The rank in German-speaking armed forces dates back to the Middle Ages.

During World War II, the SS equivalent was Sturmbannführer.

[1] To be appointed to the rank of major, the officer has to pass a staff officer basic course (Stabsoffizierlehrgang) which is held at the German Armed Forces Command and Staff College (Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr), and serve in a post coded A13 or A13/A14.

In the German Army and the Joint Support Service (Streitkräftebasis), the waiting period between meeting the requirements for promotion and actual promotion to the rank of major averages 15 months due to budget problems (as of July 2010).

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