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Comparative officer ranks of World War I

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The following table shows comparative officer ranks of several Allied and Central powers during World War I.

Table

[edit]
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
 British Army
[5][6]
Field marshal General Lieutenant-general Major-general Brigadier-general Colonel Lieutenant-colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant
 Royal Navy
[7][8]
Admiral of the Fleet Admiral Vice-admiral Rear-admiral Commodore 1st class[9] Commodore 2nd class Captain Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Sub-lieutenant
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
Tsardom of Bulgaria (1908–1946) Royal Bulgarian Army & Air Force[10]
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
 French Army
[11][12][13][14]
Maréchal de France[b] Général de division ayant un commandement supérieur
(général)[c]
Général de division Général de brigade Colonel Lieutenant-colonel Commandant Capitaine Lieutenant Sous-lieutenant
 French Navy
[16][17][18]
Amiral de France[b] Vice-amiral commandant
(amiralissime)[19]
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[20][21]
Generalfeldmarschall Generaloberst mit dem Rang als Generalfeldmarschall Generaloberst General der Waffengattung Generalleutnant Generalmajor Oberst Oberstleutnant Major Hauptmann / Rittmeister Oberleutnant Leutnant
 Imperial German Navy
[22][23]
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
 Royal Italian Army
[24][25]
Generale d'esercito Tenente generale[d] Maggior generale[e] Brigadier generale Colonnello Tenente colonnello Maggiore Primo capitano Capitano Tenente Sottotenente
 Royal Italian Navy[26][27]
Ammiraglio Vice ammiraglio Contrammiraglio Sottoammiraglio Capitano di vascello Capitano di frigata Capitano di corvetta Tenente di vascello Sottotenent di vascello Guardiamarina
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
 Imperial Japanese Army
[28][29]
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
[30][31]

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
 Ottoman Army[32]
Müşir Ferik-i evvel Ferik-i sânî Mirliva Miralay Kaymakam Binbaşı Yüzbaşı Mülâzım-ı evvel Mülâzım-ı sânî
 Ottoman Navy[32]
Müşir amiral Amiral Vice amiral Liva amiral Komodor Kalyon kaptanı Fırkateyn kaptanı Korvet kaptanı Birinci sınıf yüzbaşı Yüzbaşı Mülâzım-ı evvel Mülâzım-ı sânî Mühendis[f]
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
 Portuguese Army
[33]
Marechal[g] General[h] Brigadeiro Coronel Tenente-coronel Major Capitão Tenente Alferes
 Portuguese Navy
[33]
Almirante[g] 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
 Imperial Russian Army[i]
[34][35]
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[j]
Штабс-капитан
Shtabs-kapitan[k]
Поручик
Poruchik
Подпоручик
Podporuchik[l]
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)
[36][37]
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
[38]
Bojni Vojvoda[m] General[n] Pukovnik Potpukovnik Major Kapetan 1. klase Kapetan 2. klase Poručnik Potporučnik
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
 United States Army
[39]
General of the Armies[o] General Lieutenant General Major General Brigadier General Colonel Lieutenant Colonel Major Captain First Lieutenant Second Lieutenant
 United States Navy
[40]
Admiral of the Navy[o] 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

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Austro-Hungarian ranks are shown in both German and Hungarian, as would have been contemporary practice.
  2. ^ a b 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.
  3. ^ Unofficial rank insignia.[15]
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ There were two grades of Maggior generale: in comando di divisione and in comando di brigata.
  6. ^ Worn on the collar.
  7. ^ a b Almirante and Marechal were only honorary ranks, not held by anyone during World War I.
  8. ^ 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 brigade to the entire Army.
  9. ^ Army/cavalry ranks shown. The cossack cavalry had distinct ranks.
  10. ^ Cavalry rank: Rotmistr (Russian: Ротмистр)
  11. ^ Cavalry rank: Shtabs-rotmistr (Russian: Штабс-ротмистр)
  12. ^ Cavalry rank: Kornet (Russian: Корнет)
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ a b 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.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Bunkley 1918, pp. 187–189.
  2. ^ Williams 1918, p. 264.
  3. ^ Bunkley 1918, pp. 190–192.
  4. ^ Williams 1918, p. 268.
  5. ^ Bunkley 1918, p. 145.
  6. ^ Williams 1918, pp. 228–229.
  7. ^ Bunkley 1918, p. 151.
  8. ^ Williams 1918, pp. 218–220.
  9. ^ "Royal Navy Ranks and Badges, World War 1".
  10. ^ Thomas & Babac 2001, p. 43.
  11. ^ Jouineau 2009, p. 7.
  12. ^ Almanach Hachette 1917, p. 77.
  13. ^ Bunkley 1918, p. 161.
  14. ^ Williams 1918, p. 237.
  15. ^ Champeaux 2014, pp. 123–124.
  16. ^ Funcken & Funcken 1966, pp. 144–145.
  17. ^ Bunkley 1918, p. 167.
  18. ^ Williams 1918, p. 242.
  19. ^ Le Hunsec 2012, pp. 91–107.
  20. ^ Bunkley 1918, pp. 171–172.
  21. ^ Williams 1918, p. 282.
  22. ^ Bunkley 1918, pp. 174–175.
  23. ^ Williams 1918, p. 274.
  24. ^ Bunkley 1918, pp. 177–180.
  25. ^ Williams 1918, p. 246.
  26. ^ Bunkley 1918, pp. 181–183.
  27. ^ Williams 1918, p. 249.
  28. ^ Bunkley 1918, pp. 196–198.
  29. ^ Williams 1918, p. 260.
  30. ^ Bunkley 1918, p. 201.
  31. ^ Williams 1918, p. 262.
  32. ^ a b Geçer 2022.
  33. ^ a b Over the Front. "Portuguese Ranks". Over the Front. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  34. ^ Bunkley 1918, p. 203.
  35. ^ Williams 1918, p. 254.
  36. ^ Bunkley 1918, pp. 204–205.
  37. ^ Williams 1918, p. 256.
  38. ^ Thomas & Babac 2001, p. 39.
  39. ^ Williams 1918, pp. 82–83.
  40. ^ Williams 1918, pp. 118–119.

Sources

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