Oberstleutnant#Denmark

File:Bundesheer - Rank insignia - Oberstleutnant.png

Austria's armed forces, the Bundesheer, uses the rank Oberstleutnant as its sixth-highest officer rank. Like in Germany and Switzerland, Oberstleutnants are above Majors and below Obersts. The term also finds usage with the Austrian Bundespolizei (federal police force) and Justizwache (prison guards corps). These two organizations are civilian in nature, but their ranks are nonetheless structured in a military fashion.

File:Army-BEL-OF-04.svg|{{langx|nl-BE|Luitenant-kolonel}}
{{langx|de|Oberstleutnant}}

{{see also|Ranks and insignia of Royal Danish Army|Ranks and insignia of Royal Danish Air Force}}

{{Infobox military rank

| name = {{lang|da|Oberstløjtnant}}

| native_name =

| image = {{nobreak|50px 50px}}

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption = Army and air force insignia

| image2 =

| image_size2 =

| alt2 =

| caption2 =

| image3 =

| image_size3 =

| alt3 =

| caption3 =

| country = {{flag|Denmark}}

| service branch = {{ubl|{{army|Denmark}}|{{air force|Denmark}}}}

| abbreviation =

| rank group = Senior officer ({{lang|da|Chefniveau}})

| rank =

| NATO rank = OF-4

| Non-NATO rank =

| pay grade = M401

| formation =

| abolished =

| higher rank = {{lang|da|Oberst}}

| lower rank = {{lang|da|Major}}

| equivalents = {{lang|da|Kommandørkaptajn}}

| history =

}}

The Danish rank of {{lang|da|oberstløjtnant}} is based around the German term.{{sfn|Danske Soldater|1935|p=3}} Ranked OF-4 within NATO and having the paygrade of M401,{{sfn|Ministry of Defence|2017}} it is used in the Royal Danish Army and the Royal Danish Air Force. The equivalent rank in the Royal Danish Navy is {{lang|da|kommandørkaptajn}}.

On 25 May 1671, the ranks were codified, by King Christian V, with the publication of the Danish order of precedence. Here there were two types of {{lang|da|oberstløjtnant}}s. The {{lang|da|oberstløjtnant}} of the Life Guards placed below {{lang|da|oberstløjtnant}}s of the infantry and cavalry, and above {{lang|da|general-qvarteermester}}. Standard {{lang|da|oberstløjtnant}}s was below {{lang|da|general-qvarteermester}} and above {{lang|da|Major}}s.{{sfn|danmarkshistorien.dk|2017}}

As part of the Army Reform of 1867, the ranks of {{lang|da|major}} and {{lang|da|oberstløjtnant}} were removed, making {{lang|da|oberst}} the only senior officer.{{sfn|Klint|1965|p=8}} By 1889, {{lang|da|oberstløjtnant}} was reintroduced.{{cite journal |last1=Hansen |first1=Bert |last2=Løvschall |first2=Frans |last3=Nilsson |first3=Birger |editor1-last=Skøtt |editor1-first=Ole |title=Den Danske Hær og Flådes Uniformer 1886 |trans-title=Uniforms of the Danish Army and Navy 1886 |journal=Vaabenhistoriske Aarsbøger |date=1997 |publisher=Devantier |volume=42 |language=da |page=196 |issn=0108-707X}}

{{clear}}

{{Infobox military rank

| name = {{lang|de|Oberstleutnant}}

| native_name =

| image = {{nowrap|88px 88px}}

| image_size =

| caption = Army and Air Force insignia (Germany)

| image2 =

| image_size2 =

| caption2 =

| country = {{flagcountry|Germany}}

| service branch = {{army|Germany}}
{{air force|Germany}}

| abbreviation = OTL

| rank =

| NATO rank = OF-4

| Non-NATO rank =

| abolished =

| higher rank = Oberst

| lower rank = Major

| equivalents = {{bulleted list|{{nowrap|Lieutenant colonel}}|{{nowrap|Fregattenkapitän (German Navy)}}}}

}}

Typically, suffixes can be applied to the word Oberstleutnant to specify the individual type of officer. Retired officers that are not incapacitated (i.e. theoretically available for reactivation) from service continue to use their title with the suffix a.D. (Germany)Bundesbeamtengesetz (BBG) §86 or aD (Switzerland),Verordnung über die Militärdienstpflicht (VMDP), Artikel 95. an abbreviation of außer Dienst, 'out of service'. Suffixes that specify military specialization in active service include Oberstleutnant i.G. ('im Generalstabsdienst') for general staff officers or Oberstleutnant d.R. ('der Reserve') for reservists. The suffix i.R. ('im Ruhestand'), implying retirement without the legal specification of a.D., is unofficial.

The armed forces of West Germany and unified Germany since 1955, the Bundeswehr uses the Oberstleutnant rank in the German Army and German Air Force. Equivalents in the other branches are Fregattenkapitän for the German Navy, Oberfeldarzt for medical staff, Flottillenarzt for naval medical staff, Oberfeldapotheker for apothecary staff, Flottillenapotheker for naval apothecary staff, and Oberfeldveterinär for veterinary medical staff.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bgbl.de/xaver/bgbl/start.xav?startbk=Bundesanzeiger_BGBl&jumpTo=bgbl178s1067.pdf#__bgbl__%2F%2F*%5B%40attr_id%3D%27bgbl178s1067.pdf%27%5D__1568619348345|title=Presidential Order on Rank Designation and Uniform of Soldiers ("Anordnung des Bundespräsidenten über die Dienstgradbezeichnungen und die Uniform der Soldaten"), Bundesgesetzblatt Teil 1 1978 Nr. 40 vom 25.07.1978, p. 1067|last=Scheel|first=Walter|author-link=Walter Scheel|last2=Schmidt|first2=Helmut|author-link2=Helmut Schmidt|date=25 July 1968|website=Bundesanzeiger Verlag|language=de|access-date=16 Sep 2019|last3=Apel|first3=Hans|author-link3=Hans Apel}}

Within the German state employee paygrade system, the Oberstleutnant is placed within Besoldungsgruppe A and receives either the A14 or A15 paygrades, depending on individual seniority. Thus, the Oberstleutnant is paid an equivalent wage to that of first-class consuls and legates in the foreign service (A14) or state-employed school directors, ambassadors and general consuls (A15).{{Cite web|url=https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bbesg/anlage_i.html|title=Bundesbesoldungsgesetz Anlage I (zu § 20 Absatz 2 Satz 1) Bundesbesoldungsordnungen A und B|last=German Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection|date=23 May 1975|website=Gesetze im Internet|language=de}}

The age limit for Oberstleutnant-rank officers is 61.Gesetz über die Rechtsstellung der Soldaten (Soldatengesetz - SG) §45 Abs. 2 (3)

The Oberstleutnant's shoulder straps in Army and Air Force are marked by two vertically aligned stars above oak leaves.

The Federal Border Guard (Bundesgrenzschutz) used the rank Oberstleutnant until 1976, after which it was replaced by the terms Polizeioberrat and Polizeidirektor as part of the government's effort to transform West Germany's federal border guard agency into a less militarized structure.Gesetz über die Personalstruktur des Bundesgrenzschutzes (BGSPersG), Art. 5

The Wehrmacht (1935-1945) of Nazi Germany used the rank of Oberstleutnant for Army and Air Force, much in the same style the Bundeswehr does. The Waffen-SS (1933-1945) used the rank Obersturmbannführer as an equivalent.{{Cite book|title=Handbuch der Wehrmacht 1939-1945: Ein Nachschlagewerk|last=Lucas|first=James|publisher=Tosa Verlag|year=2001|location=Vienna|pages=190|language=de|translator-last=Kaspar|translator-first=Rudolf|chapter=Anhang I: Gegenüberstellung der Rangbezeichnungen|orig-year=1998}}

The National People's Army (1956-1990) of East Germany used the rank Oberstleutnant (abbr. OSL) for its army and air force, whereas the Volksmarine used the term Fregattenkapitän.

{{expand section|date=October 2021}}

The rank of {{lang|no|Oberstløytnant}} was introduced around the same time as Denmark, as Norway at the time was part of Denmark–Norway.{{sfn|Petersen|2014|p=493}}

Norway-army-OF-4.svg|Army

Norway-air force-OF-4.svg|Air Force

{{main|Överstelöjtnant}}

The Swedish variant {{lang|sv|överstelöjtnant}}, is a senior field grade military officer rank in the Swedish Army and the Swedish Air Force, immediately below the rank of colonel and just above the rank of major. It is equivalent to the naval rank of Commodore captain in the Swedish Navy.{{cite web |url=http://rkrattsdb.gov.se/SFSdoc/00/000556.PDF |publisher=Swedish Code of Statutes |title=Förordning om ändring i officersförordningen (1994:882) |page=2 |date=26 June 2000 |access-date=7 October 2020 |language=sv}}

Sweden-Army-OF-4 (M1987).svg|Army

OF-4 Överstelöjtnant AMF hylsa.jpg|Amphibious Corps

OF-4 Överstelöjtnant FV hylsa.svg|Air Force

{{empty section|date=April 2021}}

CHE OF4 Oberstlt2.svg|Army

{{empty section|date=April 2021}}

Rank insignia of Oberstleutnant (OF-4) Pontifical Swiss Guard.svg|Army

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

;Citations

{{Reflist}}

;Bibliography

• {{cite web |author1=danmarkshistorien.dk |title=Rangforordningen, 25. maj 1671 |url=https://danmarkshistorien.dk/leksikon-og-kilder/vis/materiale/rangforordningen-25-maj-1671/ |publisher=danmarkshistorien.dk |access-date=15 March 2021 |language=da |date=17 May 2017}}
• {{cite journal |last1=Klint |first1=Helge |title=Træk af Hærstabens historie |journal=Hærkommandoens Årsskrift |date=1965 |pages=5–11 |publisher=Nyt Nordisk Forlag |language=da}}
• {{cite journal |author1= |title=Grads-Betegnelserne i Hæren |journal=Danske Soldater |date=12 February 1935 |volume=2 |issue=2 |language=da |ref={{harvid|Danske Soldater|1935}} }}
• {{cite book |author1=Military Committee Land Standardization Board |title=STANAG 2116 |date=13 January 2021 |publisher=NATO Standardization Agency |edition=7th |ref={{harvid|STANAG 2116}}}}
• {{cite web |author1=Ministry of Defence |author1-link=Ministry of Defence (Denmark) |title=Historik |url=https://forpers.dk/hr/Pages/Historik.aspx |website=forpers.dk |publisher=Forsvarsministeriets Personalestyrelse |access-date=8 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190222185850/https://forpers.dk/hr/Pages/Historik.aspx |archive-date=22 February 2019 |language=da |date=9 January 2017}}
• {{cite book |last1=Petersen |first1=Karsten Skjold |title=Kongens klæder - Hærens uniformer og udrustning i Danmark-Norge |date=2014 |publisher=Historika |location=Slovenia |isbn=9788793229006 |edition=1st |language=da}}

{{German military ranks}}

Category:Military ranks of Germany

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