kompanie

Kompanie is a military term used in several European languages, most notably German and Polish, to denote a company, a basic subunit within a battalion or regiment. In German-speaking armies, a Kompanie is the standard company unit for infantry, armor, or other arms and is typically commanded by an officer with the rank of captain. In Polish and other Slavic languages, the corresponding unit is kompania, with the plural form kompanie.

A company generally comprises several platoons, commonly 2 to 4, and a headquarters element. The typical size ranges from about 80 to 250 soldiers, depending on the country, branch, and historical period. The company is the level at which frontline leadership, planning, and direct combat coordination are concentrated, with a command staff including a company commander, executive officer, platoon leaders, and specialists such as intelligence, communications, and logistics personnel.

Organization and roles vary by nation and function. There are infantry companies, armored (tank) companies, artillery, reconnaissance, and support companies, each performing specialized tasks within the battalion or brigade. The term is primarily military; in civil contexts, the word for a commercial company is not generally used as kompania in German or Polish, where other terms such as Firma or Spółka are common.

Historically, the concept of the company as a unit evolved in medieval and early modern armies and remains a foundational building block of modern military organization. See also: platoon, battalion, company (military).