Feuerwerker

This article incorporates information from the equivalent article on the Deutsch Wikipedia.

File:642 Changes in uniforms and armament of troops of the Russian Imperial army.jpg

Kanonier (left) and Feuerwerker (right) of the Russian Imperial Army (1878)

Feuerwerker (literal: fire worker; en: ordnance technician or specialist), as well as Büchsenmeister (en: gun-master) – in the late Middle Edge until the early new times privileged soldiers, in charge of the gun service and making of ammunition. In addition to this, a Feuerwerker was a highly specialised artisan with detail knowledge of the strong protected secrets of making gunpowder and Very light.

Since the 19th century Feuerwerker became a distinguished career in Austrian, German and Russian (Russian: Фейерверкер; Feyerverker) armed forces.

Today, in the 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.

Armed Forces

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
Paroli
Rank description	Feuerwerker	Wachtmeister	Oberjäger	Feldwebel
Branch	Artillery	Cavalry	Mountain infantry	Infantry	Militärwachkorps
(English)	(Gun sergeant)	(Cavalry sergeant)	(Rifles sergeant)	(Sergeant)	(Sergeant mil. guards)

See also

Main articles: Rank insignias of the Austro-Hungarian armed forces, Waffenfarbe (Austria), and Adjustierung

References / sources

• 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.