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Comparative military ranks
Armies,
air forces
(non-Commonwealth)		 Navies,
coast guards		 Air forces
(Commonwealth system)
General officers, Flag officers, Air officers
Marshal or
field marshal		 Admiral of the fleet Marshal of the air force
General or
colonel general or
army general		 Admiral Air chief marshal
Lieutenant general or
army corps general		 Vice admiral Air marshal
Major general or
divisional general		 Rear admiral or
counter admiral		 Air vice-marshal
Brigadier or
brigadier general		 Commodore or
flotilla admiral		 Air commodore
Senior officers
Colonel (Ship-of-the-line)
Captain		 Group captain
Lieutenant colonel Commander or
frigate captain		 Wing commander
Major or
commandant		 Lieutenant
commander or corvette captain		 Squadron leader
Junior officers
Captain Lieutenant Flight lieutenant
First lieutenant or
lieutenant		 Lieutenant
junior grade or
sub-lieutenant		 Flying officer
Second lieutenant or
junior lieutenant		 Ensign or
midshipman		 Pilot officer
Senior NCOs
Warrant officer or
sergeant major		 Warrant officer or
chief petty officer		 Warrant officer
Junior NCOs
Sergeant Petty officer Sergeant
Corporal or
bombardier		 Leading seaman Corporal
Enlisted ranks
Lance corporal or
Lance bombardier or
specialist		 Able seaman Leading aircraftman or
Air specialist
Private or
gunner or
trooper or
Sepoy or
sapper		 Seaman Aircraftman or
airman or
aviator

Colonel general is a military rank used in some armies. It is particularly associated with Germany, where historically general officer ranks were one grade lower than in the Commonwealth and the United States, and Generaloberst was a rank above full General, but below Generalfeldmarschall. The rank of colonel general is also used in the armed forces organized along the lines of the Soviet model, where it is comparable to that of a lieutenant general.

Austria-Hungary

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See also: List of Austro-Hungarian colonel generals

In the Austro-Hungarian Army, the second-highest rank was colonel general (German: Generaloberst, Hungarian: vezérezredes). The rank was introduced in 1915, following the German model. The rank was not used after World War I in the Austrian Army of the Republic.

  • Insignia of an Austro-Hungarian Army colonel general
    Insignia of an Austro-Hungarian Army colonel general

Hungary

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See also: Military ranks of Hungary

The rank of vezérezredes (lit. 'Chief regimental commander') is still used in Hungary. The rank replaced the ranks of gyalogsági tábornok (general of infantry), lovassági tábornok (general of cavalry), and táborszernagy (general of artillery) in the early 1940s.[citation needed]

Since 1991, vezérezredes has been the highest rank in the Hungarian Defence Forces, and is officially translated as General.[1]

  • Royal Hungarian Army colonel general rank insignia
    Royal Hungarian Army colonel general rank insignia
  • Hungarian Defence Forces colonel general rank insignia
    Hungarian Defence Forces colonel general rank insignia

Czechoslovakia

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The rank of colonel general (generálplukovník) was created in the Czechoslovak army in 1950, and dropped after the 1993 dissolution of the state.

France

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Main article: 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 office of the Crown.

Georgia

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The Republic of Georgia adopted Soviet designations after its independence in 1991. The rank of colonel-general (Georgian: გენერალ-პოლკოვნიკი, general-polkovniki) is the highest rank in the Patrol Police and Border Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In the Defence Forces it is the highest general officer rank. The Chief of Defence Forces is typically a major general.

Germany

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Main article: Generaloberst
See also: List of German colonel generals

The rank of Generaloberst was introduced in the Prussian Army in 1854, originally as Colonel General with the rank of Field Marshal (Generaloberst in 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 as highest rank.

Mongolia

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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, Sonomyn Luvsangombo, is living. Since 2006, this rank has been removed from the ranks of the Mongolian Armed Forces.

North Korea

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Rank insignia colonel general of North Korea
Army
Air Force

The North Korean rank of sangjang translates as "colonel general". A sangjang is senior to a jungjang (usually translated as "lieutenant general") and junior to a 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 the rank held by the KPA Pyongyang Defense Command's commanding general.

Russia

[edit]
Rank insignias colonel general of Russia
Army
Air Force

The rank of colonel general (Russian: генерал-полковник, romanized: general-polkovnik) was first established in the Red Army on 7 May 1940, as a replacement for the previously existing Komandarm 2nd rank (kommandarm vtorovo ranga, "army commander of the second rank").[4] During World War II, about 199 officers were promoted to colonel general. Before 1943, Soviet colonel generals wore four stars on their collar patches (petlitsy). Since 1943, they have worn three stars on their shoulder straps—in most armed forces three stars usually identify the second- or third-highest general or flag officer, as for a United States lieutenant general.[5] Unlike the German Generaloberst (which it most probably calqued)[according to whom?], the Soviet and Russian colonel general rank is not exceptional or rare, but a normal step in the progression from two-star lieutenant general to four-star army general.[citation needed]

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 from 1935– to 1940. Positions typically reserved for these ranks, such as brigade commanders, have always been occupied by colonels (polkovnik) or, very rarely, major generals (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.[citation needed]

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

The corresponding naval rank is admiral, which is also denoted by three stars.

Sweden

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

Ukraine

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See also: Military ranks of Ukraine

In Ukraine, colonel general (Ukrainian: генерал-полковник, romanized: heneral-polkovnyk) is now an obsolete military rank of general officers of the Ground Forces, Air Force, and 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 denoted by three stars. Since 2020, the ranks of general, colonel general and admiral have become four-star ranks (with existing colonel generals slotted below generals of the Armed Forces).

Insignia of the rank of colonel general, Ukraine:

until 2016 project 2016 2016–2020 from 2020

United Kingdom

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The title of colonel general was used before and during the English Civil War in both Royalist and Parliamentarian armies. In these cases, it often appears to have meant a senior colonel as opposed to a senior general.

Colonel generals' insignia

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See also

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References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Colonel general

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
A colonel general is a senior rank employed in the armed forces of various countries, especially those influenced by German, Austro-Hungarian, Soviet, or post-Soviet military structures, such as , , , and several Eastern European nations. The rank, often translated from terms like the German Generaloberst (introduced in in 1854 as a supreme command position) or the Russian генерал-полковник (established in the Soviet in 1940 as part of a restructured hierarchy), typically sits between and in the chain of command, commanding large formations like armies or military districts. Its rank code equivalent varies: OF-9 (full general) in historical German usage and OF-8 () in modern Russian and contexts, reflecting differences in national hierarchies and operational roles. Historically, the rank emerged in mid-19th-century to denote an exalted general commanding multiple corps or armies, evolving through the , , and the Nazi era, where Generaloberst holders like or led major theaters of operation as de facto four-star equivalents in Allied comparisons. In the and its successors, the general-polkovnik was formalized during reforms to standardize command levels, awarding it to key figures overseeing fronts or fronts-equivalent groups, with notable holders including (promoted in 1943) who later advanced higher; today, it remains active in for district commanders and in for senior leadership, though figures like were promoted to the higher rank of general in 2024. The rank's insignia often features four stars or equivalent shoulder boards, emphasizing its elite status, though it has been abolished or renamed in Western NATO-aligned militaries to align with standardized codes like those in STANAG 2116.

Overview

Definition and Rank Position

A colonel general is a senior rank employed in the armed forces of several nations, particularly those influenced by Central European and Soviet military traditions, serving as an intermediate position between and higher commands such as or . This rank typically equates to a three- or four-star general in Western hierarchies, with its code most commonly designated as OF-9, though some systems classify it as OF-8. Its rank code equivalent varies by country: OF-9 in historical German usage (four-star equivalent) and OF-8 in modern Russian and Ukrainian contexts (three-star equivalent). For instance, in Soviet and post-Soviet structures, it functions as a three-star equivalent, positioned above but below (OF-9), typically designated as OF-8 in codes. In military hierarchies where it appears, the colonel general rank is superior to , commanding authority over multiple or equivalent large-scale operations, yet inferior to or its equivalents, which oversee entire theaters or national defenses. This placement reflects its role as a high-level command position, often assigned to lead army groups, military , or operational theaters during wartime, or to serve in senior staff roles such as chief of a general staff branch. The title "colonel general" distinguishes itself from similar historical designations like "general of the colonels," which in earlier contexts referred to a supreme commander overseeing multiple colonels rather than a fixed hierarchical rank, whereas the modern usage denotes a specific grade within structured progressions. Originating in 19th-century Prussian reforms, it evolved into a standardized senior rank across adopting militaries.

Historical Origins

The term "colonel general" derives from the French " général," a denoting a with authority over multiple colonels (regiments), originating in the as the shifted toward organized regimental systems under monarchs like Francis I. This etymology reflects an early hierarchical structure where the holder acted as a "general of colonels," emphasizing administrative oversight rather than direct battlefield command. The parallel German term "," translating to "supreme general" or "colonel of the generals," emerged later, adapting the concept to denote the pinnacle of ranks below . In 17th-century , the position of colonel général functioned primarily as a prestigious administrative office rather than a tactical rank, granting the appointee broad over an entire of the army, such as or . The colonel général de l'infanterie, for instance, commanded all French units, received the first company of every , and exercised judicial powers over matters within that , often held by influential nobles to consolidate royal control. Notable holders included Bernard de Nogaret de La Valette, duc d'Épernon, who served from 1643 to 1661 and used the office to patronize officers and regiments, exemplifying its role in patronage networks during the . This system influenced European by blending noble privilege with centralized administration. The modern of took shape in the with its formal introduction in the in 1854 under King Frederick William IV. Created as a wartime distinction above the generals of the branch (e.g., general of ) but below , it was initially bestowed on Prince William of (later William I) to recognize his seniority without disrupting tradition; the first promotions included William (future William I) and Prince Charles of . This innovation addressed the need for intermediate high command during conflicts like the era, establishing a model for distinguishing exceptional leaders. The rank's featured three stars, and it remained rare until expanded in later decades. The Prussian model facilitated the spread of the colonel general rank through 19th-century European military reforms, particularly in , where armies modernized to align with industrialized warfare and national unification efforts. In , a precursor form known as generalöverste had been employed as a senior title since the standing army's development in the , though it fell into obsolescence by the early . formalized its adoption in May 1915 amid pressures, promoting Archduke Eugen and General as the first holders to bolster high command; this placed it immediately below feldmarschall, influencing allied structures. These developments underscored the rank's evolution from administrative title to a key operational echelon, equivalent in authority to a Western but positioned higher in non-NATO hierarchies.

Usage in Central European Countries

Germany

The rank of Generaloberst, or colonel general, was introduced in the on March 20, 1854, initially as a special honorific title equivalent to that of a for members of the royal family, with the first recipient being Prince Wilhelm of Prussia (later Emperor William I). It was elevated to a permanent rank in the 1870s following the after the , allowing for broader appointment to senior officers beyond the royalty. In the during (1914–1918), the rank was widely used to denote senior commanders responsible for leading multiple or entire armies, with notable appointments including , who was promoted to on August 27, 1914, and subsequently commanded the Eighth Army and later army groups on the Eastern Front. The rank played a key role in structuring large-scale operations, as Generalobersts often headed army groups comprising two or more armies, coordinating strategic maneuvers across fronts such as the Western and Eastern theaters. During the , the rank persisted in the limited under the constraints of the , which capped the army at 100,000 men and restricted senior officer numbers. Under the Nazi regime, the expanded the rank's usage significantly from 1935 onward, promoting numerous officers to to lead rearmed formations; a variant was also established, positioned immediately below in the hierarchy. , for example, received the promotion to on March 7, 1942, while commanding during critical Eastern Front operations. was similarly elevated to on July 19, 1940, after his successes in the Western Campaign, underscoring the rank's association with innovative leadership. Following Germany's defeat in 1945, the rank was discontinued in the newly formed , which adopted a standardized NATO-aligned structure limited to the rank of General as the highest army officer grade, reflecting Allied demilitarization efforts and a break from traditions.

Austria-Hungary

The rank of colonel general, designated as Generaloberst in German and Vezérezredes in Hungarian, was introduced to the in May 1915 during , directly modeled on the contemporary German rank to align command hierarchies with the ' alliance. Positioned immediately below , it provided a senior tier for experienced generals amid the demands of , with the first promotions going to and Chief of the General Staff Franz Conrad von Hötzendorf on 26 February 1916. This innovation addressed the empire's need for elevated leadership in coordinating vast, multi-front operations, particularly as the army expanded from 400,000 peacetime troops to over 2 million mobilized forces by 1916. The rank found application across the empire's dual military structures: the joint (k.u.k. Armee), which formed the bulk of frontline forces, and the Royal Hungarian Honvéd, responsible for territorial defense in . By , 31 officers had attained the rank, including figures from diverse ethnic backgrounds such as Hungarian Samuel Freiherr von Hazai, who served as Royal Hungarian Minister of Defence, and German-Austrian Karl Tersztyánszky von Nádas, commander of the Isonzo Army. A prominent example was , promoted to Generaloberst on 9 February 1918 after succeeding Conrad as in March 1917; Arz oversaw critical planning for the Spring Offensive against and managed the army's final Eastern Front engagements against and . In the multi-ethnic composition of the Austro-Hungarian forces—drawing from , , , Poles, Croats, and others—colonel generals played pivotal roles in bridging linguistic and cultural divides within command structures on the Eastern Front. Officers like Stephan von Sarkotić von Lovčen, a Croat noble, commanded the 15th in Galicia, integrating units from multiple nationalities to counter Russian advances during the of 1916, where ethnic cohesion proved challenging amid high casualties exceeding 1 million Austro-Hungarian troops. Such leaders relied on German operational support and bilingual staff systems to maintain unity, highlighting the rank's function in sustaining imperial cohesion under strain. The collapse of the in late 1918, marked by Allied victories, internal revolts, and Emperor Charles I's on 11 November, led to the immediate dissolution of its armed forces and the obsolescence of the colonel general rank. Successor states, including Austria, Hungary, , and , rapidly formed independent armies with restructured hierarchies, discontinuing imperial ranks like in favor of national systems limited by the Treaty of Saint-Germain and .

Hungary

In the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the rank of colonel general, known as vezérezredes in Hungarian, was introduced in 1915 as the second-highest general officer rank, positioned below field marshal (tábornagy) and modeled after the German Generaloberst. It was conferred on select Hungarian officers serving in the joint imperial army during World War I, emphasizing command over large formations in the multi-ethnic forces. Following the in 1918 and the establishment of the in 1920, the vezérezredes rank was initially retained for a few veterans but was not actively awarded during the due to limitations on the Hungarian . It was reintroduced in 1941 amid mobilization to align Hungarian command authority with Axis partners, particularly , where it equated to a senior lieutenant general role above standard branch-specific generals. Over the course of the war, only five officers attained the rank: , who commanded the Hungarian Second Army on the Eastern Front; Dezső László, involved in occupation duties; István Schweitzer, a key staff officer; Lajos Veress, leader of the First Army; and , who served as the last in 1944–1945. These appointments underscored the rank's role in high-level operational leadership during Hungary's alliance with the . During the communist era under the (1949–1989), traditional Hungarian ranks like vezérezredes were suppressed in favor of Soviet-influenced structures, where the equivalent senior general positions used designations such as (army general), limiting national nomenclature to align with standards. The rank was reintroduced in 1991 following the end of communist rule, as part of broader military reforms to restore pre-1949 traditions and establish it as the highest active rank (NATO OF-9 equivalent) in the reorganized . Today, vezérezredes remains the pinnacle of the Hungarian officer hierarchy in the , typically held by the Chief of the Defence Staff to oversee strategic operations and national defense planning. For instance, Gábor Böröndi was promoted to vezérezredes in 2020 and continues to serve in this capacity, coordinating Hungary's contributions to missions and joint exercises. In its modern NATO-aligned context since Hungary's 1999 accession, the rank facilitates with allied commands, emphasizing collective defense roles within the alliance's integrated military framework.

Czechoslovakia

The rank of generálplukovník (colonel general) was introduced in 1950 within the as part of a broader influenced by the Soviet model. This four-star rank positioned its holders immediately below the and was reserved for senior leadership roles. From 1950 to 1993, the rank saw limited use, with approximately 10 officers promoted to it, primarily serving in high command positions during the Cold War. Notable holders included Chiefs of the General Staff such as Václav Kratochvíl (1952–1958), Karel Rušov (1968–1979), Miloslav Blahník (1979–1987), and Miroslav Vacek (1987–1989). These officers oversaw key aspects of military organization, training, and operations. Holders of the rank played pivotal roles in integrating the into structures, contributing to joint exercises, command alignments, and collective defense planning against . They also managed internal security functions, including border defense and responses to domestic unrest, such as during the 1968 events. Following the Velvet Divorce and the in 1993, the rank of generálplukovník was discontinued and not incorporated into the rank structures of the newly independent Czech or .

Usage in Soviet and

Soviet Union

The rank of Colonel general, known in Russian as general-polkovnik, was established in the Red Army on May 7, 1940, through a decree by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet that introduced a structured hierarchy of ranks to replace the previous functional titles used since 1935. This reform created ranks including , , colonel general, general of the army, and , with the new system drawing partial inspiration from the German but positioning colonel general as equivalent to a three-star rank in terms, above and below general of the army. On June 4, 1940, the first appointments were made, conferring the rank on 982 generals across branches. During , the rank became central to Soviet command structures, with approximately 200 promotions to colonel general by 1945, enabling experienced officers to lead large-scale operations amid the demands of the Eastern Front. These holders were instrumental in pivotal offensives, such as the defense of and the push toward ; for instance, received the promotion on September 10, 1941, for his leadership of the 19th Army in the Battle of , where Soviet forces halted a major German advance. , another key figure, underwent multiple promotions starting in 1940, rising directly to general of the army that year after his successes in the , which underscored the rapid elevation of top commanders during the pre-war and early war periods. In the post-World War II era, the rank expanded across the , including the , where colonel generals commanded military districts and fronts; the , where the equivalent rank oversaw fleets and coastal defenses; and the , where colonel generals directed strategic aviation and air defense units during the . Within the framework established in 1955, Soviet colonel generals played critical roles as senior staff officers and resident representatives of the unified command in Eastern European capitals, ensuring coordination of joint exercises and operational planning under Soviet dominance. The rank persisted through the until the in December 1991, after which it was directly adopted into the as part of the continuity of the post-Soviet military structure, with serving officers retaining their grades during the transition.

Russia

Upon the in 1991, the n Federation inherited the Soviet military rank structure, including the rank of general-polkovnik, commonly translated as , which was retained without alteration to its designation or position as the second-highest rank below . This rank corresponds to code OF-8 and is equivalent to a three-star in Western militaries. The and uniforms underwent minor modifications to align with post-Soviet national symbols, but the hierarchical role remained consistent with its Soviet predecessor. In the modern , the colonel general rank is actively used and typically held by commanders of , experienced army commanders, and senior positions within the General Staff and joint commands. Following 2024 military reforms that reorganized districts—including splitting the into the Leningrad and Military Districts and deactivating the Northern Military District—colonel generals continue to lead these updated formations. For instance, as of 2025, notable holders include Colonel General Valery Solodchuk as commander of the and Colonel General in joint command roles. These officers also play key roles in joint commands, such as coordinating inter-service operations, and in the General Staff, where figures like Colonel General Sergey Rudskoy served as chief of the Main Operational Directorate until 2023, contributing to strategic oversight of conflicts. Approximately 15-20 active colonel generals serve in such capacities as of late 2024, reflecting the rank's prominence in high-level command structures amid ongoing military engagements. Promotions to colonel general have continued throughout the , often tied to operational performance in major conflicts, including the war in . , for example, was promoted to colonel general in December 2013 after commanding the 20th Guards Army, later rising to lead joint operations in and , where he served as overall of Russian forces from October 2022 until his replacement in January 2023. Other promotions during the Ukraine conflict include Colonel General Mikhail Teplinskiy, elevated in 2023 to command the ' southern grouping, highlighting the rank's association with frontline leadership in joint theater commands. These advancements underscore the rank's enduring importance in 's operational doctrine, with recipients frequently assigned to integrate ground, air, and efforts. As of 2025, the colonel general rank has seen no major structural changes in Russia, maintaining its position in the rank hierarchy despite personnel shifts and district reforms, such as the appointment of Colonel General Aleksandr Sanchik as deputy defense minister in November 2025. This continuity contrasts with Ukraine's 2020 military reforms, which abolished the equivalent rank of colonel general in favor of NATO-aligned structures, renaming it simply "general" to streamline the hierarchy.

Ukraine

Upon gaining independence in 1991, Ukraine adopted the Soviet military rank structure, including the rank of colonel general (heneral-polkovnyk), which was officially established for its armed forces under the Law on Military Duty and Military Service of March 25, 1992. This rank, positioned between lieutenant general and general of the Army of Ukraine, served as a senior general officer grade equivalent to a three-star rank in Western systems, and it played a central role in the post-Soviet reorganization of the Ukrainian military, where former Soviet officers transitioned to lead the newly formed Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). From 1992 to 2020, approximately 15 officers were promoted to heneral-polkovnyk during Ukraine's independence era, often filling critical command positions amid ongoing military reforms and security challenges. Notable examples include Volodymyr Zamana, who held the rank as from 2012 to 2014, overseeing initial responses to the , and Viktor Muzhenko, who commanded key operations in the early stages of the 2014 conflict before his 2015 promotion to general of the Army. These officers were instrumental in post-Soviet transitions, such as integrating Soviet-era units into a national force structure, professionalizing training, and addressing equipment shortages inherited from the dissolution of the USSR. In the context of the 2014–2022 conflicts, heneral-polkovnyks led operational commands during the hybrid warfare in eastern Ukraine, including the defense of key fronts in Donbas and the repulsion of Russian incursions, contributing to the AFU's evolution from a post-Soviet relic to a more agile force capable of asymmetric tactics against superior numbers. Their leadership helped stabilize front lines under the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) framework, later transitioned to the Joint Forces Operation (JFO), while navigating political pressures and resource constraints. The rank's usage ended with the 2020 military reform enacted by Law No. 680-IX on June 4, 2020, effective October 1, 2020, which abolished Soviet-derived grades to align Ukraine's ranks with standards for enhanced . Under the reform, heneral-polkovnyk was redesignated and effectively replaced by in the hierarchy, with the top rank becoming simply "general" (OF-9, four-star equivalent); existing holders retained their titles for life or until retirement, but no new promotions occurred. As of 2025, the heneral-polkovnyk rank remains obsolete in active service within the AFU, reflecting Ukraine's broader shift toward Western military doctrines amid ongoing defense against Russian aggression, where unified general ranks now emphasize joint operations and NATO integration over legacy Soviet distinctions.

Georgia

Following Georgia's independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, the newly formed Georgian Armed Forces initially retained the Soviet rank structure, reintroducing the rank of kolonel-general (Georgian: გენერალ-პოლკოვნიკი) as a senior general officer position above lieutenant general but below army general. This rank was adapted directly from the Soviet model to maintain continuity in the transitional military, serving in command roles within the defense forces and border guard units under the Ministry of Internal Affairs. By 2007, amid broader military reforms aligned with NATO standards, the rank was phased out in the Armed Forces in favor of a streamlined structure featuring as the entry-level general rank, followed by , , and (the latter reserved for wartime). The reforms reduced the overall number of high-ranking positions to fit Georgia's smaller force size of approximately active personnel, emphasizing efficiency over Soviet-era hierarchy. In contrast, the rank persisted in the internal security apparatus, particularly the Border Police and Patrol Police, where it remains the highest attainable, equivalent to a full general and typically held by departmental chiefs or the Minister of Internal Affairs. The limited use of kolonel-general in these security branches—estimated at 2-3 active holders as of —reflects its role as a prestigious, often honorary distinction for top leadership rather than widespread operational command. For instance, in January , President awarded the special rank of Police Colonel-General to Vakhtang Gomelauri, then-Minister of Internal Affairs, recognizing his oversight of amid geopolitical tensions. This Soviet-influenced rank has been tailored to Georgia's compact framework, focusing on integrity and order without the expansive divisions typical of larger militaries. Post-2008 , the rank underscored the dual emphasis on national defense and internal security, with kolonel-generals in the Border Police directing enhanced patrols along contested frontiers and countering hybrid threats from occupied regions like . These efforts bolstered Georgia's resilience against external aggression while maintaining domestic stability through reformed patrol units. As of November 2025, no significant alterations to the rank's status have occurred, distinguishing Georgia's retention in from Ukraine's comprehensive abolition during its NATO-aligned reforms in the mid-2010s.

Usage in Other European Countries

France

In pre-revolutionary France, the title of colonel général denoted a court-appointed rather than a conventional , primarily during the 17th and 18th centuries. Appointed by the king, the holder oversaw an entire branch of the army, such as the (colonel général de l'infanterie) or , exercising command and over all relevant . This included the authority to nominate captains for the premier compagnie—the first company—in each regiment, ensuring royal influence permeated the officer corps. The position was not integrated into the standard military hierarchy but functioned as a prestigious administrative and symbolic command role directly subordinate to the , emblematic of absolutist control over the armed forces. Under , the office exemplified efforts to centralize military authority; following the death of Bernard de Nogaret de La Valette, Duke of Épernon—the last substantive holder—on July 25, 1661, the king abolished its executive powers the next day to prevent any noble from amassing undue influence. Thereafter, reserved honorary colonel général titles for favored courtiers and princes of the blood, stripping them of operational duties while retaining ceremonial prestige. Notable appointees under included high-ranking nobles like Michel Le Tellier, who supported the king's direct oversight of the infantry after 1661, though the titles were largely sinecures by then. In the , the honorary role persisted, with Louis Joseph de Bourbon, Prince de Condé (1736–1818), serving as colonel général de l'infanterie française et étrangère, underscoring its status as a marker of royal favor among the . The colonel général was abolished amid the 's military reforms; the National Assembly's decrees of 1791 restructured the , eliminating venal and noble offices to establish a merit-based system aligned with revolutionary ideals. No equivalent title exists in the modern military structure. The French model influenced the creation of analogous high-prestige offices in other European monarchies, adapting the concept of a royal superintendent over military branches.

United Kingdom

In the 17th-century , the title "colonel-general" was employed on an basis by both Parliamentarian and forces to designate a responsible for commanding multiple regiments, often of , horse, or dragoons. This usage emerged amid the unstructured of the conflict (1642–1651), where formal ranks were not yet standardized, and the title served primarily as a functional descriptor rather than an official hierarchical position within a permanent . Notable appointments included , who in 1645 was designated Parliament's colonel-general of foot upon the formation of the , overseeing its infantry components as part of his broader role as captain-general. On the side, Henry Hastings held the title of colonel-general for forces in the from early 1643, coordinating regional troops under higher command. Similarly, Sydenham Poyntz served as colonel-general of Parliament's northern in 1645, leading cavalry operations in support of Fairfax's campaigns. The title differed from contemporaneous roles like the Commonwealth-era , which denoted a temporary commander without implying regimental oversight, or the sergeant-major general (later major-general), a more tactical field command focused on divisions rather than multi-regiment aggregation. Following the Restoration of the in , the underwent reorganization with the adoption of more rigid rank structures influenced by continental models, rendering the colonel-general obsolete and unused thereafter. It has no place in the modern 's hierarchy of ranks.

Sweden

In Sweden, the rank of colonel general, known as generalöverste, served as a senior command position within the armed forces during the 17th and 18th centuries, often functioning as a colonel of the general staff (överste av generalitetet) responsible for high-level operational oversight in the Generalitet, the body of top military officers. This role emerged amid the establishment of a under , emphasizing centralized command in expeditionary forces. During Sweden's Great Power Era, holders of this rank directed major campaigns in the (1618–1648) and the (1655–1661 and 1700–1721), integrating regimental colonels into broader staff functions for artillery coordination, logistics, and tactical maneuvers against larger coalitions. , appointed generalöverste circa 1614, exemplified this by leading Finnish-Swedish contingents to victories in and Novgorod, securing Baltic dominance. Similarly, Lennart Torstenson assumed an equivalent staff command role in the 1640s, innovating mobile artillery tactics that contributed to triumphs at Breitenfeld (1631, in advisory capacity) and Jankau (1645), though formal elevation followed. These applications highlighted the rank's utility in hybrid staff-field leadership during prolonged continental engagements. The rank was gradually phased out in the early through comprehensive military reforms prompted by defeats in the (1808–1809) and the ensuing constitutional changes of 1809, which restructured the officer corps to align with emerging national defense priorities and reduced . By the mid-, it had become fully obsolete, supplanted by standardized grades amid the transition to a conscript-based system focused on rather than offensive projections. No equivalent has been revived in the modern , which adhere to NATO-compatible ranks without such historical designations.

Usage in Asian Countries

Mongolia

The rank of colonel general, transliterated as general-kolonnik in , was adopted by the in the 1940s amid close military alignment with the , which provided extensive support and modeled Mongolia's armed forces structure after the . This adoption reflected Mongolia's strategic position as a Soviet , where the rank served as the pinnacle of the to facilitate coordinated defense efforts. From the through 2006, the rank was held by a limited number of senior officers, including during the post-communist transition period following the Soviet withdrawal in the early 1990s. These colonel generals played key roles in border defense operations, particularly along Mongolia's extensive frontiers with the and , bolstering Cold War-era alignments by hosting Soviet troops and ensuring territorial security against potential incursions. The rank underscored Mongolia's reliance on Soviet for maintaining neutrality and stability in a geopolitically tense region. In 2006, as part of broader military reforms aimed at modernizing and professionalizing the armed forces, the rank of colonel general was discontinued, with the new four-star rank of established as the highest level. These changes aligned Mongolia's structure more closely with international standards while reducing Soviet-era legacies. One notable former holder still living as of 2025 is Sonomyn Luvsangombo, who served from 1944 to 1989 and rose to the rank during his tenure as a high-ranking and later minister.

North Korea

In , the rank of Colonel General, designated as sangjang (상장) in Korean, was introduced in the mid-20th century as part of the Korean People's Army's (KPA) adoption of a Soviet-style military hierarchy during the post-liberation period under Soviet occupation influence. This rank emerged in the late 1940s and early 1950s as the KPA formalized its structure, drawing directly from Soviet models to establish a professional officer corps aligned with communist military traditions. The sangjang rank has remained active since the 1950s and, as of 2025, is held by approximately 10 senior officers within the KPA, typically serving in critical command positions such as corps commanders along the (DMZ) and the Pyongyang Defense Command. These officers, often equivalent to a three-star general in Western military grading systems ( code OF-8), oversee operational theaters vital to national defense and regime security. Under the (military-first) policy formalized in the late 1990s, Colonel Generals occupy pivotal roles in high commands, directing strategic forces and integrating military priorities into state decision-making to reinforce the KPA's dominance over civilian sectors. Promotions to sangjang are inextricably linked to demonstrated political loyalty to the and Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, with selections prioritizing ideological reliability over purely operational merit. As of 2025, no structural alterations to the rank's designation, equivalence, or application have been reported, maintaining its established position in the KPA hierarchy.

Insignia and Uniform Distinctions

General Design Principles

The insignia for the rank of typically features multiple , ranging from three to four, arranged on boards to denote and . These are often positioned in a horizontal line or a formation, with the latter configuration frequently used to signify higher levels within the general officer grades. boards are adorned with or silver piping along the edges, enhancing visibility and formality, while a general's —usually composed of laurel or leaves—encircles or frames the , symbolizing and . Historically, the design of colonel general evolved from the elaborate epaulettes of the , which were rigid, fringed ornaments made of gold bullion and often incorporating national symbols such as eagles in certain variants. By the early , these transitioned to flexible straps and boards for practicality, with embroidered patches becoming standard in the mid-20th century to allow for and ease of attachment. This shift reflected broader reforms prioritizing functionality during conflicts, moving away from heavy, decorative elements to streamlined designs that maintained hierarchical distinction. Materials for these insignia vary by context, with peacetime versions utilizing bright gold thread or bullion for ceremonial emphasis, often on a colored underlay to match branch or national colors. In combat environments, subdued variants employ matte finishes, olive drab threading, or embroidered cloth to reduce visibility and align with camouflage principles, ensuring the rank remains identifiable to allies without compromising operational security. National symbols, such as eagles, may influence wreath or border motifs in some designs, adapting the core elements to cultural or historical traditions.

Variations by Country and Era

In , the insignia for the rank of , or , during the Imperial era featured three stars on gold shoulder boards, symbolizing high command status within the traditional hierarchy. During the period from the 1930s to 1945, the design shifted to four pips on shoulder boards for certain holders of the rank, particularly those with the designation "mit dem Rang eines Generaleldmarschalls," to distinguish them from standard three-pip generals. In the , the rank of Colonel General was marked by three gold stars on shoulder boards with red underlay from the to 1991, with the stars embroidered to denote seniority among general officers. Following the Soviet dissolution, Russian Federation insignia for the equivalent rank of General-polkovnik retained three gold stars on gold shoulder boards with red piping for ground forces, reflecting continuity in uniform standards as of 2025. In , prior to 2022, the rank used four stars arranged in a diamond formation on blue shoulder boards (as of the ); post-2022 reforms abolished the title, with the equivalent "General" rank using four stars in a line on blue boards. Other examples include Hungary, where post-1991 insignia for the rank incorporated gold stars on shoulder boards, adapting to NATO-influenced structures after the communist era. In North Korea, since the 1950s, the rank of Sangjang (Colonel General) has been represented by red stars incorporating hammer and sickle motifs on shoulder boards, underscoring ideological symbolism in the Korean People's Army. For Mongolia, Soviet-influenced designs used three gold stars on red-piped boards until post-1990s reforms aligned with NATO styles, featuring gold stars on green underlay. In France, the equivalent rank (Général de corps d'armée) uses three stars vertically on gold boards since the 19th century, without wreaths. The United Kingdom's Lieutenant General (OF-8 equivalent) employs crossed sword and baton on gorget patches, with shoulder boards featuring three pips in a triangular arrangement as of 2025. Sweden's Generallöjtnant uses three gold stars horizontally on blue boards, per NATO standards. Austria-Hungary's pre-1918 design featured four stars in a lozenge on gold epaulettes; Czechoslovakia (1918-1939) adapted three stars on red boards. Georgia, post-Soviet, uses three gold stars on blue-piped boards similar to Russian designs as of 2025. Over time, insignia designs evolved from plain shoulder boards in eras to more embroidered and detailed versions during , enhancing visibility and prestige. Post-Cold War developments introduced influences, such as subdued colors for field uniforms, prioritizing practicality over ornate display while maintaining core star-based distinctions.

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