Generalmajor
Generalmajor is the Germanic variant of major general, used in a number of Central and Northern European countries.
Germany
| Major general Generalmajor | |
|---|---|
  Army and Air Force insignia | |
| Country |  Germany |
| Service branch |  German Army German Air Force |
| Abbreviation | GenMaj |
| Rank | Two-star |
| NATO rank code | OF-7 |
| Non-NATO rank | O-8 |
| Formation | 1956 |
| Next higher rank | Generalleutnant |
| Next lower rank | Brigadegeneral |
| Equivalent ranks | Konteradmiral |
It is the third-highest general officer rank in the German Army (Heer) and German Air Force (Luftwaffe). This rank is also used in the Austrian Armed Forces, but is abbreviated as GenMjr.
Historically, German Army ranks for its generals prior to 1945 were offset by one from those of most other major European armies. Thus, prior to 1945, the Generalmajor rank in the German Army was equivalent to the brigadier general rank in other armies, and so forth.
Generalmajor in modern Germany
The rank is rated OF-7 in NATO, and is grade B7 in the pay rules of the Federal Ministry of Defence. It is equivalent to Konteradmiral in the German Navy (Marine) or to Generalstabsarzt, and Admiralstabsarzt in the Zentraler Sanitätsdienst der Bundeswehr.
On the shoulder straps (Heer, Luftwaffe) there are two golden pips (stars) in golden oak leaves.
| Heer | Luftwaffe | ... to service uniform |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
.png.webp){kind=small}
- Bundeswehr sequence of ranks ascending
| junior rank: Brigadegeneral |
(German officer rank) |
senior rank: Generalleutnant |
Generalmajor in East Germany
Generalmajor was in the so-called "armed organs of the GDR" (German: Bewaffnete Organe der DDR), represented by Ministry of National Defence, and Ministry for State Security, the lowest general officer rank, comparable to the one-star rank in many NATO-Armed forces (Rangcode OF-6). This was in reference to Soviet military doctrine and in line with other armed forces of the Warsaw Pact.
The equivalent rank of the Volksmarine (GDR Navy) was the Konteradmiral, often called simply Herr Admiral for short.
| Junior rank Oberst |
.svg.png.webp){kind=small} National People's Army rank Generalmajor (Konteradmiral) |
Senior rank Generalleutnant |
| Rank insignias Generalmajor / Konteradmiral (OF-6) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Stasi |
.svg.png.webp){kind=small} Land forces |
.svg.png.webp){kind=small} Air Force |
 GDR Border troops |
.svg.png.webp){kind=small} Volksmarine | |||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 | |||||
| Generalmajor | Konteradmiral | ||||||||
Generalmajor of the Wehrmacht
Generalmajor was in the German Reich and Nazi Germany the lowest general officer rank, comparable to the one-star rank in many NATO-Armed forces (Rangcode OF-6). It was equivalent to Konteradmiral in the Kriegsmarine, and SS-Brigadeführer in the Waffen-SS until 1945.
- Rank insignia Generalmajor / Konteradmiral
| Branch | German Army | Luftwaffe | Waffen-SS | Kriegsmarine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collar |  |
 |
 |
None |
| Shoulder |  |
 |
 |
 |
| Sleeve |  |
 |
|
 |
| Rank designation |
Generalmajor |
SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS |
Konteradmiral | |
- Sequence of ranks ascending
| Junior rank: Oberst |
(German officer rank) |
Senior rank: Generalleutnant |
Sweden
See also
- Comparative officer ranks of World War I
- Comparative officer ranks of World War II
- Ranks of the National People's Army