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Revision as of 19:57, 9 January 2006

The following table shows comparative officer ranks of major Allied and Axis powers during World War II. For modern ranks refer to Comparative military ranks.

Major participants not shown:

• China (on side of Allies)
• Free French (Allied force after fall of France)
• Italy (Axis power)

KEY:

Navy

Army

Air Force

Waffen/Allgemeine-SS ¹, Political staff (USSR) ²

All Services

Approximate modern NATO equivalent	Union Jack	Star-spangled Banner		Swastika flag of the Third Reich	Japanese Imperial Flag
	British Empire	United States	Soviet Union	German Third Reich	Empire of Japan
-	-	-	Генерали́ссимус Сове́тского Сою́за (Generalissimo of the Soviet Union)	-	-
-	-	General of the Armies	Ма́ршал Сове́тского Сою́за (Marshal of the Soviet Union)	Reichsmarschall des Großdeutschen Reiches Oberster Führer der Schutzstaffel	-
OF-10	Admiral of the Fleet Field Marshal Marshal of the RAF	Fleet Admiral General of the Army	Адмирал флота (Admiral of the Fleet) Генерал армии (General of the Army) Армейский комиссар 1-го ранга (Army Comissar 1st rank)	Großadmiral Generalfeldmarschall Generalfeldmarschall der Flieger Reichsführer-SS	Gensui
OF-9	Admiral General Air Chief Marshal	Admiral General	Адмира́л (Admiral) Генера́л-полко́вник (General-Colonel) Армейский комиссар 2-го ранга (Army Comissar 2nd rank)	Generaladmiral Generaloberst Generaloberst Oberstgruppenführer	Taishō
				Admiral General General der Flieger Obergruppenführer
OF-8	Vice-Admiral Lieutenant-General Air Marshal	Vice Admiral Lieutenant General	Ви́це-адмира́л (Vice-Admiral) Генера́л-лейтена́нт (General-Leutenant) Корпусный комиссар (Corps Comissar)	Vizeadmiral Generalleutnant Generalleutnant Gruppenführer	Chūjū
OF-7	Rear-Admiral Major-General Air Vice-Marshal	Rear Admiral Major General	Ко́нтр-адмира́л (Counter-Admiral) Генера́л-майо́р (General-Major) Дивизионный комиссар (Division Comissar)	Konteradmiral Generalmajor Generalmajor Brigadeführer	Shōshō
OF-6	Commodore Brigadier Air Commodore	Commodore Brigadier General	-	Kommodore Oberführer	-
OF-5	Captain Colonel Group Captain	Captain Colonel	Капита́н 1-го ра́нга (Captain 1st rank) Полко́вник (Polkovnik) Полковой комиссар (Regiment Comissar)	Kapitän zur See Oberst Oberst Standartenführer	Daisa Taisa
OF-4	Commander Lieutenant-Colonel Wing Commander	Commander Lieutenant Colonel	Капита́н 2-го ра́нга (Captain 2nd rank) Подполко́вник (Podpolkovnik) Батальонный комиссар (Batallion Comissar)	Fregattenkapitän Oberstleutnant Oberstleutnant Obersturmbannführer	Chūsa
OF-3	Lieutenant-Commander Major Squadron Leader	Lieutenant Commander Major	Капита́н 3-го ра́нга (Captain 3rd rank) Майо́р (Major) Старший политрук (Senior Political Leader)	Korvettenkapitän Major Major Sturmbannführer	Shōsa
OF-2	Lieutenant Captain Flight Lieutenant	Lieutenant Captain	Капита́н-лейтена́нт (Captain-Leutenant) Капита́н (Captain) Политрук (Political Leader)	Kapitänleutnant Hauptmann/Rittmeister Hauptmann Hauptsturmführer	Daii Taii
OF-1	Sub-Lieutenant Lieutenant Flying Officer	Lieutenant Junior Grade First Lieutenant	Ста́рший лейтена́нт (Senior Leutenant) Ста́рший лейтена́нт (Senior Leutenant) Младший политрук (Junior Political Leader)	Oberleutnant zur See Oberleutnant Oberleutnant Obersturmführer	Chūi
	Commissioned Warrant Officer Second Lieutenant Pilot Officer	Ensign Second Lieutenant	Лейтена́нт (Leutenant) Лейтена́нт (Leutenant)	Leutnant zur See Leutnant Leutnant Untersturmführer	Shōi
			Мла́дший лейтена́нт (Junior Leutenant) Мла́дший лейтена́нт (Junior Leutenant)

Notes

1. Generals in the Waffen-SS also held the army equivalent rank (e.g. SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS).
2. Until 1942. In 1942 political ranks were converted to army ranks one grade lower.
3. Not introduced until 1944 (the even higher-ranking Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union was established only in 1955).
4. Captains in the cavalry and mounted transport corps were called Rittmeister.
5. 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.
6. Included ranks on WW2 period only.
7. Rank reintroduced in 1943.
8. Full Generals in the army generally held the rank of their service branch, such as "General der Infanterie" or "General der Artillerie".
9. See General of the Armies article.
10. Gensui, although usually translated as Field Marshal/Grand Admiral, was actually an honorary title conferred by the Emperor and not a rank as such.
11. From June 27, 1945
12. From May, 1942

See also

• Comparative military ranks of World War I
• Comparative military ranks
• Ranks and insignia of the Schutzstaffel

• Military ranks by country