Navy

Army

Air Force

Waffen-SS/Allgemeine SS

Generic ranks not specific to any service

Appr. NATO code
	British Commonwealth Commonwealth of Nations The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...	United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...	Soviet Union Soviet Union The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....	China Republic of China The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...	Poland Second Polish Republic The Second Polish Republic, Second Commonwealth of Poland or interwar Poland refers to Poland between the two world wars; a period in Polish history in which Poland was restored as an independent state. Officially known as the Republic of Poland or the Commonwealth of Poland , the Polish state was...	Greece Kingdom of Greece The Kingdom of Greece was a state established in 1832 in the Convention of London by the Great Powers...	Germany Nazi Germany Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...	Italy Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946) The Kingdom of Italy was a state forged in 1861 by the unification of Italy under the influence of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which was its legal predecessor state...	Finland Finland Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...	Japan Empire of Japan The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...	Free French Free French Forces The Free French Forces were French partisans in World War II who decided to continue fighting against the forces of the Axis powers after the surrender of France and subsequent German occupation and, in the case of Vichy France, collaboration with the Germans.-Definition:In many sources, Free...	Yugoslav Partisans
-	-	-	Генерали́ссимус Сове́тского Сою́за (Generalissimus of the Soviet Union)	特級上將 T'e-chi Shang-chiang (General Special Class Generalissimo Generalissimo and Generalissimus are military ranks of the highest degree, superior to Field Marshal and other five-star ranks.-Usage:... )	-	-	-	Primo Maresciallo dell'Impero First Marshal of the Empire First marshal of the empire was a military rank established by the Italian Parliament on March 30, 1938. The highest rank in the Italian Military, it was only granted to Benito Mussolini and King Victor Emmanuel III...	-	Dai-Gensui	-	-
-	-	Admiral of the Navy General of the Armies	Ма́ршал Сове́тского Сою́за (Marshal of the Soviet Union)	-	Marszałek Polski	-	Reichsmarschall des Großdeutschen Reiches Reichsmarschall Reichsmarschall literally in ; was the highest rank in the armed forces of Nazi Germany during World War II after the position of Supreme Commander held by Adolf Hitler....  {"ReichMarshall of the Greater German Reich"} Reichsführer-SS Reichsführer-SS was a special SS rank that existed between the years of 1925 and 1945. Reichsführer-SS was a title from 1925 to 1933 and, after 1934, the highest rank of the German Schutzstaffel .-Definition:...	-	Suomen marsalkka Marshal of Finland Marshal of Finland was the title awarded to the Finnish Commander-in-Chief Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim on his 75th birthday on June 4, 1942. The fully honorary rank was specially created for Mannerheim...  {"Marshal of Finland"}	-	Maréchal de France Amiral de France	Maršal Jugoslavije (Маршал Југославије)
OF-10	Admiral of the Fleet Field Marshal 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... Marshal of the Royal Air Force Marshal of the Royal Air Force Marshal of the Royal Air Force is the highest rank in the Royal Air Force. In peacetime it was granted to RAF officers in the appointment of Chief of the Defence Staff, and to retired Chiefs of the Air Staff, who were promoted to it on their last day of service. Promotions to the rank have ceased...	Fleet Admiral General of the Army	Главный маршал (Chief Marshal Chief Marshal The ranks of Marshal of a branch and Chief Marshal of a branch were senior military ranks of the Soviet Armed Forces. Immediately above the rank "Marshal of a branch" is the rank "Chief Marshal of a branch". Both ranks are immediately above the rank "Colonel General" and equal to Soviet General... )	一級上將 I-chi Shang-chiang (General 1st Class)	-	Αρχιναύαρχος (Admiral of the Fleet) Στρατάρχης (Field Marshal)	Großadmiral Generalfeldmarschall Generalfeldmarschall Field Marshal or Generalfeldmarschall in German, was a rank in the armies of several German states and the Holy Roman Empire; in the Austrian Empire, the rank Feldmarschall was used...	Grand'Ammiraglio Maresciallo d'Italia Maresciallo dell'Aria	Sotamarsalkka {"War Marshal"}	Gensui	Amiral de la flotte	General armije (Генерал армије)
			Адмирал флота (Admiral of the Fleet) Генерал армии (General of the Army) Маршал (Marshal)
OF-9	Admiral General Air Chief Marshal Air Chief Marshal Air chief marshal is a senior 4-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...	Admiral General	Адмира́л (Admiral) Генера́л-полко́вник (General-Colonel)	二級上將 Ehr-chi Shang-chiang (General 2nd Class)	Admirał Generał broni	Ναύαρχος (Admiral) Στρατηγός (General) Πτέραρχος (Air Chief Marshal)	Generaladmiral Generaloberst 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...	Ammiraglio di Armata Generale d'Armata	Amiraali Kenraali	Taishō	Général d'armée Amiral Général d'armée aérienne	General-pukovnik (Генерал-пуковник)
OF-8	Vice-Admiral Lieutenant-General Air Marshal Air Marshal Air marshal is a three-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...	Vice Admiral Lieutenant General	Ви́це-адмира́л (Vice-Admiral) Генера́л-лейтена́нт (General-Lieutenant)	中將 Chung-chiang (Lieut.-General)	Wiceadmirał Generał dywizji	Αντιναύαρχος (Vice-Admiral) Αντιστράτηγος (Lieutenant General) Αντιπτέραρχος (Air Marshal)	Admiral 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:... Obergruppenführer Obergruppenführer Obergruppenführer was a Nazi Party paramilitary rank that was first created in 1932 as a rank of the SA and until 1942 it was the highest SS rank inferior only to Reichsführer-SS...	Ammiraglio di Squadra Generale di Corpo d'Armata	Vara-amiraali Kenraaliluutnantti	Chūjō	Général de corps d'armée Vice-amiral d'escadre Général de corps d'armée aérienne	General-lajtnant (Генерал-лајтнант)
											Vice-amiral
OF-7	Rear-Admiral Major-General Air Vice-Marshal Air Vice-Marshal Air vice-marshal is a two-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in...	Rear Admiral Major General	Ко́нтр-адмира́л (Counter-Admiral) Генера́л-майо́р (General-Major)	少將 Shao-chiang (Major-General)	Kontradmirał Generał brygady	Υποναύαρχος (Rear Admiral) Υποστράτηγος (Major General) Υποπτέραρχος (Air Vice-Marshal)	Vizeadmiral Generalleutnant Gruppenführer Gruppenführer Gruppenführer was an early paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party, first created in 1925 as a senior rank of the SA.-SS rank:...	Ammiraglio di Divisione Generale di Divisione	Kontra-amiraali Kenraalimajuri	Shōshō	Général de division Contre-amiral Général de division aérienne	General-major (Генерал-мајор)
OF-6	Commodore Brigadier Air Commodore Air Commodore Air commodore is an air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...	Commodore Brigadier General	-	-	-	Αρχιπλοίαρχος (Commodore) Ταξίαρχος (Brigadier) Ταξίαρχος Αεροπορίας (Air Commodore)	Konteradmiral Generalmajor Brigadeführer Brigadeführer SS-Brigadeführer was an SS rank that was used in Nazi Germany between the years of 1932 and 1945. Brigadeführer was also an SA rank....	Contrammiraglio Generale di Brigata	-	-	Général de brigade capitaine de vaisseau chef de division Général de brigade aérienne	-
							Kommodore Oberführer Oberführer Oberführer was an early paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party dating back to 1921. Translated as “Senior Leader”, an Oberführer was typically a Nazi Party member in charge of a group of paramilitary units in a particular geographical region...
OF-5	Captain Colonel Group Captain Group Captain Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...	Captain Colonel	Капита́н 1-го ра́нга (Captain 1st rank) Полко́вник (Polkovnik)	上校 Shang-hsiao (Colonel)	Komandor Pułkownik	Πλοίαρχος (Captain) Συνταγματάρχης (Colonel) Σμήναρχος (Group Captain)	Kapitän zur See Oberst Oberst Oberst is a military rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to Colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. The Swedish rank överste is a direct translation, as are the Finnish rank eversti... Standartenführer Standartenführer Standartenführer was a Nazi Party paramilitary rank that was used in the so-called Nazi combat-organisations: SA, SS, NSKK and the NSFK...	Capitano di Vascello Colonnello	Kommodori Eversti	Taisa	Colonel capitaine de vaisseau Colonel	Pukovnik (Пуковник)
OF-4	Commander Lieutenant-Colonel Wing Commander Wing Commander (rank) Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...	Commander Lieutenant Colonel	Капита́н 2-го ра́нга (Captain 2nd rank) Подполко́вник (Podpolkovnik)	中校 Chung-hsiao (Lieutenant-Colonel)	Komandor porucznik Podpułkownik	Αντιπλοίαρχος (Commander) Αντισυνταγματάρχης (Lieutenant Colonel) Αντισμήναρχος (Wing Commander)	Fregattenkapitän Oberstleutnant Oberstleutnant Oberstleutnant is a German Army and Air Force rank equal to Lieutenant Colonel, above Major, and below Oberst.There are two paygrade associated to the rank of Oberstleutnant... Obersturmbannführer Obersturmbannführer Obersturmbannführer was a paramilitary Nazi Party rank used by both the SA and the SS. It was created in May 1933 to fill the need for an additional field grade officer rank above Sturmbannführer as the SA expanded. It became an SS rank at the same time...	Capitano di Fregata Tenente Colonnello	Komentaja Everstiluutnantti	Chūsa	Lieutenant-colonel capitaine de frégate Lieutenant-colonel	Potpukovnik (Потпуковник)
OF-3	Lieutenant-Commander Major Squadron Leader Squadron Leader Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...	Lieutenant Commander Major	Капита́н 3-го ра́нга (Captain 3rd rank) Майо́р (Major)	少校 Shao-hsiao (Major)	Komandor podporucznik Major	Πλωτάρχης (Lieutenant Commander) Ταγματάρχης (Major) Επισμηναγός (Squadron Leader)	Korvettenkapitän Major Major (Germany) Major is a rank of the German military which dates back to the Middle Ages.It equates to Major in the British and US Armies, and is rated OF-3 in NATO.During World War II, the SS equivalent was Sturmbannführer.... Sturmbannführer Sturmbannführer Sturmbannführer was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party equivalent to major, used both in the Sturmabteilung and the Schutzstaffel...	Capitano di Corvetta Maggiore	Komentajakapteeni Majuri	Shōsa	Commandant capitaine de corvette Commandant	Major (Maјор)
OF-2	Lieutenant Captain Flight Lieutenant Flight Lieutenant Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...	Lieutenant Captain	Капита́н-лейтена́нт (Captain-Lieutenant) Капита́н (Captain)	上尉 Shang-wei (Captain)	Kapitan marynarki Kapitan	Υποπλοίαρχος (Lieutenant) Λοχαγός (Captain) Σμηναγός (Flight Lieutenant)	Kapitänleutnant Hauptmann Hauptmann Hauptmann is a German word usually translated as captain when it is used as an officer's rank in the German, Austrian and Swiss armies. While "haupt" in contemporary German means "main", it also has the dated meaning of "head", i.e... Hauptsturmführer Hauptsturmführer Hauptsturmführer was a Nazi rank of the SS which was used between the years of 1934 and 1945. The rank of Hauptsturmführer was a mid-grade company level officer and was the equivalent of a Captain in the German Army and also the equivalent of captain in foreign armies...	Primo Capitano	Kapteeniluutnantti Kapteeni	Taii	Capitaine Lieutenant de vaisseau Capitaine	Kapetan (Капетaн)
								Tenente di Vascello Capitano
OF-1	Sub-Lieutenant Lieutenant Flying Officer Flying Officer Flying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...	Lieutenant Junior Grade First Lieutenant	Ста́рший лейтена́нт (Senior Lieutenant) Ста́рший лейтена́нт (Senior Lieutenant)	中尉 Chung-wei (Lieutenant)	Porucznik marynarki Porucznik	Ανθυποπλοίαρχος (Sub-Lieutenant) Υπολοχαγός (Lieutenant) Υποσμηναγός (Flying Officer)	Oberleutnant zur See Oberleutnant Oberleutnant Oberleutnant is a junior officer rank in the militaries of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In the German Army, it dates from the early 19th century. Translated as "Senior Lieutenant", the rank is typically bestowed upon commissioned officers after five to six years of active duty... Obersturmführer Obersturmführer Obersturmführer was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi party that was used by the SS and also as a rank of the SA. Translated as “Senior Assault Leader”, the rank of Obersturmführer was first created in 1932 as the result of an expansion of the Sturmabteilung and the need for an additional rank in...	Sottotenente di Vascello Primo Tenente	Luutnantti	Chūi	Lieutenant Enseigne de vaisseau de 1re classe Lieutenant	Poručnik (Пοручник)
	Commissioned Warrant Officer Second Lieutenant Pilot Officer Pilot Officer Pilot officer is the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks immediately below flying officer...	Ensign Second Lieutenant	Лейтена́нт (Lieutenant) Лейтена́нт (Lieutenant)	少尉 Shao-wei (2nd Lieutenant)	Podporucznik marynarki Podporucznik	Σημαιοφόρος (Ensign) Ανθυπολοχαγός (Second Lieutenant) Ανθυποσμηναγός (Pilot Officer)	Leutnant zur See Leutnant Untersturmführer Untersturmführer Untersturmführer was a paramilitary rank of the German Schutzstaffel first created in July 1934. The rank can trace its origins to the older SA rank of Sturmführer which had existed since the founding of the SA in 1921...	Guardiamarina Tenente	Aliluutnantti Vänrikki	Shōi	Sous-lieutenant Enseigne de vaisseau de 2nde classe Sous-lieutenant	Potporučnik (Потпоручник)
			Мла́дший лейтена́нт (Junior Lieutenant) Мла́дший лейтена́нт (Junior Lieutenant)	准尉 Chun-wei (Warrant Officer)	Chorąży marynarki Chorąży			Sottotenente			Aspirant

See also

• Comparative military ranks of World War I
  Comparative military ranks of World War I
  The following table shows comparative officer ranks of the principal Allied and Central powers during World War I. For modern ranks refer to Comparative military ranks.See also: Comparative military ranks of World War IIMajor participants not shown:...
  
  
• List of comparative military ranks
• United States Army enlisted rank insignia of World War II
  United States Army enlisted rank insignia of World War II
  The U.S. Army enlisted rank insignia that was used during World War II differs from the current system. The color scheme used for the insignia's chevron design was defined as either silver grey on dark blue, olive drab on dark blue, or khaki on dark blue . This scheme of rank insignia was...
  
  
• Ranks and insignia of the Schutzstaffel
  Ranks and insignia of the Schutzstaffel
  The uniforms and insignia of the Schutzstaffel were paramilitary ranks and uniforms used by the SS between 1925 and 1945 to differentiate that organization from the regular German armed forces, the German state, and the Nazi Party....