Generalität

Generalität is a historical term used in German-speaking military contexts to denote the body of senior generals and, more broadly, the general staff of a state’s army. It signifies the highest command authority and the administrative apparatus responsible for strategic planning, high-level decision-making, and the direction of military campaigns. The term is closely associated with the Prussian and later German general-staff tradition, but it also appears in descriptions of other German-speaking armed forces.

Origins and functions: The concept dates from earlier centuries but gained prominence with reforms that centralized military command and professionalized staff work. The Generalität encompassed both the highest-ranking generals who held command over armies or theaters and the staff components that produced war plans, intelligence assessments, logistics, and operational orders. In practice, the Generalität and the Generalstab (General Staff) formed a twofold system: the Generalität as the apex of command, and the Generalstab as the technical planning body.

Prussia and the German Empire: In the Prussian state, the Generalität evolved alongside the Generalstab, which was developed by reformers such as Gerhard von Scharnhorst and Karl von Gneisenau. The combination aimed to create a professional, educated officer corps capable of systematic, long-range planning and centralized control of operations during campaigns.

Modern usage and legacy: Today, the term Generalität is largely historical in German military vocabulary. Contemporary armies use terms like Generalstab or Oberkommando for staff and command structures. In historical writing, the Generalität remains a reference to the elite corps of generals and the centralized command system of that era.

See also: General staff; Prussian military reform; Scharnhorst; Generalstab.