Talk:Comparative military ranks of World War II/temp

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

< Talk:Comparative military ranks of World War II

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.

1 Approximate ranks equivalent
2 Notes
3 Hierarchy of military organisation
4 See also

[edit] Approximate ranks equivalent

Major participants not shown:

China (on side of Allies)

KEY:

Navy

Army

Air Force

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

Generic military ranks not specific to any service

Approximate modern NATO equivalent	Union of Soviet Socialist Republics ^[1]	British Empire or British Commonwealth of Nations ^[2]	United States of America	Free French	Republic of Poland ^[3]	Kingdom of Greece ^[4]	Nazi Germany Third Reich	Kingdom of Italy	Empire of Japan
Approximate modern NATO equivalent
Outranks ^[5]	Генерали́ссимус Сове́тского Сою́за (Generalissimus Sovetskogo Soyuza)^[6] -	- -	- Admiral of the Navy^[7] General of the Armies⁷	- -	- -	- -	- Reichsmarschall des Großdeutschen Reiches ^[8] Der Oberster Reichsführer der Schutzstaffel	- Primo Maresciallo dell'Impero	- Dai-Gensui²⁵
OF-10 ^[5]	Ма́ршал Сове́тского Сою́за (Marshal Sovetskogo Soyuza) until 1943(44)	Admiral of the Fleet Field Marshal Marshal of the RAF / other Commonwealth air forces^[9]	Fleet Admiral General of the Army	Amiral de la Flotte de France Marechal de France Marechal de France	Marszałek Polski^[10]	Αρχιναύαρχος (Archinaúarchos) Αρχιστράτηγος (Archistrátegos)	Großadmiral der Kriegsmarine Generalfeldmarschall Generalfeldmarschall der Flieger Reichsführer-SS	Grande'Ammiraglio Della Flotta Maresciallo d'Italia Maresciallo dell Avia	Gensüi^[11]
OF-10 ^[5]	Адмирал флота (Admiral Flota) (1944-1955)^[12] Ма́ршал Сове́тского Сою́за (Marshal Sovetskogo Soyuza) since 1943(44) Главный маршал рода войск (Glavnyi Marshal Roda Vojsk) since 1943^[13] Главный Маршал Авиации Советского Союза (Glavnyi Marshal Aviatsii Sovetskogo Soyuza) since 1943¹³ Генеральный армейский комиссар (Generalnyi Armeyskiy Comissar)		Fleet Admiral General of the Army		Marszałek Polski^[10]				Gensüi^[11]
OF-9	Адмирал флота (Admiral Flota) (1940-1944)¹² Генерал армии (General Armii) Mаршал рода войск( Marshal Roda Vojsk) since 1943¹³ Mаршал авиации (Marshal Aviatsii) since 1943¹³ Армейский комиссар 1-го ранга (Armeyskiy Comissar 1-go ranga)	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)	Generaladmiral Generaloberst Generaloberst der Flieger Oberstgruppenführer^[14]	Ammiraglio di Armata Generale d'Armata Generale D'Armata Aerea	Tai Shō Tai Shō
OF-9		Admiral General Air Chief Marshal	Admiral General	Amiral General d'Armee General d'Armee Aerienne	Admirał floty Generał Armii Generał Armii		Admiral General ^[15] General der Flieger Obergruppenführer	Ammiraglio di Squadra d'Armata con Incarichi Speciali Generale di Corpo d'Armata con Incarichi Speciali Generale di Squadra d'Armata Aerea con Incarichi Speciali^[16]	Tai Shō Tai Shō
OF-8	Адмира́л (Admiral) Генера́л-полко́вник (General-Polkovnik) Армейский комиссар 2-го ранга (Armeyskiy Comissar 2-go ranga)	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)	Vizeadmiral Generalleutnant Generalleutnant der Flieger Gruppenführer	Ammiraglio di Squadra designato di Armata Generale Designato d'Armata Generale Designato d'Armata Aerea¹⁶	Chū Jū Chū Jū
OF-8		Vice-Admiral Lieutenant-General Air Marshal	Vice Admiral Lieutenant General		Admirał Generał broni Generał broni			Ammiraglio di Squadra Generale di Corpo d'Armata Generale di Squadra D'Armata Aerea	Chū Jū Chū Jū
OF-7	Ви́це-адмира́л (Vice-Admiral) Генера́л-лейтена́нт (General-Leytenant) Корпусный комиссар (Corpusniy Comissar)	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)	Konteradmiral Generalmajor Generalmajor der Flieger Brigadeführer	Ammiraglio di Divisione Generale di Divisione Generale di Divisione Aerea	Shō Shō Shō Shō
OF-6	Ко́нтр-адмира́л (Kontr-Admiral) Генера́л-майо́р (General-Mayor) Команди́р брига́ды / Комбри́г (Komandir Brigady / Kombrig) until (1940)^[17] Дивизионный комиссар (Divizionniy Comissar)	Commodore 1st Class^[18]	Commodore^[19] Brigadier General	Contre-Amiral General de Brigade General de Brigade Aerien	Kontradmirał Generał brygady Generał brygady	Αρχιпλοίαρχος (Archiplíarchos) Ταξίαρχος (Taxíarchos) Ταξίαρχος Αεροπορίας (Taxíarchos Aeroporías)	Kommodore^[20] Oberführer^[21]	Contrammiraglio Generale di Brigata Generale di Brigata Aerea	Jün Shō Jün Shō
OF-6		Commodore 2nd Class¹⁸ Brigadier Air Commodore	Commodore^[19] Brigadier General	Contre-Amiral General de Brigade General de Brigade Aerien	Kontradmirał Generał brygady Generał brygady		Kommodore^[20] Oberführer^[21]		Jün Shō Jün Shō
OF-5	Капита́н 1-го ра́нга (Kapitan 1-go ranga) Полко́вник (Polkovnik) Полковой комиссар (Polkovoy Comissar)	Captain Colonel Group Captain	Captain Colonel	Capitaine de Vaisseau Colonel Colonel	Komandor Pułkownik Pułkownik	Πλοίαρχος (Ploíarchos) Συνταγματάρχης (Syntagmatárches) Σμήναρχος (Sménarchos)	Kapitän zur See Oberst Oberst Standartenführer	Capitano Commissare Colonnello Comandante di Corpo Colonnello Comandante di Corpo	Dai Sa Tai Sa
OF-5		Captain Colonel Group Captain	Captain Colonel	Capitaine de Vaisseau Colonel Colonel	Komandor Pułkownik Pułkownik		Kapitän zur See Oberst Oberst Standartenführer	Capitano di Vascello Colonnello Colonello	Dai Sa Tai Sa
OF-4	Капита́н 2-го ра́нга (Kapitan 2-go ranga) Подполко́вник (Podpolkovnik) Старший батальонный комиссар (Starshiy Batalionniy Comissar)	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)	Fregattenkapitän Oberstleutnant Oberstleutnant Obersturmbannführer	Capitano di Fregata Tenente Colonnello Tenente Colonnello	Chū Sa Chū Sa
OF-3	Капита́н 3-го ра́нга (Kapitan 3-go ranga) Майо́р (Mayor) Батальонный комиссар (Batalionniy Comissar)	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)	Korvettenkapitän Major Major Sturmbannführer	Capitano di Corvetta Maggiore Maggiore	Shō Sa Shō Sa
OF-2	Капита́н-лейтена́нт (Kapitan-Leytenant) Капита́н (Kapitan) Ротный комиссар (Rotniy Comissar)	Lieutenant Captain Flight Lieutenant	Lieutenant Captain	Lieutenant de Vaisseau Capitaine Capitaine	Kapitan marynarki Kapitan^[22] Kapitan	Υποπλοίαρχος (Hypoploíarchos) Λοχαγός (Lochagós) Σμηναγός (Smenagós)	Kapitänleutnant Hauptmann/Rittmeister ^[23] Hauptmann Hauptsturmführer	Tenente di Vascello 1° Capitano^[24] 1° Capitano	Dai I Tai I
OF-2		Lieutenant Captain Flight Lieutenant	Lieutenant Captain	Lieutenant de Vaisseau Capitaine Capitaine	Kapitan marynarki Kapitan^[22] Kapitan			Capitano Capitano	Dai I Tai I
OF-1	Ста́рший лейтена́нт (Starshiy Leytenant) Ста́рший лейтена́нт (Starshiy Leytenant) Старший политрук (Starshiy Politruk)	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)	Oberleutnant zur See Oberleutnant Oberleutnant Obersturmführer	1° Tenente 1° Tenente	Chū I Chū I
	Лейтена́нт (Leytenant) Лейтена́нт (Leytenant) Политрук (Politruk)	Second Officer / Mate 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)	Leutnant zur See Leutnant Leutnant Untersturmführer	Sottotenente di Vascello Tenente Tenente	Shō I Shō I
	Мла́дший лейтена́нт (Mladshiy Leytenant) Мла́дший лейтена́нт (Mladshiy Leytenant) Младший политрук (Mladshiy Politruk)	Commissioned Warrant Officer/ Midshipman/ Boatswain	Midshipman	Marine Officer Aspirant Officer Aspirant L'Air Officer Aspirant	Chorąży marynarki Chorąży Chorąży		Leutnant zur See Leutnant Leutnant Untersturmführer	Guardiamarina Sottotenente Sottotenente	Shō I Shō I

[edit] Notes

^ Transliterations are approximate as there is no standardization in converting Cyrillic to Latin.
^ The name "British Commonwealth" came into official use since 1926 together with British Empire.
^ 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)
^ 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.
^ The Outranks and 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.
^ On June 27, 1945 Joseph Stalin assumed this rank to him self after victory over Germany.
^ See General of the Armies article. This rank technically speaking -although no longer in active service, General John Pershing still held this rank. Also see Admiral of the Navy articles.
^ Created by Hitler on June 29, 1941, especially for Hermann Göring, his formal successor.
^ For example, King George VI was "Marshal of the Royal Australian Air Force" during 1939-45.
^ See the article on Marszałek Polski
^ Gensui, although usually translated as Field Marshal/Grand Admiral, was actually an honorary title conferred by the Emperor and not a rank as such.
^ Not introduced until 1944. From 25 May 1945 became equal to Marshal of the Soviet Union. The even higher-ranking Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union was established only in 1955).
^ 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.
^ Generals in the Waffen-SS also held the army equivalent rank (e.g. SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS).
^ Full Generals in the army generally held the rank of their service branch, such as "General der Infanterie" or "General der Artillerie".
^ Ranks on Special's duty.
^ The general-major in 1940 has replaced rank Komdiv and till this year there was Soviet 100% equivalent rank to brigade generals of other countries - is Kombrig, there was Soviet rank Komdiv - 100% equivalent rank to the General-majors of other countries, there was Soviet rank Komkor - 100% equivalent rank to the General-lieutenants of other countries, there was a Soviet rank the Commandarm of 2-nd rank - which equivalence is disputable - it can be equivalent both to OF-8 and to OF-9 categories of other countries (that is both to the General-lieutenants and to full Generals of other countries), there was a Soviet rank the Commandarm of 1-st rank - 100% equivalent rank to full Generals of other countries and there was a rank the Marshal of the USSR - 100% equivalent rank to Marshals of other countries. In 1940 were established in the USSR generals ranks - rank Kombrig has been abolished and together with Kombrig has been replaced by the General-major or by the Colonel, which equivalence too is disputable - it can be equivalent both to OF-6 and to OF-7 categories of other countries (that is both to Colonels, to brigade generals and to the General-majors of other countries). Not all from Kombrigs became Colonels automatically, and the certifying commission decided what rank to appropriate yesterday's Kombrig and the some it have appropriated a rank "general-major".In Soviet and in modern Russian armies the commander of brigade - or the Colonel or the General-major.
^ Actually a Captain acting in an admirals capacity.
^ Rank reintroduced in 1943.
^ Actually a Kapitän zur See on admiral's duty. This rank fell into dissuse in the Thirds Reich's reorganization of the Kreigsmarine, although there were examples of those who continued to hold the rank in the early years of WWII.
^ An Oberführer was officially equivalent to a senior Oberst in the German Army.
^ 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" (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.
Dai-Gensui-highest possible military rank of Japan, held solely by the Emperor of Japan.

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

[edit] Hierarchy of military organisation

This article gives an overview of some of the terms used to describe military units in armed forces across the world. Whilst it is recognised that there will be differences between armies of different nations, it seems that a large proportion are modelled on the British and/or American models. Readers interested in the detailed specifics of a national army (including the British and American) should consult the relevant entry for that country.

Symbol	Name	No. of personnel	No. of subordinate units	Officer in command
XXXXXX	region or theatre	many	2+ army groups	general or field marshal
XXXXX	army group or Red Army front	many	2+ armies	general or field marshal
XXXX	army or district	many	2+ corps	general or Red Army colonel-General
XXX	corps or Red Army army	30,000+	2+ divisions	lieutenant general
XX	division	10,000–20,000	2-4 brigades or regiments	major general
X	brigade	2000–5000	2+ regiments or 3–6 battalions or Commonwealth regiments	brigadier general, brigadier or colonel or major general
III	regiment or group	2000–3000	3–4 battalions	colonel
II	battalion or Commonwealth regiment	300–1000	2–6 companies or squadrons	major or lieutenant colonel
I	company or squadron	100–300	2–6 platoons or troops	captain or major
•••	platoon or troop	30–40	2+ squads or sections	first or second lieutenant
••	section or patrol	8–12	2+ fireteams	corporal to staff sergeant
•	squad or crew	8–12	2+ fireteams	corporal to staff sergeant
Ø	fireteam	4–5	n/a	lance corporal to sergeant
Ø	fire and manoeuvre team	2	n/a	private first class or any

Rungs may be skipped in this ladder: for example, in the UK the battalion can be a regiment-sized formation, though in some arms, such as the infantry, it is a purely administrative grouping of battalions. Likewise, only large military powers may have organisations at the top levels (for example, today, Canada's largest organisation is at the division level).

Army, army group and theatre are all large formations which vary significantly between armed forces in size and hierarchy position.

Different arms and countries may also use traditional names, creating considerable confusion: for example, a British or Canadian armoured regiment (battalion) is divided into squadrons (companies) and troops (platoons), whereas an American cavalry squadron (battalion) is divided into troops (companies) and platoons.