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Revision as of 22:14, 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

Not specific to any service

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
OF-10	Admiral of the Fleet Field Marshal Marshal of the RAF	Fleet Admiral General of the Army	Генерали́ссимус Сове́тского Сою́за (Generalissimus Sovetskogo Soyuza)	Reichsmarschall des Großdeutschen Reiches Reichsführer-SS	Gensui
			Ма́ршал Сове́тского Сою́за (Marshal Sovetskogo Soyuza)	Großadmiral Generalfeldmarschall Generalfeldmarschall
			Адмирал флота (Admiral Flota) Генерал армии (General Armiyi) Армейский комиссар 1-го ранга (Armenskiyi Comissar 1-go ranga)
OF-9	Admiral General Air Chief Marshal	Admiral General	Адмира́л (Admiral) Генера́л-полко́вник (General-Polkovnik) Армейский комиссар 2-го ранга (Armenskiyi Comissar 2-go ranga)	Generaladmiral Generaloberst Generaloberst Oberstgruppenführer	Taishō 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-Leytenant) Корпусный комиссар (Corpusniyi Comissar)	Vizeadmiral Generalleutnant Generalleutnant Gruppenführer	Chūjū Chūjū
OF-7	Rear-Admiral Major-General Air Vice-Marshal	Rear Admiral Major General	Ко́нтр-адмира́л (Kontr-Admiral) Генера́л-майо́р (General-Mayor) Дивизионный комиссар (Divizionniyi Comissar)	Konteradmiral Generalmajor Generalmajor Brigadeführer	Shōshō Shōshō
OF-6	Commodore 1st Class	Commodore Brigadier General	Капита́н 1-го ра́нга (Kapitan 1-go ranga) Полко́вник (Polkovnik) Полковой комиссар (Polkovoyi Comissar)	Kommodore Oberführer	Daisa Taisa
	Commodore 2nd Class Brigadier Air Commodore
OF-5	Captain Colonel Group Captain	Captain Colonel		Kapitän zur See Oberst Oberst Standartenführer
OF-4	Commander Lieutenant-Colonel Wing Commander	Commander Lieutenant Colonel	Капита́н 2-го ра́нга (Kapitan 2-go ranga) Подполко́вник (Podpolkovnik) Батальонный комиссар (Batalionniyi Comissar)	Fregattenkapitän Oberstleutnant Oberstleutnant Obersturmbannführer	Chūsa Chūsa
OF-3	Lieutenant-Commander Major Squadron Leader	Lieutenant Commander Major	Капита́н 3-го ра́нга (Kapitan 3-go ranga) Майо́р (Mayor) Старший политрук (Starshiyi Politruk)	Korvettenkapitän Major Major Sturmbannführer	Shōsa Shōsa
OF-2	Lieutenant Captain Flight Lieutenant	Lieutenant Captain	Капита́н-лейтена́нт (Kapitan-Leytenant) Капита́н (Kapitan) Политрук (Politruk)	Kapitänleutnant Hauptmann/Rittmeister Hauptmann Hauptsturmführer	Daii Taii
OF-1	Sub-Lieutenant Lieutenant Flying Officer	Lieutenant Junior Grade First Lieutenant	Ста́рший лейтена́нт (Starshiyi Leytenant) Ста́рший лейтена́нт (Starshiyi Leytenant) Младший политрук (Mladshiyi Politruk)	Oberleutnant zur See Oberleutnant Oberleutnant Obersturmführer	Chūi Chūi
	Commissioned Warrant Officer Second Lieutenant Pilot Officer	Ensign Second Lieutenant	Лейтена́нт (Leytenant) Лейтена́нт (Leytenant)	Leutnant zur See Leutnant Leutnant Untersturmführer	Shōi Shōi
	Midshipman		Мла́дший лейтена́нт (Mladshiyi Leytenant) Мла́дший лейтена́нт (Mladshiyi Leytenant)

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 on admiral's duty.
6. Actually a Captain acting in a higher rank.
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. An Oberführer was officially equivalent to a senior Oberst in the German Army.
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.

Note that there is considerable debate as to the exact equivalency of officers of OF-6 equivalent rank and above.

See also

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

• Military ranks by country