Literally "Junior Officer with Swordknot", this is the designation for German senior non-commissioned officers in the German army. The name derives from earlier traditions in which senior enlisted men would carry a sword into battle. A non-commissioned officer (sometimes noncommissioned officer), also known as an NCO or noncom, is a non-commissioned member of an armed force who has been given authority by a commissioned officer. ...

Ranks in this category included

• Feldwebel/Wachtmeister
• Oberfeldwebel/Oberwachtmeister
• Stabsfeldwebel/Stabswachtmeister
• Oberstabsfeldwebel, this rank was introduced by the Bundeswehr

and equivalents of the Waffen SS. Feldwebel is a German military rank which has existed since at least the 18th century with usage as a title dating to the Middle Ages. ... Feldwebel is a German military rank which has existed since at least the 18th century with usage as a title dating to the Middle Ages. ... Feldwebel is a German military rank which has existed since at least the 18th century with usage as a title dating to the Middle Ages. ... The Bundeswehr (Federal Defense Force,  ) is the organization that controls and administers the armed forces of Germany. ...

German non-commissioned officers were and are identified by the use of metallic lace (called tress) on the collar of the uniform jacket, as well as the edges of the shoulder straps. Senior non-commissioned officers also used silver "stars" on the shoulder strap to differentiate between ranks; one star for a Feldwebel, two for an Oberfeldwebel, and three for a Stabsfeldwebel.