Staffel (unit)

A Staffel (, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *stapul, "pillar") is a military organization in German-speaking militaries.

Operational unit
Within Deutsche Luftwaffe a Staffel is the smallest unit that is able to operate on its own.

The NATO map symbol for this Staffel is:



Subdivisional unit
NATO doctrine recognizes this Staffel as a level of command unique to Germany. Within Heer a Staffel is a unit smaller than a company but larger than a platoon, e.g. Fahrzeugstaffel (vehicle squad), Instandsetzungsstaffel (maintenance squad).

The NATO map symbol for this Staffel is:



Luftwaffe Staffel of the Second World War
A Luftwaffe Staffel usually had nine to twelve aircraft. Three or four Staffeln comprised a Gruppe, while a single Staffel was divided into three Schwärme (singular: Schwarm) consisting of four to six aircraft. A German Staffel was about the size of a flight in other air forces