Rittmeister

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Rittmeister (in German language literally [Horse] riding master or Cavalry master) was the military rank of a commissioned cavalry officer in charge of a squadron, the equivalent of Captain, in the armies of German-speaking states and Austro-Hungarian.

The Dutch equivalent, Ritmeester, still serves as the official designation for O3 officers in the armoured and mechanized infantry branches of the Royal Dutch Army.

The Norwegian equivalent, Rittmester, still serves as the official designation for O3 officers in the armoured and mechanized infantry branches of the Royal Norwegian Army. In Sweden the rank was known as Ryttmästare, and in Denmark as Ritmester.

The Polish army also used a similar rank, Rotmistrz.

The rank was also adopted into Russian New Regiments as rotmistr (ро́тмистр) and later legalized in Table of Ranks as the cavalry position; in 1798, a lower-ranking Stabs-Rittmeister was created.