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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:

• China (on side of Allies)

KEY:

Navy

Army

Air Force

Waffen/Allgemeine-SS;, Political staff (USSR);

Not specific to any service

Approximate modern NATO equivalent	Union Jack	Star-spangled Banner		Flag of Poland	Flag of Greece		Swastika flag of the Third Reich	Flag of Kingdom of Italy	Japanese Imperial Flag
	British Empire or British Commonwealth Realm	United States of America	Free French	Republic of Poland	Kingdom of Greece	Union of Soviet Socialist Republics	Nazi Germany Third Reich	Kingdom of Italy	Empire of Japan
OF-10 and outrank	- - Admiral of the Fleet Field Marshal Marshal of the RAF	- Admiral of the Navy General of the Armies Fleet Admiral General of the Army	- - Amiral de la Flotte de France Marechal de France Marechal de France	- - Marszałek Polski	- - Αρχιναύαρχος (Archinaúarchos) Αρχιστράτηγος (Archistrátegos)	Генерали́ссимус Сове́тского Сою́за (Generalissimus Sovetskogo Soyuza) - Адмирал флота (Admiral Flota) (1940-1944) Ма́ршал Сове́тского Сою́за (Marshal Sovetskogo Soyuza) Главный маршал рода войск (Glavnyi Marshal Roda Vojsk) Главный Маршал Авиации Советского Союза (Glavnyi Marshal Aviatsii Sovetskogo Soyuza) Генеральный армейский комиссар (Generalnyi Armeyskiy Comissar)	- Reichsmarschall des Großdeutschen Reiches Großadmiral der Kriegsmarine Generalfeldmarschall Generalfeldmarschall der Flieger Reichsführer-SS	- Primo Maresciallo dell'Impero Grande'Ammiraglio Della Flotta Maresciallo d'Italia Maresciallo dell Avia	- - Gensüi
OF-9	Admiral General Air Chief Marshal	Admiral General	Amiral General d'Armee General d'Armee Aerienne	Admirał floty Generał Armii Generał Armii	Ναύαρχος (Naúarchos) Στρατηγός (Strategós) Πτέραρχος (Ptérarchos)	Адмирал флота (Admiral Flota) (1940-1944) Генерал армии (General Armii) Mаршал рода войск( Marshal Roda Vojsk) Mаршал авиации (Marshal Aviatsii) Армейский комиссар 1-го ранга (Armeyskiy Comissar 1-go ranga)	Generaladmiral Generaloberst Generaloberst der Flieger Oberstgruppenführer	Ammiraglio di Armata Generale d'Armata Generale D'Armata Aerea	Tai Shō Tai Shō
							Admiral General General der Flieger Obergruppenführer
OF-8	Vice-Admiral Lieutenant-General Air Marshal	Vice Admiral Lieutenant General	Vice-Amiral d´Escadre General de Corps d´Armee General de Corps Aerien	Admirał Generał broni Generał broni	Αντιναύαρχος (Antinaúarchos) Αντιστράτηγος (Antistrátegos) Αντιπτέραρχος (Antiptérarchos)	Адмира́л (Admiral) Генера́л-полко́вник (General-Polkovnik) Армейский комиссар 2-го ранга (Armeyskiy Comissar 2-go ranga)	Vizeadmiral Generalleutnant Generalleutnant der Flieger Gruppenführer	Ammiraglio di Squadra con Incarichi Speciali Generale di Corpo d'Armata con Incarichi Speciali Generale di Squadra Aerea con Incarichi Speciali	Chū Jū Chū Jū
								Ammiraglio di Squadra designato di Armata & Ammiraglio di Squadra Generale Designato d'Armata & Generale di Corpo d'Armata Generale Designato d'Armata Aerea & Generale di Squadra D'Armata Aerea
OF-7	Rear-Admiral Major-General Air Vice-Marshal	Rear Admiral Major General	Vice-Amiral General de Division General de Division Aerien	Wiceadmirał Generał dywizji Generał dywizji	Υποναύαρχος (Hyponaúarchos) Υποστράτηγος (Hypostrátegos) Υποπτέραρχος (Hypoptérarchos)	Ви́це-адмира́л (Vice-Admiral) Генера́л-лейтена́нт (General-Leytenant) Корпусный комиссар (Corpusniy Comissar)	Konteradmiral Generalmajor Generalmajor der Flieger Brigadeführer	Ammiraglio di Divisione Generale di Divisione Generale di Divisione Aerea	Shō Shō Shō Shō
OF-6	Commodore 1st Class	Commodore Brigadier General	Contre-Amiral General de Brigade General de Brigade Aerien	Kontradmirał Generał brygady Generał brygady	Ταξίαρχος Αεροπορίας (Taxíarchos Aeroporías)	Ко́нтр-адмира́л (Kontr-Admiral) Генера́л-майо́р (General-Mayor) Дивизионный комиссар (Divizionniy Comissar)	Kommodore Oberführer	Contrammiraglio Generale di Brigata Generale di Brigata Aerea	Jün Shō Jün Shō
	Commodore 2nd Class Brigadier Air Commodore
OF-5	Captain Colonel Group Captain	Captain Colonel	Capitaine de Vaisseau Colonel Colonel	Komandor Pułkownik Pułkownik	Πλοίαρχος (Ploíarchos) Συνταγματάρχης (Syntagmatárches) Σμήναρχος (Sménarchos)	Капита́н 1-го ра́нга (Kapitan 1-go ranga) Полко́вник (Polkovnik) Полковой комиссар (Polkovoy Comissar)	Kapitän zur See Oberst Oberst Standartenführer	Capitano Commissariate Colonnello Comandante di Corpo	Dai Sa Tai Sa
								Capitano di Vascello Colonnello Colonello
OF-4	Commander Lieutenant-Colonel Wing Commander	Commander Lieutenant Colonel	Capitaine de Fregate Lieutenant-Colonel Lieutenant-Colonel	Komandor porucznik Podpułkownik Podpułkownik	Αντιπλοίαρχος (Antiploíarchos) Αντισυνταγματάρχης (Antisyntagmatárches) Αντισμήναρχος (Antisménarchos)	Капита́н 2-го ра́нга (Kapitan 2-go ranga) Подполко́вник (Podpolkovnik) Старший батальонный комиссар (Starshiy Batalionniy Comissar)	Fregattenkapitän Oberstleutnant Oberstleutnant Obersturmbannführer	Capitano di Fregata Tenente Colonnello Tenente Colonnello	Chū Sa Chū Sa
OF-3	Lieutenant-Commander Major Squadron Leader	Lieutenant Commander Major	Capitaine de Corvette Commandant (Major) Commandant (Major)	Komandor podporucznik Major Major	Πλωτάρχης (Plotárches) Ταγματάρχης (Tagmatárches) Επισμηναγός (Epismenagós)	Капита́н 3-го ра́нга (Kapitan 3-go ranga) Майо́р (Mayor) Батальонный комиссар (Batalionniy Comissar)	Korvettenkapitän Major Major Sturmbannführer	Capitano di Corvetta Maggiore Maggiore	Shō Sa Shō Sa
OF-2	Lieutenant Captain Flight Lieutenant	Lieutenant Captain	Lieutenant de Vaisseau Capitaine Capitaine	Kapitan marynarki Kapitan Kapitan	Υποπλοίαρχος (Hypoploíarchos) Λοχαγός (Lochagós) Σμηναγός (Smenagós)	Капита́н-лейтена́нт (Kapitan-Leytenant) Капита́н (Kapitan) Ротный комиссар (Rotniy Comissar)	Kapitänleutnant Hauptmann/Rittmeister Hauptmann Hauptsturmführer	Tenente di Vascello 1° Capitano 1° Capitano	Dai I Tai I
								Capitano Capitano
OF-1	Sub-Lieutenant Lieutenant Flying Officer	Lieutenant Junior Grade First Lieutenant	Enseigne de Vaisseau de 1eme Classe Lieutenant Lieutenant	Porucznik marynarki Porucznik Porucznik	Ανθυποπλοίαρχος (Anthypoploíarchos) Υπολοχαγός (Hypolochagós) Υποσμηναγός (Hyposmenagós)	Ста́рший лейтена́нт (Starshiy Leytenant) Ста́рший лейтена́нт (Starshiy Leytenant) Старший политрук (Starshiy Politruk)	Oberleutnant zur See Oberleutnant Oberleutnant Obersturmführer	1° Tenente 1° Tenente	Chū I Chū I
	Mate / Commissioned Warrant Officer Second Lieutenant Pilot Officer	Ensign Second Lieutenant	Enseigne de Vaisseau de 2eme Classe Sous-Lieutenant Sous-Lieutenant	Podporucznik marynarki Podporucznik Podporucznik	Σημαιοφόρος (Semaiophóros) Ανθυπολοχαγός (Anthypolochagós) Ανθυποσμηναγός (Anthyposmenagós)	Лейтена́нт (Leytenant) Лейтена́нт (Leytenant) Политрук (Politruk)	Leutnant zur See Leutnant Leutnant Untersturmführer	Sottotenente di Vascello Tenente Tenente	Shō I Shō I
	Midshipman and Boatswain	Midshipman	Marine Officer Aspirant Officer Aspirant L'Air Officer Aspirant	Chorąży marynarki Chorąży Chorąży		Мла́дший лейтена́нт (Mladshiy Leytenant) Мла́дший лейтена́нт (Mladshiy Leytenant) Младший политрук (Mladshiy Politruk)		Guardiamarina Sottotenente Sottotenente

Notes

1. 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)
2. There is no standard method of transliterating Greek. In this article, traditional Erasmic transliterations are used and do not represent the rank's name's actual pronounciation. See Greek alphabet.
3. Transliterations are approximate as there is no standardization in converting Cyrillic to Latin.
4. The ranks OF-10 code in the table were honorary, or were awarded in limited or unusual circumstances. During the war, the responsibilities of the ranks listed in this table varied greatly, their equivalence approximate and establishing an exact correlation among them is impossible. NATO OF-10 code is used here merely for clarity.
5. On June 27, 1945 Joseph Stalin assumed this rank to him self after victory over Germany.
6. See General of the Armies and Admiral of the Navy articles.
7. See the article on Marszałek Polski
8. Created by Hitler on June 29, 1941, especially for Hermann Göring, his formal successor.
9. Not introduced until 1944 (the even higher-ranking Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union was established only in 1955).
10. On October 9, 1943 the rank of the Marshal of specific arms was broken down onto one level, the higher of them being named the Chief Marshal of specific arm. In theory the rank was divided according specific service (Главный маршал артиллерии-Chief Marshal of Artillery, Главный маршал авиации-Chief Marshal of Air Force, Главный маршал бронетанковых войск-Chief Marshal of Armoured Forces, Главный маршал инженерных войск-of Engineering Service and Главный маршал войск связи-Chief Marshal of Signals), though the latter two ranks were never awarded.
11. Gensui, although usually translated as Field Marshal/Grand Admiral, was actually an honorary title conferred by the Emperor and not a rank as such.
12. Generals in the Waffen-SS also held the army equivalent rank (e.g. SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS).
13. Full Generals in the army generally held the rank of their service branch, such as "General der Infanterie" or "General der Artillerie".
14. Actually a Captain acting in an admirals capacity.
15. Rank reintroduced in 1943.
16. Actually a Kapitän zur See on admiral's duty.
17. An Oberführer was officially equivalent to a senior Oberst in the German Army.
18. Traditionally captains of Polish cavalry held the rank of rotmistrz, a direct equivalent of the rank of kapitan in other branches of the military
19. Captains in the cavalry and mounted transport corps were called Rittmeister.
20. "Primo" (1°) ranks were a way for identifying long term or career officers. 1° Capitano and 1° Tenente were officers with 12 years seniority in the rank or a total of 20 years of commissioned service.

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