The rank was introduced first by the German
Reichswehr in 1920. Preferable most experienced Protégée-NCO of the
old army have been promoted. Within the Reichswehr, was taken over as second-highest Protégée-NCO rank by the German
Wehrmacht in 1935. In the military branch
cavalry,
artillery and
anti-aircraft artillery it was called Oberwachtmeister. The equivalent rank to the Oberfeldwebel in the
Waffen-SS was the
SS-Hauptscharführer from 1938 until 1945. The
rank has been used in the GDR
National People's Army from 1956 until 1990 as well. ==Rank information==