Comparative officer ranks of World War II

The following table offers an approximate comparison for the officer ranks appointed by the major Allied powers, the major Axis powers and various occupied countries and co-belligerents during World War II.

Table

Equivalent
NATO code
OF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D) and student officer
British Army
[1][2]
Field Marshal General Lieutenant-General Major-General Brigadier Colonel Lieutenant-Colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second Lieutenant Officer Cadet
Royal Air Force
[1][3]
Marshal of the RAF Air Chief Marshal Air Marshal Air Vice-Marshal Air Commodore Group Captain Wing Commander Squadron Leader Flight Lieutenant Flying Officer Pilot Officer
/Acting Pilot Officer
Officer Cadet
Royal Navy
[1][4]
Admiral of the Fleet Admiral Vice admiral Rear admiral Commodore Captain Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Sub lieutenant Midshipman Officer cadet
Equivalent
NATO code
OF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D) and student officer
Bulgarian Army & Air Force
[5]
No equivalent
No equivalent
General-pukovnik General-leitenant General-maior Plukovník Podplukovník Maior Kapitan Starshy leytenant Leytenant Mladsy Leytenant
Bulgarian Navy No equivalent
No equivalent
Kontra-admiral Kapitan I rang Kapitan II rang Kapitan III rang Leytenant Michman I rang Michman II rang
Equivalent
NATO code
OF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D) and student officer
Republic of China National Army
[1][6]
No equivalent No equivalent
Teji shangjiang
特級上將
Generalissimo
Yiji shangjiang
一級上將
Colonel General
Erji shangjiang
二級上將
General
Zhongjiang
中將
Lieutenant General
Shaojiang
少將
Major General
Shangxiao
上校
Colonel
Zhongxiao
中校
Lieutenant Colonel
Shaoxiao
少校
Major
Shangwei
上尉
Captain
Zhongwei
中尉
First Lieutenant
Shaowei
少尉
Second Lieutenant
Zhunwei
准尉
Warrant Officer
Republic of China Navy
[7]
Teji shangjiang
特級上將
Admiralissimo
Yiji shangjiang
一級上將
General Admiral
Erji shangjiang
二級上將
Admiral
Zhongjiang
中將
Vice admiral
Shaojiang
少將
Rear admiral
Daijiang
代將
Commodore
Shangxiao
上校
Captain
Zhongxiao
中校
Commander
Shaoxiao
少校
Lieutenant commander
Shangwei
上尉
Lieutenant
Zhongwei
中尉
Lieutenant (junior grade)
Shaowei
少尉
Ensign
Zhunwei
准尉
Warrant Officer
Junxiaosheng
軍校生
Officer cadet
Republic of China Air Force
[1][6]
No equivalent No equivalent No equivalent
Erji shangjiang
二級上將
General
Zhongjiang
中將
Lieutenant General
Shaojiang
少將
Major General
Shangxiao
上校
Colonel
Zhongxiao
中校
Lieutenant Colonel
Shaoxiao
少校
Major
Shangwei
上尉
Captain
Zhongwei
中尉
First Lieutenant
Shaowei
少尉
Second Lieutenant
Zhunwei
准尉
Warrant Officer
Equivalent
NATO code
OF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D) and student officer
Czechoslovak Army No equivalent No equivalent No equivalent
Armádní generál Divizní generál Brigádní generál Plukovník Podplukovník Major Kapitán Nadporučík Poručík Podporuchik
Equivalent
NATO code
OF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D) and student officer
 Royal Danish Army
[8][9]
No equivalent No equivalent No equivalent
General Generalløjtnant Generalmajor Oberst Oberstløjtnant Kaptajn Kaptajnløjtnant Premierløjtnant Løjtnant Sekondløjtnant
 Royal Danish Navy
[9][10]
No equivalent No equivalent
Admiral Viceadmiral Kontreadmiral Kommandør Kommandørkaptajn Orlogskaptajn Kaptajnløjtnant Søløjtnant I Løjtnant Søløjtnant II
Equivalent
NATO code
OF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D) and student officer
Finnish Army & Air Force
[11][12]
No equivalent
Sotamarsalkka
Fältmarskalk
Kenraali
General
Kenraaliluutnantti
Generallöjtnant
Kenraalimajuri
Generalmajor
Eversti
Överste
Everstiluutnantti
Överstelöjtnant
Majuri
Major
Kapteeni
Kapten
Luutnantti
Löjtnant
Vänrikki
Fänrik
Upseerikokelas
Officersaspirant
Upseerioppilas
Officerselev
 Finnish Navy
[11][12]
No equivalent No equivalent
Amiraali Vara-amiraali Kontra-amiraali Kommodori Komentaja Komentajakapteeni Kapteeniluutnantti Luutnantti Aliluutnantti Upseerikokelas Upseerioppilas
Equivalent
NATO code
OF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D) and student officer
Free French Army & Air Forces
[1][13]
Maréchal de France Général d'armée Général de corps d'armée Général de division Général de brigade Colonel Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant Capitaine Lieutenant Sous-Lieutenant Aspirant Élève-officier
Free French Naval Forces
[1][14]
Amiral de France Amiral de la Flotte Amiral Vice-amiral d'escadre Vice-amiral Contre-amiral Capitaine de vaisseau Capitaine de frégate Capitaine de corvette Lieutenant de vaisseau Enseigne de vaisseau de 1re classe Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe Aspirant Élève-officier
Equivalent
NATO code
OF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D) and student officer
German Army & Luftwaffe
[15]

Reichsmarschall
General-feldmarschall Generaloberst General der Waffengattung Generalleutnant Generalmajor Oberst Oberstleutnant Major Hauptmann Oberleutnant Leutnant Fhj-StFw Fhj-OFw Fhj-Fw Fhj-UFw Fhj-Uffz
 Kriegsmarine
[16]

Großadmiral Generaladmiral Admiral Vizeadmiral Konteradmiral Kommodore Kapitän zur See Fregatten-
kapitän
Korvetten-
kapitän
Kapitän-
leutnant
Oberleutnant
zur See
Leutnant
zur See
Oberfähnrich
zur See
Fähnrich
zur See
Seekadett Offiziersanwärter
Equivalent
NATO code
OF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D) and student officer
Royal Hellenic Army
[17]
No equivalent
Field Marshal
Στρατάρχης
General
Στρατηγός
Lieutenant-General
Αντιστράτηγος
Major-General
Υποστράτηγος
Colonel
Συνταγματάρχης
Lieutenant-Colonel
Αντισυνταγματάρχης
Major
Ταγματάρχης
Captain
Λοχαγός
Lieutenant
Υπολοχαγός
Second Lieutenant
Ανθυπολοχαγός
Officer Cadet
Δόκιμος
Royal Hellenic Air Force
[18]
No equivalent No equivalent
Marshal of the air force
Αιθεράρχης
Air Chief Marshal
Πτέραρχος
Air Marshal
Αντιπτέραρχος
Air Vice-Marshal
Υποπτέραρχος
Group Captain
Σμήναρχος
Wing Commander
Αντισμήναρχος
Squadron Leader
Επισμηναγός
Flight Lieutenant
Σμηναγός
Flying Officer
Υποσμηναγός
Pilot Officer
/Acting Pilot Officer
Ανθυποσμηναγός
Royal Hellenic Navy
[18]
No equivalent
Admiral of the Fleet
Στόλαρχος
Admiral
Ναύαρχος
Vice admiral
Αντιναύαρχος
Rear admiral
Υποναύαρχος
Captain
Πλοίαρχος
Commander
Αντιπλοίαρχος
Lieutenant commander
Πλωτάρχης
Lieutenant
Υποπλοίαρχος
Sub lieutenant
Ανθυποπλοίαρχος
Midshipman
Σημαιοφόρος
Officer cadet
Δόκιμος
Equivalent
NATO code
OF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D) and student officer
Imperial Japanese Army & Army Air Service
[19]
No equivalent No equivalent
Daigensui-Rikugun-Taishō
大元帥陸軍大将
Generalissimo
Gensui-Rikugun-Taishō
元帥陸軍大将
Field Marshal
Rikugun-Taishō
陸軍大将
General
Rikugun-Chūjō
陸軍中将
Lieutenant General
Rikugun-Shōshō
陸軍少将
Major General
Rikugun-Taisa
陸軍大佐
Colonel
Rikugun-Chūsa
陸軍中佐
Lieutenant Colonel
Rikugun-Shōsa
陸軍少佐
Major
Rikugun-Tai-i
陸軍大尉
Captain
Rikugun-Chūi
陸軍中尉
First Lieutenant
Rikugun-Shōi
陸軍少尉
Second Lieutenant
Jun-i
准尉
Warrant Officer
Imperial Japanese Navy
[20][21]
No equivalent
Daigensui-Kaigun-Taishō
大元帥海軍大将
Admiralissimo
Gensui-kaigun-Taishō
元帥海軍大将
Grand Admiral
Kaigun-Taishō
海軍大将
Admiral
Kaigun-Chūjō
海軍中将
Vice Admiral
Kaigun-Shōshō
海軍少将
Rear Admiral
Kaigun-Daisa
海軍大佐
Captain
Kaigun-Chūsa
海軍中佐
Commander
Kaigun-Shōsa
海軍少佐
Lieutenant Commander
Kaigun-Dai-i
海軍大尉
Lieutenant
Kaigun-Chūi
海軍中尉
Sub Lieutenant
Kaigun-Shōi
海軍少尉
Ensign
Hēsōchō
兵曹長
Warrant Officer
Kaigun shōi kōhosei
海軍少尉候補生
Midshipman
Equivalent
NATO code
OF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D) and student officer
Royal Italian Army
[22]
Primo maresciallo dell'Impero Maresciallo d'Italia Generale d'Armata Generale designato d'Armata Generale di Corpo d'Armata Generale di Divisione Generale di Brigata Colonnello Comandante Colonnello Tenente Colonnello Maggiore Primo capitano Capitano Primo Tenente Tenente Sottotenente Aspirante
Royal Italian Air Force
[23]
No insignia
Maresciallo dell'Aria Generale d'Armata Aerea Generale designato d'Armata Aerea Generale di Corpo d'Armata Aerea Generale di Divisione Aerea Generale di Brigata Aerea Colonnello Tenente Colonnello Maggiore Primo Capitano Capitano Tenente Sottotenente Aspirante
Royal Italian Navy
[24]
Grande ammiraglio
Grand admiral
Ammiraglio d'armata
Full admiral
Ammiraglio designato d'armata
Appointed full admiral
Ammiraglio di Squadra
Squadron admiral
Ammiraglio di Divisione
Divisional admiral
or
Vice admiral
Contrammiraglio
Counter admiral
Capitano di Vascello
Ship of the line captain
Capitano di Fregata
Frigate captain
Capitano di Corvetta
Corvette captain
Primo Tenente di Vascello
First ship of the line lieutenant
Tenente di Vascello
Ship of the line lieutenant
Sottotenente di Vascello
Ship of line Sub lieutenant
Guardiamarina
Navy guard
Aspirante Guardiamarina
Aspirant
Equivalent
NATO code
OF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D) and student officer
Manchukuo Imperial Army No equivalent
General of the Army
總司令
Army General
上將
Lieutenant General
中將
Major General
少將
Colonel
上校
Lieutenant Colonel
中校
Major
少校
Captain
上尉
First Lieutenant
中尉
Second Lieutenant
少尉
Warrant Officer
准尉
 Manchukuo Imperial Navy No equivalent No equivalent
Admiral Vice admiral Rear admiral Captain Commander Lieutenant Commander Lieutenant Sub-Lieutenant Acting Sub-Lieutenant
Equivalent
NATO code
OF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D) and student officer
Mengjiang National Army No equivalent No equivalent No equivalent
General
上将
Lieutenant General
中将
Major General
少将
Colonel
上校
Lieutenant-colonel
中校
Major
少校
Captain
上尉
Lieutenant
中尉
Junior Lieutenant
少尉
Warrant Officer
准尉
Equivalent
NATO code
OF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D) and student officer
 Royal Netherlands Army
[25]
No equivalent No equivalent
Generaal Luitenant-generaal Generaal-majoor Kolonel Luitenant-kolonel Majoor Kapitein/Ritmeester 1e Luitenant 2e Luitenant
 Royal Netherlands Navy
[25]
No equivalent
Admiraal Luitenant-Admiraal Vice-Admiraal Schout-bij-Nacht Kapitein ter zee Kapitein-luitenant ter zee Luitenant ter zee der 1ste klasse Luitenant ter zee der 2de klasse oudste categorie Luitenant ter zee der 2de klasse Luitenant ter zee der 3de klasse
Equivalent
NATO code
OF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D) and student officer
 Norwegian Army
[26][27]
No equivalent No equivalent No equivalent
General Generalløjtnant Generalmajor Oberst Oberstløitnant Major Kaptein/
Rittmester
Premierløitnant Sekondløitnant
Equivalent
NATO code
OF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D) and student officer
Polish Army & Air Force
[1][28]
No equivalent No equivalent
Marszałek Polski Generał broni Generał dywizji Generał brygady Pułkownik Podpułkownik Major Kapitan[lower-alpha 1] Porucznik Podporucznik Chorąży
 Polish Navy
[1][29]
No equivalent Various
Marszałek Polski Admirał Wiceadmirał Kontradmirał Komandor Komandor porucznik Komandor podporucznik Kapitan marynarki Porucznik marynarki Podporucznik marynarki Chorąży marynarki Podchorąży
Equivalent
NATO code
OF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D) and student officer
United States Army & Army Air Force
[1][30]
Various
General of the Armies[lower-alpha 2] General of the Army General Lieutenant General Major General Brigadier General Colonel Lieutenant Colonel Major Captain First Lieutenant Second Lieutenant Officer Candidate Officer Cadet
United States Navy
[1][30]

Various
Admiral of the Navy[lower-alpha 2] Fleet Admiral Admiral Vice Admiral Rear Admiral Commodore[lower-alpha 3] Captain Commander Lieutenant Commander Lieutenant Lieutenant (junior grade) Ensign Midshipman/Officer Candidate
Equivalent
NATO code
OF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D) and student officer
Red Army & Soviet Air Forces
(Since Oct. 1943)
[1][31]
Glavny marshal roda voysk Marshal roda voysk General armii
Generalissimus Sovétskogo Soyuza[lower-alpha 4] Marshal Sovétskogo Soyuza Generál-Polkóvnik Generál-Leytenánt Generál-Mayór Polkóvnik Podpolkóvnik Mayór Kapitán Stárshiy leytenánt Leytenánt Mládshiy leytenánt
 Soviet Navy
[1]
No equivalent
Admiral of the fleet
Адмирал флота[lower-alpha 5]
Admiral
Адмирал
Vice Admiral
Вице-адмирал
Rear admiral
Контр-адмирал
Captain 1st rank
Капитан 1-го ранга
Captain 2nd rank
Капитан 2-го ранга
Captain 3rd rank
Капитан 3-го ранга
Captain Lieutenant
Капитан-лейтенант
Senior lieutenant
Старший лейтенант
Lieutenant
Лейтенант
Junior lieutenant
Младший лейтенант
Equivalent
NATO code
OF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D) and student officer
Royal Yugoslav Army
(before 1943)
[32]
No equivalent
Vojvoda
Војвода
Army general
Армијски генерал
Divisional General
Дивизијски генерал
Brigadier General
Бригадни генерал
Colonel
Пуковник
Lieutenant Colonel
Потпуковник
Major
Мајор
Captain First Class
Капетан Прве Класе
Captain Second Class
Капетан Друге Класе
Lieutenant
Поручник
Sub-Lieutenant
Потпоручник
Royal Yugoslav Air Force
(before 1943)
[33]
No equivalent No equivalent
Army general
Армијски генерал
Divisional General
Дивизијски генерал
Brigadier General
Бригадни генерал
Colonel
Пуковник
Lieutenant Colonel
Потпуковник
Major
Мајор
Captain First Class
Капетан Прве Класе
Captain Second Class
Капетан Друге Класе
Lieutenant
Поручник
Sub-Lieutenant
Потпоручник
Royal Yugoslav Navy
(before 1943)
[33]
No equivalent No equivalent
Admiral
Адмирал
Vice Admiral
Вице Адмирал
Counter Admiral
Контра Адмирал
Captain at sea
Капетан Бојног Брода
Frigate captain
Капетан Фрегате
Corvette captain
Капетан Корвете
Lieutenant
Поручник Бојног Брода Прве Класе
Lieutenant (junior grade)
Поручник Бојног Брода Друге Класе
Frigate captain
Поручник Фрегате
Corvette lieutenant
Поручник Корвете
Equivalent
NATO code
OF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D) and student officer
Yugoslav Partisans
(after 1943)
No equivalent
Maršal Jugoslavije[lower-alpha 6] General-pukovnik General-lajtant General-major Pukovnik Potpukovnik Major Kapetan Poručnik Potporučnik Zastavnik
Equivalent
NATO code
OF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D) and student officer

See also

Notes

  1. Traditionally captains of Polish cavalry held the rank of rotmistrz, a direct equivalent of the rank of kapitan in other branches of the military.
  2. This rank was never awarded during the War.
  3. Reintroduced in 1943.
  4. This rank was only proposed and never used.
  5. Elevated to position equal to Marshal of the Soviet Union in 1945.
  6. This was the highest rank of (equivalent to Soviet Marshal) and simultaneously a Yugoslav honorific title.

References

Citations
  1. DI (15 June 2015). "World War 2 Allied Officers Rank Insignia". Daily Infographics. Archived from the original on 17 October 2017. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  2. Mollo 2001, p. 121.
  3. Mollo 2001, p. 123.
  4. Mollo 2001, p. 126.
  5. "Bulgarian Army/Air Force Insignia". Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  6. Mollo 2001, p. 192.
  7. Mollo 2001, p. 194.
  8. "Danish Army Insignia". Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  9. Mollo 2001, p. 39.
  10. Balsved, Johnny (22 March 2008). "Distinktioner og gradstegn" [Rank Insignia]. Navalhistory.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  11. "Finnish Insignia". Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  12. Mollo 2001, p. 29.
  13. Mollo 2001, p. 58.
  14. Mollo 2001, p. 61.
  15. Mollo 2001, pp. 11, 16.
  16. Mollo 2001, p. 19.
  17. Mollo 2001, p. 99.
  18. Mollo 2001, p. 101.
  19. Mollo 2001, p. 180.
  20. Rosignoli 1980, pp. 152-153.
  21. Mollo 2001, p. 187.
  22. Mollo 2001, p. 86.
  23. Mollo 2001, p. 89.
  24. Mollo 2001, p. 93.
  25. Mollo 2001, p. 47.
  26. Rühl n.d.
  27. Mollo 2001, p. 41.
  28. Mollo 2001, p. 23.
  29. Mollo 2001, p. 25.
  30. Mollo 2001, p. 161.
  31. Shalito, Savchenkov & Mollo 1993, p. 5.
  32. Mollo 2001, p. 104.
  33. Mollo 2001, p. 105.
Bibliography
  • Mollo, Andrew (2001). The Armed Forces of World War II: Uniforms, Insignia & Organisation. Leicester: Silverdale books. ISBN 1-85605-603-1.
  • Shalito, Anton; Savchenkov, Ilya; Mollo, Andrew (1993). Red Army Uniforms of World War II in Colour Photographs. London: Windrow & Greene. ISBN 978-1872004594.
  • Rosignoli, Guido (1980). Naval and Marine Badges and Insignia of World War 2. Blandford Colour Series. Link House, West Street, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1LL: Blandford Press Ltd.CS1 maint: location (link)
  • Rühl, Moritz (n.d.). "The Army of Norway 1939". Uniformology. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
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