Officer license

The term officer's patent comes from the Latin litterae patentes and means “open letter” for the sovereign. According to today's usage, this is understood to be a certificate of appointment. The patent made the appointment to officer (as well as any further promotion to a higher officer rank ) effective and credible. The date of issue put the ranking in seniority determined. As an award, it could be pre-dated , which accelerated the owner's career. The officer's privileges and duties were noted in the text.

Germany

Prussia

From 1713 onwards, King Friedrich Wilhelm I issued every officer's certificate personally. The wording of that patent was hardly changed in the Prussian army until 1919.

Patent for a pruss. Portepee-Ensign (Oberfähnrich) front page 1872
same reverse side 1872
Patent for a
pruss. Major
outside 1900
inside 1900

All patents are marked with the large seal (embossed seal); Patents up to the Premier-Lieutenant / First Lieutenant are without signature, from captain upwards they are always signed by the king.
After passing the officer consider cases of war students to characterized cadets nominated and received the patent for two to six months, depending on the test result. Selektans are immediately promoted to lieutenant with a patent three months later. The order (letters A to Z) of the patents with the same date is determined by the performance result. The patent determines the seniority (seniority) and thus the order of regular promotion.
In the case of excellent performance, officers can be “pre-patented” for promotions, i. H. the patent is given an older date.

The patent (often made out of valuable parchment) for a military officer with the rank of officer was usually issued by the Minister of War . NCOs also received certificates of their promotion (s), the so-called (made of paper) " appointment ".

armed forces

Officer's letter from the Army Officer School

There are no officer patents in the real sense of the word in the Bundeswehr . At the Army Officers 'Academy graduates since the end of 2002 after the existence of the will officer course Part 1 of the officer letter of the Army Officers' Academy presented. At the Air Force Officer's School and the Mürwik Naval School , in line with the tradition of granting patents, after having passed an officer course, graduates are awarded course certificates bearing the title of officer's license. These certificates are awarded on the basis of a passed officer examination and a positive course certificate, but have a purely symbolic character and do not justify any legal claims on the part of the "holder", such as promotion to an officer rank. This is particularly evident from the fact that the officer candidates take their respective officer examinations very early (depending on the armed forces in the 9th to 15th month of service) and are awarded the course certificates, but can only actually be appointed officers after at least three years of service.

The promotion to lieutenant , the lowest officer rank in the Bundeswehr, requires a positive course certificate from the respective officer school and a minimum service period of 36 months for active soldiers in addition to the relevant educational qualification in accordance with Section 27, Paragraph II, No. 2 of the Soldiers Act . For reserve officers deviating conditions apply.

Switzerland

Swiss officer's certification.

In the Swiss Armed Forces , the document that certifies promotion to officer is known as an officer’s certification and is usually issued by the commander of the relevant training association.

Merchant shipping patents

The certificates of competency for officers in merchant shipping were also called patents in the past, and in everyday language the officers qualified with them are still referred to as patent holders. This applies equally to nautical and technical officers .

Officially, the term patent is used for certificates of competency in inland navigation, e.g. B. the Bodenseeschifferpatent .

Web links

A Prussian officer patent from 1694 in dhm.de ( Memento from November 16, 2012 in the Internet Archive )

Individual evidence

↑ After His Royal Majesty of Prussia resolved our most gracious king and lord, the portepee ensign of the Schleswig-Holstein Fusilier Regiment No. 86, to appoint Richard Windeck as portepee ensign in the intended regiment in grace and to order, so most Highly do the same hereby and in force of this patent in such a way that to His Royal Majesty and the Royal High House, the same first of all loyal, gracious and obedient be, duly perceive to his charge what he is responsible for doing and performing and is instructed to do diligently and faithfully by day and by night, on water and on land, to behave bravely and unmistakably in all war events, but also by the way should enjoy all prerogatives and rights associated with this charge. As a document, the very highest have had this patent printed with Dero Insiegel and authorized. So happened and given: Berlin, September 17, 1872. A.
^ Patent as portepee ensign in the Schleswig-Holstein Fusilier Regiment No. 86 for the characterized Portepee Ensign Windeck
↑ We Wilhelm, by the grace of God, King of Prussia etc. announce and hereby add to know: After we have resolved to appoint the captain in the infantry regiment of Lützow (1st Rheinisches) No. 25 - Richard Windeck - because of his loyal service, good qualities and knowledge of the war he has acquired, to be appointed and appointed Major of the Infantry in Mercy, We do the same herewith and in force of this patent in such a way that we and our royal house are the same Furthermore, to be loyal, kind and obedient, to seek and promote our usefulness and best everywhere, but to prevent, warn and avert harm and disadvantage, as far as possible, what is incumbent on him as Major to do and to perform, also from him
↑ (left page) his superiors are instructed and ordered to carry out and manage with due loyalty, diligence and zeal, day and night, on land and at sea, and do not let anything stop them, even in all incidents of war. Incidents with a willing and unabashed dedication to his body and life, property and blood, should also behave and demonstrate how it is appropriate and due to a loyal servant and righteous war-experienced major, the same oath is required and our most gracious trust is directed towards him . On the other hand, we want to protect and maintain our current Major Windeck with this rank and all the privileges and righteous therefore entitled to it at all times in grace, and we want to continue promoting it when the opportunity arises. We have signed this patent
(right-hand side) ourselves and had it printed with our seal. So happened and given: Berlin, January 27, 1900 E. (Wilhelm R.)
Patent as major of the infantry for the previous captain Windeck
↑ after Firck's pocket calendar for the army , Darmstadt 1918, p. 178 f.
↑ § 27 Soldiers Act - career regulations . Website Buzer.de laws. Retrieved December 13, 2010.

[1] After His Royal Majesty of Prussia resolved our most gracious king and lord, the portepee ensign of the Schleswig-Holstein Fusilier Regiment No. 86, to appoint Richard Windeck as portepee ensign in the intended regiment in grace and to order, so most Highly do the same hereby and in force of this patent in such a way that to His Royal Majesty and the Royal High House, the same first of all loyal, gracious and obedient be, duly perceive to his charge what he is responsible for doing and performing and is instructed to do diligently and faithfully by day and by night, on water and on land, to behave bravely and unmistakably in all war events, but also by the way should enjoy all prerogatives and rights associated with this charge. As a document, the very highest have had this patent printed with Dero Insiegel and authorized. So happened and given: Berlin, September 17, 1872. A.

[2] Patent as portepee ensign in the Schleswig-Holstein Fusilier Regiment No. 86 for the characterized Portepee Ensign Windeck

[3] We Wilhelm, by the grace of God, King of Prussia etc. announce and hereby add to know: After we have resolved to appoint the captain in the infantry regiment of Lützow (1st Rheinisches) No. 25 - Richard Windeck - because of his loyal service, good qualities and knowledge of the war he has acquired, to be appointed and appointed Major of the Infantry in Mercy, We do the same herewith and in force of this patent in such a way that we and our royal house are the same Furthermore, to be loyal, kind and obedient, to seek and promote our usefulness and best everywhere, but to prevent, warn and avert harm and disadvantage, as far as possible, what is incumbent on him as Major to do and to perform, also from him

[4] (left page) his superiors are instructed and ordered to carry out and manage with due loyalty, diligence and zeal, day and night, on land and at sea, and do not let anything stop them, even in all incidents of war. Incidents with a willing and unabashed dedication to his body and life, property and blood, should also behave and demonstrate how it is appropriate and due to a loyal servant and righteous war-experienced major, the same oath is required and our most gracious trust is directed towards him . On the other hand, we want to protect and maintain our current Major Windeck with this rank and all the privileges and righteous therefore entitled to it at all times in grace, and we want to continue promoting it when the opportunity arises. We have signed this patent
(right-hand side) ourselves and had it printed with our seal. So happened and given: Berlin, January 27, 1900 E. (Wilhelm R.)
Patent as major of the infantry for the previous captain Windeck

[5] ter Firck's pocket calendar for the army , Darmstadt 1918, p. 178 f.

[6] § 27 Soldiers Act - career regulations . Website Buzer.de laws. Retrieved December 13, 2010.