Talk:Feldwebel

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[edit] Etymology

In older texts "Feldwebel" is spelled Feldweibel (Still so in Swiss German). Does somebody know if this is in any way related to the German Word "Weib" (Woman)?

It is. In the 16th and 17th century, the Feldweibel's main responsibility was to maintain order among the women (soldiers' wifes, but also prostitutes) who followed the army in the field and lived in the camps. And no, that is not a joke, it's really like that. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 87.122.48.132 (talk) 03:06, 20 December 2006 (UTC).

If it's not a joke then what is it? The correct explanation is already given in the article. 91.34.93.66 00:12, 4 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Incorrectly Translated?

Why is it incorrect to translate Feldwebel as Sergeant? Sergeant could mean either the specific rank of sergeant (E5 in the US forces, typically called a "buck sergeant") or more generally as any rank from sergeant through sergeant major (which are typically called "sergeant" conversationally, excluding first sergeants and sergeants major). CsikosLo (talk) 15:13, 8 May 2008 (UTC)