Colonel General
Encyclopedia
Colonel General is a senior rank of General
. North Korea
and Russia
are two countries which have used the rank extensively throughout their histories. The rank is also closely associated with Germany
, where Generaloberst has been the full General
and a rank below Generalfeldmarschall.
, introduced following the German model in 1915. The rank was not used after World War I
in the Austrian Army of the Republic.
rank of Shang Jiang (上将: literally, "Senior General") is variously translated as either Colonel General or General, with the translation as Colonel General generally reserved for the period 1955-1965 (when it corresponded to the Soviet rank of Colonel General). The rank was not used in the PLA between 1965 and 1988. When it was restored, there was a reduction in the number of officer ranks, and the ranks have since been normally translated into English as the corresponding American or British rank, rendering the rank of Shang Jiang as simply General.
, under the Ancien régime, the officer in charge of all the regiments of a particular branch of service (i. e. infantry, cavalry, dragoons, Swiss troops, etc.) was known as the Colonel General. This was not a rank, but an office of the Crown
.
A Colonel General (Generaloberst) was the second highest general officer rank—below Field Marshal
(Generalfeldmarschall)—in the Prussia
n Army and later in the Army of Imperial Germany (1871-1919), the Reichsheer (1921-1935), and the Heer and Luftwaffe
(1935-1945).
The rank in the German armed forces equivalent to a Colonel
in the British or American army is an "Oberst". So, the translation as Colonel General follows the line of Lieutenant General (Generalleutnant) and Major General (Generalmajor).
The rank was created originally for Emperor William I
—then Prince of Prussia—because traditionally members of the royal family were not promoted to the rank of a Field Marshal.
Since the rank of Generalfeldmarschall was also reserved for wartime promotions, the additional rank of a Colonel General in the capacity of a Field Marshal—the Generaloberst im Range eines Generalfeldmarschalls—was created for promotions during peace. Such generals were entitled to wear four pips on their shoulder boards, compared to the normal three.
The equivalent of a Colonel General in the Kriegsmarine
was a General Admiral
(Generaladmiral). The equivalent Schutzstaffel
(SS) rank was Oberstgruppenführer
. As the commander of an army, the U.S. Army equivalent was a General (4 Stars).
East Germany's National People's Army
(NVA) retained this rank as its third highest, behind Armeegeneral
and Marschall der DDR.
The Bundeswehr
(first in West Germany
and since 1990 in a unified Germany) does not use the rank.
, the rank of Colonel General (Vezérezredes) has been introduced with the Imperial and Royal Army
(the common ground force of the Dual Monarchy) in 1915. The rank replaced the ranks of Gyalogsági tábornok (General of Infantry), Lovassági tábornok (General of Cavalry), and Táborszernagy (General of Artillery) in the early 1940s.
The rank title Vezérezredes is still in use for the highest ranking (four-star) general officer of the Magyar Honvédség and foreign four-star general officers' rank titles are usually translated as Vezérezredes in Hungarian.
of Sangjang translates as "Colonel General". Sangjang is senior to that of Jungjang
(usually translated as "Lieutenant General") and junior to that of Daejang
(usually translated as "General").
This rank is typically held by the commanding officer of units along the Korean DMZ and the North Korean security zone at Panmunjon.
) did not exist in Imperial Russia and was first established in the Red Army
on 7 May 1940, as a replacement for previously existing Kommandarm Vtorogo Ranka. During World War II
, about 150 officers were promoted to Colonel General. Before 1943, Soviet Colonel Generals wore four stars on their collar patches (petlitsy). Since 1943, they have worn three stars on their shoulder straps, so Pettibone compares the rank to the US Lieutenant General
.
The rank still exists in the contemporary Russian Army
. Unlike the German Generaloberst (which it most probably calque
d), the Soviet and Russian Colonel General rank is neither an exceptional nor a rare one, as it is a normal step in the "ladder" between a two-star Lieutenant General
and a four-star Army General.
Other than that, the Soviet and Russian rank systems sometimes cause confusion in regard to equivalence of ranks, because the normal Western title for Brigadier
or Brigadier General
ceased to exist for the Russian Army in 1798. The combrig
rank that corresponded to one-star general existed in Soviet Union in 1935–1940 years only. Positions typically reserved for these ranks, such as Brigade
commanders, have always been occupied by Colonel
s (Polkovnik
) or, very rarely, Major General
s (see History of Russian military ranks
).
The rank has usually been given to district, front and army commanders, and also to Deputy Ministers of Defense, Deputy Heads of General Staff etc.
In some post-Soviet CIS
armies (for example in Belarus
) there are no Generals of the Army or Marshal
s, and so Colonel General is the highest rank, usually held by the Minister of the Defense.
The corresponding naval rank is Admiral
, which is also denoted by three stars.
in both Royalist
and Parliamentarian
armies. In these cases it often appears to have meant a senior colonel
as opposed to a senior general.
) in the Navy.
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
. North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
are two countries which have used the rank extensively throughout their histories. The rank is also closely associated with Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, where Generaloberst has been the full General
General (Germany)
General is presently the highest rank of the German Army and Luftwaffe . It is the equivalent to the rank of Admiral in the German Navy .-Early history:...
and a rank below Generalfeldmarschall.
Austria
Colonel General (Generaloberst) was the second-highest rank in the Austro-Hungarian ArmyAustro-Hungarian Army
The Austro-Hungarian Army was the ground force of the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy from 1867 to 1918. It was composed of three parts: the joint army , the Austrian Landwehr , and the Hungarian Honvédség .In the wake of fighting between the...
, introduced following the German model in 1915. The rank was not used after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
in the Austrian Army of the Republic.
China (PRC)
The People's Liberation ArmyPeople's Liberation Army
The People's Liberation Army is the unified military organization of all land, sea, strategic missile and air forces of the People's Republic of China. The PLA was established on August 1, 1927 — celebrated annually as "PLA Day" — as the military arm of the Communist Party of China...
rank of Shang Jiang (上将: literally, "Senior General") is variously translated as either Colonel General or General, with the translation as Colonel General generally reserved for the period 1955-1965 (when it corresponded to the Soviet rank of Colonel General). The rank was not used in the PLA between 1965 and 1988. When it was restored, there was a reduction in the number of officer ranks, and the ranks have since been normally translated into English as the corresponding American or British rank, rendering the rank of Shang Jiang as simply General.
Egypt
The Egyptian Army uses a rank which translates as Colonel General. They equate it with a 4-star rank ("full" General); it is junior to the rank they translate as Field Marshal.France
In the French ArmyFrench Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
, under the Ancien régime, the officer in charge of all the regiments of a particular branch of service (i. e. infantry, cavalry, dragoons, Swiss troops, etc.) was known as the Colonel General. This was not a rank, but an office of the Crown
Great Officers of the Crown of France
The Great Officers of the Crown of France, known as the Grand Dignitaries of the Empire during the French Empire, were the most important officers of state of the royal court in France during the Ancien Régime and Bourbon Restoration. They were appointed by the French monarch, with all but the...
.
Germany
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
(Generalfeldmarschall)—in the Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n Army and later in the Army of Imperial Germany (1871-1919), the Reichsheer (1921-1935), and the Heer and Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
(1935-1945).
The rank in the German armed forces equivalent to a Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in the British or American army is an "Oberst". So, the translation as Colonel General follows the line of Lieutenant General (Generalleutnant) and Major General (Generalmajor).
The rank was created originally for Emperor William I
William I, German Emperor
William I, also known as Wilhelm I , of the House of Hohenzollern was the King of Prussia and the first German Emperor .Under the leadership of William and his Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, Prussia achieved the unification of Germany and the...
—then Prince of Prussia—because traditionally members of the royal family were not promoted to the rank of a Field Marshal.
Since the rank of Generalfeldmarschall was also reserved for wartime promotions, the additional rank of a Colonel General in the capacity of a Field Marshal—the Generaloberst im Range eines Generalfeldmarschalls—was created for promotions during peace. Such generals were entitled to wear four pips on their shoulder boards, compared to the normal three.
The equivalent of a Colonel General in the Kriegsmarine
Kriegsmarine
The Kriegsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Nazi regime . It superseded the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I and the post-war Reichsmarine. The Kriegsmarine was one of three official branches of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany.The Kriegsmarine grew rapidly...
was a General Admiral
General Admiral
General admiral was a Danish, Dutch, German, Russian, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish naval rank. Its historic origin is a title high military or naval dignitaries of early modern Europe sometimes held, for example the commander-in-chief of the Dutch Republic's navy .-Third Reich:In the German...
(Generaladmiral). The equivalent Schutzstaffel
Schutzstaffel
The Schutzstaffel |Sig runes]]) was a major paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. Built upon the Nazi ideology, the SS under Heinrich Himmler's command was responsible for many of the crimes against humanity during World War II...
(SS) rank was Oberstgruppenführer
Oberstgruppenführer
Oberst-Gruppenführer was the highest commissioned SS rank with the exception of Reichsführer-SS, which was a special rank held by Heinrich Himmler...
. As the commander of an army, the U.S. Army equivalent was a General (4 Stars).
East Germany's National People's Army
National People's Army
The National People’s Army were the armed forces of the German Democratic Republic .The NVA was established in 1956 and disestablished in 1990. There were frequent reports of East German advisors with Communist African countries during the Cold War...
(NVA) retained this rank as its third highest, behind Armeegeneral
Armeegeneral
Armeegeneral was a senior military rank of East Germany, used until 1990. It was the equivalent of a Four-Star-General in Western nations and ranked below the Marschall der DDR , although no one was ever promoted to the latter rank.East German officers who achieved the rank of Armeegeneral were:*...
and Marschall der DDR.
The Bundeswehr
Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr consists of the unified armed forces of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities...
(first in West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
and since 1990 in a unified Germany) does not use the rank.
Hungary
In HungaryHungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, the rank of Colonel General (Vezérezredes) has been introduced with the Imperial and Royal Army
Austro-Hungarian Army
The Austro-Hungarian Army was the ground force of the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy from 1867 to 1918. It was composed of three parts: the joint army , the Austrian Landwehr , and the Hungarian Honvédség .In the wake of fighting between the...
(the common ground force of the Dual Monarchy) in 1915. The rank replaced the ranks of Gyalogsági tábornok (General of Infantry), Lovassági tábornok (General of Cavalry), and Táborszernagy (General of Artillery) in the early 1940s.
The rank title Vezérezredes is still in use for the highest ranking (four-star) general officer of the Magyar Honvédség and foreign four-star general officers' rank titles are usually translated as Vezérezredes in Hungarian.
North Korea
The North Korean rankComparative military ranks of Korea
Comparative military ranks of Korea refer to the ranks and insignia maintained by the three primary military powers present on the Korean Peninsula, those being the Republic of Korea Armed Forces , the Korean People's Army of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , and the military forces of...
of Sangjang translates as "Colonel General". Sangjang is senior to that of Jungjang
Jungjang
Jungjang is the South Korean equivalent of a Lieutenant General. It outranks the Sojang, equivalent to a Major General. The rank is also held by Korean Vice Admirals and uses three stars as its badge of rank, much like the United States version....
(usually translated as "Lieutenant General") and junior to that of Daejang
Daejang
Daejang is a senior military rank of the Korean Peninsula, used by both North and South Korea. It is considered the combined equivalent of a General and Admiral in other nations...
(usually translated as "General").
This rank is typically held by the commanding officer of units along the Korean DMZ and the North Korean security zone at Panmunjon.
Russia
The rank of Colonel General (Russian: генерал-полковник, general-polkovnik, General-PolkovnikPolkovnik
Polkovnik is often a military rank in Slavic countries which corresponds to a colonel in English-speaking states. However, in the Ukraine, polkovnyk was an administrative rank similar to a governor...
) did not exist in Imperial Russia and was first established in the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
on 7 May 1940, as a replacement for previously existing Kommandarm Vtorogo Ranka. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, about 150 officers were promoted to Colonel General. Before 1943, Soviet Colonel Generals wore four stars on their collar patches (petlitsy). Since 1943, they have worn three stars on their shoulder straps, so Pettibone compares the rank to the US Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
.
The rank still exists in the contemporary Russian Army
Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are the military services of Russia, established after the break-up of the Soviet Union. On 7 May 1992 Boris Yeltsin signed a decree establishing the Russian Ministry of Defence and placing all Soviet Armed Forces troops on the territory of the RSFSR...
. Unlike the German Generaloberst (which it most probably calque
Calque
In linguistics, a calque or loan translation is a word or phrase borrowed from another language by literal, word-for-word or root-for-root translation.-Calque:...
d), the Soviet and Russian Colonel General rank is neither an exceptional nor a rare one, as it is a normal step in the "ladder" between a two-star Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
and a four-star Army General.
Other than that, the Soviet and Russian rank systems sometimes cause confusion in regard to equivalence of ranks, because the normal Western title for Brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
or Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
ceased to exist for the Russian Army in 1798. The combrig
Combrig
Combrig was a military rank used in the Red Army for commanders of brigades between 1935 and 1940 . Kombrigs were senior to polkovniks and junior to comdivs...
rank that corresponded to one-star general existed in Soviet Union in 1935–1940 years only. Positions typically reserved for these ranks, such as Brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
commanders, have always been occupied by Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
s (Polkovnik
Polkovnik
Polkovnik is often a military rank in Slavic countries which corresponds to a colonel in English-speaking states. However, in the Ukraine, polkovnyk was an administrative rank similar to a governor...
) or, very rarely, Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
s (see History of Russian military ranks
History of Russian military ranks
Modern Russian military ranks trace their roots to Table of Ranks established by Peter the Great. Most of the rank names were borrowed from existing German/Prussian, French, English, Dutch, and Polish ranks upon the formation of Russian regular army in late 17th century.- Muscovy :The rulers of the...
).
The rank has usually been given to district, front and army commanders, and also to Deputy Ministers of Defense, Deputy Heads of General Staff etc.
In some post-Soviet CIS
Commonwealth of Independent States
The Commonwealth of Independent States is a regional organization whose participating countries are former Soviet Republics, formed during the breakup of the Soviet Union....
armies (for example in Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
) there are no Generals of the Army or Marshal
Marshal
Marshal , is a word used in several official titles of various branches of society. The word is an ancient loan word from Old French, cf...
s, and so Colonel General is the highest rank, usually held by the Minister of the Defense.
The corresponding naval rank is Admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
, which is also denoted by three stars.
Sweden
Colonel General (Generalöverste) has also been a senior military rank in Sweden, used principally before the 19th century.United Kingdom
The title of Colonel General was used before and during the English Civil WarEnglish Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
in both Royalist
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
and Parliamentarian
Parliament of England
The Parliament of England was the legislature of the Kingdom of England. In 1066, William of Normandy introduced a feudal system, by which he sought the advice of a council of tenants-in-chief and ecclesiastics before making laws...
armies. In these cases it often appears to have meant a senior colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
as opposed to a senior general.
Vietnam
In Vietnam, the rank of Colonel General is known as Thượng tướng (literally Senior Lieutenant General), equivalent to a three star General and Admiral. Thượng tướng is senior to Trung tướng (usually translated as "Lieutenant General") and junior to Đại tướng (usually translated as "General"). It is used in the Army and the Air Force. It is the equivalent to Đô đốc (AdmiralAdmiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
) in the Navy.