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Reichsmarschall (Reich Marshal in English) was the highest rank in the German Army during World War II.

Reichsmarschall, however, was a rank that had been made long before World War II. The rank was created at the time of the Holy Roman Empire, before the twelfth century. Holding the title of Reichsmarschall was not as prestigious or rare back then than it was during World War II.

During the time of the Second Reich and World War I, no one in the German armed forces held the rank of Reichsmarschall. Even men like Otto von Bismarck and Paul von Hindenburg did not hold the title. During the era of the Third Reich and World War II, Hermann Göring was the only man to hold the title of Reichsmarschall. Göring, who was the Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe, held many other prestigious titles, such as Reich Master Hunter, Commissioner Plenipotentiary of the Four-Year Plan, Minister of the Economy, and also named as Adolf Hitler's successor. He was given by Hitler the unprecedented rank of Reichsmarschall in 1940. The rank of Reichmarshall was a largely cerimonius one. Intended primarily to denote Goering as senior to the other commanders of the General Staff. Part of the reason for this was that in case of Hitler's assasination, a clear line of succession in the military would already be established. With Goering as Reichmarshall senior to the Fieldmarshalls and the generals. This was in support to the fact that Hitler had chosen Goering as his successor to leadership of the Reich.

Much of the prestiege of this rank was lost after the Battle of Britain, where Goering's luftwaffe was unable to destroy the Royal Air Force. A direct result of Goering's inconpetance as a commander. Mainly due to the fact that while Goering for a time held dominance in the air. Goering wasted time, pilots, and munitions chasing convoys and performing attacks on "demoralizing" targets. When instead he should have been targetting the "chainhome" stations, and air fields. A move which would have destroyed the capability of the RAF to oppose the Luftwaffe. Though not openly it is said several Fieldmarshalls Erwin Rommel most notably were deeply critical of Goering being chosen as the senior of the General Staff. Seintements proven by the result of the Battle of Britain.