Feuerwerker

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

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

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.