Comparative military ranks of World War I

The following table shows comparative officer ranks of the principal Allied and Central powers during World War I. For modern ranks refer to Comparative military ranks. See also: Comparative military ranks of World War II
Major participants not shown:
Belgium (entered war on the side of the Allies after the German invasion in 1914)
Bulgaria (entered war on side of the Central Powers 1914)
Italy (entered war on side of the Allies 1915)
Portugal (entered war on side of the Allies 1916)
Serbia (entered war on side of the Allies)

KEY:

Navy

Army

Air Force

Approximate modern NATO equivalent
	United States	British Empire1	France	Russian Empire2	German Empire	Austro-Hungarian Empire3	Ottoman Empire4
OF-10	Admiral of the Navy General of the Armies	Admiral of the Fleet Field Marshal	Amiral de France5 Maréchal de France5	Генера́л-адмира́л (General Admiral) Генера́л-фельдма́ршал (General Field Marshal)	Großadmiral Generalfeldmarschall	Großadmiral / Vezértengernagy Feldmarschall /Tábornagy	Müşir
OF-9	Admiral General	Admiral General	Amiral Général d’Armée	Адмира́л (Admiral) Генерал от инфанте́рии / кавале́рии / артилле́рии (General of the Infantry / Cavalry / Artillery)	Generaladmiral Generaloberst	Admiral / Tengernagy Generaloberst / Vezérezredes	Birinci Ferik
OF-8	Vice Admiral Lieutenant General	Vice-Admiral Lieutenant-General Lieutenant-General	Vice-Amiral d’Escadre Général de Corps d’Armée	Ви́це-адмира́л (Vice Admiral) Генера́л-лейтена́нт (Lieutenant General)	Admiral General der Infanterie, General der Kavallerie, General der Artillerie	Vizeadmiral / Altengernagy General der Infanterie / Gyalogsági tábornok, General der Kavallerie / lovassági tábornok, Feldzeugmeister (artillery) / táborszernagy	Ferik
OF-7	Rear Admiral Major General	Rear-Admiral Major-General Major-General	Vice-Amiral Général de Division	Ко́нтр-адмира́л (Counter Admiral) Генера́л-майо́р (Major General)	Vizeadmiral Generalleutnant	Kontreadmiral / Ellentengernagy Feldmarschalleutnant / Altábornagy	Mirliva
OF-6	Commodore Brigadier General	Commodore 1st Class	Contre-Amiral Général de Brigade	-	Konteradmiral Generalmajor	Generalmajor / Vezérőrnagy
		Commodore 2nd Class Brigadier-General Brigadier-General
OF-5	Captain Colonel	Captain Colonel Colonel	Capitaine de Vaisseau Colonel	Капита́н 1-го ра́нга (Captain 1st rank) Полко́вник (Polkovnik)	Kapitän zur See Oberst	Linienschiffskapitän / Sorhajókapitány Oberst / Ezredes	Miralay
OF-4	Commander Lieutenant-Colonel	Commander Lieutenant-Colonel Lieutenant-Colonel	Capitaine de Frégate Lieutenant-Colonel	Капита́н 2-го ра́нга (Captain 2nd rank) Подполко́вник (Podpolkovnik)	Fregattenkapitän Oberstleutnant	Fregattenkapitän / Fregattkapitány Oberstleutnant / Alezredes	Yarbay
OF-3	Lieutenant-Commander Major	Lieutenant-Commander Major Major	Capitaine de Corvette Commandant	Ста́рший лейтена́нт (Senior Lieutenant) Капита́н/ро́тмистр (Captain/Rittmeister)6	Korvettenkapitän Major	Korvettenkapitän / Korvettkapitány Major / Őrnagy	Binbaşı
OF-2	Lieutenant Captain	Lieutenant Captain Captain	Lieutenant de Vaisseau Capitaine	Лейтена́нт (Lieutenant) Шта́бс-капита́н/Шта́бс-ро́тмистр (Stabs-Captain/Stabs-Rittmeister)6	Kapitänleutnant Hauptmann / Rittmeister 7	Linienschiffsleutnant / Sorhajóhadnagy Hauptmann / Százados, Rittmeister / Kapitány7	Yüzbaşı
OF-1	Lieutenant Junior Grade First Lieutenant	Sub-Lieutenant Lieutenant Lieutenant	Enseigne de Vaisseau de 1re classe Lieutenant	Ми́чман (Midshipman) Пору́чик/пору́чик (Poruchik/Poruchik) 6	Oberleutnant zur See Oberleutnant	Fregattenleutnant / Fregatthadnagy Oberleutnant / Főhadnagy	Mülazım-ı evvel
	Ensign Second Lieutenant	Second Officer / Mate Second Lieutenant Second Lieutenant	Enseigne de Vaisseau de 2e Classe Sous-Lieutenant	Подпору́чик/корне́т (Sub-Poruchik/Coronet)6	Leutnant zur See Leutnant	Korvettenleutnant / Korvetthadnagy Leutnant / Hadnagy	Mülazım
	Midshipman	Commissioned Warrant Officer/ Midshipman/ Boatswain	Aspirant Aspirant	Пра́порщик (Praporshchik) (army reserve)

Notes

1. From 1 April 1918 until a little after the close of World War I, the Royal Air Force used the same ranks as the British Army. The highest RAF rank held during this period was lieutenant-general.
2. For transliterations, refer to History of Russian military ranks.
3. Austro-Hungarian ranks are shown in both German and Hungarian, as would have been contemporary practice.
4. Military personnel in the Ottoman Empire were assigned different duties according to their capabilities in order to administer the Armed Forces and particularly to be successful in battle. They were given various ranks so that they could conduct relations with each other and be fully aware of their duties. The issue of what sort of duties should be allocated to which unit or to which military institution used to be determined by the ranking within the Armed Forces. In Islamic countries, certain 'degrees', instead of ranks, were given in accordance with the categorization of government duties. In the course of time, these 'degrees' had taken on certain characteristics. In the Ottoman Empire, besides the ranks that were awarded after passing through certain stages of promotion, there was also the rank of "Pasha" that was given directly by the Ottoman Sultan. This rank, which continued until the establishment of the Republic of Turkey, was also given to civilian administrators who were approved of and found suitable. After the establishment of the Republic, the Sultanate was abolished, and the title became synonymous with the General rank, restricted to the Armed Forces only. Paymaster of a regiment - Captain of the Right Wing (Alay Emini - Sağ Kolağası): The rank of the Captain of the Right Wing was very high. The rank of the Adjutant and Paymaster of a regiment was also high but such individuals were not from the military class and they dealt with clerical duties and equipment needed by the regiment. Captain of the Wing - The Captain of the Left Wing- (Kolağası - Sol Kolağası): Captain of the Wing or the Captain of the Left Wing was the senior Captain. If he was educated in the regiment, he was called "Ağa" but if he was the son of a pasha, he was called "Bey".
5. Maréchal de France and Amiral de France were as much a dignity of state as a military title. Thus British Field Marshals consulted with French Generals in 1914. The elevation of Joffre to Maréchal in 1916 actually marked a diminution of his powers of command. There was no Amiral de France alive during WWI.
6. Army/cavalry ranks. Cossack cavalry had distinct ranks below Podpolkovnik: войсково́й старшина́ (Voiskovoy Starshina), есау́л (Yesaul), подъесау́л (Sub-Yesaul), со́тник (Sotnik), хору́нжий (Khorunzhiy)
7. Captains in the cavalry and mounted transport corps in Germanic-derived rank systems were called Rittmeister.

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