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Comparative officer ranks of World War II

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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:

KEY:

Navy
Army
Air Force
Waffen/Allgemeine-SS ¹, Political staff (USSR) ²
Not specific to any service


Approximate
modern NATO
equivalent
Union Jack
Union Jack
Star-spangled Banner
Star-spangled Banner
Flag of the USSR
Flag of the USSR
Swastika flag of the Third Reich
Swastika flag of the Third Reich
Japanese Imperial Flag
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
Главный маршал рода войск (Chief Marshal of specific arm) Großadmiral
Generalfeldmarschall
Generalfeldmarschall der Flieger
Reichsführer-SS


Gensui
Адмирал флота (Admiral of the Fleet)
Генерал армии (General of the Army)
Маршал рода войск (Marshal of specific arm)

Армейский комиссар 1-го ранга (Army Comissar 1st rank)
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
  13. From 1943 there introduced Marshals and Chief marshals of specific arm. Also the most of ranks were divided according specific service (Artillery, Armored Forces, Engineering Service, Air Force etc)

See also

Category: