Feuerwerker
Feuerwerker (ordnance technician or specialist, literally 'fire worker') are specialists in the armed forces of German-speaking countries responsible for the maintenance of ammunition.
From the late Middle Ages until the Early modern period a Feuerwerker was a highly specialised artisan with detailed knowledge of the closely guarded secrets of making gunpowder. Since the 19th century Feuerwerker became a distinguished career in Austrian, German and Russian (Russian: Фейерверкер; Feyerverker) armed forces.
Germany
[edit]In the modern German Bundeswehr, Feuerwerker is the collective designation to non-commissioned officers (OR5 to OR9) and officers of the military functional service (German: Offizier(e) militärfachlischer Dienst, OF1 and OF2) with several years of special training pertaining to construction, maintenance, and destruction of ammunition.
Russian Imperial Army
[edit]Between 1700 and 1917, the ranks of Senior Feuerwerker (Senior Gunner) and Junior Feuerwerker (Vice-Feuerwerker, Junior Gunner) in the Russian Army were used in artillery. They were equal to the Junior and Senior Unteroffizier (Under Officer) in the land troops, respectively.
Austro-Hungarian Empire
[edit]Feuerwerker was a military rank of the Austro-Hungarian Armed Forces (1867–1918).
In the Austro-Hungarian Armed Forces Feuerwerker was equivalent to:
- Beschlagmeister I. Klasse (Master-Blacksmith 1st class) cavalry,
- Feldwebel (en: Master-Sergeant) infantry,
- Oberjäger (en: Master-Sergeant) of the mountain troops,
- Rechnungs-Unteroffizier I. Klasse (en: Fiscal master-sergeant 1st class),
- Regimentshornist (en: Regiment bugler),
- Regimentstambour (en: Regiment drummer),
- Wachtmeister (en: Master-Sergeant) cavalry,
- Waffenmeister I. Klasse (en: Weapon master 1st class) artillery and weapon arsenal,
- Einjährig-Freiwilliger-Feldwebel (en:Feldwebel - volunteer serving one year), and
- Kadett-Feldwebel (Officers-Aspirant in rank of Master-Sergeant).
| Junior rank Zugsführer |
 (Austro-Hungarian armed forces rank) Feuerwerker |
Senior rank Stabsfeuerwerker |
The rank insignia was a gorget patch on the stand-up collar of the so-called Waffenrock (en: tunic), and consisted of three white stars on 13 mm ragged yellow silk galloon. The gorget patch and the stand-up collar showed the particular Waffenfarbe (en: corps colour).
- Examples (selection)
| Designation | Non-commissioned officers OR5/ Feldwebel ranks | ||||
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| Paroli | |||||
| Rank description | Feuerwerker | Wachtmeister | Oberjäger | Feldwebel | |
| Branch | Artillery | Cavalry | Mountain infantry |
Infantry | Militärwachkorps |
| (English) | (Artillery Master Sergeant) | (Cavalry Master Sergeant) | (Rifles Master Sergeant) | (Sergeant) | (Master Sergeant of Military Guard Service) |
See also
[edit]References / sources
[edit]- Word and tradition in the German Army (de: Heer), by Transfeldt – v. Brand – Quenstedt, 6th increased edition, Hamburg 11 H.G. Schulz 1967, p. 80/§104, definition: Feuerwerker.
- BROCKHAUS, The encyclopedia in 24 volumes (1796–2001), Volume 7: 3-7653-3676-9, page 267, definition: Feuerwerker, Militärwesen.
- Rest-Ortner-Ilmig: Des Kaisers Rock im 1. Weltkrieg – Uniformierung und Ausrüstung der österreichisch-ungarischen Armee von 1914 bis 1918. Verlag Militaria, Wien 2002. ISBN 3-9501642-0-0.