Oberstleutnant

Template:Short description Template:Italic title Template:Multiple issues Template:Lang (Template:IPA) (English: Lieutenant Colonel)<ref name="LS1">Template:Cite web</ref> is a senior field officer rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to lieutenant colonel.Template:Sfn It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland and Norway. The Swedish rank Template:Lang is a direct translation, as is the Finnish rank Template:Lang.

Austria

The Habsburg Monarchy used the rank obristlieutenant (or oberstleutnant) in the 18th century.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

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.

Belgium

Rank insignia for Oberstleutnant
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Denmark

Template:See also Template:Infobox military rank The Danish rank of Template:Lang is based around the German term.Template:Sfn Ranked OF-4 within NATO and having the paygrade of M401,Template:Sfn it is used in the Royal Danish Army and the Royal Danish Air Force. The equivalent rank in the Royal Danish Navy is Template:Lang.

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 Template:Langs. The Template:Lang of the Life Guards placed below Template:Langs of the infantry and cavalry, and above Template:Lang. Standard Template:Langs was below Template:Lang and above Template:Langs.Template:Sfn

As part of the Army Reform of 1867, the ranks of Template:Lang and Template:Lang were removed, making Template:Lang the only senior officer.Template:Sfn By 1889, Template:Lang was reintroduced.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Template:Clear

Germany

Template:Infobox military rank

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)<ref>Bundesbeamtengesetz (BBG) §86</ref> or aD (Switzerland),<ref>Verordnung über die Militärdienstpflicht (VMDP), Artikel 95.</ref> 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.

Bundeswehr

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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

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

Army	Luftwaffe
Template:Center Template:Center Template:Center	Template:Center Template:Center

Bundesgrenzschutz

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.<ref>Gesetz über die Personalstruktur des Bundesgrenzschutzes (BGSPersG), Art. 5</ref>

Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS

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.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Nationale Volksarmee (NVA)

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.

Norway

Template:Expand section The rank of Template:Lang was introduced around the same time as Denmark, as Norway at the time was part of Denmark–Norway.Template:Sfn

Rank insignia for oberstløytnant
Army
Air Force

Sweden

Template:Main The Swedish variant Template:Lang, 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.<ref name="SFS 2000:556 (2000), p. 2">Template:Cite web</ref>