Leutnant

Not to be confused withLieutenant,the English version of the rank.

Leutnant(German pronunciation:[ˈlɔʏtnant]) is the lowestJunior officerrank in the armed forces ofGermany(Bundeswehr), theAustrian Armed Forces,and themilitary of Switzerland.

History

The German noun (with the meaning "Stellvertreter"(in English" deputy ") from Middle High German «locum tenens»Platzhalter(in English "place holder" ) was derived from the French wordLieutenantabout 1500. In most German-speaking armies it is the lowest officer rank (in German-speaking naviesLeutnant zur See(English "Lieutenant at sea" )). In the German Bundeswehr the ranksLeutnantandOberleutnantbelong to theLeutnantrank group. In some other armed forces (such as the formerNational People's Army) there is the lower grade ofUnterleutnant.

From about 1500 until the middle of the 17th century the designation ofLeutnantwas commonly used for any deputy to a commanding officer. So at the army level there was the appointment ofGeneral-Leutnant(English "lieutenant-general" ), at the regimental level there was that ofOberst-Leutnant(English "lieutenant-colonel" ), and at the company level theLeutnantwas deputy to aHauptmann(English "captain" ).

With the formation of standing armies in the second half of the 17th century, the term commonly came to designate the rank of the least senior commissioned officer.

In the 18th and 19th century, at the unit level severalLeutnantsserved as platoon leaders. At that time the ranks ofPremier-LieutenantandSeconde-Lieutenantcame into existence. With effect from January 1, 1899, in the German Empire these ranks were renamed asOberleutnantandLeutnant.

Austria

See also:Ranks of the Austrian Bundesheer

Leutnant
Field and service uniform insignia
Country	Austria
Service branch	Austrian Armed Forces
Abbreviation	Lt
Rank group	Junior officer
Non-NATOrank	OF-1
Next higher rank	Oberleutnant
Next lower rank	Fähnrich

In Austria theLeutnant(short:Lt) is the second lowestCOrank. Mandatory to be promoted to that rank is a six terms course of high school studies (until August 2008 eight terms) with 180 ECTS points on theTheresian Military Academyin theWiener Neustadt.The studies are focused on "Military Command and Control" (C2) and the academy-leaver graduate toBachelor.

The career in theMilitiais structured in a different way. Here the modular education comprises the so-calledone-year volunteer year(de:Einjährig-Freiwilliger[EF]) as well as several courses, seminars, and exercises with a final aptitude test. After an overall service time of five years the promotion to «Leutnant» is possible.

Moreover, the appointment designationLeutnantis possible for leading officials (E1) of the Austrian executive, e.g. the AustrianFederal Police(ge:Bundespolizei) and prison authority personnel (de:Justizwache).

Austro-Hungarian Army

Main article:Rank insignia of the Austro-Hungarian Army

Until 1918Leutnant(Hungarian:Hadnagy) was in the Austria-Hungarian Army the lowest CO-rank as well, equivalent toAssistenz-Arzt and Leutnant-Rechnungsführer.

Leutnant rank insignias of the k.u.k. Army

Description			Rank		Insignia
German	Hungarian	English	class		Army	Mountain infantry
Low grade officers
Leutnant also: Assistenz-Arzt Leutnant-Rechnungsführer	Hadnagy	Second lieutenant	XI

Germany

Lieutenant Leutnant
Army and Air Force insignia
Country	Germany
Service branch	German Army German Air Force
Abbreviation	Lt.
NATOrank code	OF-1
Formation	1871
Next higher rank	Oberleutnant
Next lower rank	Oberstabsfeldwebel
Equivalent ranks	Leutnant zur See(Navy)

The rank ofLeutnanthas been used in the German armed forces since 1899.

Bundeswehr

Main article:Ranks of the German Bundeswehr

See also:Rank insignia of the German Bundeswehr

In theBundeswehrtoday, aLeutnantwill be normally appointed asplatoon leader.However, the rank ofLeutnantmight also be held while a junior officer is studying at theUniversity of the German Federal Armed Forcesor at another training or education establishment. TheLeutnantof theBundeswehrbelongs to the "Leutnant'srank group "(also: subaltern officer rank group).

Rank

In Germany,Leutnant(short.:Lt/ on lists also:L) is the designation of a soldier of the lowest officer rank. The equivalent in theGerman Navy(Deutsche Marine) is theLeutnant zur See.

Rank insignias Leutnant» / Leutnant zur See (OF-1)
Uniform (basic version Jägertruppe)	Field uniform (Jägertruppe)	Field uniform (Reservist Logistik)	Field uniform (SanOA (vet.))	Uniform (basic version)	Field uniform	Field uniform (Lw SanOA (dent.))	Shoulder board	Shoulder board (SanOA (hum.))	Cuff title	Mounting loop

Soldiers with that particular rank, are mandated and authorized to provide military orders as to the so-calledSuperior-subordinate relationstoprivate ranks(de: Mannschaften), NCOs without port épée (de: Unteroffiziere ohne port épée), as well as to Senior NCOs with port épée (de: Unteroffizier mit port épée).

junior Rank Oberstabsfeldwebel

(German officer rank) Leutnant

senior Rank Oberleutnant

National People's Army

Main article:Ranks of the National People's Army

In the GDRNational People's Army(NPA) the rankLeutnantwas the second lowest commissioned offer (CO) rank until 1990. This was in reference to Soviet military doctrine and in line with other armed forces of theWarsaw Pact.

The equivalent rank of theVolksmarine(en: GDR Navy) was theLeutnant zur See,often called simplyLeutnantfor short. In reference to the Soviet armed forces and to other armed forces of the Warsaw pactLeutnantwas the second lowest officer rank until 1990.

Junior Rank Unterleutnant

National People's Army rank Leutnant (Leutnant zur See)

Senior Rank Oberleutnant

Rank insignias Leutnant / Leutnant zur See (OF-1)
Land forces	Air Force	GDR Border troops	Volksmarine
N/A
Leutnant			Leutnant zur See

Nazi Germany

Main article:World War II German Army ranks and insignia

See also:Table of ranks and insignia of the Waffen-SS

InNazi Germany,within theSSandWaffen-SS,the rank ofSS-Untersturmführerwas considered to be the equivalent of anLeutnantin the German Army. However, in theSAthe equivalent toLeutnantwasSA-Sturmführer.

Switzerland

Main article:Military ranks of the Swiss Armed Forces

Leutnantin Switzerland
Rank insignia	Swiss Army
Introduction
Rank group	Subalternoffiziere(en: Subaltern commissioned officers)
Army / Air Force	Leutnant
Navy	no equivalent
Lower: Higher:	Chefadjutant
	Oberleutnant

In themilitary of SwitzerlandtheLeutnant(Lieutenant,Tenente) is the lowest commissioned officer rank. Promotion to the next highest rank,Oberleutnant,occurs after three refresher courses (contingent upon good performance) or automatically after six years' service.

For missions outside of Switzerland, the rankLeutnantwill be designated in English asSecond lieutenant.

Swiss Guard

• Rank insignia forLeutnant
• 
  Army

References

Works cited

• Flaherty, T. H. (2004) [1988].The Third Reich: The SS.Time-Life Books, Inc.ISBN1-84447-073-3.
• McNab, Chris (2009).The Third Reich.Amber Books Ltd.ISBN978-1-906626-51-8.

Further reading

• Die Streitkräfte der Republik Österreich, 1918-1968,Heeresgeschichtliches Museum, Militärwissenschaftliches Institut, 1968.