Oberarzt(short: OArzt or OA), literally meaning "senior physician," in English known asfirst lieutenant (Dr.),was a militarycommissioned officerrank in the Austro-HungarianCommon Armyuntil 1918, and in the GermanReichswehrandWehrmachtuntil 1945.
It describes a qualified or licensedsurgeonordentistwith a rank equal to1st lieutenant(de: Oberleutnant) orsub-lieutenant lieutenant(de: Oberleutant zur See)NATO-RangcodeOF1a[1]inanglophonearmed forces.
While holders of this rank were commissioned officers, their authority was usually limited to medical matters and medical staff, and they were regarded asnon-combatantsand accorded the status of "protected persons"underinternational humanitarian lawwhen participating inhumanitarianwork duringarmed conflicts.As such, they could not be attacked, harmed or taken asprisoners of war,and were entitled under theGeneva Conventionsto carry out their work without being inhibited.
During the German airborne invasion of Crete, 20 May 1941, one military medical doctor (Oberarzt Doctor Neumann) took command of the first battalion of the Parachute Storm Regiment when all other officers were killed or wounded. He commanded the battalion during the first assault oh Hill 107.
Germany
edit
Wehrmacht
editIn theGerman Wehrmachtfrom 1933 until 1945 there were the OF1a-ranksOberarzt(physician),Oberapotheker(pharacologis), andOberveterinär(veterinary), comparable to theOberleutnant/First lieutenantOF2a-rank.
During wartime, the regular assignment ofOberarztwas the management of abattalion dressing station(de. Truppenverbandsplatz), supported by second lieutenants (Dr.), and help surgeons (de: Assistenz-, and Hilfsärzte). However, a battalion dressing station could be managed by anAssistenzarzt(OF1b) as well.
In line to the so-calledReichsbesoldungsordnung(en: Reich's salary order), appendixes to the Salary law of the German Empire (de: Besoldungsgesetz des Deutschen Reiches) of 1927[2](changes 1937 – 1940), the comparative ranks were as follows: C 8/C 9
- Oberleutnant, Leutnant (Heer and Luftwaffe)
- Leutnant
- Oberleutnant zur See (Kriegsmarine)
- Leutnant zur See
- Oberarzt (medical service of the Wehrmacht)
- Assistenzarzt
- Marineoberassistenzarzt, introduced June 26, 1935 (medical service of the Kriegsmarine)
- Marineassistenzarzt
- Oberveterinär (veterinarian service of the Wehrmacht)
- Veterinär
Thecorps colourof the military Health Service Support (HSS) in German armed forces was traditionaldark bluedark blue,and of the veterinarian servicecarmine red.[3]This tradition was continued by the medical service corps in Heer and Luftwaffe of the Reichswehr and Wehrmacht. However, thecorps colourof theWaffen-SSandKriegsmarineHSS wascornflower blue.
| junior Rank Assistenzarzt |
 German medical officer rank Oberarzt |
senior Rank Stabsarzt |
Address
editThe manner of formal addressing of military surgeons/dentists with the rankOberarztwas, "err Oberarzt"; with the rankMarineoberarzt- "Herr Marineoberarzt".
| RanksWehrmachtuntil 1945[4] |  Ranks | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical service | entranslation | Equivalent Heer | en equivalent | |
| Generaloberstabsarzt | Senior Staff-Surgeon General | General der Waffengattung | three star rank | OF-8 |
| Generalstabsarzt | Staff-Surgeon General | Generalleutnant | two star rank | OF-7 |
| Generalarzt | Surgeon General | Generalmajor | one star rank | OF-6 |
| Oberstarzt | Colonel (Dr.) | Oberst | Colonel | OF-5 |
| Oberfeldarzt | Lieutenant colonel (Dr.) | Oberstleutnant | Lieutenant colonel | OF-4 |
| Oberstabsarzt | Major (Dr.) | Major | OF-3 | |
| Stabsarzt | Captain (Dr.) | Hauptmann | Captain (army) | OF-2 |
| Oberarzt | First lieutenant (Dr.) | Oberleutnant | First lieutenant | OF-1a |
| Assistenzarzt | Second lieutenant (Dr.) | Leutnant | Second lieutenant | OF-1b |
| Unterarzt | Sergeant 1st Class (Dr.) | Fahnenjunker-Oberfeldwebel | Officer Aspirant | OR-7[5] |
| Feldunterarzt(from 1940) | ||||
| RanksKriegsmarine(medical service) | Ranks | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical service | entranslation | Equivalent Kriegsmarine | en equivalent | |
| Admiraloberstabsarzt | Surgeon general | Admiral (Germany) | three star rank | OF-8 |
| Admiralstabsarzt | Rear admiral upper half (Dr.) | Vizeadmiral | two star rank | OF-7 |
| Admiralarzt | Rear admiral lower half (Dr.) | Konteradmiral | one star rank | OF-6 |
| Flottenarzt | Captain naval (Dr.) | Kapitän zur See | Captain (naval) | OF-5 |
| Geschwaderarzt | Commander (Dr.) | Fregattenkapitän | Commander | OF-4 |
| Marineoberstabsarzt | Lieutenant commander (Dr.) | Korvettenkapitän | Lieutenant commander | OF-3 |
| Marinestabsarzt | Lieutenant naval (Dr.) | Kapitänleutnant | Lieutenant (naval) | OF-2 |
| Marineoberarzt | Lieutenant junior grade (Dr.) | Oberleutnant zur See | Lieutenant (junior grade) | OF-1a |
| Marineassistenzarzt | Ensign (Dr.) | Leutnant zur See | Ensign | OF-1b |
Austria-Hungary
editIn theAustria-HungarianCommon Army(de: Gemeinsame Armee or k.u.k. Armee) there were the OF1a-ranksOberarztandObertierarzuntil 1918. That particular ranks were comparable to theOberleutnant/1st lieutenantOF1-rank as well.[6]
| Ranksk.u.k. Armyuntil 1918 | Ranks | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical service | en | Equivalent Heer | en | |
| Generalstabsarzt | Staff-Surgeon General | Generalmajor | Major general | OF-6 |
| Oberstabsarzt I. Klasse | Colonel (Dr. 1st class) | Oberst | Colonel | OF-5 |
| Oberstabsarzt II. Klasse | Lieutenant colonel (Dr. 2nd class) | Oberstleutnant | Lieutenant colonel | OF-4 |
| Stabsarzt | Major (Dr.) | Major | OF-3 | |
| Regimentsarzt I. Klasse | Captain (Dr. 1st class) | Hauptmann | Captain | OF-2 |
| Regimentsarzt II. Klasse | Captain (Dr. 2nd class) | |||
| Oberarzt | First lieutenant (Dr.) | Oberleutnant | First lieutenant | OF-1 |
| Assistenzarzt | Second lieutenant (Dr.) | Leutnant | Second lieutenant | |
References
edit- ^The abbreviation "OF" stands for de:"Offizier / en: officer / fr: officier / ru: офицер"
- ^Besoldungsgesetz vom 16. Dezember 1927 (RGBl. I…, C Soldaten S. 391), changes 1937 to 1940
- ^“War and victory 1870-71”, culture history, published by Julius von Pflugk-Harttung. (Original title: Krieg und Sieg 1870-71, Kulturgeschichte, Herausgeber Julius von Pflugk-Harttung.)
- ^F. Altrichter: “The reserve officer”, fourteenth checked addition, Berlin 1941, pages 158-159. (Original title: F. Altrichter: „Der Reserveoffizier “, vierzehnte durchgesehene Auflage, Berlin 1941, Seiten 158-159.)
- ^The abbreviation "OR" stands for"Other Ranks / fr: sous-officiers et militaires du rang / ru:другие ранги, кроме офицероф"
- ^Schriften des Heeresgeschichtlifhen Museums in WienDas k.u.k. Heer im Jahre 1895EditionLeopold StockerGraz 1997ISBN3-7020-0783-0.