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Leutnant () is the lowest junior officer rank in the armed forces of Germany (Bundeswehr), the Austrian Armed Forces, and the military of Switzerland.
From about 1500 until the middle of the 17th century the designation of Leutnant was commonly used for any deputy to a commanding officer. So at the army level there was the appointment of General-Leutnant (English "lieutenant-general"), at the regimental level there was that of Oberst-Leutnant (English "lieutenant-colonel"), and at the company level the Leutnant was deputy to a Hauptmann (English "captain").
With the formation of standing armies in the second half of the 17th century, the term commonly came to designate the rank of the least senior commissioned officer.
In the 18th and 19th century, at the unit level several Leutnants served as platoon leaders. At that time the ranks of Premier-Lieutenant and Seconde-Lieutenant came into existence. With effect from January 1, 1899, in the German Empire these ranks were renamed as Oberleutnant and Leutnant.BROCKHAUS, The encyclopedia in 24 volumes (1796–2001), Volume 13: 3-7653-3673-4, page 354; definition: «Leutnant».
The career in the Militia is structured in a different way. Here the modular education comprises the so-called one-year volunteer year ( Einjährig-Freiwilliger EFLangenscheidt's Encyclopaedic Dictionary of the English and German language: "Der Große Murat-Sander", Part II German-English First Volume A–K, 9th edition 2002, p. 449) as well as several courses, seminars, and exercises with a final aptitude test. After an overall service time of five years the promotion to «Leutnant» is possible.
Moreover, the appointment designation Leutnant is possible for leading officials (E1) of the Austrian executive, e.g. the Austrian Federal Police (ge: Bundespolizei) and prison authority personnel (de: Justizwache).
| + Leutnant rank insignias of the k.u.k. Army | ||||||
| Low grade officers | ||||||
Leutnant also:
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| Uniform (basic version Jägertruppe) | Field uniform (Jägertruppe) | Field uniform (Reservist Logistik) | Field uniform (SanOA (vet.)) | Uniform (basic version) | Field uniform | Field uniform (Lw SanOA (dent.)) | Shoulder board | Shoulder board (SanOA (hum.)) | Cuff title | Mounting loop |
Soldiers with that particular rank, are mandated and authorized to provide military orders as to the so-called Superior-subordinate relations to private ranks (de: Mannschaften), NCOs without port épée (de: Unteroffiziere ohne port épée), as well as to Senior NCOs with port épée (de: Unteroffizier mit port épée).
| junior Rank Oberstabsfeldwebel | () Leutnant | senior Rank Oberleutnant |
The equivalent rank of the Volksmarine (en: GDR Navy) was the Leutnant zur See, often called simply Leutnant for short. In reference to the Soviet armed forces and to other armed forces of the Warsaw pact Leutnant was the second lowest officer rank until 1990.
| Junior Rank Unterleutnant | National People's Army rank Leutnant (Leutnant zur See) | Senior Rank Oberleutnant |
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| Leutnant in Switzerland | ||
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In the military of Switzerland the Leutnant (Lieutenant, Tenente) is the lowest commissioned officer rank. Promotion to the next highest rank, Oberleutnant, occurs after three refresher courses (contingent upon good performance) or automatically after six years' service. Regellaufbahnen
For missions outside of Switzerland, the rank Leutnant will be designated in English as Second lieutenant.
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