| TRAINING The system changed widely on 30 January 1940. The growing need
for officers in the Army meant that senior NCOs could now become officer candidates, in
addition to officer candidates selected before joining the Army.
Candidates (who from 1941 on were known as Cadets) completing
basic training went to a Waffenschule (renamed in 1942 to become known as Schule
für Offizieranwärter, or Officer Candidate School) or to a military academy if
studying medicine, engineering or to become a veterinarian. On 28 April 1943, the
Officer Candidate Schools were again renamed, to become Cadet Schools (Schule für
Fahnenjunker).
During the war, it was found necessary to interrupt the
studies of certain specialist officer candidates undergoing veterinary, medical or
engineering studies, and have them serve in field units as probationary officers ranked
equivalent to Leutnant. The insignia for these ranks are shown in the
table below, and these men were ranked as Feldunterarzt, Feldunterveterinär and
Fahnenjunker-Ingenieur.
INSIGNIA
On 30 January 1940, ordinary ranks were introduced for
officer candidates, and insignia was no different than that for ordinary soldiers.
On 20 October 1942, to better differentiate between common
soldiers and officer candidates, two loops of NCO lace were ordered worn on the shoulder
straps of certain aspirant officers, as listed below.
RANK TITLES
After 30 January 1940, ordinary rank titles were used for
officer candidates equivalent to Mannschaften, suffixed with (OB), short for Offizierbwerber
(Officer Applicant). For officer candidates equivalent to NCOs, the suffix (OA)
was used, short for Offizieranwärter (Officer Candidate). After 1941, the
rank titles for NCO equivalent officer candidates were again changed, dropping the OA
suffix and using the prefix Fahnenjunker (meaning Cadet).
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Decorated former NCO wearing the
insignia of an officer candidate. Note the enlisted men's uniform and insignia; he
would not have worn an officer's uniform until after passing an Officer's Candidate
Course, or Professional Exam in a military academy.
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