Rittmeister
Encyclopedia
Rotamaster was the military rank
of a commissioned cavalry
officer in charge of a squadron (a troop in the United States
), the equivalent of O3 or Captain, in the German-speaking
armies, Austro-Hungarian
, Polish-Lithuanian
, Russia
n and some other states.
The exact name of this rank maintains a variety of spellings in different languages:,,,,,,.
The Dutch equivalent, Ritmeester, still serves as the official designation for officers in the cavalry
branches of the Royal Dutch Army.
The Norwegian equivalent, Rittmester, still serves as the official designation for officers in the armoured
and mechanized infantry
branches of the Norwegian Army
. In Sweden the rank was known as Ryttmästare, and in Denmark (until 1951) as Ritmester.
The Polish army also used (from the 15th century to the mid-20th century) a similar rank, Rotmistrz, which commanded a rota
. The Lithuanian name was rotmistras. In earlier times the rotmistrz served as the commander of an infantry
or cavalry
company
, though sometimes he would temporarily be assigned field-grade tasks commanding an entire regiment
or even a larger formation. In the cavalry the rank continued until 1945 as a company-grade title. Applied to the commander of a troop
, it was equivalent to a modern-day Captain.
The rank was also adopted into Russia
n New Regiments as rotmistr (ротмистр) and later legalized in Table of Ranks as the cavalry position; in 1798, a lower-ranking Stabs-Rittmeister was created.
Military rank
Military rank is a system of hierarchical relationships in armed forces or civil institutions organized along military lines. Usually, uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms...
of a commissioned cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
officer in charge of a squadron (a troop in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
), the equivalent of O3 or Captain, in the German-speaking
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
armies, Austro-Hungarian
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
, Polish-Lithuanian
Polish-Lithuanian
Polish–Lithuanian can refer to:* Polish–Lithuanian union * Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth * Polish-Lithuanian as used to describe groups, families, or individuals with histories in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n and some other states.
The exact name of this rank maintains a variety of spellings in different languages:,,,,,,.
The Dutch equivalent, Ritmeester, still serves as the official designation for officers in the cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
branches of the Royal Dutch Army.
The Norwegian equivalent, Rittmester, still serves as the official designation for officers in the armoured
Armoured warfare
Armoured warfare or tank warfare is the use of armoured fighting vehicles in modern warfare. It is a major component of modern methods of war....
and mechanized infantry
Mechanized infantry
Mechanized infantry are infantry equipped with armored personnel carriers , or infantry fighting vehicles for transport and combat ....
branches of the Norwegian Army
Norwegian Army
Norway achieved full independence in 1905, and in the first century of its short life has contributed to two major conflicts, the Cold War and the War on Terror. The Norwegian Army currently operates in the north of Norway and in Afghanistan as well as in Eastern Europe. The Army is the oldest of...
. In Sweden the rank was known as Ryttmästare, and in Denmark (until 1951) as Ritmester.
The Polish army also used (from the 15th century to the mid-20th century) a similar rank, Rotmistrz, which commanded a rota
Rota (formation)
Rotte or Rota is an infantry or cavalry unit. In Poland it was known increasingly from the 16th century by the alternative name of Chorągiew....
. The Lithuanian name was rotmistras. In earlier times the rotmistrz served as the commander of an infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
or cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
company
Company
A company is a form of business organization. It is an association or collection of individual real persons and/or other companies, who each provide some form of capital. This group has a common purpose or focus and an aim of gaining profits. This collection, group or association of persons can be...
, though sometimes he would temporarily be assigned field-grade tasks commanding an entire regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
or even a larger formation. In the cavalry the rank continued until 1945 as a company-grade title. Applied to the commander of a troop
Troop
A troop is a military unit, originally a small force of cavalry, subordinate to a squadron and headed by the troop leader. In many armies a troop is the equivalent unit to the infantry section or platoon...
, it was equivalent to a modern-day Captain.
The rank was also adopted into Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n New Regiments as rotmistr (ротмистр) and later legalized in Table of Ranks as the cavalry position; in 1798, a lower-ranking Stabs-Rittmeister was created.
See also
- Comparative military ranksComparative military ranksThis article is a list of various states' armed forces ranking designations. Comparisons are made between the different systems used by nations to categorize the hierarchy of an armed force compared to another. Several of these lists mention NATO reference codes. These are the NATO rank reference...
- Comparative military ranks of World War IComparative military ranks of World War IThe following table shows comparative officer ranks of the principal Allied and Central powers during World War I. For modern ranks refer to Comparative military ranks.See also: Comparative military ranks of World War IIMajor participants not shown:...
- Ranks and insignia of NATO armies officersRanks and insignia of NATO armies officersRank comparison chart of all armies of NATO member states.- Officers :- Warrant officers :Warrant officers rank below officers and above enlisted servicemen....