring" around each cuff only. The nicknames were analogue to the Wehrmacht "spear" and "company mother".
Today, the former billetHauptfeldwebel as a company's Senior NCO has become a regularrank betweenOberfeldwebel andStabsfeldwebel. The position previously known as Hauptfeldwebel is now calledKompaniefeldwebel, while the nicknames - and, in their general outlines, the duties - have remained.Kompaniefeldwebel often have therank ofOberstabsfeldwebel now, though.
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| service dress | field uniform | service dress | field uniform |
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