Editing Generalmajor

{{Short description|General officer rank in many militaries}}
{{Italic title}}
{{refimprove|date=January 2023}}

'''{{lang|de|Generalmajor}}''' is the [[Germanic languages|Germanic]] variant of [[major general]], used in a number of [[Central Europe|Central]] and [[Northern Europe]]an countries.

==Austria==
{{empty section|date=November 2021}}

==Belgium==
{{empty section|date=November 2021}}

==Denmark==
{{see also|Ranks and insignia of Royal Danish Army|Ranks and insignia of Royal Danish Air Force}}
{{Infobox military rank
| name           = Major general
| native_name    = {{lang|da|Generalmajor}}
| image          = Major general rank flag (Denmark).svg
| image_size     = 100px
| alt            =
| caption        = Rank flag<ref name="FKOBST" />
| image2         = {{nobreak|[[File:Denmark-Army-OF-7-M69-shirt.svg|50px]] [[File:RDAF Maj Gen.svg|50px]]}}
| image_size2    = 
| alt2           =
| caption2       = Army and Air force insignia
| image3         = Denmark-Vehicle Star Plate OF-7.svg
| image_size3    = 100px
| alt3           =
| caption3       = Vehicle Star Plate<ref name="FKOBST">{{cite web |title=FKOBST L.202 - 4: Ceremoniel i Forsvaret |url=https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/nf8jyz5ucvv9vi3aigjt8/h?dl=0&e=1&preview=F.+FKOBST+L.202-4+Ceremoniel+i+Forsvaret+OKT+2019.pdf&rlkey=eaqe6xaehe6h2o92wkkxbdlfk |publisher=Danish Defence |access-date=13 October 2024 |p=Bilag 3 til Tillæg A |language=da |date=October 2019}}</ref>
| country        = {{flagcountry|Denmark}}
| service branch = {{army|Denmark}}<br />{{air force|Denmark}}
| abbreviation   = gen.m.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mygind |first1=A. |title=Den landmilitære embedsetat og centraladministratio (1763 - 1848) |publisher=Forsvarets Arkiver |url=https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/da/billedviser?epid=18484855#237833,45188656 |access-date=16 May 2022 |date=1999 |language=da |page=9}}</ref>
| rank group     = [[General officer]] ({{lang|da|Chefniveau}})
| rank           = [[Two-star rank|Two-star]] 
| NATO rank      = [[Ranks and insignia of NATO armies officers#Officers (OF 1–10)|OF-7]]
| Non-NATO rank  = 
| pay grade      = M404
| formation      = Before 1671
| abolished      = 
| higher rank    = {{lang|da|[[Lieutenant general (Denmark)|Generalløjtnant]]}}
| lower rank     = {{lang|da|[[Brigadegeneral#Denmark|Brigadegeneral]]}}
| equivalents    = {{lang|da|[[Counter admiral (Denmark)|Kontreadmiral]]}}
| history        = 
}}

'''{{lang|da|Generalmajor}}''' is the second lowest [[general officer]] rank in the [[Royal Danish Army]] and [[Royal Danish Air Force]]. As a [[two-star rank]] it is the equivalent to the rank of [[counter admiral]] in the [[Royal Danish Navy]].{{sfn|STANAG 2116|p=B-2}}

The rank is rated [[Ranks and insignia of NATO armies officers|OF-7]] within [[NATO]].{{sfn|STANAG 2116|p=A-2}} It has the grade of M404 within the [[Ministry of Defence (Denmark)|Ministry of Defence's]] pay structure.{{sfn|Ministry of Defence|2017}} The rank of major general is reserved for the [[Chief of the Royal Danish Army|Chief of the army]] and [[Chief of the Royal Danish Air Force|air force]].{{sfn|Hedegaard|1986}}

===History===
On 25 May 1671, the ranks were codified, by [[Christian V of Denmark|King Christian V]], with the publication of the [[Danish order of precedence]]. Here [[General of the branch|generals of the branch]] were placed below [[Lieutenant field marshal]] ({{langx|da|Feltmarskal Lieutenant}}), and above the [[Imperial, royal and noble ranks|noble rank]] of [[Count]] and the military rank of [[Lieutenant general]].{{sfn|danmarkshistorien.dk|2017}}

As part of the Army Reform of 1867, the ranks of Major, Lieutenant colonel were removed and only a single "General" rank was kept.{{sfn|Klint|1965|p=8}} After the 1880 reform, the general officer ranks were reintroduced.{{sfn|Ministry of War|1880|p=35}} Commanding generals of the [[Eastern Regional Command (Denmark)|1st]] and [[Western Regional Command (Denmark)|2nd General Command]] were made Lieutenant generals while everyone else were made Major general.{{sfn|Ministry of War|1880|p=35}}

===Insignia===
The first official uniform was instituted on 29 September 1737.{{sfn|Petersen|2014|p=31}} The first few uniform designs have not survived, though they were likely red, highly ornamented [[Justacorps|coats without collar]].{{sfn|Petersen|2014|pp=31-32}} The red coat remained until 1768, when [[Claude Louis, Comte de Saint-Germain|Comte de Saint-Germain]] instituted white uniforms for generals, these were however removed shortly after, in 1769.{{sfn|Petersen|2014|p=36}} In 1772, the first real ranks were introduced to the Danish Army; these were [[Goldwork (embroidery)|gold rings on the cuffs]], with three for full generals, two for Lieutenant generals, and one for major generals.{{sfn|Petersen|2014|p=39}} This uniform saw a number of changes until 1785, when the cuff ranks were removed.{{sfn|Petersen|2014|p=41}}

In 1801, new uniforms were introduced for the whole army. Along with the new uniforms, [[epaulette]] ranks were introduced for officers, with generals wearing six-pointed stars on their epaulettes.{{sfn|Petersen|2014|p=42}}{{sfn|Hedegaard|1986}} The general ranks remained largely unchanged from their introduction until 1979, and the adoption of NATO STANAG 2116.{{sfn|Hedegaard|1986}} The adoption created the new rank of Brigadier general, which would receive the one star, meaning the major general would receive two stars.{{sfn|Hedegaard|1986}}

==== Rank insignia ====
<gallery class="center" caption="Rank insignia for General">
Denmark-Army-OF-7 1801.svg|Army uniform {{small|(1801–1822)}}
Blank.svg|Full dress {{small|(1822–1869)}}<br />Field uniform {{small|(1822–1849)}}
Blank.svg|Full dress {{small|(1869–1889)}}<br />Field uniform {{small|(1849–1889)}}
Blank.svg|Full dress {{small|(1889–1989)}}
Denmark-Army-OF-7-1911 sleeve.svg|Field uniform {{small|(1910–1915)}}
Danish-Army-OF-7-M15.svg|... {{small|(1915–1923)}}
Danish-Army-OF-7-M23.svg|... {{small|(1923–1952)}}
Danish-Army-OF-7-M58.svg|... {{small|(1952–1963)}}
Rank insignia of brigadegeneral of the Royal Danish Army.svg|... {{small|(1963–1979)}}
Denmark-Army-OF-6-M69-shirt.svg|Service shirt slip-on {{small|(1969–1979)}}
Rank insignia of generalmajor of the Royal Danish Army.svg|Field uniform {{small|(1979–2018)}}
Blank.svg|Full dress {{small|(1989–present)}}
Denmark-Army-OF-7-M69-shirt.svg|Service shirt slip-on {{small|(1989–present)}}
Denmark-Army-OF-7-M11.svg|Field uniform {{small|(2018–present)}}
RDAF Maj Gen.svg|Air Force
File:RDAF-OF-7 Sleeve.svg|Air Force sleeve
</gallery>

==Finland==
{{empty section|date=November 2021}}

==Germany==
{{Infobox military rank
| name           = Major general
| native_name    = {{lang|de|Generalmajor}}
| image          = {{nobreak|[[File:HD H 62 Generalmajor.svg|88px]] [[File:LD B 62 Generalmajor.svg|88px]]}}
| image_size     = 
| caption        = Army and Air Force insignia
| image2         = 
| image_size2    = 
| caption2       = 
| country        = {{flagcountry|Germany}}
| service branch = [[File:Bundeswehr Logo Heer with lettering.svg|25px]] [[German Army]]<br />[[File:Bundeswehr Logo Luftwaffe with lettering.svg|25px]] [[German Air Force]]
| abbreviation   = ''GenMaj''
| rank           = [[Two-star rank|Two-star]] 
| NATO rank      = [[Ranks and insignia of NATO armies officers#Officers (OF 1–10)|OF-7]]
| Non-NATO rank  = [[Four-star rank|O-8]]
| formation      = 1956
| abolished      = 
| higher rank    = ''[[Generalleutnant]]''
| lower rank     = ''[[Brigadegeneral]]''
| equivalents    = ''[[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 [[comparative officer ranks of World War II|prior to 1945]] were offset by one from those of most other major [[Europe|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 [[Ranks and insignia of NATO armies officers#Officers (OF 1–10)|OF-7]] in [[NATO]], and is grade B7 in the pay rules of the [[Federal Ministry of Defence (Germany)|Federal Ministry of Defence]]. It is equivalent to ''[[Konteradmiral]]'' in the [[German Navy]] (''Marine'') or to ''[[Generalstabsarzt]]'', and ''[[Admiralstabsarzt]]'' in the ''[[Joint Medical Service (Germany)|Zentraler Sanitätsdienst der Bundeswehr]]''.{{clear}}

On the shoulder straps (''Heer'', ''Luftwaffe'') there are two golden pips (stars) in golden oak leaves.

{| class="wikitable centered"
|- style="background-color:#CEDAF2"
! ''Heer'' || ''Luftwaffe'' || ... to service uniform
|-
|<gallery widths="60" heights="100">
HA OS5 62 Generalmajor.svg|{{center|''Generalmajor''<br /><small>(field suit)</small>}}
HA OS5 62 Generalmajor a.D..svg|{{center|''Generalmajor''<br /><small>(retired)</small>}}
SanH 321-Generalstabsarzt-(Zahnmedizin).png|{{center|''General-stabsarzt''<br /><small>([[dental medicine]])</small>}}
</gallery>
|
<gallery widths="60" heights="100">
LA OS5 62 Generalmajor.svg|{{center|''Generalmajor''<br /><small>(field suit)</small>}}
LA OS5 62b Generalstabsarzt HM L.svg|{{center|''General-stabsarzt''<br /><small>([[human medicine]])</small>}}
</gallery>
|
<gallery widths="40" heights="70">
HD S Kragenspiegel Gen R.svg|{{center|[[Gorget_patches#Germany|Arabesque]]<small><br />(right)</small>}}
HD S Kragenspiegel Gen L.svg|{{center|Arabesque<small><br />(left)</small>}}
</gallery>
|}

;''[[Bundeswehr]]'' sequence of ranks ascending:
{| align="left" class="toccolours" border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0.5em auto; clear: both;"
|-
|width="30%" align="center" style="background:#cfcfcf;"|junior rank:<br />''[[Brigadegeneral]]''
|width="40%" align="center" style="background:#bfbfbf;"|[[File:Bundeswehr Logo Heer with lettering.svg|28px]] [[File:Bundeswehr Logo Luftwaffe with lettering.svg|63px]]
<small>([[Rank insignia of the German Bundeswehr#Commissioned officers (CO/ de: Offiziere)|German officer rank]])</small><br />'''''Generalmajor'''''
|width="30%" align="center" style="background:#afafaf;"|senior rank:<br />''[[Generalleutnant]]''
|}{{clear}}

===''Generalmajor'' in East Germany===
''Generalmajor'' was in the so-called "armed organs of the GDR" ({{langx|de|Bewaffnete Organe der DDR}}), represented by [[Ministry of National Defence (East Germany)|Ministry of National Defence]], and [[Stasi|Ministry for State Security]], the lowest [[general officer]] rank, comparable to the [[one-star rank]] in many NATO-Armed forces [[Ranks and insignia of NATO|(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.

{| class="toccolours" border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0.5em auto; clear: both;"
|-
|width="30%" align="center" style="background:#cfcfcf;"|Junior rank<br />'''''[[Oberst]]'''''
|width="40%" align="center" style="background:#bfbfbf;"|[[File:Flag of NVA (East Germany).svg|30px]]<br />'''National People's Army rank'''<br />'''''Generalmajor'''''<br /><small>(Konteradmiral)</small>
|width="30%" align="center" style="background:#afafaf;"|Senior rank<br />'''''[[Generalleutnant]]'''''
|}

{| class=wikitable
!colspan="10"| Rank insignias ''Generalmajor'' / ''Konteradmiral'' (OF-6)
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC" align="center"
! [[File:Emblem Stasi.svg|25px]] [[Stasi]]
! [[File:Emblem of the Ground Forces of NVA (East Germany).svg|25px]] [[Land Forces of the National People's Army|Land forces]]
! [[File:Emblem of aircraft of NVA (East Germany).svg|25px]] [[Air Forces of the National People's Army|Air Force]]
! [[File:Vehicle roundel of Border Troops of GDR.svg|25px]] [[Border Troops of the German Democratic Republic|GDR Border troops]]
!colspan="2"| [[File:Flag of warships of VM (East Germany).svg|30px]] ''[[Volksmarine]]'' 
|-align="center"
| colspan="2"| [[File:OF-6 Generalmajor.png|55px]]

| [[File:OF-6 Generalmajor DDR Air Force.png|55px]]
| [[File:GDR Border Troops OF6 Generalmajor.gif|70px]]
| [[File: OF-6 Konteradmiral VM.png|55px]]
| [[File: OF-6 Konteradmiral VM, Ärmelstreifen.png|50px]]
|-
!colspan="4"| ''Generalmajor''
!colspan="2"| ''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 [[Ranks and insignia of NATO|(Rangcode OF-6)]]. It was equivalent to ''[[Konteradmiral]]'' in the ''[[Kriegsmarine]]'', and ''[[SS-Brigadeführer]]'' in the ''[[Waffen-SS]]'' until 1945.

;Rank insignia ''Generalmajor'' / ''Konteradmiral'':
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
! Branch
! [[German Army (1935–1945)|German Army]]
! ''[[Luftwaffe]]''
! ''[[Waffen-SS]]''
! [[Uniforms and insignia of the Kriegsmarine|''Kriegsmarine'']]
|- style="text-align:center;"
! Collar
| [[File:Collar tabs for the Generals of the Heer.svg|65px]]
| [[File:Luftwaffe collar tabs Generalmajor 3D.svg|100px]]
| [[File:SS-Brigadeführer Collar Rank.svg|100px]]
| '''None'''
|- style="text-align:center;"
! Shoulder
| [[File:WMacht H OF6 GenMaj h 1945.svg|100px]]
| [[File:Luftwaffe epaulette Generalmajor.svg|100px]]
| [[File:SS-Brigadeführer h.svg|100px]]
| [[File:Kriegsmarine epaulette Konteradmiral.svg|100px]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
! Sleeve
| [[File:GenMaj Brif OF6 cam slv 1945.svg|100px]]
| [[File:Luftwaffe flightsuit Generalmajor.svg|100px]]
| [[File:GenMaj Brif OF6 cam slv 1945.svg|100px]]
| [[File:Kriegsmarine-Konteradmiral.svg|50px]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
! Rank<br />designation
| colspan=2| '''Generalmajor'''{{hr}}
| [[Brigadeführer|''SS-Brigadeführer''<br />''und Generalmajor''<br />''der Waffen-SS'']]
| ''[[Konteradmiral]]''
|}

;Sequence of ranks ascending:
{| align="left" class="toccolours" border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0.5em auto; clear: both;"
|-
|width="30%" align="center" style="background:#cfcfcf;"|Junior rank:<br />''[[Oberst]]''
|width="40%" align="center" style="background:#bfbfbf;"|[[File:Balkenkreuz.svg|28px]]
<small>([[World War II German Army ranks and insignia#General_officers_and_marshals_(Generäle)|German officer rank]])</small><br />'''''Generalmajor'''''
|width="30%" align="center" style="background:#afafaf;"|Senior rank:<br />''[[Generalleutnant]]''
|}{{clear}}

==Norway==
{{empty section|date=November 2021}}

==Sweden==
{{main|Generalmajor (Sweden)}}
Generalmajor is a [[military rank]] in [[Sweden]] that is equivalent to a [[two-star general]]. It is the third highest military rank, positioned above brigadgeneral (brigade general) and below generallöjtnant (general lieutenant).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-29 |title=Svensk militär rang 2021 – Tjelvar.se |url=https://www.tjelvar.se/militar-rang/ |access-date=2025-04-15 |language=sv-SE}}</ref><ref>https://www.forsvarsmakten.se/contentassets/a8e97e16e38b41a2bb46eb7dcf097370/gradbeteckningar-191001.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=May 2025}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Comparative officer ranks of World War I]]
* [[Comparative officer ranks of World War II]]
* [[Ranks of the National People's Army]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

;Bibliography
* {{cite web |author1=danmarkshistorien.dk |title=Rangforordningen, 25. maj 1671 |url=https://danmarkshistorien.dk/leksikon-og-kilder/vis/materiale/rangforordningen-25-maj-1671/ |publisher=danmarkshistorien.dk |access-date=15 March 2021 |language=da |date=17 May 2017}}
* {{cite web |last1=Hedegaard |first1=Ole A. |title=Nyt militært gradstegn - en ny/gammel tradition! |url=https://www.krigsvidenskab.dk/nyt-militaert-gradstegn-en-nygammel-tradition |website=Krigsvidenskab.dk |accessdate=28 August 2018 |language=da |date=1 January 1986 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828203249/https://www.krigsvidenskab.dk/nyt-militaert-gradstegn-en-nygammel-tradition |archive-date=28 August 2018}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Klint |first1=Helge |title=Træk af Hærstabens historie |journal=Hærkommandoens Årsskrift |date=1965 |pages=5–11 |publisher=Nyt Nordisk Forlag |language=da}}
* {{cite book |author1=Military Committee Land Standardization Board |title=STANAG 2116 |date=13 January 2021 |publisher=NATO Standardization Agency |edition=7th |ref={{harvid|STANAG 2116}}}}
* {{cite web |author1=Ministry of Defence |author1-link=Ministry of Defence (Denmark) |title=Historik |url=https://forpers.dk/hr/Pages/Historik.aspx |website=forpers.dk |publisher=Forsvarsministeriets Personalestyrelse |access-date=8 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190222185850/https://forpers.dk/hr/Pages/Historik.aspx |archive-date=22 February 2019 |language=da |date=9 January 2017}}
* {{cite book |author1=Ministry of War |title=Kundgjørelser for hæren samt Love og Bestemmelser, som angaae hæren |date=1880 |location=Copenhagen |language=da |chapter=Love og Bestemmelser, som angaae hæren}}
* {{cite book |last1=Petersen |first1=Karsten Skjold |title=Kongens klæder - Hærens uniformer og udrustning i Danmark-Norge |date=2014 |publisher=Historika |location=Slovenia |isbn=9788793229006 |edition=1st |language=da}}

{{German military ranks}}

[[Category:Military ranks of Germany]]

[[de:Generalmajor]]