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{{Short description|Military rank}}
{{refimprove|date=July 2021}}
{{Military ranks | state=expanded}}
'''Colonel general''' is a military rank used in some armies. The rank originates from the [[General officer#Old European system|Old European System]] and it is particularly associated with [[Germany]], where historically [[General officer#Old European system|general officer ranks]] were one grade lower than in the Commonwealth and the United States, and {{lang|de|[[Generaloberst]]}} was a rank above full {{lang|de|[[General (Germany)|General]]}}, but below {{lang|de|[[Generalfeldmarschall]]}}. The rank of colonel general also exists in the armed forces organized along the lines of the Soviet model, where it is comparable to that of a [[lieutenant general]].

==Austria-Hungary==
{{see also|List of Austro-Hungarian colonel generals}}
[[File:Kuk ColGen 1918.svg|thumb|upright|Insignia of an Austro-Hungarian Army colonel general]]
In the [[Austro-Hungarian Army]], the second-highest rank was colonel general ({{lang-de|Generaloberst}}, {{lang-hu|vezérezredes}}). The rank was introduced in 1915, following the German model. The rank was not used after [[World War I]] in the [[Austrian Federal Army|Austrian Army]] of the Republic.

===Hungary===
{{see also|Military ranks of Hungary}}
The rank of {{lang|hu|vezérezredes}} ({{literally|Chief regimental commander}}) is still used in [[Hungary]]. The rank replaced the ranks of {{lang|hu|gyalogsági tábornok}} (general of infantry), {{lang|hu|lovassági tábornok}} (general of cavalry), and {{lang|hu|táborszernagy}} (general of artillery) in the early 1940s.{{cn|date=February 2024}}

Since 1991, {{lang|hu|vezérezredes}} has been the highest rank in the [[Hungarian Defence Forces]], and is officially translated as [[General officer|General]].<ref name="Hungary">{{cite web |last1=Andrea |first1=Kánya |title=A gallér és az ötágú csillag |url=https://honvedelem.hu/hirek/honvedelmi-miniszter/a-galler-es-az-otagu-csillag.html |website=honvedelem.hu |publisher=Hungarian Defence Forces |access-date=26 May 2021 |language=hu |date=6 May 2009}}</ref>

<gallery class="center">
File:Hungary-Army-OF-9 (Kingdom).svg|Royal Hungarian Army colonel general rank insignia
File:Rank Army Hungary OF-09.svg|Hungarian colonel general rank insignia
</gallery>

== Czechoslovakia ==
The rank of colonel general ({{lang|cs|generálplukovník}}) was created in the Czechoslovak army in 1950; it was dropped after the 1993 dissolution of the state.

==France==
{{main|Colonel General (France)}}
In the [[French Army]], under the ''[[Ancien régime]]'', the officer in nominal command of all the regiments of a particular branch of service (i. e. infantry, cavalry, dragoons, Swiss troops, etc.) was known as the colonel general. This was not a rank, but an [[Great Officers of the Crown of France|office of the Crown]].

==Georgia==
The Republic of Georgia adopted Soviet designations after its independence in 1991 so that the rank of colonel-general ({{lang-ka|გენერალ-პოლკოვნიკი}}, {{lang|ka-Latn|general-polkovniki}}) exists, yet it is only used as highest possible rank in the Patrol Police and Border Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In the Defence Forces it is the highest possible rank for all general officers and the Chief of Defence Forces (who currently holds minimum rank of major general).

==Germany==
{{main|Generaloberst}}
{{see also|List of German colonel generals}}
The rank of {{lang|de|Generaloberst}} was introduced in the [[Prussian Army]] in 1854, originally as Colonel General with the rank of Field Marshal ({{lang|de|Generaloberst mit dem Rang als Generalfeldmarschall}}) as field marshal was a wartime promotion and excluded members of the royal family. It later was split into said two ranks and eventually was adopted by the other state forces of the [[German Empire]].

It was also used in the ''[[Reichswehr]]'' of the [[Weimar Republic]], and more prominently within the ''[[Wehrmacht]]''. The rank continued in the [[National People's Army]] of [[East Germany]] until [[German reunification]] in 1990. The ''[[Bundeswehr]]'', first in [[West Germany]] and since 1990 in unified Germany, does not use it and has ''[[General (Germany)|General]]'' as highest rank.
<gallery class="center">
WMacht H OF9 GenOberst 1945.svg|{{lang|de|Generaloberst}}<br />([[German Army (1935–1945)|German Army]])<ref name=Nazi_Germany>{{cite book |last1=Davis |first1=Brian Leigh |title=German Uniforms of the Third Reich 1933–1945 |date=1980 |publisher=Blandford Press |location=Poole, Dorset |isbn=0-7137-0881-6 |edition=1st |pages=219–220}}</ref>
KHeer OF9 GenOberst iRd GenFM 1919.svg|{{lang|de|Generaloberst mit dem Rang als Generalfeldmarschall}}<br />([[Imperial German Army]])<ref>{{cite book |last1=Stumpf |first1=Reinhard |title=Die Wehrmacht-Elite: Rang- und Herkunftsstruktur der deutschen Generale und Admirale 1933–1945 |date=2017 |publisher=[[De Gruyter]] |isbn=9783486817683 |page=139 |language=German}}</ref>
</gallery>

== Mongolia ==
In 1961, J.Lkhagvasuren was awarded the title of Colonel General of the People's Republic of Mongolia. There are 9 people in Mongolia who have been promoted to colonel general. Currently, one person is currently living. He is [[Sonomyn Luvsangombo]]. Since 2006, this rank has been removed from the ranks of the Mongolian Armed Forces.

==North Korea==
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The [[Comparative military ranks of Korea|North Korean rank]] of ''sangjang'' translates as "colonel general". ''Sangjang'' is senior to that of ''[[jungjang]]'' (usually translated as "lieutenant general") and junior to that of ''[[daejang]]'' (usually translated as "general").

This rank is typically held by the commanding officer of units along the [[Korean DMZ]] and the North Korean security zone at [[Panmunjom]]. It is also the rank held by the KPA [[Pyongyang Defense Command]]'s commanding general.

==Russia==
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The rank of colonel general ({{lang-ru|генерал-полковник|translit=general-[[polkovnik]]}}) was first established in the [[Red Army]] on 7 May 1940, as a replacement for the previously existing [[Komandarm 2nd rank]] ([[Comandarm|{{transl|ru|kommandarm vtorovo ranga}}]], "army commander of the second rank").<ref name=sov>{{cite book|title=Organization and Order of Battle of Militaries in World War II : Union of Soviet Socialist Republics|year=2009|publisher=Trafford On Demand Pub|page=905|isbn=978-1-4269-2251-0|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Vr4Xr1EeezQC&q=IVth%20mechanized%20corps&pg=PA905|author=Charles D. Pettibone}}</ref> During [[World War II]], about 199 officers were promoted to colonel general. Before 1943, Soviet colonel generals wore four stars on their collar patches ({{transl|ru|petlitsy}}). Since 1943, they have worn three stars on their shoulder straps, making the rank equivalent to a United States [[Lieutenant General (United States)|lieutenant general]].{{Sfn|Ziemke|1968|p=505}}

Unlike the German {{lang|de|Generaloberst}} (which it most probably [[calque]]d){{according to whom|date=October 2022}}, the Soviet and Russian colonel general rank is neither an exceptional nor a rare one, as it is a normal step in the "ladder" between a two-star [[lieutenant general]] and a four-star [[General of the Army (Russia)|army general]].{{cn|date=October 2022}}

Other than that, the Soviet and Russian rank systems sometimes cause confusion in regard to equivalence of ranks, because the normal Western title for [[brigadier]] or [[brigadier general]] ceased to exist for the Russian Army in 1798. The [[kombrig]] rank that corresponded to one-star general only existed in the Soviet Union during 1935–1940. Positions typically reserved for these ranks, such as [[brigade]] commanders, have always been occupied by [[colonel]]s ({{lang|ru|[[polkovnik]]}}) or, very rarely, [[major general]]s (see [[History of Russian military ranks]]).

The rank has usually been given to district, front and army commanders, and also to deputy ministers of defense, deputy heads of the general staff and so on.{{cn|date=October 2022}}

In some post-Soviet [[Commonwealth of Independent States]] armies (for example in [[Belarus]]), there are no generals of the army or [[marshal]]s, and so colonel general is the highest rank, usually held by the minister of defense.

The corresponding naval rank is [[admiral]], which is also [[three star rank|denoted by three stars]].

==Sweden==
Colonel general (''generalöverste'') has also been a senior military rank in Sweden, used principally before the 19th century.

==Ukraine==
{{see also|Military ranks of Ukraine}}
In Ukraine, colonel general ({{lang-ua|Генерал-полковник|translit=general-[[polkovnik]]}}) is now an obsolete military rank of general officers of the [[Ukrainian Ground Forces|Ground Forces]], [[Ukrainian Air Force|Air Force]], [[Ukrainian Navy|Navy]] (only Marine Corps, Naval Aviation and Shore Establishment). It was first introduced in 1920 as part of a rank system in [[Ukrainian People's Army]] replacing such terms as '''[[Sotnyk]] general''' and '''[[Bunchuk]] general'''.

From October 1, 2020, the rank of colonel general in Ukraine was no longer assigned and the highest rank of general was introduced. Until 2020, it was a higher rank than a [[lieutenant general]], but a lower rank than [[general of the Army of Ukraine]].

Although the rank of colonel general has not been awarded since 2020, it remains with its current bearers until they receive the military rank of general. Despite the fact that the military rank of colonel-general was withdrawn from circulation, after the next version of the order, the insignia of this rank were indicated. A colonel general has shoulder straps with four four-rayed stars above the maces. To distinguish the holders of the rank of colonel general from the holders of the newly introduced rank of general (have the same number of stars on the shoulder straps), it was decided to apply different schemes of star placement. The stars on the shoulder straps of the generals are located along the axis of the shoulder strap, and the stars of the colonel generals are arranged in a diamond.

Equivalent to the ranks of colonel general and general in the navy is the rank of [[admiral]]. Until 2020, the ranks of colonel general and admiral were [[three star rank|denoted by three stars]]. Since 2020, the ranks of general, colonel general and admiral have become [[four-star rank]]s (with existing colonel generals slotted below generals of the Armed Forces).

Insignia of the rank of colonel general, Ukraine:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| [[File:UA OF9-ColGen 1991-GF.png|131x131px]]
| [[File:UA OF9-ColGen 2009.jpg|131x131px]]
| [[File:General-polkovnik ukraine-army 17.png|131x131px]]
| [[File:UA shoulder mark 21.svg|131x131px]]
| [[File:UAAF shoulder mark 21.svg|131x131px]]
| [[File:UAN shoulder mark 21.svg|131x131px]]
| [[File:UA shoulder mark 20.svg|131x131px]]
| [[File:UAAF shoulder mark 20.svg|131x131px]]
| [[File:UAN shoulder mark 20.svg|131x131px]]
| [[File:UASOF shoulder mark 20.svg|131x131px]]
| [[File:UAc shoulder mark 20.svg|131x131px]]
| [[File:Погон генерал-полковника ЗСУ (2020).svg|131x131px]]
|-
! colspan="3"| until 2016
! colspan="3"| project 2016
!colspan="5"| 2016–2020
!colspan="1"| from 2020
|}

==United Kingdom==
The title of colonel general was used before and during the [[English Civil War]] in both [[Cavalier|Royalist]] and [[Parliament of England|Parliamentarian]] armies. In these cases, it often appears to have meant a senior [[colonel]] as opposed to a senior general.

==Colonel generals' insignia==
<gallery class="center">
File:Armenia-Army-OF-8.svg|{{lang|hy|գեներալ-գնդապետ}}<br />{{lang|hy-Latn|General-gndapet}}<br />([[Armenian Ground Forces]])<ref name="Armenia">{{cite web |title=ԶԻՆՎՈՐԱԿԱՆ ԾԱՌԱՅՈՒԹՅԱՆ ԵՎ ԶԻՆԾԱՌԱՅՈՂԻ ԿԱՐԳԱՎԻՃԱԿԻ ՄԱՍԻՆ |url=https://www.arlis.am/documentview.aspx?docid=117633 |website=arlis.am |publisher=Legal information system of Armenia |access-date=3 June 2021 |language=hy |date=15 November 2017}}</ref>
File:General-polkovnik AzSQ.svg|{{lang|az|General-polkovnik}}<br />([[Azerbaijani Land Forces]])<ref name="Azerbaijan">{{cite web |title=Azərbaycan Respublikası Silahlı Qüvvələri hərbi qulluqçularının hərbi geyim forması və fərqləndirmə nişanları haqqında Əsasnamə |url=https://mod.gov.az//images/pdf/854d34d118da32783a511172925270d7.pdf |website=mod.gov.az |publisher=Ministry of Defense |access-date=16 February 2021 |language=az |pages=64–70 |date=25 June 2001}}</ref>
File:Post-Soviet-Army-OF-8.svg|{{lang|be|Ґенэрал-палкоўнік}}<br />{{lang|be-Latn|G̀jeneral-palkoŭnik}}<br />([[Belarusian Ground Forces]])<ref name="Belarus">{{cite web |title=Указ Президента Республики Беларусь от 21.07.2009 N 388 "О военной форме одежды, знаках различия по воинским званиям и внесении дополнений в Указ Президента Республики Беларусь от 9 июня 2006 г. N 383" |url=http://pravo.levonevsky.org/bazaby11/republic09/text814.htm |website=pravo.levonevsky.org/ |publisher=Government of Belarus |access-date=30 May 2021 |language=ru}}</ref>
File:Bosnia and Herzegovina Colonel-general Insignia.svg|{{lang|bs|General pukovnik}}<br />([[Bosnian Ground Forces]])<ref name="Bosnia&Herzegovina">{{cite web |title=OBILJEŽJA I ČINOVI OS BIH |url=http://os.mod.gov.ba/vojna-oprema-naoruzanje-i-simboli-os-bih/oznake-cinova-i-uniforme-u-os-bih/Obilje%c5%beja_i_cinovi_OS_BiH/default.aspx?id=1737&langTag=bs-BA&template_id=181&pageIndex=1 |website=os.mod.gov.ba |publisher=Oružane snage Bosne i Hercegovine |access-date=30 September 2019 |language=bs |archive-date=6 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506154218/http://os.mod.gov.ba/vojna-oprema-naoruzanje-i-simboli-os-bih/oznake-cinova-i-uniforme-u-os-bih/Obilje%C5%BEja_i_cinovi_OS_BiH/default.aspx?id=1737&langTag=bs-BA&template_id=181&pageIndex=1 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
File:Army-HRV-OF-08.svg|{{lang|hr|General pukovnik}}<br />([[Croatian Army]])<ref name="Croatia">{{cite web |title=Oznake činova |url=http://www.osrh.hr/#rubData/HTML/HR/RAZNO/OZNAKE/20190401_Galerija_oznaka/Galerija_oznaka_HR.htm |website=osrh.hr |publisher=Republic of Croatia Armed Forces |access-date=26 May 2021 |language=hr |date=1 April 2019}}</ref>
File:19-RKGF-CG.svg|{{lang|kk|Генерал-Полҝвниҝ}}<br />{{lang|kk-Latn|General-polkovnïk}}<br />([[Kazakh Ground Forces]])<ref name="Kazakhstan">{{cite web |title=Қазақстан Республикасының Қарулы Күштері, басқа да әскерлері мен әскери құралымдары әскери қызметшілерінің әскери киім нысаны және айырым белгілері туралы |url=https://adilet.zan.kz/kaz/docs/U1100000144 |website=adilet.zan.kz |publisher=Ministry of Justice (Kazakhstan) |access-date=29 May 2021 |language=kk |date=25 August 2011}}</ref>
File:19-Montenegro Army-GEN.svg|{{lang|sr-Latn|General pukovnik}}<br />([[Montenegrin Ground Army]])<ref name="Montenegro">{{cite journal |title=IV. Izgled Činova u Vojsci |journal=Official Gazette of Montenegro |date=16 August 2010 |volume=50/10 |pages=22–28 |url=https://wapi.gov.me/download-preview/f21585eb-2399-4cf3-ab40-7f0e245093be?version=1.0 |access-date=17 September 2021 |language=cnr}}</ref>
File:Russia-Army-OF-8-2010.svg|{{lang|ru|Генера́л-полко́вник}}<br />{{lang|ru-Latn|Generál-polkóvnik}}<br />([[Russian Ground Forces]])<ref name="Russia_Army">{{cite web |title=Указ Президента Российской Федерации от 11 марта 2010 года № 293 "О военной форме одежды, знаках различия военнослужащих и ведомственных знаках отличия" |url=https://rg.ru/2010/03/12/forma-dok.html |website=rg.ru |publisher=Российской газеты |access-date=26 May 2021 |language=ru |date=12 March 2010}}</ref>
File:Tajikistan-Army-OF-8.png|{{lang|tg|Генерал-полковник}}<br />{{lang|tg-Latn|General-polkovnik}}<br />([[Tajik National Army]])<ref name="Tajikistan">{{cite web |title=ҚОНУНИ ҶУМҲУРИИ ТОҶИКИСТОН ДАР БОРАИ ЎҲДАДОРИИ УМУМИИ ҲАРБӢ ВА ХИЗМАТИ ҲАРБӢ |url=https://majmilli.tj/%D2%9B%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%83%D0%BD%D0%B8-%D2%B7%D1%83%D0%BC%D2%B3%D1%83%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B8-%D1%82%D0%BE%D2%B7%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BD-%D0%B4%D0%B0%D1%80-%D0%B1%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B8-35/ |website=majmilli.tj |publisher=The National Assembly of the Republic of Tajikistan |access-date=2 June 2021 |language=tg |date=13 April 2017}}</ref>
File:Post-Soviet-Army-OF-8.svg|{{lang|tk|General-polkownik}}<br />([[Turkmen Ground Forces]])<ref name="Turkmenistan">{{cite web |title=TÜRKMENISTANYŇ KANUNY Harby borçlulyk we harby gulluk hakynda (Türkmenistanyň Mejlisiniň Maglumatlary 2010 ý., № 3, 58-nji madda) (Türkmenistanyň 01.10.2011 ý. № 234-IV Kanuny esasynda girizilen üýtgetmeler we goşmaçalar bilen) |trans-title=LAW OF TURKMENISTAN On military service and military service (Information of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, 2010, No. 3, Article 58) (as amended by the Law of Turkmenistan of October 1, 2011 No. 234-IV)  |url=https://milligosun.gov.tm/storage/file/04-harby-borclulyk-we-harby-gulluk-hakynda-ky9J0pKxTQ.pdf |website=milligosun.gov.tm |publisher=Ministry of Defense (Turkmenistan) |access-date=2 June 2021 |pages=28–29 |language=tk}}</ref>
File:Uzbekistan-army-OF-8.svg|{{lang|uz|General-polkovnik}}<br />([[Uzbek Ground Forces]])<ref name="Uzbekistan">{{cite web |title=O'zbekiston Respublikasi fuqarolarining harbiy xizmatni o'tash tartibi to'g'risida |url=https://lex.uz/docs/-4513434 |website=lex.uz |publisher=Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan |access-date=3 June 2021 |language=uz |date=12 September 2019}}</ref>
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Lieutenant colonel general]]
*[[List of colonel generals]]

==References==

=== Citations ===
{{reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===

* {{Cite book |last=Ziemke |first=Earl F. |url=https://history.army.mil/html/books/030/30-5-1/index.html |title=Stalingrad to Berlin: The German Defeat in the East |publisher=United States Army Center of Military History |year=1968 |location=Washington, D.C. |oclc=1013364845 |orig-year=1968}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20091029024631/http://geocities.com/~orion47/WEHRMACHT/HEER/Genobst-RH_List.html Biographies of German army ''generalobersten'']
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20091028181132/http://geocities.com/~orion47/WEHRMACHT/LUFTWAFFE/Genobst-LW_List.html Biographies of ''Luftwaffe'' ''generalobersten'']
* [http://www.austro-hungarian-army.co.uk/genobst.htm Biographies of Austro-Hungarian ''generalobersten'' of WWI] ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126215633/http://www.austro-hungarian-army.co.uk/genobst.htm |date=2020-01-26 }})

[[Category:Colonel generals]]
[[Category:Military ranks]]