Pre-war length of service by branch

[historygeek2021]

Before the outbreak of WW2, to what extent did length of service vary by branch? Were tank drivers retained for longer than the standard two years? What about other tank crewmembers? What about artillerymen? Engineers? Anyone have any info or sources on this?

[Art]

The standard length of conscript's service was 2 years and didn't depend on the branch, as far as I know. However, conscripts completing their 2nd year of service could enlist for an additional 3rd year. In that case they were promoted to the rank of Obergefreiter n.A and received wages equal to 98 RM per month. The number of these men of the 3rd year of service was limited to:
2 men in units with authorized number of privates below 50
4 men in units with authorized number of privates from 50 to 100
6 men in units with authorized number of privates above 100
15 men in tank companies
9 men in armored car companies
See:
https://wwii.germandocsinrussia.org/ru/ ... ect/zoom/8

Also men older than the regular conscript age (born in 1913 or earlier) were conscripted for 1 year of service in East Prussia and for a short-term training in Ergänzung units nationwide.

[historygeek2021]

Guderian wrote in Achtung Panzer that there should be a large establishment of long-service soldiers in the panzer divisions because, among other reasons, the equipment was expensive. Was this actually implemented or did the panzer divisions just shuffle through two-year conscripts?

[Art]

Peace-time tables of establishment didn't provide exact breakdown of personnel in the tank company. At least those tables I have

Yet it seems that tank commanders (unless that were officers) were NCOs, i.e. they were career military who signed a twelve year contract. Other crew members were mostly corporals (Gefreite) and privates, i.e. they were mostly conscripts and normally served two years. According to the document linked above each tank company was supposed to receive 1/2 of its authorized number of corporals and privates from an annual draft:
https://wwii.germandocsinrussia.org/ru/ ... ect/zoom/8
The same is true for most other units. The exception were staffs from the battalion level and above, who only had enlisted men in their second year of service - they served one year in some other units and after that were transferred to a battalion or regimental staff.