In the German Kriegsmarine, of the Second World War, General Admiral was a rank considered senior to a full Admiral, but junior to a Grand Admiral.
The sleeve insignia for a General Admiral was the same as a regular Admiral, being that of a thick rank stripe below three regular stripes. General Admirals wore a third pip on their shoulder boards to differentiate between regular Admirals. The German Army and Air Force equivalent of General Admiral was the rank Colonel General.
In 1943, a directive was issued that should the Oberbefehlshaber des Kreigsmarine (Commander of the Navy) hold the rank of General Admiral, then the sleeve insignia for a Grand Admiral could be worn, while still wearing the shoulder boards of a General Admiral.
A similar practice was adopted in the German Army, allowing Colonel Generals to wear four pips on a shoulder board when engaged in duties befitting a Field Marshal.
The rank of General Admiral was first given to the future Grand Admiral Erich Raeder on 20 April1936.
Other holders of the title were:
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| Conrad Albrecht , | 1 April 1939,
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| Alfred Saalwächter , | 1 January 1940,
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| Rolf Carls , | 19 July 1940,
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| Hermann Boehm , | 1 April 1941,
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| Karl Witzell , | 1 April 1941,
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| Otto Schultze , | 31 August 1942,
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| Wilhelm Marschall , | 1 February 1943,
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| Otto Schniewind , | 1 March 1944,
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| Walter Warzecha , | 1 March 1944,
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| Oskar Kummetz , | 16 September 1944,
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| Hans-Georg von Friedeburg , | 1 May 1945.
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It it interesting to note that Karl Dönitz was made Grand Admiral without becoming a
General Admiral first.
