Schütze is a rank of the Armed Forces of Germany which predates the First World War. Translated as “Private”, Schütze has been used by every branch of the German military (with the exception of the Navy) and is the lowest enlisted rank.

During the Second World War, Schütze also became an SS rank and was referred to as "SS-Schütze" in the Waffen-SS. Other branches of the SS referred to the rank as "Mann".

The present day German military maintains Schütze as the lowest enlisted grade, equivalent to an E-1 in NATO rank comparisons. A German Schütze ranks below the rank of Gefreiter, considered the equivalent of a Private First Class or a Corporal.

During various periods in German military history a senior Private rank known as Oberschütze was rated between the grades of Schütze and Gefreiter.