Comparative officer ranks of World War I
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The following table shows comparative officer ranks of several Allied and Central powers during World War I.
Table
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Austro-Hungarian Army[a][1][2] |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 | |||||||||||||
| Feldmarschall Tábornagy |
Generaloberst Vezérezredes |
General der Waffengattung Tábornok |
Feldmarschall-Leutnant Altábornagy |
Generalmajor Vezérőrnagy |
Oberst Ezredes |
Oberstleutnant Alezredes |
Major Őrnagy |
Hauptmann / Rittmeister Százados / Kapitány |
Oberleutnant Főhadnagy |
Leutnant Hadnagy | ||||||||||||||
 Austro-Hungarian Navy[a][3][4] |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 | ||||||||||||||
| Großadmiral Főtengernagy |
Admiral Tengernagy |
Vizeadmiral Altengernagy |
Kontreadmiral Ellentengernagy |
Linienschiffkapitän Sorhajókapitány |
Fregattenkapitän Fregattkapitány |
Korvettenkapitän Korvettkapitány |
Linienschiffsleutnant Sorhajóhadnagy |
Fregattenleutnant Fregatthadnagy |
Korvettenleutnant Korvetthadnagy | |||||||||||||||
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
 Belgian Army[5] |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||||
| Luitenant-generaal | Generaal-majoor | Kolonel | Luitenant-kolonel | Majoor | Kapitein-commandant | Kapitein | Luitenant | Onderluitenant | Adjutant | |||||||||||||||
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
 British Army[b][6][7] |
_OF-10.svg) |
_OF-9.svg) |
_OF-8.svg) |
_OF-7.svg) |
_OF-6.svg) |
_OF-5.svg) |
_OF-4.svg) |
_OF-3.svg) |
_OF-2.svg) |
_OF-1b.svg) |
_OF-1a.svg) | |||||||||||||
| Field marshal | General | Lieutenant-general | Major-general | Brigadier-general | Colonel | Lieutenant-colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | Second lieutenant | ||||||||||||||
 Royal Navy[b][8][9] |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
|
| |||||||||||||
| Admiral of the Fleet | Admiral | Vice-admiral | Rear-admiral | Commodore 1st class | Commodore 2nd class | Captain | Commander | Lieutenant commander | Lieutenant | Sub-lieutenant | ||||||||||||||
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
 Royal Bulgarian Army & Air Force[10] |
 |
 |
 |
.gif) |
.gif) |
.gif) |
.gif) |
.gif) |
.gif) | |||||||||||||||
| Генерал-полковник General-pukovnik |
Генерал-лейтенант General-leytenant |
Генерал-майор General-mayor |
Полковник Polkovnik |
Подполковник Podpolkovnik |
Майор Mayor |
Капитан Kapitan |
Старши лейтенант Starshi leytenant |
Лейтенант Leytenant | ||||||||||||||||
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
 Beiyang Army[11] |
.svg){kind=small} |
.svg){kind=small} |
.svg){kind=small} |
.svg){kind=small} |
.svg){kind=small} |
.svg){kind=small} |
.svg){kind=small} |
.svg){kind=small} |
.svg){kind=small} |
.svg){kind=small} | ||||||||||||||
| 一等一级 Yīděng yījí |
一等二级 Yīděng èrjí |
一等三级 Yīděng sānjí |
二等一级 Èrděng yījí |
二等二级 Èīděng èrjí |
二等三级 Èīděng sānjí |
三等一级 Sānděng yījí |
三等二级 Sānděng èrjí |
三等三级 Sānděng sānjí |
等外军官 Děng wài jūnguān | |||||||||||||||
 Republic of China Navy[12] |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 | |||||||||||||||
| 一等一级 Yīděng yījí |
一等二级 Yīděng èrjí |
一等三级 Yīděng sānjí |
二等一级 Èrděng yījí |
二等二级 Èīděng èrjí |
二等三级 Èīděng sānjí |
三等一级 Sānděng yījí |
三等二级 Sānděng èrjí |
三等三级 Sānděng sānjí | ||||||||||||||||
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
 French Army[13][14][15][16] |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 | ||||||||||||||
| Maréchal de France[c] | Général de division ayant un commandement supérieur (général)[d] |
Général de division | Général de brigade | Colonel | Lieutenant-colonel | Commandant | Capitaine | Lieutenant | Sous-lieutenant | |||||||||||||||
 French Navy[18][19][20] |
.svg) |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 | ||||||||||||||
| Amiral de France[c] | Vice-amiral commandant (amiralissime)[21] |
Vice-amiral | Contre-amiral | Capitaine de vaisseau | Capitaine de frégate | Capitaine de corvette | Lieutenant de vaisseau | Enseigne de vaisseau de 1re classe | Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe | |||||||||||||||
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
 Imperial German Army[22][23] |
.gif) |
_1832.png) |
_1918.gif) |
.gif) |
.gif) |
_1918.gif) |
.gif) |
.gif) |
.gif) |
.gif) |
.gif) |
.gif) | ||||||||||||
| Generalfeldmarschall | Generaloberst mit dem Rang als Generalfeldmarschall | Generaloberst | General der Waffengattung | Generalleutnant | Generalmajor | Oberst | Oberstleutnant | Major | Hauptmann / Rittmeister | Oberleutnant | Leutnant | |||||||||||||
| Imperial German Navy [24][25] |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 | ||||||||||||||
| Großadmiral | Admiral | Vizeadmiral | Konteradmiral | Kapitän zur See/ Kommodore |
Fregattenkapitän | Korvettenkapitän | Kapitänleutnant | Oberleutnant zur See | Leutnant zur See | |||||||||||||||
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
 Hellenic Army[26] |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 | |||||||||||||||
| Στρατηγός Stratigos |
Ἀντιστράτηγος Antistratigos |
Ὑποστράτηγος Ypostratigos |
Συνταγματάρχης Syntagmatarchis |
Ἀντισυνταγματάρχης Antisyntagmatarchis |
Ταγματάρχης Tagmatarchis |
Λοχαγός Lochagos |
Ὑπολοχαγός Ypolochagós |
Ἀνθυπολοχαγός Anthypolochagos | ||||||||||||||||
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
 Royal Italian Army[27][28] |
.svg) |
.svg) |
.svg) |
.svg) |
.svg) |
.svg) |
.svg) |
.svg) |
.svg) |
.svg) |
.svg) | |||||||||||||
| Generale d'esercito | Tenente generale[e] | Maggior generale[f] | Brigadier generale | Colonnello | Tenente colonnello | Maggiore | Primo capitano | Capitano | Tenente | Sottotenente | ||||||||||||||
 Royal Italian Navy[29][30] |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 | ||||||||||||||
| Ammiraglio | Vice ammiraglio | Contrammiraglio | Sottoammiraglio | Capitano di vascello | Capitano di fregata | Capitano di corvetta | Tenente di vascello | Sottotenente di vascello | Guardiamarina | |||||||||||||||
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
 Imperial Japanese Army[31][32] |
.png){kind=icon} |
  |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 | ||||||||||||
| 大元帥陸軍大将 Daigensui-Rikugun-Taishō |
元帥陸軍大将 Gensui-Rikugun-Taishō |
陸軍大将 Rikugun-Taishō |
陸軍中将 Rikugun-Chūjō |
陸軍少将 Rikugun-Shōshō |
陸軍大佐 Rikugun-Taisa |
陸軍中佐 Rikugun-Chūsa |
陸軍少佐 Rikugun-Shōsa |
陸軍大尉 Rikugun-Tai-i |
陸軍中尉 Rikugun-Chūi |
陸軍少尉 Rikugun-Shōi |
准尉 Jun-i | |||||||||||||
 Imperial Japanese Navy[33][34] |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 | ||||||||||||
| 大元帥海軍大将 Daigensui-Kaigun-Taishō |
元帥海軍大将 Gensui-kaigun-Taishō |
海軍大将 Kaigun-Taishō |
海軍中将 Kaigun-Chūjō |
海軍少将 Kaigun-Shōshō |
海軍大佐 Kaigun-Daisa |
海軍中佐 Kaigun-Chūsa |
海軍少佐 Kaigun-Shōsa |
海軍大尉 Kaigun-Dai-i |
海軍中尉 Kaigun-Chūi |
海軍少尉 Kaigun-Shōi |
兵曹長 Hēsōchō | |||||||||||||
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
 Royal Montenegrin Army[26] |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 | ||||||||||||||||
| Vrhovni komandant | Glavni komandant | Divizjar | Brigadir | Komandir | Kapetan | Poručnik | Potporučnik | |||||||||||||||||
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
 Ottoman Army[35] |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 | ||||||||||||||
| مشير Müşîr |
فريق اول Ferik-i evvel |
فريق Ferik |
ميرلواء Mirliva |
ميرالاي Miralay |
قايمقام Kaymakam |
بنباشي Binbaşı |
يوزباشي Yüzbaşı |
ملازم اول Mülâzım-ı evvel |
ملازم ثاني Mülâzım-ı sânî | |||||||||||||||
| Ottoman Navy[35] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
.png){kind=small} | |||||||||||
| مشير اميرال Müşîr amiral |
اميرال Amiral |
وايس اميرال Vice amiral |
لواء اميرال Liva amiral |
كومودور Komodor |
قالين قپتاني Kalyon kaptanı |
فرقطين قپتاني Fırkateyn kaptanı |
قورڤت قپتاني Korvet kaptanı |
برنجي صنف يوزباشي Birinci sınıf yüzbaşı |
يوزباشي Yüzbaşı |
ملازم اول Mülâzım-ı evvel |
ملازم ثاني Mülâzım-ı sânî |
مهندس Mühendis[g] | ||||||||||||
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
 Portuguese Army[36][better source needed] |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 | ||||||||||||||||
| Marechal[h] | General[i] | Coronel[j] | Tenente-coronel | Major | Capitão | Tenente | Alferes | |||||||||||||||||
 Portuguese Navy[36] |
.svg) |
.svg) |
.svg) |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
| |||||||||||||||
| Almirante[h] | Vice-almirante | Contra-almirante | Capitão de mar e guerra | Capitão de fragata | Capitão-tenente | Primeiro-tenente | Segundo-tenente | Guarda-marinha | ||||||||||||||||
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
 Royal Romanian Army[37][38][k] |
.svg) |
.svg) |
.svg) |
.svg) |
.svg) |
.svg) |
.svg) |
.svg) |
.svg) | |||||||||||||||
| General de corp de armată | General de divizie | General de brigadă | Colonel | Locotenent-colonel | Maior | Căpitan | Locotenent | Sublocotenent | ||||||||||||||||
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
 Imperial Russian Army[l][39][40] |
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
| |||||||||||||
| Генерал-фельдмаршал General-fel'dmarshal |
Генерал рода войск General roda voysk |
Генерал-лейтенант General-leytenant |
Генерал-майор General-mayor |
Полковник Polkovnik |
Подполковник Podpolkovnik |
Капитан Kapitan[m] |
Штабс-капитан Shtabs-kapitan[n] |
Поручик Poruchik |
Подпоручик Podporuchik[o] |
Прапорщик Praporshik | ||||||||||||||
 Imperial Russian Navy |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 | |||||||||||||||
| Генерал-адмирал General-admiral |
Адмирал Admiral |
Вице-адмирал Vitse-admiral |
Контр-адмирал Kontr-admiral |
Капитан I ранга Kapitan 1-go ranga |
Капитан II ранга Kapitan 2-go ranga |
Старший лейтенант Starshiy-leytenant |
Лейтенант Leytenant |
Мичман Michman | ||||||||||||||||
| Provisional Russian Navy (from 1917) [41][42] |
.svg) |
.svg) |
.svg) |
.svg) |
.svg) |
.svg) |
.svg) |
.svg) | ||||||||||||||||
| Адмирал Admiral |
Вице-адмирал Vitse-admiral |
Контр-адмирал Kontr-admiral |
Капитан I ранга Kapitan 1-go ranga |
Капитан II ранга Kapitan 2-go ranga |
Старший лейтенант Starshiy-leytenant |
Лейтенант Leytenant |
Мичман Michman | |||||||||||||||||
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
 Royal Serbian Army[43] |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 | |||||||||||||||
| Bojni Vojvoda[p] | General[q] | Pukovnik | Potpukovnik | Major | Kapetan 1. klase | Kapetan 2. klase | Poručnik | Potporučnik | ||||||||||||||||
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
 United States Army[44] |
.svg) |
|
.svg) |
.svg) |
.svg) |
.svg) |
.svg) |
.svg) |
.svg) |
.svg) |
.svg) | |||||||||||||
| General of the Armies[r] | General | Lieutenant general | Major general | Brigadier general | Colonel | Lieutenant colonel | Major | Captain | First lieutenant | Second lieutenant | ||||||||||||||
 United States Navy[45] |
.svg) .svg) |
.svg) -O11.svg) |
.svg) -O10.svg) |
.svg) -O9.svg) |
.svg) -O8.svg) |
-O7.svg) |
-O5.svg) |
-O4.svg) |
-O3.svg) |
-O2.svg) |
-O1.svg) | |||||||||||||
| Admiral of the Navy[r] | Admiral | Vice admiral | Rear admiral | Commodore | Captain | Commander | Lieutenant commander | Lieutenant | Lieutenant (junior grade) | Ensign | ||||||||||||||
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
See also
Notes
- Austro-Hungarian ranks are shown in both German and Hungarian, as would have been contemporary practice.
- Same insignia used by all militaries of the British Empire.
- Maréchal de France and Amiral de France were as much a dignity of state as a military title. Thus British Field Marshals consulted with French Generals in 1914. The elevation of Joseph Joffre to Maréchal in 1916 actually marked a diminution of his powers of command. There was no Amiral de France alive during World War I.
- There were four grades of Tenente generale: capo di stato maggiore esercito, in comando d'armata, in comando di corpo d'armata and in comando di divisione.
- There were two grades of Maggior generale: in comando di divisione and in comando di brigata.
- Worn on the collar.
- Almirante and Marechal were only honorary ranks, not held by anyone during World War I.
- The Portuguese Army had the particularity of having only a single rank of General Officer. A Portuguese General could be assigned to command from a division to the entire Army.
- The brigade's organization was British Army model, so the brigade commander was this rank.
- Army/cavalry ranks shown. The cossack cavalry had distinct ranks.
- Field Marshal of Serbia (Voivode) was the highest rank in the army of the Kingdom of Serbia. Radomir Putnik held title from beginning of the war since he was promoted in 1912.
- Like the Portuguese Army, the Serbian Army had only a single rank of General Officer. A Serbian General could be assigned to command from a division to the entire Army.
- The US rank Admiral of the Navy was a unique rank created for Admiral George Dewey after the Spanish–American War; it has never been held by any other person. General of the Armies was granted to General Pershing at the end of the war.