World War One Military Ranks



Army Ranks

Russian German British / US
General feldmarshal
Генерал фельдмаршал
Generalfeldmarschall (G.F.M.) Field Marshal (F.M.)
Polnij general?
Полный генерал
Generaloberst (Genobst.) General (Gen.)
General ot pehoty
Генерал от пехоты
General der Infanterie (Gen.d.Inf.) (General of Infantry)
General-lejtenant
Генерал-лейтенант
Generalleutnant (Genltn.) Lieutenant-General (Lt.Gen.)
General-major
Генерал-майор
Generalmajor (Genmaj.) Major-General (Maj.Gen.)
Polkovnik
Полковник
Oberst (Obst.) Colonel (Col.)
Podpolkovnik
Подполковник
Oberstleutnant (Obstltn.) Lieutenant Colonel (Lt.Col.)
Kapitan
Капитан
Major (Maj.) Major (Maj.)
Shtabs-kapitan
Штабс-капитан
Hauptmann (Hptm.) Captain (Capt.)
Poruchik
Поручик
Oberleutnant (Obltn.) Lieutenant (Lt.) /
First Lieutenant
Podporuchik
Подпоручик
Leutnant (Ltn.) Second Lieutenant (2/Lt.)
Praporshchik
Прапорщик
Fähnrich (Fähnr.) (Ensign of Reserve)
Kadet
Кадет
Kadett (Kdt.) Cadet
Podpraporshchik
Подпрапорщик
Offizierstellvertreter (Offstv.) Warrant Officer (W.O.)
Feldfebel
Фельдфебель
Feldwebel (Fw.) Sergeant Major (Sgt.Maj.) /
Master Sergeant
Starshij unter-ofitser
Старший унтер-офицер
Vizefeldwebel (Vzfw.)
Sergeant (Sgt.)?
Sergeant (Sgt.)
Mladshij unter-ofitser
Младший унтер-офицер
Unteroffizier (Uffz.)
Obergefreiter (Obgefr.)?
Corporal (Cpl.)
Efrejtor
Ефрейтор
Gefreiter (Gefr.) Lance Corporal (L.Cpl.) /
Private 1st Class
Ryadovoj Рядовой
Voennij letchik
Военный летчик
Soldat
Flieger (Flgr.)
 
Private (Pvt.)
Aircraftman
 
  der Reserve (d.Res. d.R.) (of the reserve)
  der Landwehr (d.Lw. d.L.) (of the home reserve)
  ausser Dienst (a.D.) Retired (Ret.)

Special Cavalry Ranks

Russian German British
Rotmistr
  (Major)
Shtabs-rotmistr
Rittmeister (Rittm.) (Cavalry Captain)
Kornet
Корнет
  Cornet (2nd Lieutenant)
Estandart-yunker
  (Warrant Officer)
Vakhmistr
Wachtmeister (Wachtm.) (Sergeant Major)
 
Vize-Wachtmeister (Sergeant)



Navy Ranks

Russian German British / US
General admiral
Генерал адмирал
Großadmiral (Gadm.) Admiral of the Fleet (Adm.F.)
Admiral
Адмирал
Admiral (Adm.) Admiral (Adm.)
Vitse-admiral
Вице-адмирал
Vizeadmiral (Vadm.) Vice Admiral (V.Adm.)
Kontr-admiral
Контр-адмирал
Konteradmiral (Kadm.) Rear Admiral R.Adm.)
  Kapitän zur See (Kpt.z.S.)
Kommodore (Kmd.)
Commodore (Com.)
Kapitan 1 ranga
Капитан 1 р.
Fregattenkapitän (Frgkpt.) Captain (Capt.)
Kapitan 2 ranga
Капитан 2 р.
Korvettenkapitän (Kkpt.) Commander (Cdr.)
Starshij lejtenant
Старший лейтенант
Kapitänleutnant (Kptltn.) Lieutenant Commander (Lt.Cdr.)
Lejtenant
Лейтенант
Oberleutnant zur See (Obltn.z.S.) Lieutenant (Lt.)
Mitchman
Мичман
Leutnant zur See (Ltn.z.S.) Sub-Lieutenant (S.Lt.) /
Ensign (Ens.)
Praporshchik
Прапорщик
Fähnrich zur See (Fhr.z.S.) Midshipman (Mid.)
Konduktor
Кондуктор
Oberbootsmann
Oberflugmeister
Chief Petty Officer (C.P.O.) /
Chief Quartermaster, Chief Mate
  Bootsmann
Flugmeister (Flgm.)
 
  Vizeflugmeister d.R. (Vzflgm.)
(Vizefeldwebel)
 
Starshij unter-ofitser
Старший унтер-офицер
Obermaat (Obmt.)
Oberflugmaat Flugobermaat?
Petty Officer 1st Class (P.O.1) /
Quartermaster, Mate
Mladshij unter-ofitser
Младший унтер-офицер
Maat (Mt.)
Flugmaat
Petty Officer 2nd Class (P.O.2) /
Quartermaster 2nd Class
Matros 1-j stati
Матрос 1-й
Obermatrose (Obmatr.)
Flugzeugobermatrose
Able Seaman
Matros 2-j stati
Матрос 2-й
Matrose (Matr.)
Flugzeugmatrose
Seaman (Smn.)
Aircraftman
    Landsman (Lmn.)
  der Marine-Infanterie (d.Mar.Inf. d.M.I.) (of the naval infantry)
  der Marine-Artillerie (d.M.A.) (of the naval artillery)


    Sources:
  1. Handbook of the Russian Army 1914, Battery Press, 1996, page 251-252.
  2. Jane's Fighting Ships of World War I, Studio Editions, 1990, p. 28, 104, 128, 231
  3. The Imperial German Army pre-1914
  4. World War Two Military Ranks
  5. The Story Behind Names of Different Rank


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First posted on 2 April 2002 by
Last update on 11 June 2002