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Hauptmann (German:[ˈhaʊ̯pman]ⓘ) is anofficer rank in the armies ofGermany,Austria, andSwitzerland. It is usually translated ascaptain.
WhileHaupt in contemporary German means 'main', it also has, and originally had, the meaning of 'head', i.e.Hauptmann literally translates to 'head-man', which is also the etymological root ofcaptain (fromLatincaput, 'head').
This rank is equivalent to the rank of captain in theBritish andUS Armies, and is ratedOF-2 inNATO.
Currently, there is no female form within the German military (such asHauptfrau): the correct form of address is "Frau Hauptmann."[1][2]
More generally, a Hauptmann can be the head of any hierarchically structured group of people, often as a compound word. For example, aFeuerwehrhauptmann is the captain of a fire brigade[citation needed][dubious –discuss], whileRäuberhauptmann refers to the leader of a gang of robbers.
Official Austrian and German titles incorporating the word includeLandeshauptmann,Bezirkshauptmann,Burghauptmann, andBerghauptmann.
InSaxony during theWeimar Republic, the titles ofKreishauptmann, andAmtshauptmann were held by senior civil servants.
Hauptmann (fromEarly Modern High GermanHeubtmann) is cognate with the Swedishhövitsman, which also has the root meaning 'head-man' or 'the man at the head', and is closely related tohövding, meaning 'chieftain'. Since medieval times, both titles have been used for state administrators rather than military personnel.Heubtmann may also be the origin of the titlehetman, used in Central and Eastern Europe.
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| Captain Hauptmann | |
|---|---|
  Army and Air Force insignia | |
| Country |  Germany |
| Service branch |  German Army German Air Force |
| Abbreviation | H or Hptm |
| NATOrank code | OF-2 |
| Formation | 19th century |
| Next higher rank | Stabshauptmann |
| Next lower rank | Oberleutnant |
| Equivalent ranks | Kapitänleutnant (Navy) |
On the shoulder straps (Heer, Luftwaffe) there are three silver pips (stars).
| Heer | Luftwaffe |
|---|---|
|
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