Comparative military ranks of World War II/temp1
PARENT ARTICLE: Comparative military ranks of World War II
The following table shows comparative officer ranks of major Allied and Axis powers during World War II. For modern ranks refer to Comparative military ranks.
Major participants not shown:
- China (on side of Allies)
- Free French (Allied force after fall of France)
KEY:
- Navy
- Army
- Air Force
- Waffen-SS/Allgemeine-SS
- Generic army ranks not specific to any service
Appr. |
||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
British Commonwealth |
United States |
Soviet Union |
Poland |
Greece |
German Third Reich |
Italy |
Empire of Japan |
|
- |
- |
- |
Генерали́ссимус Сове́тского Сою́за (Generalissimo of the Soviet Union) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
OF-10 |
- |
Admiral of the Navy |
Ма́ршал Сове́тского Сою́за (Marshal of the Soviet Union) |
Marszałek Polski |
- |
Reichsmarschall des Großdeutschen Reiches |
Primo Maresciallo dell'Impero |
- |
Admiral of the Fleet |
Fleet Admiral |
Главный маршал (Chief Marshal) |
- |
Αρχιναύαρχος (Archinaúarchos) |
Großadmiral |
Grand'Ammiraglio |
Gensui |
|
Адмирал флота (Admiral of the Fleet) |
||||||||
OF-9 |
Admiral |
Admiral |
Адмира́л (Admiral) |
Admirał |
Ναύαρχος (Naúarchos) |
Generaladmiral |
Ammiraglio di Armata |
Taishō |
Admiral |
||||||||
OF-8 |
Vice-Admiral |
Vice Admiral |
Ви́це-адмира́л (Vice-Admiral) |
Wiceadmirał |
Αντιναύαρχος (Antinaúarchos) |
Vizeadmiral |
Ammiraglio di Squadra |
Chūjū |
OF-7 |
Rear-Admiral |
Rear Admiral |
Ко́нтр-адмира́л (Counter-Admiral) |
Kontradmirał |
Υποναύαρχος (Hyponaúarchos) |
Konteradmiral |
Contrammiraglio |
Shōshō |
OF-6 |
Commodore |
Commodore |
- |
Komandor |
Αρχιπλοίαρχος (Archiplíarchos)Ταξίαρχος (Taxíarchos) Ταξίαρχος Αεροπορίας (Taxíarchos Aeroporías) |
Kommodore |
Generale di Brigata |
- |
OF-5 |
Captain |
Captain |
Капита́н 1-го ра́нга (Captain 1st rank) |
Komandor porucznik |
Πλοίαρχος (Ploíarchos) |
Kapitän zur See |
Capitano di Vascello |
Daisa |
OF-4 |
Commander |
Commander |
Капита́н 2-го ра́нга (Captain 2nd rank) |
Komandor podporucznik |
Αντιπλοίαρχος (Antiploíarchos) |
Fregattenkapitän |
Capitano di Fregata |
Chūsa |
OF-3 |
Lieutenant-Commander |
Lieutenant Commander |
Капита́н 3-го ра́нга (Captain 3rd rank) |
Kapitan marynarki |
Πλωτάρχης (Plotárches) |
Korvettenkapitän |
Capitano di Corvetta |
Shōsa |
OF-2 |
Lieutenant |
Lieutenant |
Капита́н-лейтена́нт (Captain-Lieutenant) |
Porucznik marynarki |
Υποπλοίαρχος (Hypoploíarchos) |
Kapitänleutnant |
Primo Capitano |
Daii |
Tenente di Vascello |
||||||||
OF-1 |
Sub-Lieutenant |
Lieutenant Junior Grade |
Ста́рший лейтена́нт (Senior Lieutenant) |
Podporucznik marynarki |
Ανθυποπλοίαρχος (Anthypoploíarchos) |
Oberleutnant zur See |
Sottotenente di Vascello |
Chūi |
Commissioned Warrant Officer |
Ensign |
Лейтена́нт (Lieutenant) |
Chorąży marynarki |
Σημαιοφόρος (Semaiophóros) |
Leutnant zur See |
Guardiamarina |
Shōi |
|
Мла́дший лейтена́нт (Junior Lieutenant) |
Chorąży |
Sottotenente |
Notes
Air Force ranks equal to generic Army ranks are not shown.
Generals in the Waffen-SS also held the army equivalent rank (e.g. SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS).
Included ranks on WW2 period only.
In Polish military tradition the Polish Air Forces form a separate branch of the Polish Army, though the military ranks were exactly the same as in the case of land forces. Sometimes the word pilot was added to distinguish Air officers from the officers of the land forces (cf. podporucznik pilot as opposed to podporucznik). Historically due to absence of full general rank (which was introduced later), Polish General ranks were shifted one position up compared to similar-sounding ranks in other countries.
There is no standard method of transliterating Greek. In this article, traditional Erasmic transliterations are used and do not represent the rank's name's actual pronunciation. See Greek alphabet.
From June 27, 1945. Stalin appointed this rank by Supreme Council after victory over Germany.
See Admiral of the Navy and General of the Armies articles.
See the article on Marszałek Polski
Created by [...] on June 29, 1941, especially for Hermann Göring, his formal successor.
For example, King George VI was "Marshal of the Royal Australian Air Force" during 1939-45.
From 1943 there were introduced Marshals and Chief marshals of specific arm. Also the most of ranks were divided according specific service (Artillery, Armored Forces, Engineering Service, Air Force etc)
Introduced in 1940. From May 1945 became equal to Marshal of the Soviet Union 1
Gensui, although usually translated as Field Marshal/Grand Admiral, was actually an honorary title conferred by the Emperor and not a rank as such.
Full Generals in the army generally held the rank of their service branch, such as "General der Infanterie" or "General der Artillerie".
Actually a Captain acting in an admiral's capacity.
Rank reintroduced in 1943.
Actually a Kapitän zur See (Captain) acting in an admiral's capacity. This was a rarely used rank. Best-known holder was Karl Dönitz, who from 28 January 1939 until 1 October 1939 was "Kapitän zur See und Kommodore" and Leader of U-Boats.
Traditionally captains of Polish cavalry held the rank of rotmistrz, a direct equivalent of the rank of kapitan in other branches of the military.
Captains in the cavalry and mounted transport corps were called Rittmeister.
"Primo" ranks were a way for identifying long term or career officers. Primo Capitano and Primo Tenente were officers with 12 years seniority in the rank or a total of 20 years of commissioned service.
See also
- Comparative military ranks of World War I
- Comparative military ranks
- Ranks and insignia of the Schutzstaffel
de:Militärische Ränge im Zweiten Weltkrieg zh:二戰各國軍銜