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Generalstabsarzt and Admiralstabsarzt are "two-star" ranks and the second highest ranks in the medical service of the German Bundeswehr. Equivalent ranks in the Heer are Generalmajor and in the Marine Konteradmiral.
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| Rank insignia | German medical service ranks | ||
| Introduction | |||
| Rank group | Commissioned officers | ||
| Navy | AdmStArzt (ASA) | ||
| Army / Air Force | GenStArzt (GSA) | ||
| NATO equivalent |
OF-7 | ||
| US Army/Air Force | Assistant Surgeon General | ||
| US Navy | Deputy Surgeon General | ||
Bundeswehr
Generalstabsarzt and Admiralstabsarzt are the second highest ranks of the Joint Medical Service of the Bundeswehr. Normally the deputy inspector of the medical service (Stellvertretender Inspekteur des Sanitätsdienstes) is assigned this rank, as is the commander of the Bundeswehr Medical Academy.
Address
Military surgeons with the rank Generalstabsarzt are addressed "Herr Generalarzt" if male, or "Frau Generalarzt" if female. Naval military surgeons with the rank Admiralstabsarzt are addressed "Herr Admiralarzt" or "Frau Admiralarzt", depending on the gender of the person addressed.
Rank insignias
Rank insignia are modified forms of the shoulder straps for major generals, two golden stars surrounded by golden oak leaves, with the addition of a rod of Asclepius. This career insignia (Laufbahnabzeichen), as symbol of medical status or course of studies, is placed above the stars. In the navy, the career insignia is placed three centimeters above the cuff stripes on both sleeves and on the shoulder straps between the stripes of the rank and the button.
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| Junior rank Generalarzt Admiralarzt |
 German medical officer rank Generalstabsarzt Admiralstabsarzt |
Senior rank Generaloberstabsarzt Admiraloberstabsarzt |
History
Wehrmacht 1933 – 1945
Generalstabsarzt of the Wehrmacht was comparable to the Generalleutnant, as well as to the Gruppenführer and Generalleutnant of the Waffen-SS.
In line with the Reich's salary order (Reichsbesoldungsordnung) and appendices to the salary law of the Reich (Besoldungsgesetz des Deutschen Reiches) of 1927 (with changes 1937–1940), the comparative ranks were as follows:
- Generalleutnant in the Heer and Luftwaffe
- Vizeadmiral in the Kriegsmarine
- Generalstabsarzt in the medical service of the Wehrmacht, from 1934 on
- Generalstabsveterinär in the veterinarian service of the Wehrmacht, from 1934 on
Comparative military ranks
| Wehrmacht ranks |  Ranks | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical service | English translation | Equivalent Heer | English equivalent | |
| Generaloberstabsarzt | Senior Staff-Surgeon General | General der Waffengattung | three star rank | OF-8 |
| Generalstabsarzt | Staff-Surgeon General | Generalleutnant | two star rank | OF-7 |
| Generalarzt | Surgeon General | Generalmajor | one star rank | OF-6 |
| Oberstarzt | Colonel (Dr.) | Oberst | Colonel | OF-5 |
| Oberfeldarzt | Lieutenant colonel (Dr.) | Oberstleutnant | Lieutenant colonel | OF-4 |
| Oberstabsarzt | Major (Dr.) | Major | OF-3 | |
| Stabsarzt | Captain (Dr.) | Hauptmann | Captain (army) | OF-2 |
| Oberarzt | First lieutenant (Dr.) | Oberleutnant | First lieutenant | OF-1a |
| Assistenzarzt | Second lieutenant (Dr.) | Leutnant | Second lieutenant | OF-1b |
| Unterarzt | Sergeant 1st Class (Dr.) | Fahnenjunker-Oberfeldwebel | Officer Aspirant | OR-7 |
| Feldunterarzt (since 1940) | ||||
Kriegsmarine
Rank designations of the Kriegsmarine as on 30 March 1934 are contained in the table below.
| Kriegsmarine ranks | Ranks | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical service | English translation | Equivalent Kriegsmarine | English equivalent | |
| Admiraloberstabsarzt | Surgeon general | Admiral (Germany) | three star rank | OF-8 |
| Admiralstabsarzt | Rear admiral (upper half) (Dr.) | Vizeadmiral | two star rank | OF-7 |
| Admiralarzt | Rear admiral (lower half) (Dr.) | Konteradmiral | one star rank | OF-6 |
| Flottenarzt | Captain naval (Dr.) | Kapitän zur See | Captain (naval) | OF-5 |
| Geschwaderarzt | Commander (Dr.) | Fregattenkapitän | Commander | OF-4 |
| Marineoberstabsarzt | Lieutenant commander (Dr.) | Korvettenkapitän | Lieutenant commander | OF-3 |
| Marinestabsarzt | Lieutenant naval (Dr.) | Kapitänleutnant | Lieutenant (naval) | OF-2 |
| Marineoberarzt | Lieutenant junior grade (Dr.) | Oberleutnant zur See | Lieutenant (junior grade) | OF-1a |
| Marineassistenzarzt | Ensign (Dr.) | Leutnant zur See | Ensign | OF-1b |
Germany before 1933
In Prussia and Bavaria surgeon general of the army (Generalstabsarzt der Armee) was an appointment and the official title of the head of the entire military medical service. Officers assigned to this staff position could rise in rank up to Generalleutnant (OF-7).
Until 1856 the Generalstabsarzt of the Prussian Army could be promoted to colonel (Oberst). From then on he could rise to Generalmajor, and from 1873 to Generalleutnant. At the same time the Generalstabsarzt was chief of the medical department of the Prussian Ministry of War and chief of the medical corps. He was also superior to a Generalarzt.
Equivalent authority, mandate and competence was with the Generalstabsarzt of the Imperial German Navy. He was chief of the medical division in the German Imperial Naval Office and chief of the navy's medical corps as well.
Austria-Hungary
In the Common Army there were two regular Generalstabsarzt staff positions established. One was chief of the medical division of the Reichskriegsministerium and chief of the military surgeon officer corps. The second was Praeses of the military medical committee. This rank was comparable to the Generalmajor of the Common Army.
In some cases a surgeon general of a corps (Generalkommando) could be promoted to the rank of Generalstabsarzt.
Officers with that rank
- Johann Traugott Dreyer von der Iller (1804-1871), Generalstabsarzt
- Felix von Kraus (1805-1875), Generalstabsarzt und Sanitätsreferent
| Ranks of the Common Army | Ranks | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical service | English translation | Equivalent Heer | English translation | |
| Generalstabsarzt | Staff-Surgeon General | Generalmajor | Major general | OF-6 |
| Oberstabsarzt I. Klasse | Colonel (Dr. 1st class) | Oberst | Colonel | OF-5 |
| Oberstabsarzt II. Klasse | Lieutenant colonel (Dr. 2nd class) | Oberstleutnant | Lieutenant colonel | OF-4 |
| Stabsarzt | Major (Dr.) | Major | OF-3 | |
| Regimentsarzt I. Klasse | Captain (Dr. 1st class) | Hauptmann | Captain | OF-2 |
| Regimentsarzt II. Klasse | Captain (Dr. 2nd class) | |||
| Oberarzt | First lieutenant (Dr.) | Oberleutnant | First lieutenant | OF-1a |
| Assistenzarzt | Second lieutenant (Dr.) | Leutnant | Second lieutenant | OF-1b |
Relevant literature
- Neumann, Alexander: Arzttum ist immer Kämpfertum - Die Heeressanitätsinspektion und das Amt "Chef des Wehrmachtsanitätswesens" im Zweiten Weltkrieg (1939-1945), 2005. ISBN 3-7700-1618-1
- Süß, Winfried: Der "Völkskörper" im Krieg: Gesundheitspolitik, Gesundheitsverhältnisse und Krankenmord im nationalsozialistischen Deutschland 1939-1945, 2003. ISBN 3-486-56719-5
References
- Afterwards specialist general officers wore branch-specific colours; the background being cornflower blue for medical and crimson for veterinary services.
- Besoldungsgesetz vom 16. Dezember 1927 (RGBl. I …, C Soldaten S. 391), changes 1937 to 1940
- F. Altrichter: “The reserve officer”, fourteenth checked addition, Berlin 1941, pages 158-159. (Original title: F. Altrichter: „Der Reserveoffizier“, vierzehnte durchgesehene Auflage, Berlin 1941, Seiten 158-159.)
- The abbreviation "OR" stands for "Other Ranks / fr: sous-officiers et militaires du rang / ru:другие ранги, кроме офицероф"