Oberbeschlagmeister

[Hans]

Am I correct in assuming that an Oberbeschlagmeister is a Blacksmith. I've never come across this rank/appointment before. This particular person was a mnember of II./AR 114 and I'm assuming that he was normally in charge of shoeing horses. Or could he have been a wheelwright ?

In the context of his entry in divisional records he was in charge of transferring the Regiments "Tross" to a secure area during a major battle in September 1943.

I'm ever amazed at the versatility of members of the Wehrmacht, particularly compared to modern armies where extreme specialisation appears to be curse.

- Hans

[Mobile Infantry]

Sounds to me like this rank had something to do with horses.

Here´s a list of special ranks which was unknown to me until now:
http://chrito.users1.50megs.com/uniform ... rranks.htm

According to that list a Oberbeschlagmeister was a Oberfeldwebel with a special function.

Though a Beschlagschmiedunterwachtmeister also sounds cool...

[Leo Niehorster]

Beschlagschmied = Farrier (for you non-horsey types this is a smith specializing in shoeing of horses)
so an Oberbeschlagschmied was a senior farrier NCO.

(The designation for the Wheelwright was Stellmacher.)

Cheers
Leo

Edited for stupid mistake.

[Hans]

Thank you gentlemen.

Leo: Would the "Ober" not make him a "senior" rather than a "junior"?

- Hans

[Leo Niehorster]

Quite right. Have correspondingly corrected my post above.
(I am used to having the higher ranks above, and the lower ranks below, and took a too quick look at Christoph's site linked above.)

Thanks for the indication.
Leo