Comparative officer ranks of World War II

The following table compares the officer ranks appointed by the major Allied and Axis powers during World War II.

rank
	British Commonwealth [note 1]	United States	Soviet Union [note 2]	China	Poland [note 3]	Greece [note 4]	Germany	Italy	Finland	Japan	Free French	Yugoslav Partisans [note 5]
			Генералиссимус Советского Союза (Generalissimus of the Soviet Union)[note 6]	大元帥 T'e-chi Shang-chiang (General Special Class)[note 7]				Primo Maresciallo dell'Impero[note 8]		大元帥 Dai-Gensui(Grand Marshal)[note 9]
		Admiral of the Navy[note 10] General of the Armies					Reichsmarschall des Großdeutschen Reiches ("Reich Marshall of the Greater German Reich")[note 11]		Suomen marsalkka Marskalk av Finland ("Marshal of Finland")[note 12]		Maréchal de France[note 13] Amiral de France[note 14]	Maršal Jugoslavije (Маршал Југославије)[note 15]
OF-10	Admiral of the Fleet Field Marshal Marshal of the RAF/RAAF/RCAF[note 16]	Fleet Admiral General of the Army	Маршал Советского Союза (Marshal of the Soviet Union)	一級上將 I-chi Shang-chiang (General 1st Class)	Marszałek Polski-	Αρχιναύαρχος (Admiral of the Fleet)[note 17] Στρατάρχης (Field Marshal)[note 17] Αιθεράρχης (Marshal of the Air Force)[note 17]	Großadmiral Generalfeldmarschall Reichsführer-SS[note 18] SS-Volksmarschall[note 19]	Grand'Ammiraglio Maresciallo d'Italia Maresciallo dell'Aria	Sotamarsalkka Fältmarskalk ("War Marshal")	元帥 Gensui (Marshal)[note 20]	Amiral de la flotte	General armije (Генерал армије)
OF-9	Admiral General Air Chief Marshal	Admiral General	Главный маршал ... (Chief marshal ...)[note 21] Маршал ... (Marshal ...)	二級上將 Ehr-chi Shang-chiang (General 2nd Class)	Admirał Generał broni	Ναύαρχος (Admiral)[note 22] Στρατηγός (General)[note 22] Πτέραρχος (Air Chief Marshal)[note 22]	Generaladmiral Generaloberst Oberstgruppenführer	Ammiraglio d'Armata Generale d'Armata Generale d'Armata Aerea	Amiraali Amiral Kenraali General	海軍大将Kaigun-Taishō(Admiral) 陸軍大将 Rikugun-Taishō (General)	Général d'armée Amiral Général d'armée aérienne	General-pukovnik (Генерал-пуковник)
			Адмирал флота (Admiral of the Fleet)[note 23] Генерал армии (General of the army)
OF-8	Vice-Admiral Lieutenant-General Air Marshal	Vice Admiral Lieutenant General	Адмирал (Admiral) Генерал-полковник (General-colonel)	中將 Chung-chiang (Lieut.-General)	Wiceadmirał Generał dywizji	Αντιναύαρχος (Vice-Admiral) Αντιστράτηγος (Lieutenant General) Αντιπτέραρχος (Air Marshal)	Admiral General ... Obergruppenführer	Ammiraglio di Squadra Generale di Corpo d'Armata Generale di Squadra Aerea	Vara-amiraali Viceamiral Kenraaliluutnantti Generallöjtnant	海軍中将Kaigun-Chūshō(Vice-Admiral) 陸軍中将 Rikugun-Chūjō (Lieutenant-General)	Général de corps d'armée Vice-amiral d'escadre Général de corps d'armée aérienne	General-lajtnant (Генерал-лајтнант)
											Vice-amiral
OF-7	Rear-Admiral Major-General Air Vice-Marshal	Rear Admiral Major General	Вице-адмирал (Vize-admiral) Генерал-лейтенант (General-lieutenant)	少將 Shao-chiang (Major-General)	Kontradmirał Generał brygady	Υποναύαρχος (Rear Admiral) Υποστράτηγος (Major General) Υποπτέραρχος (Air Vice-Marshal)	Vizeadmiral Generalleutnant Gruppenführer	Ammiraglio di Divisione Generale di Divisione Generale di Divisione Aerea	Kontra-amiraali Konteramiral Kenraalimajuri Generalmajor	海軍少将Kaigun-Shōshō(Rear-Admiral) 陸軍少将 Rikugun-Shōshō (Major-General)	Général de division Contre-amiral Général de division aérienne	General-major (Генерал-мајор)
OF-6	Commodore[note 24] Brigadier[note 25] Air Commodore	Commodore[note 26] Brigadier General	Ко́нтр-адмира́л (Kountr-admiral) Генера́л-майо́р (General-major)	-	-	-	Konteradmiral Generalmajor Brigadeführer	Contrammiraglio Generale di Brigata Generale di Brigata Aerea	-	-	Général de brigade capitaine de vaisseau chef de division[note 24] Général de brigade aérienne	-
OF-5	Captain Colonel Group Captain	Captain Colonel	Капита́н 1-го ра́нга (Captain 1st rank) Полко́вник (Polkovnik)	上校 Shang-hsiao (Colonel)	Komandor Pułkownik	Πλοίαρχος (Captain) Συνταγματάρχης (Colonel) Σμήναρχος (Group Captain)	Kommodore Oberführer	Capitano di Vascello Colonnello Colonnello	Kommodori Kommodor Eversti Överste	海軍大佐Kaigun-Daisa(Captain) 陸軍大佐Rikugun-Taisa (Colonel)	Colonel capitaine de vaisseau Colonel	Pukovnik (Пуковник)
							Kapitän zur See Oberst Standartenführer
OF-4	Commander Lieutenant-Colonel Wing Commander	Commander Lieutenant Colonel	Капита́н 2-го ра́нга (Captain 2nd rank) Подполко́вник (Podpolkovnik)	中校 Chung-hsiao (Lieutenant-Colonel)	Komandor porucznik Podpułkownik	Αντιπλοίαρχος (Commander) Αντισυνταγματάρχης (Lieutenant Colonel) Αντισμήναρχος (Wing Commander)	Fregattenkapitän Oberstleutnant Obersturmbannführer	Capitano di Fregata Tenente Colonnello Tenente Colonnelo	Komentaja Kommendör Everstiluutnantti Överstelöjtnant	海軍中佐Kaigun-Chūsa(Commander) 陸軍中佐 Rikugun-Chūsa (Lieutenant-Colonel)	Lieutenant-colonel capitaine de frégate Lieutenant-colonel	Potpukovnik (Потпуковник)
OF-3	Lieutenant-Commander Major Squadron Leader	Lieutenant Commander Major	Капита́н 3-го ра́нга (Captain 3rd rank) Майо́р (Major)	少校 Shao-hsiao (Major)	Komandor podporucznik Major	Πλωτάρχης (Lieutenant Commander) Ταγματάρχης (Major) Επισμηναγός (Squadron Leader)	Korvettenkapitän Major Sturmbannführer	Capitano di Corvetta Maggiore Maggiore	Komentajakapteeni Kommendörkapten Majuri Major	海軍少佐Kaigun-Shōsa(Lieutenant-Commander) 陸軍少佐 Rikugun-Shōsa (Major)	Commandant capitaine de corvette Commandant	Major (Maјор)
OF-2	Lieutenant Captain Flight Lieutenant	Lieutenant Captain	Капита́н-лейтена́нт (Capitan-lieutenant) Капита́н (Captain)	上尉 Shang-wei (Captain)	Kapitan marynarki Kapitan[note 27]	Υποπλοίαρχος (Lieutenant) Λοχαγός (Captain) Σμηναγός (Flight Lieutenant)	Kapitänleutnant Hauptmann[note 28] Hauptsturmführer	Primo Capitano	Kapteeniluutnantti Kaptenlöjtnant Kapteeni Kapten	海軍大尉Kaigun-Daii(Lieutenant) 陸軍大尉 Rikugun-Taii (Captain)	Capitaine Lieutenant de vaisseau Capitaine	Kapetan (Капетaн)
								Tenente di Vascello Capitano Capitano
OF-1a	Sub-Lieutenant Lieutenant Flying Officer	Lieutenant Junior Grade First Lieutenant	Ста́рший лейтена́нт (Senior lieutenant) Ста́рший лейтена́нт (Senior lieutenant)	中尉 Chung-wei (Lieutenant)	Porucznik marynarki Porucznik	Ανθυποπλοίαρχος (Sub-Lieutenant) Υπολοχαγός (Lieutenant) Υποσμηναγός (Flying Officer)	Oberleutnant zur See Oberleutnant Obersturmführer	Sottotenente di Vascello Primo Tenente[note 29] Tenente Tenente	Luutnantti Löjtnant	海軍中尉Kaigun-Chūi(Lieutenant Junior Grade) 陸軍中尉 Rikugun-Chūi (First Lieutenant)	Lieutenant Enseigne de vaisseau de 1^re classe Lieutenant	Poručnik (Пοручник)
OF-1b	Commissioned Warrant Officer Second Lieutenant Pilot Officer	Ensign Second Lieutenant	Лейтена́нт (Lieutenant) Лейтена́нт (Lieutenant)	少尉 Shao-wei (2nd Lieutenant)	Podporucznik marynarki Podporucznik	Σημαιοφόρος (Ensign) Ανθυπολοχαγός (Second Lieutenant) Ανθυποσμηναγός (Pilot Officer)	Leutnant zur See Leutnant Untersturmführer	Guardiamarina Sottotenente Sottotenente	Aliluutnantti Underlöjtnant Vänrikki Fänrik	海軍少尉Kaigun-shōi(Ensign) 陸軍少尉 Rikugun-Shōi (Second Lieutenant)	Sous-lieutenant Enseigne de vaisseau de 2^nde classe Sous-lieutenant	Potporučnik (Потпоручник)
OF-1c			Мла́дший лейтена́нт (Junior lieutenant) Мла́дший лейтена́нт (Junior lieutenant)	准尉 Chun-wei (Warrant Officer)	Chorąży marynarki Chorąży					兵曹長Heisōchō(Warrant Officer) 准尉 Jun-i (Warrant Officer)	Aspirant

KEY:

Navy

Army

Air Force^{[note 30]}

Waffen-SS/Allgemeine SS

Generic ranks not specific to any service

See also

• Comparative officer ranks of World War I
• List of comparative military ranks
• Naval ranks of the Japanese Empire during World War II
• United States Army enlisted rank insignia of World War II
• Ranks and insignia of the Schutzstaffel

External links

• German WWII Army & SS Rank & Insignia

Notes

Notes

1. The name "British Commonwealth" came into official use in 1926, in place of "British Empire".
2. Included ranks on WWII period only.
3. 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. Hence the rank of generał brygady (literally "general of a brigade") in most cases was a commanding officer of a division and was roughly equivalent to Major General, and not Brigadier General in other armies.
4. There is no standard method of transliterating the Greek language. See Romanization of Greek.
5. All military ranks shown here date from 1943-46; the Partisans used positional ranks (similar to that used by the Red Army during the Russian Civil War) from their inception in 1941 to 1943, with minor changes.
6. From June 27, 1945. Stalin appointed this rank by Supreme Council after victory over Germany.
7. Rank held by the Chinese Leader Chiang Kai-shek.
8. Highest possible military rank of Italy, created in 1938 and held solely and at the same time by King Victor Emmanuel III and Benito Mussolini
9. Highest possible military rank of Japan, held solely by the Emperor of Japan
10. 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. A proposal to elevate Nimitz and MacArthur to these ranks for the invasion of Japan was made but not acted upon prior to Japan's surrender.
11. Essentially a "vanity rank" created by Hitler for Hermann Göring. Hitler himself held the title of Führer, which was a political and party title, englobing the supreme command of the armed forces; however Führer wasn't, strictly speaking, a military rank, and Hitler never promoted himself from the rank of Gefreiter he had earned during World War I.
12. An honorary title given to Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim on his 75th birthday in 1942.
13. Not a rank, but a dignity of the State.
14. Not a rank, but a dignity of the State. No Amiral de France was alive during the war.
15. Rank held only by Tito; conferred to him by the Anti-Fascist Council of the People's Liberation of Yugoslavia on November 30, 1943.
16. King George VI was Marshal of the Royal Australian Air Force during 1939-45. In theory the Royal Canadian Air Force had an equivalent rank, although no Marshal of the RCAF was ever appointed.
17. Rank held only by King George II
18. In 1934, Heinrich Himmler's title became an actual rank after the Night of the Long Knives. From that point on, Reichsführer-SS became the highest rank of the SS and was considered on paper the equivalent of a Generalfeldmarschall in the Wehrmacht; however as Himmler's position and authority grew in Nazi Germany, so did his rank in a "de facto" sense. McNab, Chris. (2009) The SS, pp. 9, 30, 46-47.
19. In 1944, it was planned to introduce the rank of SS-Volksmarschall for the possible promotion of officers holding the rank SS-Oberstgruppenführer und Generaloberst der Waffen-SS, but no one had ever been promoted to this rank.
20. Gensui, although usually translated as Field Marshal/Grand Admiral, was actually an honorary title conferred by the Emperor and not a rank as such.
21. Marshals and Chief marshals of a specific arm of service (Artillery, Armored Forces, Engineering Service, Air Force etc), were introduced in 1943; though they both are equal to General of the Army, they maintained precedence over each other.
22. No officer was appointed to this rank during the war
23. Introduced in 1940 as an equivalent to General of the Army, but from May 1945 became equal to Marshal of the Soviet Union, with no intermediate rank in between.
24. Prior to 1997 an appointment held by senior captains.
25. An appointment conferred on Colonels rather than a substantive rank
26. Rank reintroduced in 1943.
27. Traditionally captains of Polish cavalry held the rank of rotmistrz, a direct equivalent of the rank of kapitan in other branches of the military.
28. Captains in the cavalry and mounted transport corps were called Rittmeister.
29. "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.
30. Air Force ranks equal to generic Army ranks are not shown.

Citations

Bibliography