Generalfeldmarschall

Generalfeldmarschall (General Field Marshal) was the highest general officer rank in the German Army (Heer) and in Germany’s historical armed forces. It designated the senior commander above other general ranks and was typically conferred for exceptional strategic leadership in major campaigns or fronts. The title was used in the Kingdom of Prussia, the German Empire, and later in Nazi Germany’s Wehrmacht. The rank symbolized the apex of land-based military command and carried significant prestige and political trust.

Historically, the rank reflects a long German military tradition and gained particular prominence in the 19th and 20th centuries. It was awarded sparingly and often to commanders entrusted with large-scale operations or theater-wide responsibilities. In both the German Empire and Nazi Germany, Generalsfeldmarschälle commanded major formations or campaign-level commands and were regarded as senior strategic leaders in wartime.

Notable holders include Paul von Hindenburg and Erich Ludendorff (WWI); Erwin Rommel, Gerd von Rundstedt, Erich Manstein, and Albert Kesselring (WWII). The rank was not used after 1945 in the postwar German states; the modern German military does not restore the title.

Today the term is primarily of historical value, used in reference to the highest wartime generals of Germany. It is often regarded in English-language contexts as the German equivalent of field marshal in other armies.