Général

Képi of a général

Général is the French word for general. There are two main categories of generals  : the general officers (officiers généraux), which are the highest-ranking commanding officers in the armed forces, and the specialist officers with flag rank (officiers des services avec rang d'officer général), which are high-level officers in the other uniformed services.

General officers

Army

Ranks as of 2013

In France, army generals are named after the type of unit they command. In ascending order there are two ranks :

Officers holding the rank of général de division can receive different positions and styles (rang et appellation)  :

The appointment of maréchal de France, wearing seven stars, is purely honorary.

History

The French army of the monarchy had several ranks of general officer:

During the French Revolution, the ranks of maréchal de camp and lieutenant general were renamed général de brigade and général de division, and the appointment of général was renamed général en chef. In 1793, the dignity of maréchal de France was abolished.

Napoléon Bonaparte reinstated the dignity of maréchal de France, now named maréchal d'empire. In 1814, the ranks of général de brigade and général de division reverted to maréchal de camp and lieutenant général, but were changed back again in 1848.

The Third Republic of the 1880s reorganised the ranks of général:

The experience of the First World War transformed the structure of the French Army. The superior council of war was abolished and an appointment of général de division commandant une armée (divisional general commanding an army) was created. This appointment became the position and style (rang et appellation) of général d'armée in 1936. The dignity of maréchal de France was reinstated and given to the commanders-in-chief of the conflict, such as Joseph Joffre, Ferdinand Foch and Philippe Pétain.

Navy

In ascending order there are two ranks :

Officers of the rank of vice-amiral can receive different positions and styles (rang et appellation) :

The appointment of amiral de France, wearing seven stars, is purely honorary.

Air Force

In France, Air Force generals are named after the type of unit they command. In ascending order there are two ranks :

Officers of the rank of général de division can receive different positions and styles (rang et appellation) :

Specialist Officers

Armament

Maritime Administration

Military Administration

Military engineering


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