Six-star rank
Six-star rank is a term based on the proposed, but never adopted, insignia for the U.S. rank of General of the Armies. Like General of the Armies, a number of other armed forces have used or proposed ranks senior to five star rank. Such ranks include Generalissimo and others mentioned in the article. However, unlike General of the Armies, these ranks have never been associated with a six star insignia. Historically, military officers holding these ranks lead an entire army or the entire armed forces of a country or group of countries. These ranks have also been used by heads of state.
Germany
Reichsmarschall
In 1940, Hermann Göring was promoted by Adolf Hitler to Reichsmarschall, the highest rank in the armed forces of Nazi Germany during World War II after the position of Supreme Commander, (which was held by Hitler himself). Göring was the only person to hold this rank in modern times.
The rank of Reichsmarschall was originally created before the 12th century, during the time of the Holy Roman Empire. Historically, holding the rank of Reichsmarschall was neither unique nor as prestigious as it was during World War II. During the time of the German Empire and World War I, no one in the German armed forces held this rank.
Italy
First Marshal of the Empire
The rank of First Marshal of the Empire was granted in 1938 to Benito Mussolini and King Victor Emmanuel III, who remain the only holders as the rank was abolished after World War II.
Japan
Dai-Gensui
The rank of Dai-Gensui or Grand Marshall was held by the commander of the Imperial Japanese Army from 1852 to 1945, and abolished in 1947. It was held by three people: Emperor Meiji, Emperor Taishō, and finally Emperor Shōwa.
North Korea
Wonsu
The rank of Wonsu is used in both North Korea and South Korea.
In South Korea it is considered a five star rank, and uses an insignia based on the five star insignia of General of the Army (United States).
North Korea also maintains a rank of Chasu, senior to the four star rank of Daejang but junior to Wonsu. Its insignia is a large single star, based on the insignia of Marshal of the Soviet Union which is itself based on the Marshal's Star. North Koreans awarded the rank of Wonsu have included Kim Jong-il (1992), O Jin U (1992), Choe Kwang (1995) and Li Ul-sol (1995).
Dae Wonsu
North Korea also has a rank of Dae Wonsu, superior to Wonsu. Its insignia is based on the North Korean Wonsu insignia but with an added crest. The rank was created in 1992 when it was awarded to Kim Il-sung, who remains the only holder.
Soviet Union
Generalissimus of the Soviet Union
The rank of Generalissimus of the Soviet Union was created on June 27, 1945 and granted to Joseph Stalin, who never actually wore the insignia. He was the only person ever to hold the rank.
United States
The United States Military has never explicitly endorsed a six star rank. Two ranks, Admiral of the Navy and General of the Armies, have been held and are senior to the five star ranks, but have never used a six star insignia - in both cases the insignia have included four stars.
Admiral of the Navy
George Dewey was promoted to Admiral of the Navy on March 24, 1903, retroactive to March 2, 1899. In 1944 the Navy Department declared the newly created 5 star rank of Fleet Admiral to be junior to George Dewey's rank.
During the preparations for the invasion of Japan, a proposal was raised by the Navy Department to appoint Chester Nimitz to the rank of Admiral of the Navy, or grant him some equivalent rank.[1] The proposal, however, was dropped after the Japanese surrender, and the United States Navy has never officially appointed anyone to the rank of six star admiral. Even so, Admiral of the Navy is considered by some to be senior to the U.S. rank of Fleet Admiral and the equivalent of the U.S. Army's rank of General of the Armies.
General of the Armies
John Pershing was promoted to General of the Armies in 1919, from what was then the highest rank, the four-star rank of General. Under the regulations of the time he was permitted to choose his insignia, and he chose four gold stars, instead of the traditional silver stars used by U.S. Generals and Admirals.
General Pershing was still alive in 1944 when the five-star rank of General of the Army was created. It was explicitly stated that he remained senior to the new five-star appointments.
In 1945, in preparation for the invasion of Japan, it was proposed that General Douglas MacArthur be promoted to General of the Armies, and that this would explicitly be a six star rank. However, this and subsequent proposals were never completed. The Institute of Heraldry produced a single sketch of how the insignia for a six star rank would appear, which was later filed into Douglas MacArthur's service record.[citation needed][2]
In 1976, as part of the American Bicentennial celebrations, George Washington was posthumously promoted to General of the Armies of the United States, senior to all other officers.[3]
References
- ^ United States Naval Service Record of Chester Nimitz, Military Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Missouri
- ^ Service Record of Douglas MacArthur -- 1945 Promotion Proposal Package -- National Personnel Records Center.[not specific enough to verify]
- ^ wikisource:Public Law 94-479
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2010) |
hhhhhaaa