Everything about Generaladmiral totally explained
General Admiral was a Danish, Dutch, German, Russian, and Spanish 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).
Third Reich
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'd 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 April1936.
Other holders of the rank were:
| • |
Conrad Albrecht, |
1 April 1939, |
| • |
Alfred Saalwächter, |
1 January 1940, |
| • |
Rolf Carls, |
19 July 1940, |
| • |
Hermann Boehm, |
1 April 1941, |
| • |
Karl Witzell, |
1 April 1941, |
| • |
Otto Schultze, |
31 August 1942, |
| • |
Wilhelm Marschall, |
1 February 1943, |
| • |
Otto Schniewind, |
1 March 1944, |
| • |
Walter Warzecha, |
1 March 1944, |
| • |
Oskar Kummetz, |
16 September 1944, |
| • |
Hans-Georg von Friedeburg, |
1 May 1945. |
It is interesting to note that
Karl Dönitz 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 Marshal.
This was purely honorific rank and for the most time of its existence, it was awarded to the only person in active duty, typically a descendant of
Romanov Royal family.
There were only nine holders of this rank:
General Admiral rank was abolished with the fall of Empire.
Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union can be considered as a modern equivalent.
Kingdom of Spain
Almirante General is a rank in the
Spanish Navy that's above an admiral, but subordinate to a
captain general.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Generaladmiral'.
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