|
Soldiers selected for NCO training did so at
special NCO schools.
Promotion to NCO ranks was according to certain specifications in addition
to the requirement for a vacancy to exist in the unit's table of
organization.
|
From |
To |
Requirement
for Promotion
Combat Unit |
Requirement
for
Promotion
Other Field Unit |
Other
|
| Schütze |
Gefreiter
 |
4 months in combat
unit
6 months total service |
4 months in field unit
1 year total service |
Otherwise, after 2 years |
| Gefreiter |
Obergefreiter |
2 years total
service |
2 years total service |
Otherwise, after 3 years |
| Obergefreiter
|
Stabsgefreiter
 |
5 years (2 as
Obergefreiter) |
5 years (2 as Obergefreiter) |
Otherwise, after 6 years
(2 as Obergefreiter) |
| Any Mannschaften
rank |
Unteroffizier |
2 years total
service |
2 years total service |
|
TRAINING
Non-commissioned officer
training fell under the purview of the Inspector of Army (Training and
Education). In March 1944 this role was broadened in scope and renamed
Generalinspekteur für den Führernachwuchs des Heeres (Inspector General
for Potential Leaders). This position was subordinate to the Chief of Army
Equipment and Commander of the Replacement Army. He was responsible for the
standardized recruitment, training, and political indoctrination of all
potential officers and non-commissioned officers. Among his other
responsibilities was the oversight of the Non-commissioned Officer School
Branch (Abteilung Unteroffizier-Vorschulen u. -Schulen)2
The training of
potential officers and non-commissioned officers wherever it occurs,
takes place either under the command or under the supervision of the
Inspector General for Potential Officers and non-commissioned officers.
His authority is restricted to supervision when this type of training
takes place in establishments under the command of the Chief of
Training, the Inspector General of Panzer Troops, or any Wehrkreis
headquarters. Special-service schools and specialist training schools
are under the command of the Chief of Training with the exception of the
Schools for Panzer Troops, which are commanded by the Inspector General
of Panzer Troops.3
Enlistment
Non-commissioned officers
fell into two basic categories.
Those who enlisted for terms
of 4.5 or 12 years were Active or Professional NCOs. Active NCOs could serve
in regular units, or opt for specialized technical training. Ordinary NCO
training was conducted at Army NCO Schools (Heeres-Unteroffizier-Schulen)
and technical training at specialist training schools and special service
schools (Waffen-Schulen). Before the war, NCOs who signed for 12 year
terms were provided vocational training at the end of their service, this
training was restricted in wartime to soldiers rendered unfit for further
service due to injuries, etc.
The German Army considered
the identification and training of suitable NCO candidates to be of vital
importance in maintaining combat effectiveness. There were two routes to
becoming a professional NCO. Volunteers could apply at 16.5 years of age,
subject to selection, or enter the Army directly at 17 as an NCO Applicant (Unteroffizier-Bewerber).
Some applicants would have had pre-Army training as junior cadets (Jungschützen)
in Army noncommissioned officer preparatory schools (Heeres-Unteroffizier-Vorschulen).
If already conscripted, serving soldiers could still enlist for 4.5 or 12
year terms, provided they had a good record and demonstrated leadership and
instructional abilities. Conscripts had to serve at least one year, and were
not accepted as NCO candidates until two years had passed. If accepted and
within the age limits (for 12 year terms the soldier could not exceed 38
years of age by the end of the term, for 4.5 year terms the maximum age was
28) the soldier's battalion commander would appoint him NCO Applicant.
Conscripts promoted to NCO
rank were designated Reserve NCOs. Reserve NCOs received training in NCO
courses (Unterführer-Lehrgänge) conducted in either the Field Army or
the Replacement Army. Conscripts considered acceptable as future
noncommissioned officers and are considered for promotion, but who did not
enlist for a definite service period, were appointed reserve noncommissioned
officer applicants (Reserve-Unteroffizier-Bewerber) by their
battalion commanders. They were normally trained at a Military District (Wehrkreis)
NCO course and later in the war at Army NCO schools. Soldiers who did not
enlist for long-term service but were accepted in technician training were
designated as reserve noncommissioned officer technicians.
Training
NCO Applicants in units of
the Replacement Army attended NCO School. Until February 1944 the training
period was 10 months, including 4 months of basic training. In February 1944
the NCO Schools ceased providing basic training, and applicant volunteer
NCOs did their initial training with other recruits. Advanced NCO training
was reduced to 5 months, and for some specialized branches 3 months.
Generally by 1944 NCO candidates did six months of advanced training before
promotion to Gefreiter and transfer to a field unit.
NCO Applicants in units of
the Field Army took instruction at schools run by field headquarters (such
as a divisional combat school) or a field NCO school (Feld-Unteroffizier-Schule)
where field conditions were approximated to a much higher degree.
Soldiers who had enlisted for
12-year terms of service could opt to become Technicians (Sonderlaufbahnen),
while some technical trades (medical technician, blacksmith, musicians) were
open to those enlisting for 4.5 year terms as well. Most technical trades
required professional backgrounds. Technicians did apprenticeships and
courses of varying lengths at specialist training schools, and courses were
often shorted due to the war, meaning soldiers would not emerge as
full-fledged technicians and have to do supplemental training later on.
Technicians included Supply, Ordnance, Weapon, Signal Supply, Pigeoneer,
Fortress-Engineer, Fortress Maintenance, Medical and Blacksmith Technicians
as well as Musicians.
Some NCOs received special training to
perform specific functions, without being classified as Technicians. They
could be trained in their own units or headquarters including on-the-job
training and apprenticeships, or by special courses run by headquarters or
in the field at divisional battle schools. Some of these functions included
Hauptfeldwebel (Company NCO), Clothing Supply NCO, Company Clerks, Supply
NCO, Gas Protection NCO, Mess NCO, etc.5
Notes
- Thomas, Nigel and Stephen Andrew
The German Army 1939-45 (2): North Africa & Balkans (Osprey
Publishing, Botley, Oxford, UK, 1998) ISBN 1-85532-640-X p.45
- Handbook on German Military Forces,
pp.I-29 to I-32
- Ibid, p.I-69
- Ibid, pp. I-71 to I-74
- Ibid
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