Comparative officer ranks of World War I

Summary

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 Officer cadet
  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
Seekadett
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
  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 Chief commissioned warrant officer Commissioned warrant officer/ Midshipman
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
  French Army
[10][11][12][13]
                     
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 Aspirant
  French Navy
[15][16][17]
                     
Amiral de France[b] Vice-amiral commandant
(amiralissime)[18]
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 Aspirant
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
  Imperial German Army[19][20]                        
Generalfeldmarschall Generaloberst mit dem Rang als Generalfeldmarschall Generaloberst General der Waffengattung Generalleutnant Generalmajor Oberst Oberstleutnant Major Hauptmann / Rittmeister Oberleutnant Leutnant
  Imperial German Navy
[21][22]
                     
Großadmiral Admiral Vizeadmiral Konteradmiral Kapitän zur See/
Kommodore
Fregattenkapitän Korvettenkapitän Kapitänleutnant Oberleutnant zur See Leutnant zur See Seekadett
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
  Royal Italian Army
[23][24]
                     
Generale d'esercito Tenente generale[d] Maggior generale[e] Brigadier generale Colonnello Tenente colonnello Maggiore Primo capitano Capitano Tenente Sottotenente
  Royal Italian Navy[25][26]                    
Ammiraglio Vice ammiraglio Contrammiraglio Sottoammiraglio Capitano di vascello Capitano di frigata Capitano di corvetta Tenente di vascello Sottotenent di vascello Guardiamarina Aspirante guardiamarina
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
  Imperial Japanese Army
[27][28]
                        
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
[29][30]
   
 
                   
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 Officer cadet
  Ottoman Army[31]                    
Müşir Ferik-i evvel Ferik-i sânî Mirliva Miralay Kaymakam Binbaşı Yüzbaşı Mülâzım-ı evvel Mülâzım-ı sânî
  Ottoman Navy[31]                        
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
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
  Portuguese Army
[32]
                   
Marechal[f] General[g] Brigadeiro Coronel Tenente-coronel Major Capitão Tenente Alferes Aspirante
  Portuguese Navy
[32]
                   
Almirante[f] Vice-almirante Contra-almirante Capitão de mar e guerra Capitão de fragata Capitão-tenente Primeiro-tenente Segundo-tenente Guarda-marinha Aspirante
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
  Imperial Russian Army[h]
[33][34]
                     
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[i]
Штабс-капитан
Shtabs-kapitan[j]
Поручик
Poruchik
Подпоручик
Podporuchik[k]
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)
[35][36]
               
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 Officer cadet
  Royal Serbian Army
[37]
                   
Bojni Vojvoda[l] General[m] Pukovnik Potpukovnik Major Kapetan 1. klase Kapetan 2. klase Poručnik Potporučnik Pitomac
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
  United States Army
[38]
                     
General of the Armies[n] General Lieutenant General Major General Brigadier General Colonel Lieutenant Colonel Major Captain First Lieutenant Second Lieutenant
  United States Navy
[39]
                      Various
Admiral of the Navy[n] Admiral Vice Admiral Rear Admiral Commodore Captain Commander Lieutenant Commander Lieutenant Lieutenant (junior grade) Ensign Midshipman
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet

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 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.[14]
  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. ^ a b Almirante and Marechal were only honorary ranks, not held by anyone during World War I.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Army/cavalry ranks shown. The cossack cavalry had distinct ranks.
  9. ^ Cavalry rank: Rotmistr (Russian: Ротмистр)
  10. ^ Cavalry rank: Shtabs-rotmistr (Russian: Штабс-ротмистр)
  11. ^ Cavalry rank: Kornet (Russian: Корнет)
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ 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 and debate still goes on over whether it was a "five-star" or "six-star" rank. General of the Armies is similarly ambiguous; it was granted to General Pershing at the end of the war, and previously had been held (or a rank of the same name had been held) by Generals Grant and Sherman after the Civil War, but its equivalency to modern ranks is disputed.

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. ^ Jouineau 2009, p. 7.
  11. ^ Almanach Hachette 1917, p. 77.
  12. ^ Bunkley 1918, p. 161.
  13. ^ Williams 1918, p. 237.
  14. ^ Champeaux 2014, pp. 123–124.
  15. ^ Funcken & Funcken 1966, pp. 144–145.
  16. ^ Bunkley 1918, p. 167.
  17. ^ Williams 1918, p. 242.
  18. ^ Le Hunsec 2012, pp. 91–107.
  19. ^ Bunkley 1918, pp. 171–172.
  20. ^ Williams 1918, p. 282.
  21. ^ Bunkley 1918, pp. 174–175.
  22. ^ Williams 1918, p. 274.
  23. ^ Bunkley 1918, pp. 177–180.
  24. ^ Williams 1918, p. 246.
  25. ^ Bunkley 1918, pp. 181–183.
  26. ^ Williams 1918, p. 249.
  27. ^ Bunkley 1918, pp. 196–198.
  28. ^ Williams 1918, p. 260.
  29. ^ Bunkley 1918, p. 201.
  30. ^ Williams 1918, p. 262.
  31. ^ a b Geçer 2022.
  32. ^ a b Over the Front. "Portuguese Ranks". Over the Front. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  33. ^ Bunkley 1918, p. 203.
  34. ^ Williams 1918, p. 254.
  35. ^ Bunkley 1918, pp. 204–205.
  36. ^ Williams 1918, p. 256.
  37. ^ Over the Front. "Serbian Ranks". Over the Front. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  38. ^ Williams 1918, pp. 82–83.
  39. ^ Williams 1918, pp. 118–119.
  • Almanach Hachette. Hachette (via genealomaniac.fr). 1917.
  • Bunkley, Joel William (1918). Military And Naval Recognition Book: A Handbook On The Organization, Uniforms And Insignia Of Rank Of The World's Armed Forces (2nd ed.). New York: D. Van Nostrand Company. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  • Champeaux, Antoine (2014). "Général de corps d'armée". Corps (in French). 12 (1): 123. doi:10.3917/corp1.012.0123. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  • Funcken, Liliane; Funcken, Fred (1966). L'uniforme et les armes des soldats de la guerre 1914-1918: Cavalerie-Artillerie-Génie-Marine [The uniform and arms of the soldiers of the 1914-1918 war: Cavalry-Artillery-Engineering-Marine] (in French). Vol. 2. Casterman. ASIN B0096OCAEK.
  • Le Hunsec, Mathieu (12 March 2012). "L'amiral, cet inconnu" [The Admiral, the Unknown]. Revue historique des armées (in French) (266): 91–107. ISSN 0035-3299.
  • Jouineau, André (2009). L'armée française de la Grande Guerre: 1915-1918 [The French Army of the Great War]. Officiers et soldats no. 12. Vol. II. Histoire & Collections. ISBN 978-2-35250-411-5. OCLC 470949883.
  • Williams, Dion (1918). "XI: Uniforms and Insignia of Foreign Armies and Navies". Army and Navy Uniforms and Insignia. New York, N.Y.: Frederick A. Stokes Company. pp. 216–292. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  • Geçer, Kadir (2022). Osmanlı İmparatorluğu Askerî Kıyafetleri 1826-1922 [Ottoman Empire Military Clothing 1826-1922] (in Turkish). Hisart Culture Publications. ISBN 9786050699814.