Comparative officer ranks of World War II

The following table shows comparative officer ranks of major Allied and Axis powers during World War II.

KEY:

Navy

Army

Air Force^{[note 1]}

Waffen-SS/Allgemeine SS

Generic ranks not specific to any service


British Commonwealth^{[note 2]}	United States	Soviet Union^{[note 3]}	China	Poland^{[note 4]}	Greece^{[note 5]}	Germany	Italy	Finland	Japan	Free French	Yugoslav Partisans^{[note 6]}
		Generalissimus of the Soviet Union (created June 1945)^{[note 7]}	大元帥 T'e-chi Shang-chiang (General Special Class)^{[note 8]}				Primo Maresciallo dell'Impero^{[note 9]}		大元帥 Dai-Gensui(Grand Marshall)^{[note 10]}
	Admiral of the Navy^{[note 11]} General of the Armies	Marshal of the Soviet Union		Marszałek Polski		Reichsmarschall des Großdeutschen Reiches ("ReichMarshall of the Greater German Reich")^{[note 12]}		Suomen marsalkka Marskalk av Finland ("Marshal of Finland")^{[note 13]}		Maréchal de France^{[note 14]} Amiral de France^{[note 15]}	Maršal Jugoslavije (Маршал Југославије)^{[note 16]}
						Reichsführer-SS^{[note 17]}
Admiral of the Fleet Field Marshal Marshal of the Royal Air Force^{[note 18]}	Fleet Admiral General of the Army	Chief Marshal^{[note 19]}	一級上將 I-chi Shang-chiang (General 1st Class)	-	Αρχιναύαρχος (Admiral of the Fleet)^{[note 20]} Στρατάρχης (Field Marshal)^{[note 20]} Αιθεράρχης (Marshal of the Air Force)^{[note 20]}	Großadmiral Generalfeldmarschall SS-Volksmarschall^{[note 21]}	Grand'Ammiraglio Maresciallo d'Italia Maresciallo dell'Aria	Sotamarsalkka Fältmarskalk ("War Marshal")	元帥 Gensui (Marshall)^{[note 22]}	Amiral de la flotte	General armije (Генерал армије)
	Fleet Admiral General of the Army	Адмирал флота (Admiral of the Fleet)^{[note 23]} Генерал армии (General of the Army) Маршал (Marshal)		-			Grand'Ammiraglio Maresciallo d'Italia Maresciallo dell'Aria	Sotamarsalkka Fältmarskalk ("War Marshal")	元帥 Gensui (Marshall)^{[note 22]}	Amiral de la flotte	General armije (Генерал армије)
Admiral General Air Chief Marshal	Admiral General	Адмира́л (Admiral) General-Colonel	二級上將 Ehr-chi Shang-chiang (General 2nd Class)	Admirał Generał broni	Ναύαρχος (Admiral)^{[note 24]} Στρατηγός (General)^{[note 24]} Πτέραρχος (Air Chief Marshal)^{[note 24]}	Generaladmiral Generaloberst Oberstgruppenführer	Ammiraglio d'Armata Generale d'Armata Generale d'Armata Aerea	Amiraali Amiral Kenraali General	大将 Taishō (General)	Général d'armée Amiral Général d'armée aérienne	General-pukovnik (Генерал-пуковник)
Vice-Admiral Lieutenant-General Air Marshal	Vice Admiral Lieutenant General	Vice-Admiral General-Lieutenant	中將 Chung-chiang (Lieut.-General)	Wiceadmirał Generał dywizji	Αντιναύαρχος (Vice-Admiral) Αντιστράτηγος (Lieutenant General) Αντιπτέραρχος (Air Marshal)	Admiral General^{[note 25]} Obergruppenführer	Ammiraglio di Squadra Generale di Corpo d'Armata Generale di Squadra Aerea	Vara-amiraali Viceamiral Kenraaliluutnantti Generallöjtnant	中将 Chūjō (Lieutenant-General)	Général de corps d'armée Vice-amiral d'escadre Général de corps d'armée aérienne	General-lajtnant (Генерал-лајтнант)
Vice-Admiral Lieutenant-General Air Marshal	Vice Admiral Lieutenant General	Vice-Admiral General-Lieutenant	中將 Chung-chiang (Lieut.-General)	Wiceadmirał Generał dywizji		Admiral General^{[note 25]} Obergruppenführer			中将 Chūjō (Lieutenant-General)	Vice-amiral	General-lajtnant (Генерал-лајтнант)
Rear-Admiral Major-General Air Vice-Marshal	Rear Admiral Major General	Ко́нтр-адмира́л (Counter-Admiral) Генера́л-майо́р (General-Major)	少將 Shao-chiang (Major-General)	Kontradmirał Generał brygady	Υποναύαρχος (Rear Admiral) Υποστράτηγος (Major General) Υποπτέραρχος (Air Vice-Marshal)	Vizeadmiral Generalleutnant Gruppenführer	Ammiraglio di Divisione Generale di Divisione Generale di Divisione Aerea	Kontra-amiraali Konteramiral Kenraalimajuri Generalmajor	少将 Shōshō (Major-General)	Général de division Contre-amiral Général de division aérienne	General-major (Генерал-мајор)
Commodore^{[note 26]} Brigadier^{[note 27]} Air Commodore	Commodore^{[note 28]} Brigadier General	-	-	-	-	Konteradmiral Generalmajor Brigadeführer	Contrammiraglio Generale di Brigata Generale di Brigata Aerea	-	-	Général de brigade capitaine de vaisseau chef de division^{[note 26]} Général de brigade aérienne	-
Commodore^{[note 26]} Brigadier^{[note 27]} Air Commodore	Commodore^{[note 28]} Brigadier General	-	-	-	-	Kommodore^{[note 29]} Oberführer		-	-		-
Captain Colonel Group Captain	Captain Colonel	Капита́н 1-го ра́нга (Captain 1st rank) Полко́вник (Polkovnik)	上校 Shang-hsiao (Colonel)	Komandor Pułkownik	Πλοίαρχος (Captain) Συνταγματάρχης (Colonel) Σμήναρχος (Group Captain)	Kapitän zur See Oberst Standartenführer	Capitano di Vascello Colonnello	Kommodori Kommodor Eversti Överste	大佐 Taisa (Colonel)	Colonel capitaine de vaisseau Colonel	Pukovnik (Пуковник)
Commander Lieutenant-Colonel Wing Commander	Commander Lieutenant Colonel	Капита́н 2-го ра́нга (Captain 2nd rank) Подполко́вник (Podpolkovnik)	中校 Chung-hsiao (Lieutenant-Colonel)	Komandor porucznik Podpułkownik	Αντιπλοίαρχος (Commander) Αντισυνταγματάρχης (Lieutenant Colonel) Αντισμήναρχος (Wing Commander)	Fregattenkapitän Oberstleutnant Obersturmbannführer	Capitano di Fregata Tenente Colonnello	Komentaja Kommendör Everstiluutnantti Överstelöjtnant	中佐 Chūsa (Lieutenant-Colonel)	Lieutenant-colonel capitaine de frégate Lieutenant-colonel	Potpukovnik (Потпуковник)
Lieutenant-Commander Major Squadron Leader	Lieutenant Commander Major	Капита́н 3-го ра́нга (Captain 3rd rank) Майо́р (Major)	少校 Shao-hsiao (Major)	Komandor podporucznik Major	Πλωτάρχης (Lieutenant Commander) Ταγματάρχης (Major) Επισμηναγός (Squadron Leader)	Korvettenkapitän Major Sturmbannführer	Capitano di Corvetta Maggiore	Komentajakapteeni Kommendörkapten Majuri Major	少佐 Shōsa (Major)	Commandant capitaine de corvette Commandant	Major (Maјор)
Lieutenant Captain Flight Lieutenant	Lieutenant Captain	Капита́н-лейтена́нт (Captain-Lieutenant) Капита́н (Captain)	上尉 Shang-wei (Captain)	Kapitan marynarki Kapitan^{[note 30]}	Υποπλοίαρχος (Lieutenant) Λοχαγός (Captain) Σμηναγός (Flight Lieutenant)	Kapitänleutnant Hauptmann^{[note 31]} Hauptsturmführer	Primo Capitano	Kapteeniluutnantti Kaptenlöjtnant Kapteeni Kapten	大尉 Taii (Captain)	Capitaine Lieutenant de vaisseau Capitaine	Kapetan (Капетaн)
Lieutenant Captain Flight Lieutenant	Lieutenant Captain	Капита́н-лейтена́нт (Captain-Lieutenant) Капита́н (Captain)	上尉 Shang-wei (Captain)	Kapitan marynarki Kapitan^{[note 30]}		Kapitänleutnant Hauptmann^{[note 31]} Hauptsturmführer	Tenente di Vascello Capitano	Kapteeniluutnantti Kaptenlöjtnant Kapteeni Kapten	大尉 Taii (Captain)	Capitaine Lieutenant de vaisseau Capitaine	Kapetan (Капетaн)
Sub-Lieutenant Lieutenant Flying Officer	Lieutenant Junior Grade First Lieutenant	Ста́рший лейтена́нт (Senior Lieutenant) Ста́рший лейтена́нт (Senior Lieutenant)	中尉 Chung-wei (Lieutenant)	Porucznik marynarki Porucznik	Ανθυποπλοίαρχος (Sub-Lieutenant) Υπολοχαγός (Lieutenant) Υποσμηναγός (Flying Officer)	Oberleutnant zur See Oberleutnant Obersturmführer	Sottotenente di Vascello Primo Tenente^{[note 32]}	Luutnantti Löjtnant	中尉 Chūi (First Lieutenant)	Lieutenant Enseigne de vaisseau de 1^re classe Lieutenant	Poručnik (Пοручник)
Commissioned Warrant Officer Second Lieutenant Pilot Officer	Ensign Second Lieutenant	Лейтена́нт (Lieutenant) Лейтена́нт (Lieutenant)	少尉 Shao-wei (2nd Lieutenant)	Podporucznik marynarki Podporucznik	Σημαιοφόρος (Ensign) Ανθυπολοχαγός (Second Lieutenant) Ανθυποσμηναγός (Pilot Officer)	Leutnant zur See Leutnant Untersturmführer	Guardiamarina Tenente	Aliluutnantti Underlöjtnant Vänrikki Fänrik	少尉 Shōi (Second Lieutenant)	Sous-lieutenant Enseigne de vaisseau de 2^nde classe Sous-lieutenant	Potporučnik (Потпоручник)
	Ensign Second Lieutenant	Мла́дший лейтена́нт (Junior Lieutenant) Мла́дший лейтена́нт (Junior Lieutenant)	准尉 Chun-wei (Warrant Officer)	Chorąży marynarki Chorąży		Leutnant zur See Leutnant Untersturmführer	Sottotenente	Aliluutnantti Underlöjtnant Vänrikki Fänrik	少尉 Shōi (Second Lieutenant)	Aspirant	Potporučnik (Потпоручник)

Notes[]

Notes

↑ Air Force ranks equal to generic Army ranks are not shown.
↑ The name "British Commonwealth" came into official use in 1926, in place of "British Empire".
↑ Included ranks on WWII period only.
↑ In Polish military tradition the Polish Air Forces form a separate branch of the Polish Army, though the military ranks were exactly the same as in the case of land forces. Sometimes the word pilot was added to distinguish Air officers from the officers of the land forces (cf. podporucznik pilot as opposed to podporucznik). Historically due to absence of full general rank (which was introduced later), Polish General ranks were shifted one position up compared to similar-sounding ranks in other countries. Hence the rank of generał brygady (literally "general of a brigade") in most cases was a commanding officer of a division and was roughly equivalent to Major General, and not Brigadier General in other armies.
↑ There is no standard method of transliterating the Greek language. See Romanization of Greek.
↑ All military ranks shown here date from 1943-46; the Partisans used positional ranks (similar to that used by the Red Army during the Russian Civil War) from their inception in 1941 to 1943, with minor changes.
↑ From June 27, 1945. Stalin appointed this rank by Supreme Council after victory over Germany.
↑ Rank held by the Chinese Leader Chiang Kai-shek.
↑ Highest possible military rank of Italy, created in 1938 and held solely and at the same time by King Victor Emmanuel III and Benito Mussolini
↑ Highest possible military rank of Japan, held solely by the Emperor of Japan
↑ Admiral of the Navy and General of the Armies while not in active service had retroactively become the "six star" ranks within the forces of the U.S. A proposal to elevate Nimitz and MacArthur to these ranks for the invasion of Japan was made but not acted upon prior to Japan's surrender.
↑ Essentially a "vanity rank" created by Hitler on June 29, 1941, for Hermann Göring. Hitler himself held the title of Führer, which was a political and party title, englobing the supreme command of the armed forces; however Führer wasn't, strictly speaking, a military rank, and Hitler never promoted himself from the rank of Gefreiter he had earned during World War I
↑ An honorary title given to Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim on his 75th birthday in 1942.
↑ Not a rank, but a dignity of the State.
↑ Not a rank, but a dignity of the State. No Amiral de France was alive during the war.
↑ Rank held only by Tito; conferred to him by the Anti-Fascist Council of the People's Liberation of Yugoslavia on November 29, 1943.
↑ In 1934, Heinrich Himmler's title became an actual rank after the Night of the Long Knives. From that point on, Reichsführer-SS became the highest rank of the SS and was considered on paper the equivalent of a Generalfeldmarschall in the Wehrmacht; however as Himmler's position and authority grew in Nazi Germany, so did his rank in a "de facto" sense. McNab, Chris. (2009) The SS, pp. 9, 30, 46-47.
↑ For example, King George VI was "Marshal of the Royal Australian Air Force" during 1939-45.
↑ Marshals and Chief marshals of a specific arm of service (Artillery, Armored Forces, Engineering Service, Air Force etc), were introduced in 1943; though they both are equal to General of the Army, they maintained precedence over each other.
↑ ^20.0 ^20.1 ^20.2 Rank held only by King George II
↑ In 1944, it was planned that the rank of SS-Volksmarschall to be introduced for possible promotion of Waffen-SS Generalobersts, but no one had ever been promoted to this rank. de:Volksmarschall
↑ Gensui, although usually translated as Field Marshal/Grand Admiral, was actually an honorary title conferred by the Emperor and not a rank as such.
↑ Introduced in 1940 as an equivalent to General of the Army, but from May 1945 became equal to Marshal of the Soviet Union, with no intermediate rank in between. [1]
↑ ^24.0 ^24.1 ^24.2 No officer was appointed to this rank during the war
↑ Generals of this rank in the German army and airforce generally held the rank of their service branch. In the Heer (army) these were "General der Infanterie" (infantry), "General der Artillerie" (artillery), "General der Kavallerie" (Cavalry), "General der Panzertruppe" (armoured troops), "General der Nachrichtentruppe" (line of communication troops), "General der Pionier" (pioneer troops) and "General der Gebirgstruppe" (mountain troops). In the Luftwaffe (air force) the ranks were "General der Flieger" (air force), "General der Fallschirmtruppe" (parachute troops) and "General der Flakartillerie" (anti-aircraft artillery).
↑ ^26.0 ^26.1 Prior to 1997 an appointment held by senior captains.
↑ An appointment conferred on Colonels rather than a substantive rank
↑ Rank reintroduced in 1943.
↑ Actually a Kapitän zur See (Captain) acting in an admiral's capacity. This was a rarely used rank. Best-known holder was Karl Dönitz, who from 28 January 1939 until 1 October 1939 was "Kapitän zur See und Kommodore" and "Leader of U-Boats".
↑ Traditionally captains of Polish cavalry held the rank of rotmistrz, a direct equivalent of the rank of kapitan in other branches of the military.
↑ Captains in the cavalry and mounted transport corps were called Rittmeister.
↑ "Primo" ranks were a way for identifying long term or career officers. Primo Capitano and Primo Tenente were officers with 12 years seniority in the rank or a total of 20 years of commissioned service.

Citations

Bibliography

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The original article can be found at Comparative officer ranks of World War II and the edit history here.

[1] Air Force ranks equal to generic Army ranks are not shown.

[2] The name "British Commonwealth" came into official use in 1926, in place of "British Empire".

[3] Included ranks on WWII period only.

[4] In Polish military tradition the Polish Air Forces form a separate branch of the Polish Army, though the military ranks were exactly the same as in the case of land forces. Sometimes the word pilot was added to distinguish Air officers from the officers of the land forces (cf. podporucznik pilot as opposed to podporucznik). Historically due to absence of full general rank (which was introduced later), Polish General ranks were shifted one position up compared to similar-sounding ranks in other countries. Hence the rank of generał brygady (literally "general of a brigade") in most cases was a commanding officer of a division and was roughly equivalent to Major General, and not Brigadier General in other armies.

[5] There is no standard method of transliterating the Greek language. See Romanization of Greek.

[6] All military ranks shown here date from 1943-46; the Partisans used positional ranks (similar to that used by the Red Army during the Russian Civil War) from their inception in 1941 to 1943, with minor changes.

[7] From June 27, 1945. Stalin appointed this rank by Supreme Council after victory over Germany.

[8] Rank held by the Chinese Leader Chiang Kai-shek.

[9] Highest possible military rank of Italy, created in 1938 and held solely and at the same time by King Victor Emmanuel III and Benito Mussolini

[10] Highest possible military rank of Japan, held solely by the Emperor of Japan

[11] Admiral of the Navy and General of the Armies while not in active service had retroactively become the "six star" ranks within the forces of the U.S. A proposal to elevate Nimitz and MacArthur to these ranks for the invasion of Japan was made but not acted upon prior to Japan's surrender.

[12] Essentially a "vanity rank" created by Hitler on June 29, 1941, for Hermann Göring. Hitler himself held the title of Führer, which was a political and party title, englobing the supreme command of the armed forces; however Führer wasn't, strictly speaking, a military rank, and Hitler never promoted himself from the rank of Gefreiter he had earned during World War I

[13] An honorary title given to Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim on his 75th birthday in 1942.

[14] Not a rank, but a dignity of the State.

[15] Not a rank, but a dignity of the State. No Amiral de France was alive during the war.

[16] Rank held only by Tito; conferred to him by the Anti-Fascist Council of the People's Liberation of Yugoslavia on November 29, 1943.

[17] In 1934, Heinrich Himmler's title became an actual rank after the Night of the Long Knives. From that point on, Reichsführer-SS became the highest rank of the SS and was considered on paper the equivalent of a Generalfeldmarschall in the Wehrmacht; however as Himmler's position and authority grew in Nazi Germany, so did his rank in a "de facto" sense. McNab, Chris. (2009) The SS, pp. 9, 30, 46-47.

[18] For example, King George VI was "Marshal of the Royal Australian Air Force" during 1939-45.

[19] Marshals and Chief marshals of a specific arm of service (Artillery, Armored Forces, Engineering Service, Air Force etc), were introduced in 1943; though they both are equal to General of the Army, they maintained precedence over each other.

[Greece1-20] 20.0 ^20.1 ^20.2 Rank held only by King George II

[21] In 1944, it was planned that the rank of SS-Volksmarschall to be introduced for possible promotion of Waffen-SS Generalobersts, but no one had ever been promoted to this rank. de:Volksmarschall

[22] Gensui, although usually translated as Field Marshal/Grand Admiral, was actually an honorary title conferred by the Emperor and not a rank as such.

[23] Introduced in 1940 as an equivalent to General of the Army, but from May 1945 became equal to Marshal of the Soviet Union, with no intermediate rank in between. [1]

[Greece2-24] 24.0 ^24.1 ^24.2 No officer was appointed to this rank during the war

[25] Generals of this rank in the German army and airforce generally held the rank of their service branch. In the Heer (army) these were "General der Infanterie" (infantry), "General der Artillerie" (artillery), "General der Kavallerie" (Cavalry), "General der Panzertruppe" (armoured troops), "General der Nachrichtentruppe" (line of communication troops), "General der Pionier" (pioneer troops) and "General der Gebirgstruppe" (mountain troops). In the Luftwaffe (air force) the ranks were "General der Flieger" (air force), "General der Fallschirmtruppe" (parachute troops) and "General der Flakartillerie" (anti-aircraft artillery).

[ReferenceA-26] 26.0 ^26.1 Prior to 1997 an appointment held by senior captains.

[27] An appointment conferred on Colonels rather than a substantive rank

[28] Rank reintroduced in 1943.

[29] Actually a Kapitän zur See (Captain) acting in an admiral's capacity. This was a rarely used rank. Best-known holder was Karl Dönitz, who from 28 January 1939 until 1 October 1939 was "Kapitän zur See und Kommodore" and "Leader of U-Boats".

[30] Traditionally captains of Polish cavalry held the rank of rotmistrz, a direct equivalent of the rank of kapitan in other branches of the military.

[31] Captains in the cavalry and mounted transport corps were called Rittmeister.

[32] "Primo" ranks were a way for identifying long term or career officers. Primo Capitano and Primo Tenente were officers with 12 years seniority in the rank or a total of 20 years of commissioned service.

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Comparative officer ranks of World War II

See also[]

Notes[]