Feldunterarzt (short: FUArzt or FUA; literal: field under physician) was a military rank in the German Wehrmacht until 1945. It was established additional to the Unterarzt July 25, 1940. Uniform and shoulder board were identical to the Fahnenjunker-Oberfeldwebel (Oberfähnrich), however without the double unterofficer galloons. The Gothic letter A between the two silver feldwebel stars indicated the membership to the Military Medical Academy in Berlin. The Feldunterarzt was an officer aspirant (de: Offizier-Anwärter, short OA or O.A.) in the Military Health Service.

According to the rank hierarchy, it was comparable to Sergeant First Class (de: Oberfeldwebel) or Chief Petty Officer (de: Oberbootsmann)

Wehrmacht

Heer

In line to the so-called Reichsbesoldungsordnung (en: Reich's salary order), appendixes to the Salary law of the German Empire (de: Besoldungsgesetz des Deutschen Reiches) of 1927 (changes 1937 – 1940), the comparative ranks were as follows: C 15

  • Oberfeldwebel (Heer and Luftwaffe)
  • Unterarzt (medical service of the Wehrmacht, with voller ärztlicher Approbation, i.e. full medical license) Feldunterarzt, from 1940 (ranking below Unterarzt, with Physikum, i.e. first medical examination)
  • Unterveterinär (veterinarian service of the Wehrmacht)

The corps colour of the Military Health System in German armed forces was traditional dark blue, and of the veterinarian service carmine red. This tradition was continued by the medical service corps in Heer and Luftwaffe of the Reichswehr and Wehrmacht. However, the corps colour of the Waffen-SS HSS was cornflower blue.

junior Rank noGerman medical officer rank Feldunterarzt (Unterarzt)senior Rank Assistenzarzt

Address

The manner of formal addressing of military surgeons/dentists with the rank Feldunterarzt was, „Herr Feldunterarzt“.

Ranks Wehrmacht until 1945Ranks
Medical serviceen translationEquivalent Heeren equivalent
GeneraloberstabsarztSenior Staff-Surgeon GeneralGeneral der Waffengattungthree star rankOF-8
GeneralstabsarztStaff-Surgeon GeneralGeneralleutnanttwo star rankOF-7
GeneralarztSurgeon GeneralGeneralmajorone star rankOF-6
OberstarztColonel (Dr.)OberstColonelOF-5
OberfeldarztLieutenant colonel (Dr.)OberstleutnantLieutenant colonelOF-4
OberstabsarztMajor (Dr.)MajorOF-3
StabsarztCaptain (Dr.)HauptmannCaptain (army)OF-2
OberarztFirst lieutenant (Dr.)OberleutnantFirst lieutenantOF-1a
AssistenzarztSecond lieutenant (Dr.)LeutnantSecond lieutenantOF-1b
UnterarztSergeant 1st Class (Dr.)Fahnenjunker-Oberfeldwebel (Oberfähnrich)Officer AspirantOR-7
Feldunterarzt (from 1940)

See also