The following table shows comparative officer ranks of several Allied and Central powers during World War I.
Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Austro-Hungarian Army [lower-alpha 1] [1] [2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Feldmarschall Tábornagy | Generaloberst Vezérezredes | General der Waffengattung Tábornok | Feldmarschall-Leutnant Altábornagy | Generalmajor Vezérőrnagy | Oberst Ezredes | Oberstleutnant Alezredes | Major Őrnagy | Hauptmann / Rittmeister Százados / Kapitány | Oberleutnant Főhadnagy | Leutnant Hadnagy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Austro-Hungarian Navy [lower-alpha 1] [3] [4] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Großadmiral Főtengernagy | Admiral Tengernagy | Vizeadmiral Altengernagy | Kontreadmiral Ellentengernagy | Linienschiffkapitän Sorhajókapitány | Fregattenkapitän Fregattkapitány | Korvettenkapitän Korvettkapitány | Linienschiffsleutnant Sorhajóhadnagy | Fregattenleutnant Fregatthadnagy | Korvettenleutnant Korvetthadnagy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
British Army [5] [6] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Field marshal | General | Lieutenant-general | Major-general | Brigadier-general | Colonel | Lieutenant-colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | Second lieutenant | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Royal Navy [7] [8] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Admiral of the Fleet | Admiral | Vice-admiral | Rear-admiral | Commodore 1st class [9] | Commodore 2nd class | Captain | Commander | Lieutenant commander | Lieutenant | Sub-lieutenant | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
French Army [10] [11] [12] [13] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Maréchal de France [lower-alpha 2] | Général de division ayant un commandement supérieur ( général ) [lower-alpha 3] | Général de division | Général de brigade | Colonel | Lieutenant-colonel | Commandant | Capitaine | Lieutenant | Sous-lieutenant | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
French Navy [15] [16] [17] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Amiral de France [lower-alpha 2] | Vice-amiral commandant (amiralissime) [18] | Vice-amiral | Contre-amiral | Capitaine de vaisseau | Capitaine de frégate | Capitaine de corvette | Lieutenant de vaisseau | Enseigne de vaisseau de 1re classe | Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Imperial German Army [19] [20] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Generalfeldmarschall | Generaloberst mit dem Rang als Generalfeldmarschall | Generaloberst | General der Waffengattung | Generalleutnant | Generalmajor | Oberst | Oberstleutnant | Major | Hauptmann / Rittmeister | Oberleutnant | Leutnant | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Imperial German Navy [21] [22] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Großadmiral | Admiral | Vizeadmiral | Konteradmiral | Kapitän zur See/ Kommodore | Fregattenkapitän | Korvettenkapitän | Kapitänleutnant | Oberleutnant zur See | Leutnant zur See | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Royal Italian Army [23] [24] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Generale d'esercito | Tenente generale [lower-alpha 4] | Maggior generale [lower-alpha 5] | Brigadier generale | Colonnello | Tenente colonnello | Maggiore | Primo capitano | Capitano | Tenente | Sottotenente | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Royal Italian Navy [25] [26] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ammiraglio | Vice ammiraglio | Contrammiraglio | Sottoammiraglio | Capitano di vascello | Capitano di frigata | Capitano di corvetta | Tenente di vascello | Sottotenent di vascello | Guardiamarina | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Imperial Japanese Army [27] [28] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
大元帥陸軍大将 Daigensui-Rikugun-Taishō | 元帥陸軍大将 Gensui-Rikugun-Taishō | 陸軍大将 Rikugun-Taishō | 陸軍中将 Rikugun-Chūjō | 陸軍少将 Rikugun-Shōshō | 陸軍大佐 Rikugun-Taisa | 陸軍中佐 Rikugun-Chūsa | 陸軍少佐 Rikugun-Shōsa | 陸軍大尉 Rikugun-Tai-i | 陸軍中尉 Rikugun-Chūi | 陸軍少尉 Rikugun-Shōi | 准尉 Jun-i | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Imperial Japanese Navy [29] [30] | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
大元帥海軍大将 Daigensui-Kaigun-Taishō | 元帥海軍大将 Gensui-kaigun-Taishō | 海軍大将 Kaigun-Taishō | 海軍中将 Kaigun-Chūjō | 海軍少将 Kaigun-Shōshō | 海軍大佐 Kaigun-Daisa | 海軍中佐 Kaigun-Chūsa | 海軍少佐 Kaigun-Shōsa | 海軍大尉 Kaigun-Dai-i | 海軍中尉 Kaigun-Chūi | 海軍少尉 Kaigun-Shōi | 兵曹長 Hēsōchō | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ottoman Army [31] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Müşir | Ferik-i evvel | Ferik-i sânî | Mirliva | Miralay | Kaymakam | Binbaşı | Yüzbaşı | Mülâzım-ı evvel | Mülâzım-ı sânî | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ottoman Navy [31] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Müşir amiral | Amiral | Vice amiral | Liva amiral | Komodor | Kalyon kaptanı | Fırkateyn kaptanı | Korvet kaptanı | Birinci sınıf yüzbaşı | Yüzbaşı | Mülâzım-ı evvel | Mülâzım-ı sânî | Mühendis | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Portuguese Army [32] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Marechal [lower-alpha 6] | General [lower-alpha 7] | Brigadeiro | Coronel | Tenente-coronel | Major | Capitão | Tenente | Alferes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Portuguese Navy [32] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Almirante [lower-alpha 6] | Vice-almirante | Contra-almirante | Capitão de mar e guerra | Capitão de fragata | Capitão-tenente | Primeiro-tenente | Segundo-tenente | Guarda-marinha | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Imperial Russian Army [lower-alpha 8] [33] [34] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Генерал-фельдмаршал General-fel'dmarshal | Генерал рода войск General roda voysk | Генерал-лейтенант General-leytenant | Генерал-майор General-mayor | Полковник Polkovnik | Подполковник Podpolkovnik | Капитан Kapitan [lower-alpha 9] | Штабс-капитан Shtabs-kapitan [lower-alpha 10] | Поручик Poruchik | Подпоручик Podporuchik [lower-alpha 11] | Прапорщик Praporshik | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Imperial Russian Navy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Генерал-адмирал General-admiral | Адмирал Admiral | Вице-адмирал Vitse-admiral | Контр-адмирал Kontr-admiral | Капитан I ранга Kapitan 1-go ranga | Капитан II ранга Kapitan 2-go ranga | Старший лейтенант Starshiy-leytenant | Лейтенант Leytenant | Мичман Michman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Provisional Russian Navy (from 1917) [35] [36] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Адмирал Admiral | Вице-адмирал Vitse-admiral | Контр-адмирал Kontr-admiral | Капитан I ранга Kapitan 1-go ranga | Капитан II ранга Kapitan 2-go ranga | Старший лейтенант Starshiy-leytenant | Лейтенант Leytenant | Мичман Michman | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Royal Serbian Army [37] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bojni Vojvoda [lower-alpha 12] | General [lower-alpha 13] | Pukovnik | Potpukovnik | Major | Kapetan 1. klase | Kapetan 2. klase | Poručnik | Potporučnik | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
United States Army [38] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
General of the Armies [lower-alpha 14] | General | Lieutenant General | Major General | Brigadier General | Colonel | Lieutenant Colonel | Major | Captain | First Lieutenant | Second Lieutenant | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
United States Navy [39] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Admiral of the Navy [lower-alpha 14] | Admiral | Vice Admiral | Rear Admiral | Commodore | Captain | Commander | Lieutenant Commander | Lieutenant | Lieutenant (junior grade) | Ensign | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Field marshal is the second most senior military rank, ordinarily senior to the general officer ranks, but junior to the rank of Generalissimo. Usually, it is the highest rank in an army, and as such, few persons are ever appointed to it. It is considered as a five-star rank (OF-10) in modern-day armed forces in many countries. Promotion to the rank of field marshal in many countries historically required extraordinary military achievement by a general. However, the rank has also been used as a divisional command rank and also as a brigade command rank. Examples of the different uses of the rank include Afghanistan, Austria-Hungary, Pakistan, Prussia/Germany, India and Sri Lanka for an extraordinary achievement; Spain and Mexico for a divisional command ; and France, Portugal and Brazil for a brigade command.
Brigadier is a military rank, the seniority of which depends on the country. In some countries, it is a senior rank above colonel, equivalent to a brigadier general or commodore, typically commanding a brigade of several thousand soldiers. In other countries, it is a non-commissioned rank.
Brigadier general or brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000 troops or.
Epaulette is a type of ornamental shoulder piece or decoration used as insignia of rank by armed forces and other organizations. Flexible metal epaulettes are referred to as shoulder scales.
Air marshal is an air-officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence, including many Commonwealth nations. The rank is usually equivalent to a vice admiral or a lieutenant general.
The following table shows comparative officer ranks of World War II, with the ranks of Allied powers, the major Axis powers and various other countries and co-belligerents during World War II.
Uhlans were a type of light cavalry, primarily armed with a lance. They first appeared in the cavalry of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, in the early 18th century. Uhlans were quickly adopted by the mounted forces of other countries, including France, Russia, Prussia, Saxony, and Austria-Hungary. The term "lancer" was often used interchangeably with "uhlan"; the lancer regiments later formed for the British Army were directly inspired by the uhlans of other armies.
Spahis were light-cavalry regiments of the French army recruited primarily from the Arab and Berber populations of Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco. The modern French Army retains one regiment of Spahis as an armoured unit, with personnel now recruited in mainland France. Senegal also maintains a mounted unit with spahi origins as a presidential escort: the Red Guard.
Rittmaster is or was a military rank of a commissioned cavalry officer in the armies of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and some other countries. A Rittmeister is typically in charge of a squadron, and is the equivalent of a Hauptmann rank.
A side cap is a military cap that can be folded flat when not being worn. It is also known as a garrison cap or flight cap in the United States, wedge cap in Canada, or field service cap in the United Kingdom; or in vulgar slang as a cunt cap. In form the side cap is comparable to the glengarry, a folding version of the Scottish military bonnet. It has been associated with various military forces since the middle of the 19th century, as well as various civilian organizations.
Rank insignia in the French Army are worn on the sleeve or on shoulder marks of uniforms, and range up to the highest rank of Marshal of France, a state honour denoted with a seven-star insignia that was last conferred posthumously on Marie Pierre Koenig in 1984.
Général is the French word for general. There are two main categories of generals: the general officers, which are the highest-ranking commanding officers in the armed forces, and the specialist officers with flag rank, which are high-level officers in the other uniformed services.
An army corps general or corps general is a rank held by a general officer who commands an army corps. The rank originates from the French Revolutionary System, and is used by a number of countries. Normally, the rank is above the divisional general and below the army general, so it usually corresponds to the lieutenant general. However, in some countries such as Spain, Brazil, and Peru, the rank of army corps general is not used, in Spain the rank of army corps general is replaced by the rank of lieutenant general, while in some countries such as Brazil and Peru, the rank of army general is immediately above that of divisional general.
The ranks and insignia of the Confederate States were a rank insignia system devised for the Military of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War.
The Military ranks of Serbia are the military insignia used by the current Serbian Armed Forces and historical Royal Serbian Army.
The rank insignia of the Austro-Hungarian Navy were worn on and on sleeves for navy jackets and coats, or on shoulder straps of shirts and white jackets. Officers' ranks were indicated by lines of 1.3 centimetres (0.51 in) gold braid as were senior non-commissioned officers' ranks, enlisted men's rank was indicated by white stars on their square collar flaps. Senior officers and flag officers would wear a broader gold braid line of 3.3 centimetres (1.3 in) and 5.3 centimetres (2.1 in) resp. beneath smaller lines, in addition flag officers would wear a crown on top of their sleeve insignia.
The Military ranks of Turkey are the military insignia used by the Turkish Armed Forces.
The Military ranks of the Kingdom of Italy were the military insignia used by the Italian Armed Forces when Italy was the Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946). During the World Wars, the Carabinieri, as the then-most senior corps of the Army, wore similar insignia to those used by the rest of the service.
The military ranks of the German Empire were the ranks used by the military of the German Empire. It inherited the various traditions and military ranks of its constituent states.
The Military ranks of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia were the military insignia used by the Royal Yugoslav Armed Forces. It replaced the ranks of the Kingdom of Serbia following the unification of the Kingdom of Serbia into Kingdom SHS. After the proclamation of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the ranks were replaced by the Yugoslav People's Army ranks.