Soldat is the lowest rank of enlisted men in the armies of some countries. In the land-based armed forces of Germany, Austria, Ukraine, and Switzerland it is usually grouped as OR-1 ([zɔlˈdaːt] short: S, plural Soldaten) within the NATO ranking system, excluding the Swiss armed services which does not follow NATO standards.[1]

Germany

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Soldat
   
Heer and Luftwaffe shoulder insignia
Country  Germany
Service branch  German Army
  German Air Force
AbbreviationS
RankGerman enlisted rank
NATO rank codeOR-1
Non-NATO rankE-1
Formation1955
Next higher rankGefreiter
Next lower rankNone
Equivalent ranksMatrose

The German term Soldat (equivalent to Soldier in English) has its roots as far back as the 16th-century, where it was a common designation for a paid or remunerated ordinary-rank member of a military infantry, especially one who was not an officer. In the German language Sold implies "pay", and as such the term Soldat designated a person in pay (being paid) for providing armed service.

Bundeswehr

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In the Federal armed forces of Germany (Bundeswehr) it can be the collective term to any person in uniform, e.g. Officers (de: Offiziere), Non-Commissioned Officers (de: Unteroffiziere), and enlisted men (de: Mannschaften).

In the Bundeswehr it is used to describe conscripts (de: Wehrpflichtiger), short/long term serving volunteers (de: Zeitsoldat, or Soldat auf Zeit), and career or regular servicemen (de: Berufssoldat).[2]

It is grade A3 in the pay rules of the Federal Ministry of Defence.

The sequence of ranks (top-down approach) in that particular group is as follows:

Preceded by
junior rank
None
'  
(German enlisted rank)
Soldat'
Succeeded by
senior rank
Gefreiter

Designation

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The designation of the particular OR1-rank depends on the individual branch and career of the soldier as regulated in the Zentrale Dienstvorschrift 14/5. The sole OR1-rank designation in the Marine is Matrose, and Sanitätssoldat in the Bundeswehr medical service. Other OR1-designations are described in the table below.

Rank
designation
Abbrev.[3] Carrier grout (e.g.[4])
Flieger Flg
Funker Fu soldiers with the lowest OR1-rank
  • in the Signal Corps, not involved to units of tactical combat forces like Armoured Corps
  • of the Heer in stationary communications centers
  • in signal units of the Electronic Warfare
  • in units of the Operational Communications
Grenadier Gren Heer uniformed personnel with the lowest OR1-rank serving in the Wachbataillon beim Bundesministerium der Verteidigung since 1991 (until 1991 Jäger)
Jäger Jg soldiers with the lowest OR1-rank in the units of Jägertruppe, Fallschirmjägertruppe and Gebirgsjägertruppe
Kanonier Kan soldier with the lowest OR1-rank
  • of the Artillery Corps (except Panzerhaubitze units)
  • in the Flugabwehrraketengeschwader 1 of the Luftwaffe
  • of the Geo-Information Service belonging to the Heer
Matrose Matr German Navy uniformed personnel with the lowest OR1-rank
Panzerfunker PzFu soldiers with the lowest OR1-rank of signal troops, integrated to units of the Armoured Corps
Panzergrenadier PzGren, PG
  • soldier with the lowest OR1-rank in units of the Panzergrenadiertruppe
  • Panzergrenadier is also the collective name to all personnel of the Panzergrenadiertruppe
Panzerjäger PzJg This OR1-rank was discontinued in line with the abolishment of the Panzerjägertruppe (Anti-tank troops) in 2006.
  • from 1955 to 2006 it was the lowest OR1-rank of the Panzerjägertruppe
  • Panzerjäger was also the collective name for all Panzerjägertruppe personnel
Panzerkanonier PzKan soldier with the lowest OR1-rank of Artillery Corps batteries equipped with armored self-propelled howitzers (de: Panzerhaubitze)
Panzerpionier PzPi
  • soldier with the lowest OR1-rank of Panzerpionier units (en: Armored engineer)
  • Panzerpionier is also the collective name to all persons in uniform of the Bundeswehr Panzerpionier companies / Panzerpionier battalions
Panzerschütze PzSchtz soldier with the lowest OR1-rank of units of the Panzertruppe (en: Armoured corps)
Pionier Pi
  • soldier with the lowest OR1-rank of Pioniertruppe (en: Combat engineering), with the exception of armored engineer units
  • Pionier is also the collective name for all Pioniertruppe personnel
Sanitätssoldat SanSdt
  • soldier with the lowest OR1-rank in the Joint Medical Service (Germany) or the Heer medical service
  • Sanitätssoldat is also the collective name for personnel of the Sanitätsdienst der Bundeswehr (en: Bundeswehr Medical Service)
Schütze Schtz Normally all military personnel with the lower OR-1 rank serving in Heer that is not mentioned above.

Wehrmacht until 1945

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Final ranks to enlisted men until 1945
Waffen-SS Heer (Army) Luftwaffe (Air Force) Kriegsmarine (Navy)
SS-Schütze Schütze Flieger Matrose
SS-Oberschütze Oberschütze
SS-Sturmmann Gefreiter Matrosengefreiter
SS-Rottenführer Obergefreiter Matrosenobergefreiter
No equivalent Hauptgefreiter Matrosenhauptgefreiter
No equivalent Stabsgefreiter Matrosenstabsgefreiter
No equivalent Matrosenoberstabsgefreiter

Ukraine

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Soldat is the lowest rank of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, Marine Corps, and Air Force. It was introduced in 1991, replacing the former rank of private.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Official Website (Bundeswehr): Dienstgrade und Uniformen der Bundeswehr (Service Ranks and Uniforms of the German Federal Defence Forces), in German. [1]
  2. ^ BROCKHAUS, The encyclopedia in 24 volumes (1796–2001), Volume 20: 3-7653-3680-7, page 396; definition «Soldat».
  3. ^ In lists indicated always „S“
  4. ^ The carrier enlisted art to be understood as an example. There are several exemptions. Moreover, the rank designations described may be used in other service branches as well.