Feldwebel (Fw or F, lit. ´field usher') is a non-commissioned officer (NCO) rank in several countries. The rank originated in Germany, and is also used in Switzerland, ...
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Finland, Sweden, and Estonia. The rank has also been used in Russia, Austria-Hungary, occupied Serbia and Bulgaria.
Feldwebel is a contraction of feld meaning ´field´ and weibel, an archaic word meaning ´usher´. Weibel comes from the Old High German weibôn, meaning to go back and forth (as in ´wobble´).
There are variations on Feldwebel, such as Oberstabsfeldwebel (´Superior Staff Field Usher´), which is the highest non-commissioned rank in the German army and air force.
