Schütze
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Schütze is a rank of the Armed Forces of Germany which predates the First World War. Usually translated as "Private", Schütze has been used by every branch of the German military (with the exception of the Navy) and is the lowest enlisted rank.
The word can also be used in German to mean "shooter" or "rifleman". It also occurs occasionally as a surname.
During the Second World War, SS-Schütze also became an rank in the Waffen-SS. Other branches of the SS referred to the rank as Mann.
The present day German military maintains Schütze as the lowest enlisted grade, with a NATO rank code of OR-1. A Schütze ranks below Gefreiter, considered the equivalent of a Private First Class or a Lance Corporal.
During various periods in German military history, a senior private rank known as Oberschütze existed between the grades of Schütze and Gefreiter.
In the modern German Army the rank of Schütze is not used very often. Every part of the Bundeswehr has a different name for this Rank. For example, in the Panzergrenadiertruppe (Heavy Mechanized Infantry) the name of the rank is Panzergrenadier, and within the Communication Troops (Fernmelder), the name is Funker (Radio Operator).
| Junior Rank Anwärter |
SS rank Schütze |
Senior Rank Oberschütze |
