What did Gefreiters and Obergefreiters do in the German Army?

[DoughboyAl]

The German Army rank of "Gefreiter" is often rendered as Lance-Corporal. Some claim this is wrong and suggest that a Gefreiter is more comparable to an adept Private (or a U.S. Private First Class). Which is more accurate? What were the roles of Gefreiters in a rifle platoon and what did it take to be promoted to this rank?

 

Also, what did Obergefreiters do? Prior to 1919, this rank existed only in the foot artillery, it seems. Wikipedia gives us the baffling translation "senior lance-corporal." Is this rank perhaps on the same level as Second Corporal and Bombardier, albeit without non-commissioned officer status?

[DoughboyAl]

On second thought, is Obergefreiter simply a Lance-Corporal/Lance-Bombardier equivalent, devaluing the Gefreiter rank in units that use both?

[HERITAGE PLUS]

A list of German Army Ranks here:

 

https://www.overthefront.com/resources/military-ranks/german-ranks

 

Dave

[AOK4]

19 minutes ago, HERITAGE PLUS said:

A list of German Army Ranks here:

 

https://www.overthefront.com/resources/military-ranks/german-ranks

 

Dave

 

Translating the ranks doesn't explain their role. You can't always compare ranks from one army to those from another army.

[AOK4]

A Gefreiter was more like a Private 1st Class. A Gefreiter could lead small patrols, watches, acted as room senior etc. As such, he only "commanded" other soldiers (privates) during the time of this task.The rank was considered a "Mannschaftsdienstgrad" and not a NCO.

The rank of Obergefreiter was only for Fußartillerie and there  he usually was a "Richtkanonier" (bombardier?).

In Jäger units, the rank was called "Oberjäger".

[PhilB]

Sounds to me like gefreiter is like a trained soldier in the Guards?

[TullochArd]

........"sounds to me like gefreiter is like a trained soldier in the Guards" ...... British Army? 

 

During the Great War it would quate to that fuzzy but informal, yet very accountable, local appointment of "senior soldier".  The senior soldier being the senior private within a small group of privates and as AOK 4 helpfully points out, "could lead small patrols, watches, act(ed) as room senior etc.." 

 

It's all about getting the job done - in the German Army and in the British Army.  

[HERITAGE PLUS]

Quote

Translating the ranks doesn't explain their role. You can't always compare ranks from one army to those from another army.

 

Agreed. My post was simply to show where the ranks sat in then hierarchy.