Comparative military 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[1]
- Waffen-SS/Allgemeine SS
- Generic army ranks not specific to any service
| Appr. NATO code |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Commonwealth[2] | United States | Soviet Union[3] | Poland[4] | Greece[5] | German Reich | Italy | Empire of Japan | Free French | |
| - | - | - | Генерали́ссимус Сове́тского Сою́за (Generalissimus of the Soviet Union)[6] | - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | Admiral of the Navy[7] General of the Armies |
Ма́ршал Сове́тского Сою́за (Marshal of the Soviet Union) | Marszałek Polski[8] | - | Reichsmarschall des Großdeutschen Reiches[9] | Primo Maresciallo dell'Impero | Dai-Gensui[10] | Maréchal de France[11]
|
| OF-10 | Admiral of the Fleet Field Marshal Marshal of the RAF/other Commonwealth air force[13] |
Fleet Admiral General of the Army |
Главный маршал (Chief Marshal)[14] | - | Αρχιναύαρχος (Archinaúarchos) Στρατάρχης (Stratárches) |
Großadmiral Generalfeldmarschall Reichsführer-SS |
Grand'Ammiraglio Maresciallo d'Italia |
Gensui[15] | Amiral de la flotte |
| Адмирал флота (Admiral of the Fleet)[16] Генерал армии (General of the Army) |
|||||||||
| OF-9 | Admiral General Air Chief Marshal |
Admiral General |
Адмира́л (Admiral) Генера́л-полко́вник (General-Colonel) |
Admirał Generał broni |
Ναύαρχος (Naúarchos) Στρατηγός (Strategós) Πτέραρχος (Ptérarchos) |
Generaladmiral Generaloberst Oberstgruppenführer |
Ammiraglio di Armata Generale d'Armata |
Taishō | Général d'armée Amiral Général d'armée aérienne |
| OF-8 | Vice-Admiral Lieutenant-General Air Marshal |
Vice Admiral Lieutenant General |
Ви́це-адмира́л Генера́л-лейтена́нт (General-Lieutenant) |
Wiceadmirał Generał dywizji |
Αντιναύαρχος (Antinaúarchos) Αντιστράτηγος (Antistrátegos) Αντιπτέραρχος (Antiptérarchos) |
Admiral General [17] Obergruppenführer |
Ammiraglio di Squadra Generale di Corpo d'Armata |
Chūjū | Général de corps d'armée Vice-amiral d'escadre Général de corps d'armée aérienne |
| Vice-amiral | |||||||||
| OF-7 | Rear-Admiral Major-General Air Vice-Marshal |
Rear Admiral Major General |
Ко́нтр-адмира́л (Counter-Admiral) Генера́л-майо́р (General-Major) |
Kontradmirał Generał brygady |
Υποναύαρχος (Hyponaúarchos) Υποστράτηγος (Hypostrátegos) Υποπτέραρχος (Hypoptérarchos) |
Vizeadmiral Generalleutnant Gruppenführer |
Contrammiraglio Generale di Divisione |
Shōshō | Général de division Contre-amiral Général de division aérienne |
| OF-6 | Commodore[18] Brigadier Air Commodore |
Commodore[19] Brigadier General |
- | Komandor | Ταξίαρχος Αεροπορίας (Taxíarchos Aeroporías) | Konteradmiral Generalmajor Brigadeführer |
Generale di Brigata | - | Général de brigade capitaine de vaisseau chef de division[20] Général de brigade aérienne |
| Kommodore[21] Oberführer |
|||||||||
| OF-5 | Captain Colonel Group Captain |
Captain Colonel |
Капита́н 1-го ра́нга (Captain 1st rank) Полко́вник (Polkovnik) |
Komandor porucznik Pułkownik |
Πλοίαρχος (Ploíarchos) Συνταγματάρχης (Syntagmatárches) Σμήναρχος (Sménarchos) |
Kapitän zur See Oberst Standartenführer |
Capitano di Vascello Colonnello |
Daisa Taisa |
Colonel capitaine de vaisseau Colonel |
| OF-4 | Commander Lieutenant-Colonel Wing Commander |
Commander Lieutenant Colonel |
Капита́н 2-го ра́нга (Captain 2nd rank) Подполко́вник (Podpolkovnik) |
Komandor podporucznik Podpułkownik |
Αντιπλοίαρχος (Antiploíarchos) Αντισυνταγματάρχης (Antisyntagmatárches) Αντισμήναρχος (Antisménarchos) |
Fregattenkapitän Oberstleutnant Obersturmbannführer |
Capitano di Fregata Tenente Colonnello |
Chūsa | Lieutenant-colonel capitaine de frégate Lieutenant-colonel |
| OF-3 | Lieutenant-Commander Major Squadron Leader |
Lieutenant Commander Major |
Капита́н 3-го ра́нга (Captain 3rd rank) Майо́р (Major) |
Kapitan marynarki Major |
Πλωτάρχης (Plotárches) Ταγματάρχης (Tagmatárches) Επισμηναγός (Epismenagós) |
Korvettenkapitän Major Sturmbannführer |
Capitano di Corvetta Maggiore |
Shōsa | Commandant capitaine de corvette Commandant |
| OF-2 | Lieutenant Captain Flight Lieutenant |
Lieutenant Captain |
Капита́н-лейтена́нт (Captain-Lieutenant) Капита́н (Captain) |
Porucznik marynarki Kapitan[22] |
Υποπλοίαρχος (Hypoploíarchos) Λοχαγός (Lochagós) Σμηναγός (Smenagós) |
Kapitänleutnant Hauptmann [23] Hauptsturmführer |
Primo Capitano | Daii Taii |
Capitaine Lieutenant de vaisseau Capitaine |
| Tenente di Vascello Capitano |
|||||||||
| OF-1 | Sub-Lieutenant Lieutenant Flying Officer |
Lieutenant Junior Grade First Lieutenant |
Ста́рший лейтена́нт (Senior Lieutenant) Ста́рший лейтена́нт (Senior Lieutenant) |
Podporucznik marynarki Porucznik |
Ανθυποπλοίαρχος (Anthypoploíarchos) Υπολοχαγός (Hypolochagós) Υποσμηναγός (Hyposmenagós) |
Oberleutnant zur See Oberleutnant Obersturmführer |
Sottotenente di Vascello Primo Tenente[24] |
Chūi | Lieutenant Enseigne de vaisseau de 1re classe Lieutenant |
| Commissioned Warrant Officer Second Lieutenant Pilot Officer |
Ensign Second Lieutenant |
Лейтена́нт (Lieutenant) Лейтена́нт (Lieutenant) |
Chorąży marynarki Podporucznik |
Σημαιοφόρος (Semaiophóros) Ανθυπολοχαγός (Anthypolochagós) Ανθυποσμηναγός (Anthyposmenagós) |
Leutnant zur See Leutnant Untersturmführer |
Guardiamarina Tenente |
Shōi | Sous-lieutenant Enseigne de vaisseau de 2nde classe Sous-lieutenant |
|
| Мла́дший лейтена́нт (Junior Lieutenant) Мла́дший лейтена́нт (Junior Lieutenant) |
Chorąży | Sottotenente | Aspirant |
[edit] Notes
- ^ Air Force ranks equal to generic Army ranks are not shown.
- ^ The name "British Commonwealth" came into official use in 1926, in place of "British Empire".
- ^ Included ranks on WWII period only.
- ^ 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). Historically due to absence of full general rank (which was introduced later), Polish General ranks were shifted one position up compared to similar-sounding ranks in other countries.
- ^ 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 pronunciation. See Greek alphabet.
- ^ From June 27, 1945. Stalin appointed this rank by Supreme Council after victory over Germany.
- ^ Admiral of the Navy and General of the Armies while not in active service had retroactively become the "six star" ranks within the forces of the U.S.
- ^ See the article on Marszałek Polski
- ^ Essentially a "vanity rank" created by Hitler on June 29, 1941, for Hermann Göring.
- ^ Highest possible military rank of Japan, held solely by the Emperor of Japan
- ^ Not a rank, but a dignity of the State.
- ^ Not a rank, but a dignity of the State. No Amiral de France was alive during the war.
- ^ For example, King George VI was "Marshal of the Royal Australian Air Force" during 1939-45.
- ^ From 1943 there were 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)
- ^ Gensui, although usually translated as Field Marshal/Grand Admiral, was actually an honorary title conferred by the Emperor and not a rank as such.
- ^ Introduced in 1940. From May 1945 became equal to Marshal of the Soviet Union [1]
- ^ Full Generals in the army generally held the rank of their service branch, such as "General der Infanterie" or "General der Artillerie". Likewise, full Generals in the Air Force were called "General der Flieger".
- ^ Actually a Captain acting in an admiral's capacity.
- ^ Rank reintroduced in 1943.
- ^ Actually a Captain acting in an admiral's capacity.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Traditionally captains of Polish cavalry held the rank of rotmistrz, a direct equivalent of the rank of kapitan in other branches of the military.
- ^ Captains in the cavalry and mounted transport corps were called Rittmeister.
- ^ "Primo" ranks were a way for identifying long term or career officers. Primo Capitano and Primo Tenente were officers with 12 years seniority in the rank or a total of 20 years of commissioned service.
