General Admiral
Encyclopedia
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 (nominal) commander-in-chief
of the Dutch Republic
's navy (usually the Prince of Orange
).
In the German Kriegsmarine
of the Second World War, generaladmiral was a rank senior to an admiral
, but junior to a grand admiral
. Generaladmiral was a four-star admiral rank, as in the traditional German ranking system until World War II
an admiral is equivalent to a British or American vice admiral.
The sleeve insignia for a generaladmiral was the same as that of a regular admiral, being a thick rank stripe below three regular stripes (kolbenringe in German naval parlance). Generaladmirals wore a third pip on their shoulder boards to differentiate them from regular admirals. The German Army and Air Force equivalent of generaladmiral was the rank colonel general
(generaloberst).
In 1943, a directive was issued that should the Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine (Commander of the Navy) hold the rank of generaladmiral, he would wear the sleeve insignia of a grand admiral, but the shoulder boards of a generaladmiral.
A similar practice was used in the German Army, allowing colonel generals to wear four pips on the shoulder board when engaged in duties befitting a field marshal
.
The rank of generaladmiral was first given to the future grand admiral
Erich Raeder
on 20 April 1936.
Other holders of the rank were:
It is interesting to note that Karl Dönitz
was promoted to grand admiral without becoming a generaladmiral first.
. This was purely honorific rank and for the most time of its existence, it was awarded to the only person in active duty, usually for a head of the naval department, typically a descendant of the Romanov
royal family.
There were only nine holders of this rank:
The general admiral rank was abolished with the fall of the Empire and was not revived when rank distinctions were reintroduced during 1935-40. The rank of admiral of the fleet of the Soviet Union
can be considered as a modern equivalent.
that is above an admiral, but subordinate to a captain general
.
, form 1892 until 1910. This rank was held only by the King of Portugal as the constitutional commander-in-chief of the Navy. It was the naval equivalent to the rank of marechal-general also held by the king as commander-in-chief of the Portuguese Army
.
Military rank
Military rank is a system of hierarchical relationships in armed forces or civil institutions organized along military lines. Usually, uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms...
. Its historic origin is a title high military or naval dignitaries of early modern Europe sometimes held, for example the (nominal) commander-in-chief
Commander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
of the Dutch Republic
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
's navy (usually the Prince of Orange
Prince of Orange
Prince of Orange is a title of nobility, originally associated with the Principality of Orange, in what is now southern France. In French it is la Principauté d'Orange....
).
Third Reich
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...
of the Second World War, generaladmiral was a rank senior to an 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"...
, but junior to a grand admiral
Grand Admiral
Grand admiral is a historic naval rank, generally being the highest such rank present in any particular country. Its most notable use was in Germany — the German word is Großadmiral.-France:...
. Generaladmiral was a four-star admiral rank, as in the traditional German ranking system until 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...
an admiral is equivalent to a British or American vice admiral.
The sleeve insignia for a generaladmiral was the same as that of a regular admiral, being a thick rank stripe below three regular stripes (kolbenringe in German naval parlance). Generaladmirals wore a third pip on their shoulder boards to differentiate them from regular admirals. The German Army and Air Force equivalent of generaladmiral was the rank colonel general
Colonel General
Colonel General is a senior rank of General. North Korea and Russia are two countries which have used the rank extensively throughout their histories...
(generaloberst).
In 1943, a directive was issued that should the Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine (Commander of the Navy) hold the rank of generaladmiral, he would wear the sleeve insignia of a grand admiral, but the shoulder boards of a generaladmiral.
A similar practice was used in the German Army, allowing colonel generals to wear four pips on the shoulder board when engaged in duties befitting a 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...
.
The rank of generaladmiral was first given to the future grand admiral
Grand Admiral
Grand admiral is a historic naval rank, generally being the highest such rank present in any particular country. Its most notable use was in Germany — the German word is Großadmiral.-France:...
Erich Raeder
Erich Raeder
Erich Johann Albert Raeder was a naval leader in Germany before and during World War II. Raeder attained the highest possible naval rank—that of Großadmiral — in 1939, becoming the first person to hold that rank since Alfred von Tirpitz...
on 20 April 1936.
Other holders of the rank were:
- Conrad AlbrechtConrad AlbrechtConrad Albrecht was a German admiral during World War II.-Military career:Albrecht entered the Kaiserliche Marine in 1899 as a sea-cadet and served as a Korvettenkapitän and commander of a torpedo boat flotilla in Flanders during World War I...
(1 April 1939) - Alfred SaalwächterAlfred SaalwächterAlfred Saalwächter was a German U-boat commander during World War I and General Admiral during World War II.-Early life:...
(1 January 1940) - Rolf CarlsRolf CarlsRolf Hans Wilhelm Karl Carls was the Generaladmiral of the Kriegsmarine during World War II and a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross...
(19 July 1940) - Hermann BoehmHermann Boehm (admiral)Hermann Boehm was a German naval officer who rose to the rank of General Admiral during the Second World War.-Military service:...
(1 April 1941) - Karl WitzellKarl WitzellKarl Witzell was a German naval officer who rose to General Admiral and head of the Marinewaffenhauptamt during the Second World War....
(1 April 1941) - Otto SchultzeOtto SchultzeOtto Schultze was a Generaladmiral with the Kriegsmarine during World War II and a recipient of the Pour le Mérite during World War I. The Pour le Mérite was the Kingdom of Prussia's highest military order for German soldiers until the end of World War I...
(31 August 1942) - Wilhelm MarschallWilhelm MarschallWilhelm Marschall was a German admiral during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Pour le Mérite which he received as commander of the German U-boat during World War I...
(1 February 1943) - Otto SchniewindOtto SchniewindOtto Schniewind was a General Admiral with the Kriegsmarine during World War II and a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.-Career:Schniewind entered the...
(1 March 1944) - Walter WarzechaWalter WarzechaWalter Wilhelm Julius Warzecha was a German naval commander and high-ranking officer of the Kriegsmarine. Serving in the rank of General Admiral he succeeded General Admiral Hans-Georg von Friedeburg as the last Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine after the end of World War II.-Biography:Walter...
(1 March 1944) - Oskar KummetzOskar KummetzOskar Kummetz was a Generaladmiral with the Kriegsmarine during World War II. He also served in the Kaiserliche Marine during World War I. Kummetz was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for his actions in the Battle of Drøbak Sound, during which his command, the was sunk by Norwegian...
(16 September 1944) - Hans-Georg von FriedeburgHans-Georg von FriedeburgHans-Georg von Friedeburg was the deputy commander of the U-Boat Forces of Nazi Germany and the last Commanding Admiral of the Kriegsmarine....
(1 May 1945)
It is interesting to note that Karl Dönitz
Karl Dönitz
Karl Dönitz was a German naval commander during World War II. He started his career in the German Navy during World War I. In 1918, while he was in command of , the submarine was sunk by British forces and Dönitz was taken prisoner...
was promoted to grand admiral without becoming a generaladmiral first.
Russian Empire
General-admiral was the highest rank of the Russian Navy as established by the Table of Ranks and equivalent to field marshalField 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...
. This was purely honorific rank and for the most time of its existence, it was awarded to the only person in active duty, usually for a head of the naval department, typically a descendant of the Romanov
Romanov
The House of Romanov was the second and last imperial dynasty to rule over Russia, reigning from 1613 until the February Revolution abolished the crown in 1917...
royal family.
There were only nine holders of this rank:
- CountCountA count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
Franz LefortFranz LefortFranz Lefort was a Russian military figure of Swiss origin, general admiral , and close associate of Peter the Great....
(1695) - Count Fedor GolovinFedor GolovinCount Feodor Alekseyevich Golovin was the last Russian boyar and the first Russian chancellor, field marshal, general admiral . Until his death he was the most influential of Peter the Great's associates....
(first Russian chancellor) (1700) - Count Fyodor Matveyevich ApraksinFyodor Matveyevich ApraksinCount Fyodor Matveyevich Apraksin was one of the first Russian admirals who governed Estonia and Karelia from 1712 to 1723, general admiral , presided over the Russian Admiralty since 1718 and commanded the Baltic Fleet since 1723.-Early shipbuilding activities:The Apraksin brothers were...
(1708) - Count Andrei Ivanovich Osterman (Heinrich Johann Friedrich Ostermann) (1740; dismissed 1741)
- PrinceKnyazKniaz, knyaz or knez is a Slavic title found in most Slavic languages, denoting a royal nobility rank. It is usually translated into English as either Prince or less commonly as Duke....
Mikhail GolitsynGalitzineFor Orthodox clergyman and theologian, see Alexander Golitzin.The Galitzines are one of the largest and noblest princely houses of Russia. Since the extinction of the Korecki family in the 17th century, the Golitsyns have claimed dynastic seniority in the House of Gediminas...
(1756) - Grand Duke (Emperor since 1796 ) Pavel PetrovichPaul I of RussiaPaul I was the Emperor of Russia between 1796 and 1801. He also was the 72nd Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta .-Childhood:...
(1762) - Count Ivan Chernyshyov (1796)
- Grand Duke Constantine NikolayevichGrand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich of RussiaGrand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich of Russia was the second son of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia.During the reign of his brother Alexander II, Konstantin was an admiral of the Russian fleet and reformed the Russian Navy. He was also an instrumental figure in the emancipation of the serfs...
(1831). - Grand Duke Alexei AlexandrovichGrand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of RussiaGrand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of Russia was the sixth child and the fourth son of Alexander II of Russia and his first wife Maria Alexandrovna . Destined to a naval career, Alexei Alexandrovich started his military training at the age of 7...
(1883).
The general admiral rank was abolished with the fall of the Empire and was not revived when rank distinctions were reintroduced during 1935-40. The rank of admiral of the fleet of the Soviet Union
Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union
An Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union was the highest naval rank of the Soviet Union.The rank was largely honorary and could be considered equivalent to Admiral of the Navy in other nations...
can be considered as a modern equivalent.
Kingdom of Spain
Almirante general is a rank in the Spanish NavySpanish Navy
The Spanish Navy is the maritime branch of the Spanish Armed Forces, one of the oldest active naval forces in the world. The Armada is responsible for notable achievements in world history such as the discovery of Americas, the first world circumnavigation, and the discovery of a maritime path...
that is above an admiral, but subordinate to a captain general
Captain General
Captain general is a high military rank and a gubernatorial title.-History:This term Captain General started to appear in the 14th century, with the meaning of commander in chief of an army in the field, probably the first usage of the term General in military settings...
.
Kingdom of Portugal
Almirante-general was the highest rank in the Portuguese NavyPortuguese Navy
The Portuguese Navy is the naval branch of the Portuguese Armed Forces which, in cooperation and integrated with the other branches of the Portuguese military, is charged with the military defence of Portugal....
, form 1892 until 1910. This rank was held only by the King of Portugal as the constitutional commander-in-chief of the Navy. It was the naval equivalent to the rank of marechal-general also held by the king as commander-in-chief of the Portuguese Army
Portuguese Army
The Portuguese Army is the ground branch of the Portuguese Armed Forces which, in co-operation with other branches of the Portuguese military, is charged with the defence of Portugal...
.