Gefreiter

Gefreiter (abbr. Gefr.) is the German, Swiss and Austrian equivalent for the military rank Private (NATO Rank Code OR-2). Gefreiter was the second rank to which an enlisted soldier could be promoted. As a military rank it has existed since at least the 16th century. From the 1920s on Gefreiter has expanded into several additional ranks, those being Obergefreiter, Hauptgefreiter, Stabsgefreiter and Oberstabsgefreiter (NATO Rank Code OR-3 and OR-4). Adolf Hitler held the rank of Gefreiter during his service in World War I.

Gefreiter means "the exempted". It emerged in the 2nd half of the 16th century and denotes the older soldiers who were exempted from sentry duty.

Efreitor (Russian: Ефрейтор, transliterated: Yefreytor) is a German loanword in Russian and denotes a similar rank in the Russian army.