Comparative officer ranks of World War II

For more detailed rank information, see relevant national rank pages.

The following table shows comparative officer ranks of World War II, with the ranks of Allied powers, the major Axis powers and various other countries and co-belligerents during World War II.

Table

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
British Army[a][1]
	Field marshal		General		Lieutenant-general		Major-general		Brigadier[b]		Colonel		Lieutenant-colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			Second lieutenant
Royal Air Force[a][2]
	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
Royal Navy[a][3]
	Admiral of the Fleet		Admiral		Vice admiral		Rear admiral		Commodore[b]		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Sub lieutenant			Midshipman
Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Belgian Army & Military Aviation[4]
					Luitenant-generaal		Generaal-majoor				Kolonel		Luitenant-kolonel		Majoor		Kapitein-commandant	Kapitein	Luitenant			Onderluitenant
Belgian Naval Corps[5]
											Kolonel		Luitenant-kolonel		Majoor		Kapitein-commandant	Kapitein	Luitenant			Onder­luitenant
Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Royal Bulgarian Army & Air Force[6][7]
			Генерал-полковник General-pukovnik		Генерал-лейтенант General-leytenant		Генерал-майор General-mayor				Полковник Polkovnik		Подполковник Podpolkovnik		Майор Mayor		Капитан Kapitan		Старши лейтенант Starshi leytenant		Лейтенант Leytenant		Офицерски кандидатъ Ofitserski kandidat
Royal Bulgarian Navy[8]
			Адмирал Admiral		Вицеадмирал Vitse­admiral		Контраадмирал Kontra­admiral				Капитан I ранг Kapitan I rang		Капитан II ранг Kapitan II rang		Капитан III ранг Kapitan III rang		Лейтенант Leytenant		Мичман I ранг Michman I rang		Мичман II ранг Michman II rang		Офицерски кандидатъ Ofitserski kandidat
Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Republic of China National Army[9][10]
	特級上將 Teji shangjiang		一級上將 Yījí shàngjiàng	二級上將 Èrjí shàngjiàng	中將 Zhōngjiàng		少將 Shàojiàng				上校 Shàngxiào		中校 Zhōngxiào		少校 Shàoxiào		上尉 Shàngwèi		中尉 Zhōngwèi		少尉 Shàowèi		准尉 Zhunwei
Republic of China Air Force[9][11]
					中將 Zhōngjiàng		少將 Shàojiàng				上校 Shàngxiào		中校 Zhōngxiào		少校 Shàoxiào		上尉 Shàngwèi		中尉 Zhōngwèi		少尉 Shàowèi
Republic of China Navy[12][13]
			一級上將 Yījí shàngjiàng	二級上將 Èrjí shàngjiàng	中將 Zhōngjiàng		少將 Shàojiàng		代將 Dàijiàng		上校 Shàngxiào		中校 Zhōngxiào		少校 Shàoxiào		上尉 Shàngwèi		中尉 Zhōngwèi		少尉 Shàowèi
Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Czechoslovak Army[14]
					Armádní generál		Divisní generál		Brigádní generál		Plukovník		Podplukovník		Major	Štábní kapitán	Kapitán		Nadporučík		Poručík		Podporučík
Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Royal Danish Army[15]
			General		General­løjtnant		General­major				Oberst		Oberst­løjtnant				Kaptajn	Kaptajn­løjtnant	Premier­løjtnant		Løjtnant		Sekond­løjtnant
Royal Danish Navy[15]
			Admiral		Vice­admiral		Kontre­admiral				Kommandør		Kommandør­kaptajn				Orlogs­kaptajn	Kaptajn­løjtnant	Søløjtnant I		Løjtnant		Søløjtnant II
Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Finnish Army & Air Force[16]
	Sotamarsalkka Fältmarskalk		Kenraali General		Kenraaliluutnantti Generallöjtnant		Kenraalimajuri Generalmajor				Eversti Överste		Everstiluutnantti Överstelöjtnant		Majuri Major		Kapteeni Kapten		Luutnantti Löjtnant			Vänrikki Fänrik
Finnish Navy[16]
			Amiraali Amiral		Vara-amiraali Viceamiral		Kontra-amiraali Konteramiral				Kommodori Kommodor		Komentaja Kommendör		Komentajakapteeni Kommendörkapten		Kapteeniluutnantti Kaptenlöjtnant		Luutnantti Löjtnant			Aliluutnantti Underlöjtnant
Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
French Army[17]
	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
French Air Force[17]
			Général d'armée aérienne		Général de corps aérien		Général de division aérienne		Général de brigade aérienne		Colonel		Lieutenant-colonel		Commandant		Capitaine		Lieutenant			Sous-lieutenant
French Navy[18]
	Amiral de France	Amiral de la Flotte[19]	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
Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
German Army & Luftwaffe[20]	Reichsmarschall
		General­feldmarschall	General­oberst		General der Waffengattung		General­leutnant		General­major		Oberst		Oberst­leutnant		Major		Haupt­mann		Ober­leutnant			Leutnant
Kriegsmarine[21]
		Groß­admiral	General­admiral		Admiral		Vize­admiral		Konter­admiral		Kommodore	Kapitän zur See	Fregatten­kapitän		Korvetten­kapitän		Kapitän­leutnant		Ober­leutnant zur See			Leutnant zur See
Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Hellenic Army[22]
	Στρατάρχης Stratarches		Στρατηγός Stratigos		Ἀντιστράτηγος Antistratigos		Ὑποστράτηγος Ypostratigos				Συνταγματάρχης Syntagmatarchis		Ἀντισυνταγματάρχης Antisyntagmatarchis		Ταγματάρχης Tagmatarchis		Λοχαγός Lochagos		Ὑπολοχαγός Ypolochagos			Ἀνθυπολοχαγός Anthypolochagos
Royal Hellenic Air Force[23]
	Ἀρχιπτέραρχος Archiptérarchos		Πτέραρχος Ptérarchos		Ἀντιπτέραρχος Antiptérarchos		Ὑποπτέραρχος Ypoptérarchos				Σμήναρχος Smínarchos		Ἀντισμήναρχος Antismínarchos		Ἐπισμηναγός Episminagós		Σμηναγός Sminagós		Ὑποσμηναγός Yposminagós			Ἀνθυποσμηναγός Anthyposminagós
Royal Hellenic Navy[23]
	Ἀρχιναύαρχος Archinavarchos		Ναύαρχος Navarchos		Ἀντιναύαρχος Antinavarchos		Ὑποναύαρχος Yponavarchos				Πλοίαρχος Ploiarchos		Ἀντιπλοίαρχος Antiploiarchos		Πλωτάρχης Plotarchis		Ὑποπλοίαρχος Ypoploiarchos		Ἀνθυποπλοίαρχος Anthypoploiarchos			Σημαιοφόρος Simaioforos
Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Royal Hungarian Army[24][25]
	Tábornagy		Vezérezredes		Altábornagy		Vezérőrnagy				Ezredes		Alezredes		Őrnagy		Százados		Főhadnagy			Hadnagy
Royal Hungarian Air Force[26]
					Altábornagy		Vezérőrnagy				Ezredes		Alezredes		Őrnagy		Százados		Főhadnagy			Hadnagy
Royal Hungarian River Guard[25]
					Vezérfökapitány		Vezérkapitány				Fötörzskapitány		Törzskapitány		Törzsalkapitány		Kapitány		Föhajónagy			Hajónagy
Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Royal Italian Army[27]	Primo maresciallo dell'Impero
		Maresciallo d'Italia	Generale d'armata[28]	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
Royal Italian Air Force[29]
		Maresciallo dell'Aria	Generale d'Armata Aerea[28]	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
Royal Italian Navy[30]
		Grande ammiraglio	Ammiraglio d'armata[31]	Ammiraglio designato d'armata	Ammiraglio di squadra		Ammiraglio di divisione		Contrammiraglio		Capitano di vascello		Capitano di fregata		Capitano di corvetta		Primo tenente di vascello	Tenente di vascello			Sottotenente di vascello		Guardiamarina
Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Imperial Japanese Army & Army Air Service[32]
	大元帥陸軍大将 Daigensui-rikugun-taishō	元帥陸軍大将 Gensui-rikugun-taishō	陸軍大将 Rikugun-taishō		陸軍中将 Rikugun-chūjō		陸軍少将 Rikugun-shōshō				陸軍大佐 Rikugun-taisa		陸軍中佐 Rikugun-chūsa		陸軍少佐 Rikugun-shōsa		陸軍大尉 Rikugun-tai-i		陸軍中尉 Rikugun-chūi		陸軍少尉 Rikugun-shōi		准尉 Jun-i
Imperial Japanese Navy[33][34]
	大元帥海軍大将 Daigensui-kaigun-taishō	元帥海軍大将 Gensui-kaigun-taishō	海軍大将 Kaigun-taishō		海軍中将 Kaigun-chūjō		海軍少将 Kaigun-shōshō				海軍大佐 Kaigun-daisa		海軍中佐 Kaigun-chūsa		海軍少佐 Kaigun-shōsa		海軍大尉 Kaigun-dai-i		海軍中尉 Kaigun-chūi		海軍少尉 Kaigun-shōi		兵曹長 Heisōchō
Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Manchukuo Imperial Army & Air Force[35][36]
	總司令 Zǒng sīlìng		上将 Shàng jiàng		中将 Zhōng jiàng		少将 Shào jiàng				上校 Shàng xiào		中校 Zhōng xiào		少校 Shào xiào		上尉 Shàng wèi		中尉 Zhōng wèi		少尉 Shào wèi		准尉 Zhǔn wèi
Manchukuo Imperial Navy[37][38]
	總司令 Zǒng sīlìng		上将 Shàng jiàng		中将 Zhōng jiàng		少将 Shào jiàng				上校 Shàng xiào		中校 Zhōng xiào		少校 Shào xiào		上尉 Shàng wèi		中尉 Zhōng wèi		少尉 Shào wèi
Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Royal Netherlands Army[39]
			Generaal		Luitenant-generaal		Generaal-majoor				Kolonel		Luitenant-kolonel		Majoor		Kapitein/ Ritmeester		Eerste luitenant			Tweede luitenant
Royal Netherlands Navy[39]
	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
Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Norwegian Army & Army Air Service[40]
			General		General­løjtnant		General­major				Oberst		Oberst­løitnant		Major		Kaptein/ Rittmester		Premier­løitnant			Sekond­løitnant
Royal Norwegian Navy[41][42]
			Admiral		Vice­admiral		Kontre­admiral				Kommandør		Kommandør­kaptein		Kaptein­løytnant		Kaptein		Løitnant			Sekund­løitnant
Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Polish Army & Air Force[43]	Marszałek Polski
			Generał broni				Generał dywizji		Generał brygady		Pułkownik		Podpułkownik		Major		Kapitan/ Rotmistrz		Porucznik		Podporucznik		Chorąży
Polish Navy[44]
			Admirał				Wice­admirał		Kontr­admirał		Komandor		Komandor porucznik		Komandor podporucznik		Kapitan marynarki		Porucznik marynarki		Podporucznik marynarki
Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Royal Romanian Army[45][46]
	Mareșal		General de armată		General de corp de armată		General de divizie		General de brigadă		Colonel		Locotenent-colonel		Maior		Căpitan		Locotenent			Sublocotenent
Royal Romanian Air Force[47][48]
	Mareșal				General inspector		General comandant		General de escadră aeriană		Comandor		Căpitan-comandor		Locotenent-comandor		Căpitan		Locotenent			Sublocotenent
Royal Romanian Navy[49]
	Mareșal		Amiral		Viceamiral		Contraamiral		Contraamiral de flotilă		Comandor		Căpitan-comandor		Locotenent-comandor		Căpitan		Locotenent			Aspirant
Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
United States Army & Army Air Force[50]
	General of the Army		General		Lieutenant general		Major general		Brigadier general		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		First lieutenant			Second lieutenant
United States Navy[50]
	Fleet admiral		Admiral		Vice admiral		Rear admiral		Commodore[c]		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Lieutenant (junior grade)			Ensign
Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Red Army (Since Oct. 1943)[d][51][52]	Генерали́ссимус Сове́тского Сою́за Generalíssimus Sovétskogo Soyúza
		Ма́ршал Сове́тского Сою́за Márshal Sovétskogo Soyúza	Генера́л а́рмии Generál ármi'i[e]		Генера́л-полко́вник Generál-polkóvnik		Генера́л-лейтена́нт Generál-leytenánt		Генера́л-майо́р Generál-mayór		Полко́вник Polkóvnik		Подполко́вник Podpolkóvnik		Майо́р Majór		Kапита́н Kapitán		Старший лейтена́нт Stárshiy leytenánt		Лейтенант Leytenant		Mла́дший лейтена́нт Mládshiy leytenánt
Red Army Air Force[53]
			Главный маршал авиации Glávnyi márshal aviátzi'i	Маршал авиации Márshal aviátzi'i	Генера́л-полко́вник Generál-polkóvnik		Генера́л-лейтена́нт Generál-leytenánt		Генера́л-майо́р Generál-mayór		Полко́вник Polkóvnik		Подполко́вник Podpolkóvnik		Майо́р Majór		Kапита́н Kapitán		Старший лейтена́нт Stárshiy leytenánt		Лейтенант Leytenant		Mла́дший лейтена́нт Mládshiy leytenánt
Soviet Navy[54]
			Адмирал флота Admirál flota[f]		Адмирал Admirál		Вице-адмирал Vitse-admirál		Контр-адмирал Contre-admirál		Капитан 1-го ранга Kapitan 1-go ránga		Капитан 2-го ранга Kapitan 2-go ránga		Капитан 3-го ранга Kapitan 3-go ránga		Капитан-лейтенант Kapitan-leytenánt		Старший лейтенант Starshey leytenánt		Лейтенант Leytenánt		Младший лейтенант Mladshiy leytenánt
Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Royal Yugoslav Army[56]
	Бојни војвода Bojni vojvoda		Армијски генерал Armijski general		Дивизијски генерал Divizijski general		Бригадни генерал Brigadni general[g]				Пуковник Pukovnik		Потпуковник Potpukovnik		Мајор Major		Капетан прве класе Kapetan prve klase		Капетан друге класе Kapetan druge klase		Поручник Poručnik		Потпоручник Potporučnik
Royal Yugoslav Air Force[57]
			Армијски генерал Armijski general		Дивизијски генерал Divizijski general		Бригадни генерал Brigadni general				Пуковник Pukovnik		Потпуковник Potpukovnik		Мајор Major		Капетан прве класе Kapetan prve klase		Капетан друге класе Kapetan druge klase		Поручник Poručnik		Потпоручник Potporučnik
Royal Yugoslav Navy[57]
			Адмирал Admiral		Вицеадмирал Viceadmiral		Контраадмирал Kontraadmiral				Капетан бојног брода Kapetan bojnog broda		Капетан фрегате Kapetan fregate		Капетан корвете Kapetan korvete		Поручник бојног брода прве класе Poručnik bojnog broda prve klase		Поручник бојног брода друге класе Poručnik bojnog broda druge klase		Поручник фрегате Poručnik fregate		Поручник корвете Poručnik korvete
Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Yugoslav Partisans (after 1943)[58]
	Maršal Jugoslavije				General-pukovnik		General-lajtant		General-major		Pukovnik		Potpukovnik		Major		Kapetan		Poručnik		Potporučnik		Zastavnik
Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers

See also

• Comparative officer ranks of World War I
• Comparative ranks of Nazi Germany
• List of comparative military ranks

Notes

1. Same insignia used by all militaries of the British Empire
2. An appointment rather than a substantive rank
3. Reintroduced in 1943
4. For ranks used before 1943, see 1935–1940 ranks and 1940–1943 ranks
5. Marshal and Chief marshal of the branch awarded to artillery, armored troops, signal troops and engineer officers
6. Shoulder insignia was changed to a marshal star on 25 May 1945^[55]
7. Color on the epaulettes and on the sleeve where different depend on branch (see more Corps colors of Royal Yugoslav Armed Forces)