page_title: Major (Germany)
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Major (Germany) / History
caption_attribution_description: For documentary purposes the German Federal Archive often retained the original image captions, which may be erroneous, biased, obsolete or politically extreme. Helmut Viedebantt Ritterkreuzträger Major Viedebantt, Staffl. Kpt. in einem Zerstörer-Geschw. erhielt das R-K. am 1.1.43 OKW/Scherl (4886) [Major Helmut Viedebantt mit Ritterkreuz (Porträt)] Abgebildete Personen: Viedebantt, Helmut: Major, Ritterkreuz, Luftwaffe, Deutschland
context_page_description: Major is the lowest staff officer rank in the German Army, German Air Force. The rank is rated OF-3 in NATO. The rank insignia is a silver oakleaf cluster with a silver pip.
  The OF-3 equivalent of the German Navy is the Korvettenkapitän.
  To be appointed to the rank of Major, the officer has to pass a staff officer basic course which is held at the German Armed Forces Command and Staff College, and serve in a post coded A13 or A13/A14.
  In the German Army and the Joint Support Service, the waiting period between meeting the requirements for promotion and actual promotion to the rank of Major averages 15 months due to budget problems.
context_section_description: The Major rank in German speaking armed forces dates back to the Middle Ages. It equates to major in the British and US Armies, and is rated OF-3 in NATO.
  During World War II, the SS equivalent was Sturmbannführer.
caption: Major Helmut Viedebantt (1943)
exif: {}