Imperial Ranks and promotions

[sef1962]

Hello can anyone help with the various ranks in the Imperial Army, and promotions therein I have just got a wehrpass were the soldier is promoted from gefrieter to unteroffizer

on 27/7/18 is this a battlefield promotion ? Are these common ? Thanks for any help Mark. I have scanned part of his Kriegstammrolle, wehrpass

[Naxos]

On June 9 1918 promoted to Gefreiter and on July 26 1918 (only six weeks later) another promotion, for bravery facing the enemy, to Unteroffizier.

Very impressive!

Hardy

[speedytop]

Yes, it is a battlefield promotion.

am 26.7.1918 wegen Tapferkeit vor dem Feinde zum Untffz bef.

26.7.1918 [bef?rdert zum] UnterOffz wegen Tapferkeit vor dem Feinde

Both say: promoted to Unteroffizier because of bravery before the enemy

Uwe

[sef1962]

Thanks for the help and just before promotion to gefreiter he got EKII on 1.6.1918 all with IR66

[Guest Rick Research]

Because there were fixed numbers of NCOs in the ranks, sometimes like this being promoted "surplus" to unit requirments was a reward for bravery. Other times, a lower ranker might have had to WAIT for an opening.

So.. it all depended....

In the American army of this period, for instance, a Corporal or Sergeant might be "reduced to the ranks" for no fault whatsoever. Simply being reassigned to another company that already had its quota of NCOs meant the new man lost all "temporary" rank-- a demotion in fact if not intention.

[sambolini]

In the American army of this period, for instance, a Corporal or Sergeant might be "reduced to the ranks" for no fault whatsoever. Simply being reassigned to another company that already had its quota of NCOs meant the new man lost all "temporary" rank-- a demotion in fact if not intention.

Interesting, I never knew this.

Regards,

Sam

Edited February 15, 2009 by sambolini