| German: Major | |
| Country: |  |
| Service Branch: | |
| Abbreviation: | Maj |
| Nato Rank: | OF-3 |
| Pay Grade: | A13 |
| Formation: | 1956 |
| Higher Rank: | German: [[Oberstleutnant]] |
| Lower Rank: | German: [[Hauptmann (officer)|Hauptmann]] |
| Equivalents: | German: [[Korvettenkapitän]] |
German: Major (pronounced as /de/) is the lowest staff officer rank in the German Army, German Air Force. The rank is rated OF-3 in NATO. The rank insignia is a silver oakleaf cluster with a silver pip (star).
The OF-3 equivalent of the German Navy is the German: [[Korvettenkapitän]].
The rank in German-speaking armed forces dates back to the Middle Ages.
During World War II, the SS equivalent was Sturmbannführer.[1]
To be appointed to the rank of German: major, the officer has to pass a staff officer basic course (German: Stabsoffizierlehrgang) which is held at the German Armed Forces Command and Staff College (German: Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr), and serve in a post coded A13 or A13/A14.
In the German Army and the Joint Support Service (German: Streitkräftebasis), the waiting period between meeting the requirements for promotion and actual promotion to the rank of German: major averages 15 months due to budget problems (as of July 2010).