COMPARATIVE OFFICER RANKS OF WORLD WAR I

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						Officer cadet
Austro-Hungarian Army ^[a]^[1]^[2]
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]
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						Officer cadet
British Army ^[5]^[6]
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]
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						Officer cadet
French Army ^[10]^[11]^[12]^[13]
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
French Navy ^[15]^[16]^[17]
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 1^re classe		Enseigne de vaisseau de 2^e classe
Rank group	General / flag officers							Senior officers			Junior officers						Officer cadet
Imperial German Army^[19]^[20]
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]
Imperial German Navy ^[21]^[22]	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						Officer cadet
Royal Italian Army ^[23]^[24]
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]
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
Rank group	General / flag officers							Senior officers			Junior officers						Officer cadet
Imperial Japanese Army ^[27]^[28]
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]
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]
Ottoman Army^[31]	Müşir		Ferik-i evvel	Ferik-i sânî	Mirliva			Miralay	Kaymakam	Binbaşı	Yüzbaşı		Mülâzım-ı evvel	Mülâzım-ı sânî
Ottoman Navy^[31]
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]
Portuguese Army ^[32]	Marechal^[f]		General^[g]			Brigadeiro		Coronel	Tenente-coronel	Major	Capitão		Tenente		Alferes
Portuguese Navy ^[32]
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
Rank group	General / flag officers							Senior officers			Junior officers						Officer cadet
Imperial Russian Army^[h] ^[33]^[34]
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
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]
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]
Royal Serbian Army ^[37]	Bojni Vojvoda^[l]		General^[m]					Pukovnik	Potpukovnik	Major	Kapetan 1. klase	Kapetan 2. klase	Poručnik		Potporučnik
Rank group	General / flag officers							Senior officers			Junior officers						Officer cadet
United States Army ^[38]
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]
United States Navy ^[39]	Admiral of the Navy^[n]		Admiral	Vice Admiral	Rear Admiral	Commodore		Captain	Commander	Lieutenant Commander	Lieutenant		Lieutenant (junior grade)		Ensign
Rank group	General / flag officers							Senior officers			Junior officers						Officer cadet

Notes

^ ^a ^b Austro-Hungarian ranks are shown in both German and Hungarian, as would have been contemporary practice.
^ ^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.
^ Unofficial rank insignia.^[14]
^ 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.
^ ^a ^b 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 brigade to the entire Army.
^ Army/cavalry ranks shown. The cossack cavalry had distinct ranks.
^ Cavalry rank: Rotmistr ( Russian: Ротмистр)
^ Cavalry rank: Shtabs-rotmistr ( Russian: Штабс-ротмистр)
^ Cavalry rank: Kornet ( Russian: Корнет)
^ 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.
^ ^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

^ Bunkley 1918, pp. 187–189.
^ Williams 1918, p. 264.
^ Bunkley 1918, pp. 190–192.
^ Williams 1918, p. 268.
^ Bunkley 1918, p. 145.
^ Williams 1918, pp. 228–229.
^ Bunkley 1918, p. 151.
^ Williams 1918, pp. 218–220.
^ "Royal Navy Ranks and Badges, World War 1".
^ Jouineau 2009, p. 7.
^ Almanach Hachette 1917, p. 77.
^ Bunkley 1918, p. 161.
^ Williams 1918, p. 237.
^ Champeaux 2014, pp. 123–124.
^ Funcken & Funcken 1966, pp. 144–145.
^ Bunkley 1918, p. 167.
^ Williams 1918, p. 242.
^ Le Hunsec 2012, pp. 91–107.
^ Bunkley 1918, pp. 171–172.
^ Williams 1918, p. 282.
^ Bunkley 1918, pp. 174–175.
^ Williams 1918, p. 274.
^ Bunkley 1918, pp. 177–180.
^ Williams 1918, p. 246.
^ Bunkley 1918, pp. 181–183.
^ Williams 1918, p. 249.
^ Bunkley 1918, pp. 196–198.
^ Williams 1918, p. 260.
^ Bunkley 1918, p. 201.
^ Williams 1918, p. 262.
^ ^a ^b Geçer 2022.
^ ^a ^b Over the Front. "Portuguese Ranks". Over the Front. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
^ Bunkley 1918, p. 203.
^ Williams 1918, p. 254.
^ Bunkley 1918, pp. 204–205.
^ Williams 1918, p. 256.
^ Over the Front. "Serbian Ranks". Over the Front. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
^ Williams 1918, pp. 82–83.
^ 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.

[Austria-1] Austro-Hungarian ranks are shown in both German and Hungarian, as would have been contemporary practice.

[france-15] 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.

[bar-17] Unofficial rank insignia.^[14]

[28] 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.

[29] There were two grades of Maggior generale: in comando di divisione and in comando di brigata.

[PORMar-38] Almirante and Marechal were only honorary ranks, not held by anyone during World War I.

[39] 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.

[40] Army/cavalry ranks shown. The cossack cavalry had distinct ranks.

[43] Cavalry rank: Rotmistr ( Russian: Ротмистр)

[44] Cavalry rank: Shtabs-rotmistr ( Russian: Штабс-ротмистр)

[45] Cavalry rank: Kornet ( Russian: Корнет)

[49] 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.

[50] 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.

[USA-52] 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.

[FOOTNOTEBunkley1918187–189-2] Bunkley 1918, pp. 187–189.

[FOOTNOTEWilliams1918264-3] Williams 1918, p. 264.

[FOOTNOTEBunkley1918190–192-4] Bunkley 1918, pp. 190–192.

[FOOTNOTEWilliams1918268-5] Williams 1918, p. 268.

[FOOTNOTEBunkley1918145-6] Bunkley 1918, p. 145.

[FOOTNOTEWilliams1918228–229-7] Williams 1918, pp. 228–229.

[FOOTNOTEBunkley1918151-8] Bunkley 1918, p. 151.

[FOOTNOTEWilliams1918218–220-9] Williams 1918, pp. 218–220.

[10] "Royal Navy Ranks and Badges, World War 1".

[FOOTNOTEJouineau20097-11] Jouineau 2009, p. 7.

[FOOTNOTEAlmanach_Hachette191777-12] Almanach Hachette 1917, p. 77.

[FOOTNOTEBunkley1918161-13] Bunkley 1918, p. 161.

[FOOTNOTEWilliams1918237-14] Williams 1918, p. 237.

[FOOTNOTEChampeaux2014123–124-16] Champeaux 2014, pp. 123–124.

[FOOTNOTEFunckenFuncken1966144–145-18] Funcken & Funcken 1966, pp. 144–145.

[FOOTNOTEBunkley1918167-19] Bunkley 1918, p. 167.

[FOOTNOTEWilliams1918242-20] Williams 1918, p. 242.

[FOOTNOTELe_Hunsec201291–107-21] Le Hunsec 2012, pp. 91–107.

[FOOTNOTEBunkley1918171–172-22] Bunkley 1918, pp. 171–172.

[FOOTNOTEWilliams1918282-23] Williams 1918, p. 282.

[FOOTNOTEBunkley1918174–175-24] Bunkley 1918, pp. 174–175.

[FOOTNOTEWilliams1918274-25] Williams 1918, p. 274.

[FOOTNOTEBunkley1918177–180-26] Bunkley 1918, pp. 177–180.

[FOOTNOTEWilliams1918246-27] Williams 1918, p. 246.

[FOOTNOTEBunkley1918181–183-30] Bunkley 1918, pp. 181–183.

[FOOTNOTEWilliams1918249-31] Williams 1918, p. 249.

[FOOTNOTEBunkley1918196–198-32] Bunkley 1918, pp. 196–198.

[FOOTNOTEWilliams1918260-33] Williams 1918, p. 260.

[FOOTNOTEBunkley1918201-34] Bunkley 1918, p. 201.

[FOOTNOTEWilliams1918262-35] Williams 1918, p. 262.

[FOOTNOTEGeçer2022-36] Geçer 2022.

[Portugal-37] Over the Front. "Portuguese Ranks". Over the Front. Retrieved 1 July 2018.

[FOOTNOTEBunkley1918203-41] Bunkley 1918, p. 203.

[FOOTNOTEWilliams1918254-42] Williams 1918, p. 254.

[FOOTNOTEBunkley1918204–205-46] Bunkley 1918, pp. 204–205.

[FOOTNOTEWilliams1918256-47] Williams 1918, p. 256.

[serbian-48] Over the Front. "Serbian Ranks". Over the Front. Retrieved 1 July 2018.

[FOOTNOTEWilliams191882–83-51] Williams 1918, pp. 82–83.

[FOOTNOTEWilliams1918118–119-53] Williams 1918, pp. 118–119.

[a]

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[b]

[c]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

[22]

[23]

[24]

[d]

[e]

[25]

[26]

[27]

[28]

[29]

[30]

[31]

[32]

[f]

[g]

[h]

[33]

[34]

[i]

[j]

[k]

[35]

[36]

[37]

[l]

[m]

[38]

[n]

[39]

[14]

Table

See also

Notes

References

Table

See also

Notes

References

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