{{short description|Military rank}} {{about|the officer candidate rank in the German and Austrian armies|the East German career group|Fähnrich (East Germany)}} {{For|Swedish military rank|Fänrik}} {{Refimprove|date=July 2022}}
'''Fähnrich''' ({{IPA|de|ˈfɛːnʁɪç}}) is an officer candidate rank in the Austrian Bundesheer and German Bundeswehr. The word {{lang|de|Fähnrich}} comes from an older German military title, {{lang|de|Fahnenträger}} (flag bearer), and first became a distinct military rank in Germany on 1 January 1899. However, {{lang|de|Fähnrich}} ranks are often incorrectly compared with the rank of ensign,{{Citation needed|date=June 2013}} which shares a similar etymology but is a full-fledged (albeit junior) commissioned officer rank.
In the German Landsknecht armies, recorded from ca. 1480, the equivalent rank of a '''Cornet''' existed. The cornet carried the troop standard, also known as a "cornet".
The rank also exists in a few other European military organizations, often with historical ties to the German system. Examples are the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland (see Fänrik). The French Army has a similar position called an ''Aspirant''.
In the Finnish Army and Air Force, {{lang|fi|Vänrikki}} ({{lang|sv|Fänrik}}) is the lowest commissioned officer rank, which is granted to the soldiers in the national service that have completed their reserve officer course on the day they are released from their 347-day service. Finnish {{lang|fi|Vänrikki}} are thus of equal rank to the German lieutenant (also a platoon leader).
==Austria== {{refimprove|section|date=February 2026}} === Austrian Bundesheer === {{see also|Military ranks of Austria}} {{Infobox military rank | name = Officer cadet | native_name = {{lang|de|Fähnrich}} | image = 65px | image_size = | alt = | caption = Peaked cap | image2 = {{nobreak|75px|Anzug 75/03 65px|Rockkragen }} | image_size2 = | alt2 = | caption2 = Field uniform {{pipe}} service uniform | image3 = | image_size3 = | alt3 = | caption3 = | country = {{flag|Austria}} | service branch = Austrian Armed Forces | abbreviation = Fhr | rank group = | rank = | NATO rank = | Non-NATO rank = Student officer<ref name="Austria">{{cite web |title=Rank Insignias |url=https://www.bundesheer.at/english/forces/ranks.shtml#notes |website=bundesheer.at |publisher=Ministry of Defence |access-date=19 November 2021 |archive-date=17 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517011202/https://www.bundesheer.at/english/forces/ranks.shtml#notes |url-status=dead }}</ref> | pay grade = | formation = 1955 | abolished = | higher rank = {{lang|de|Leutnant}} | lower rank = {{lang|de|Vizeleutnant}} | equivalents = | history = }}
'''{{lang|de|Fähnrich}}''', short '''{{lang|de|Fhr}}''', is a military student officer rank held by students at the Theresian Military Academy.<ref name="Austria" />
=== Austria-Hungary (until 1918) === {{see also|Rank insignia of the Austro-Hungarian Army}} '''{{lang|de|Fähnrich}}''' was the lowest officer rank in the k.u.k. Common Army. In 1838 it was renamed to {{lang|de|Unterleutnant 2. Gebürnisklasse}}, from 1849 to {{lang|de|Unterleutnant 2. Klasse}}, since 1868 to Unterleutnant, and finally approximately from 1868 to {{lang|de|Leutnant}}. In 1908 {{lang|de|Fähnrich}} was re-introduced as lowest cadet-officer rank in order to replace the 1869 rank designation {{lang|de|Kadett-Offiziersstellvertreter}}. {{lang|de|Fähnrich}}, {{lang|de|Kadett-Offiziersstellvertreter}} respectively completed training and education on the less famous so-called k.u.k. {{lang|de|Kadettenschule}}. As the {{lang|de|Kadett-Offiziersstellvertreter}} was the highest NCO-rank, became {{lang|de|Fähnrich}} a separate rank-class. However, graduates from the much more famous {{lang|de|Militärakademie}} became the officer patent for {{lang|de|Leutnant}}.
In the k.u. Royal Hungarian Honvéd army '''{{lang|hu|Zászlós}}''' was the equivalent to the {{lang|de|Fähnrich}} rank. It accounted immediately to the officer corps.
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;" |- bgcolor="#CCCCCC" !Designation || colspan=2|Cadet officer-deputy until 1908|| colspan=2|Fähnrich 1908-1918 |- align="center" ! ! rowspan=3 | 120px ! rowspan=3 | 120px ! rowspan=3 | 120px ! rowspan=3 | 120px |- align="center" ! rowspan=1 | Paroli |- align="center" ! |- align="center" ! style="background:#ff8800; color:black;"| Rank description | colspan=2 | {{lang|de|Kadett-Offizierstellvertreter}} | colspan=2 | {{lang|de|Fähnrich}} |- align="center" | (Hungarian) | colspan=2 |<small>({{lang|hu|Hadapród-Tiszthelyettes}})</small> | colspan=2 |<small>({{lang|hu|Zászlós}})</small> |- align="center" |}
==Denmark== {{see also|Ranks and insignia of Royal Danish Army|Ranks and insignia of Royal Danish Navy|Ranks and insignia of Royal Danish Air Force}} {{Infobox military rank | name = {{lang|da|Fænrik}} | native_name = | image = {{nobreak|50px 50px}} | image_size = | alt = | caption = Army and air force insignia (1951–1970) | image2 = | image_size2 = | alt2 = | caption2 = | image3 = | image_size3 = | alt3 = | caption3 = | country = {{flag|Denmark}} | service branch = {{ubl|{{army|Denmark}}|{{navy|Denmark}}|{{air force|Denmark}}}} | abbreviation = | rank group = {{ubl|Commissioned officer (1609–1812)|Warrant officer (1951–1970)}} | rank = | NATO rank = | Non-NATO rank = | pay grade = | formation = {{ubl|1609|1951}} | abolished = {{ubl|1812|1970}} | higher rank = {{lang|da|Overfenrik}} | lower rank = | equivalents = {{ubl|{{lang|da|Stykjunker}} (artillery)|{{lang|da|Kornet}} (cavalry)}} | history = }} '''{{lang|da|Fænrik}}''' (formerly spelled '''{{lang|da|Fendrich}}''') was a commissioned officer rank used in the Royal Danish Army, equivalent to the cavalry rank of {{lang|da|Kornet}} and {{lang|da|stykjunker}} of the artillery.<ref name="Petersen">{{cite book |last1=Petersen |first1=Karsten Skjold |title=Kongens klæder 2 – Uniformer og udrustning i den danske hær 1816-1903 |trans-title=The King's Clothes 2 - Uniforms and equipment in the Danish army 1816-1903 |date=2021 |publisher=Syddansk Universitetsforlag |isbn=978-87-408-3338-6 |language=da |page=929}}</ref> The rank was later reintroduced as a warrant officer rank also used by the Royal Danish Navy and Royal Danish Air Force.
In 1609, Christian IV of Denmark created a permanent organization with regiments of the Royal Danish Army. A regiment would be assigned one {{lang|da|ritmester}}, one {{lang|da|løjtnant}}, one '''{{lang|da|fænrik}}''', and two {{lang|da|korporal}}s.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Madsen |first1=Emil |title=De nationale Tropper, samt Hærvæsenets Styrelse i det 16. Aarhundrede |journal=Historisk Tidsskrift |date=1904 |volume=5 |issue=7 |page=134 |url=http://img.kb.dk/tidsskriftdk/pdf/hto/hto_7rk_0005-PDF/hto_7rk_0005_97050.pdf |access-date=6 August 2023 |language=da}}</ref>
By 1717, the ranks of {{lang|da|Fendrich}} and {{lang|da|Cornet}} of the Royal Life Guards were placed in the Eight class in the Danish order of precedence, normal {{lang|da|Fendrich}}s and {{lang|da|Cornet}}s were placed in the Ninth class.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ilsøe |first1=Lars |title=Holberg og rangvæsenet |url=http://holbergsskrifter.dk/holberg-public/view?docId=Essays/Rangvaesen_essay.page&toc.depth=1&brand=&chunk.id=start |website=holbergsskrifter.dk |access-date=4 November 2023 |language=da}}</ref> The rank was abolished in 1812.<ref name="Petersen" />
Between 1951 and 1970, {{lang|da|Fenrik}} and {{lang|da|Overfenrik}} were used by all there branches and were part of {{lang|da|Fenriksgruppen}}, which served as Warrant officers.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ventegodt |first1=Ole |title=fenrik |url=https://denstoredanske.lex.dk/fenrik |website=denstoredanske.lex.dk/ |access-date=16 September 2023 |language=da |date=6 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Military Uniforms 1959-1962 DA Pam 355-120 |date=1962 |publisher=United States Department of the Army |url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Military_Uniforms_-_DA_Pam_355-120_-_1959_to_1962_-_Part_2_Picture014.jpg |access-date=16 September 2023 |chapter=Rank insignia of the Danish Armed Forces}}</ref>
==Finland== {{main|Vänrikki}} {{empty section|date=July 2022}}
== Germany == {{Infobox military rank | name = {{lang|de|Fähnrich}} | image = {{nowrap|75px 75px}} | caption = ''Heer'' and ''Luftwaffe'' shoulder insignia | image2 = | image3 = | caption2 = | country = {{flag|Germany}} | service branch = {{army|Germany}}<br />{{air force|Germany}} | abbreviation = Fähnr | rank = German NCO rank | NATO rank = OR-6 | Non-NATO rank = E-6 | formation = 1956 | abolished = | higher rank = {{lang|de|Oberfähnrich}} | lower rank = {{lang|de|Fahnenjunker}} | equivalents = {{lang|de|Fähnrich zur See}} | history = }} === Bundeswehr === {{see also|Rank insignia of the German Bundeswehr}} A {{lang|de|Fähnrich}} of the Bundeswehr is a soldier who serves in the ranks, first as {{lang|de|Fahnenjunker}} (OR-5, comparable to the junior non-commissioned officer rank {{lang|de|Unteroffizier}}), then in subsequent grades: {{lang|de|Fähnrich}} (OR-6, equivalent to {{lang|de|Feldwebel}}), and {{lang|de|Oberfähnrich}} (OR-7 equivalent to {{lang|de|Hauptfeldwebel}}).
In the ''German Bundeswehr'', an officer candidate ({{langx|de|Offiziersanwärter}}) can reach the rank of {{lang|de|Fähnrich}} after 21 months of service. The German Navy equivalent is "Ensign at sea" ({{langx|de|Fähnrich zur See}}).
An officer candidate's career is indicated by the enlisted rank with a thin silver cord on the shoulder strap.
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; text-align:center; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;" |- style="background-color:#CCCCCC;" ! NATO code|| OR-7 || OR-6 || OR-5 |- ! {{Army|Germany}} | 50px | 50px | 50px |- ! {{air force|Germany}} | 50px | 50px | 50px |- | | {{lang|de|Oberfähnrich}} | '''{{lang|de|Fähnrich}}''' | {{lang|de|Fahnenjunker}} |}
===History=== ====Imperial German Army==== {{empty section|date=July 2022}}
==== National People's Army ==== {{main|Fähnrich (NPA)}} {{see also|Ranks of the National People's Army}} Following the creation of the National People's Army, a {{lang|de|Fähnrich}} rank group was created.
==Norway== {{see also|Military ranks and insignia of Norway}} In the Norwegian Armed Forces, the rank of {{lang|no|Fenrik}} is the lowest ranking commissioned officer,<ref name="Norway">{{cite web |title=Militære grader |url=https://www.forsvaret.no/om-forsvaret/uniformer-grader-medaljer/grader |website=forsvaret.no |publisher=Norwegian Armed Forces |access-date=26 May 2021 |language=no |date=4 February 2021}}</ref> with the NATO code of OF-1.{{sfn|NATO|2021|p=A-5}}
<gallery class="center" caption="Rank insignia for {{lang|no|Fenrik}}"> File:Norway-army-OF-1a.svg|Army<ref name="Norway" /> File:Generic-Navy-2.svg|Navy<ref name="Norway" /> File:Norway-air force-OF-1a.svg|Air Force<ref name="Norway" /> </gallery>
==Sweden== {{main|Fänrik}} Fänrik (second lieutenant) is a rank in the Swedish Army, Swedish Air Force and in the Swedish Navy (Coastal Artillery 1902–2000, Amphibious Corps 2000–present).
==See also== * Fähnrich zur See
== References == {{Reflist}}
;Sources * {{cite book |author1=NATO |title=STANAG 2116 NATO |date=2021 |publisher=NATO Standardization Agency |edition=7th |location=Brussels, Belgium}} {{German military ranks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fanrik}} Category:Military ranks of Austria Category:Military ranks of Germany