General of the branch

General der Waffengattung (en: General of the branch also General of the branch of service) was a three-start general, comparable to modern armed forces OF-8 grade. It was equivalent to the Admiral three-star flag officer rank in the Nazi Kriegsmarine, and SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS.

Germany

General of the branch (dress and service uniform)
	Heer	Luftwaffe	Waffen-SS
NATO	OF-8

In the German Wehrmacht this rank was linked to the service branch Heer, or air force Luftwaffe, in which the officer served, and (nominally) commanded: in addition to the long established

Heer

• General der Artillerie (en: General of the Artillery)
• General der Gebirgstruppe (General of the mountain troops)
• General der Infanterie (General of the infantry)
• General der Kavallerie (General of the cavalry)
• General der Nachrichtentruppe (General of the communications troops)
• General der Panzertruppe (armoured troops)
• General der Pioniere (General of the engineers)
• Generaloberstabsarzt (General of the medical corps)
• Generaloberstabveterinär (General of the veterinary corps)

Luftwaffe

• General der Fallschirmtruppe (General of the parachute troops)
• General der Flakartillerie (General of the anti-aircraft artillery)
• General der Flieger (General of aviators)
• General der Luftnachrichtentruppe (General of the air force communications troops)
• General der Luftwaffe (General of the air force)

The rank of the Commander-in-chief (de: Kommdierender General, or Befehlshaber) of a German Army corps was usually General of the branch (OF-8).

junior rank Generalleutnant

(Ranks Wehrmacht) General der Waffengattung

senior rank Generaloberst

See also

• Comparative military ranks of World War I
• Comparative military ranks of World War II

Austria

In the Austro-Hungarian Army there have been three General der Waffengattung ranks from 1867 to 1918.

• General der Infanterie (en: General of the Infantry)
• General der Kavallerie (General of the Cavalry)
• Feldzeugmeister (General of the Artillery)

General of the branch (dress and service uniform)			File:K.u.k. Feldzeugmeister 1918.png
NATO	OF-8

See also

⇒ Army ranks and insignia of the Austro-Hungarian Army - Generals

Poland

In the Polish armed Forces this tradition was preserved, and today there is the OF8 rank Weapon general (pl: Generał broni).

Weapon general Army / Air Force (Field uniform)
NATO	OF-8

Russian Empire

RIA, General of the branch

This OF8 rank was also established in the Russian Empire. The particular ranks General of the Cavalry, General of the Infantry and Generalfeldzeugmeister have been introduced already in the Army of Peter the Great in the year 1699.

See also

• Comparative officer ranks of World War II