During the last few months before promoting to the Leutnant rank the Fähnrichs became Oberfähnrich. In the pre-WWII time 6 months were normal, later it was shortened to one to three months.

In prewar times first the Oberfähnrich got the permission to wear the officer sabre. For this reason the Oberfähnrich's also were called as Säbelfähnrich (sabre Fähnrich)

They wear the same uniform like the officers, but only their shoulder-straps were narrower and they had no stripe on the shade of cap. On the sleeve they wear only the star.

Oberfähnrich Karl-Heinz Moehle
later Knights Cross owner and
Commander of U-20 and U-123.