Oberleutnant

Not to be confused with the more senior German Army/Air Force rank Oberstleutnant (OF4), equivalent to lieutenant colonel.

Oberleutnant
Rank insignia	German officer rank
Introduction	1871
Rank group	Commissioned officers
Army / Air Force	Oberleutnant
Navy	Oberleutnant zur See
NATO equivalent	OF-1a
Army	First lieutenant
Navy	*Lieutenant (junior grade) *Sub-Lieutenant

Oberleutnant (OF-1a) is the highest Lieutenant officer rank in the armed forces of Germany (Bundeswehr), Austrian Armed Forces, and Military of Switzerland.

History

In the German Army, it dates from the early 19th century. Translated as "senior lieutenant", the rank is typically bestowed upon commissioned officers after five to six years of active duty service.

Oberleutnant is used by both the German Army and the German Air Force. In the NATO military comparison system, a German Oberleutnant is the equivalent of a First lieutenant or Poruchik in the Army/Air Forces of Allied nations.

Other uses

The equivalent naval rank is Oberleutnant zur See.

In Nazi Germany, within the SS, SA and Waffen-SS, the rank of Obersturmführer was considered the equivalent of an Oberleutnant in the German Army.

junior Rank Leutnant

(German officer rank) Oberleutnant

senior Rank Hauptmann

Rank insignias Oberleutnant/Oberleutnant zur See (OF-1a)
Service uniform (basic form) (Armored corps)	Field uniform (Armored infantry)	San OA	Service uniform (basic form)	Field uniform	San OA	Shoulder strap	Sleeve insignia	Mountin loop	San OA

See also

• Comparative military ranks of World War I
• Comparative military ranks of World War II
• Ranks of the German Bundeswehr
• Rank insignia of the German Bundeswehr
• Yliluutnantti