Comparative military ranks of World War II - Definition and Overview

The following table shows comparative ranks of major Allied and Axis powers during World War II. For modern ranks refer to Comparative military ranks.

Major participants not shown:

• China (on side of Allies)
• Free French (Allied force after fall of France)
• Italy (Axis power)

KEY:

Navy

Army

Air Force

Waffen/Allgemeine-SS ¹

All Services

				</center>	Approximate modern NATO equivalent
UK, British Empire & Commonwealth	United States	Soviet Union	German Third Reich	Empire of Japan
Admiral of the Fleet Field Marshal Marshal of the RAF	Fleet Admiral General of the Army	Generalissimus Sovetskogo Soyuza	Reichsmarschall des Großdeutschen Reiches	GEN SUI	OF-10
		Admiral Flota ² Marshal Sovetskogo Soyuza Marshal Sovetskogo Soyuza	Großadmiral Generalfeldmarschall Generalfeldmarschall Reichsführer-SS
		Glavnyy Marshal Glavnyy Marshal Aviatsiyi
Admiral General Air Chief Marshal	Admiral General	General Armiyi Marshal Aviatsiyi	Generaladmiral Generaloberst Generaloberst Oberstgruppenführer	TAI SHO	OF-9
Vice Admiral Lieutenant General Air Marshal	Vice Admiral Lieutenant General	Admiral General Polkovnik General Polkovnik	Admiral General General der Flieger Obergruppenführer	CHU JO	OF-8
Rear Admiral Major General Air Vice Marshal	Rear Admiral Major General	Vice Admiral General Leytenant General Leytenant	Vizeadmiral Generalleutnant Generalleutnant Gruppenführer	SHO SHO	OF-7
Commodore Brigadier Air Commodore	Commodore (rank reintroduced 1943) Brigadier General	Kontr Admiral General Major General Major	Konteradmiral Generalmajor Generalmajor Brigadeführer	.	OF-6
Captain Colonel Group Captain	Captain Colonel	Kapitan 1-go ranga Polkovnik Polkovnik	Kapitän zur See / Kommodore Oberst Oberst Oberführer/Standartenführer 3	DAI SA TAI SA	OF-5
Commander Lieutenant Colonel Wing Commander	Commander Lieutenant Colonel	Kapitan 2-go ranga Podpolkovnik Podpolkovnik	Fregattenkapitän Oberstleutnant Oberstleutnant Obersturmbannführer	CHU SA	OF-4
Lieutenant Commander Major Squadron Leader	Lieutenant Commander Major	Kapitan 3-go ranga Major Major	Korvettenkapitän Major Major Sturmbannführer	SHO SA	OF-3
Lieutenant Captain Flight Lieutenant	Lieutenant Captain	Kapitan Leytenant Kapitan Kapitan	Kapitänleutnant Hauptmann/Rittmeister 4 Hauptmann Hauptsturmführer	DAI I TAI I	OF-2
Sub Lieutenant Lieutenant Flying Officer	Lieutenant Junior Grade First Lieutenant	Starshiyi Leytenant Starshiyi Leytenant Starshiyi Leytenant	Oberleutnant zur See Oberleutnant Oberleutnant Obersturmführer	CHU I	OF-1
		Leytenant Leytenant Leytenant
Commissioned Warrant Officer Second Lieutenant Pilot Officer	Ensign Second Lieutenant	Mladshij Leytenant Mladshij Leytenant Mladshij Leytenant	Leutnant zur See Leutnant Leutnant Untersturmführer	SHO I

Notes

1. Generals in the Waffen-SS would also hold the title equivalent to the army's, such as Generalmajor of the SS.
2. Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union (Admiral Flota Sovetskogo Soyuza) was not used until the early fifties. Until 1944 there was no higher rank in the Soviet Navy than Admiral.
3. Oberführer and Standartenführer were separate ranks, but both were equivalent to an Oberst. Oberführer was the senior rank.
4. Captains in the cavalry and mounted transport corps were called Rittmeister.

See also

• Comparative military ranks of World War I
• Ranks and insignia of the Schutzstaffel