Generaloberstabsarzt

''Generaloberstabsarzt'' and ''Admiraloberstabsarzt'' are the top Joint Medical Service OF8-ranks of the German ''Bundeswehr''. The equivalent to this ranks in the ''Heer'' is ''Generalleutnant'' and in the German Navy the ''Vizeadmiral''.

''Bundeswehr''

In accordance with traditions in German armed forces, both ranks might be used in ''Bundeswehr medical service''. Normally the ''Bundeswehr'' ''Surgeon General of the medical service'' (de: ''Inspekteur des Sanitätsdienstes''), or the ''Chief of Medical Operation´s Command'' (de: ''Kommandeur Sanitätsführungskommando'') might be assigned. However, in future the Chief position might remain vacant, because the Deputy ''Surgeon General'' is mandated to command the ''Medical Operation´s Command''.

Equivalent to that three-star ranks ( NATO-Rangcode OF-8) are ''Generalleutnant'' ("Lieutenant general") of the ''Heer'' or ''Luftwaffe'', and the ''Vizeadmiral'' (en: Vice admiral) of the ''Marine''.

Address

The manner of formal addressing of military surgeons with the rank ''Generalarzt'' (OF-6, one-star rank), ''Generalstabsarzt'' (OF-7, two-star rank) or ''Generaloberstabsarzt'' is, „''Herr/Frau Generalarzt''“. At the other hand, military surgeons with the rank '' Admiralarzt'' (OF-6, one-star rank), '' Admiralstabsarzt'' (OF-7, two-star rank) or ''Admiraloberstabsarzt'' is, „''Herr/Frau Admiralarzt''“. Although the grammatically female form of ''Arzt'' is ''Ärztin'', the military does not have separate gendered ranks, so the correct form of address for a female doctor is „''Frau Stabsarzt''“.

Rank insignias

On the shoulder straps (''Heer'', ''Luftwaffe'') there are three golden stars in golden oak leaves and the career insignia (de: ''Laufbahnabzeichen'') as symbol of the medical standing, or course of studies. Regarding the ''Marine'', the career insignia is in the middle of both sleeves, three centimeters above the cuff strips, and on the shoulder straps between strips and button.

''Wehrmacht''

The General of the branch grade ''Generaloberstabsarzt'' was the most senior ranks of the medical service of the German ''Wehrmacht'' 1933 to 1945.

Siegfried Handloser was assigned to ''Generaloberstabsarzt'' of the ''Wehrmacht''. He was simultaneous "Chief of the ''Wehrmacht''s Medical Service in Supreme Command of the ''Wehrmacht''" (''Chef des Wehrmachtsanitätswesens im Oberkommando der Wehrmacht'') as of July 28, 1942. Curt Schulze was ''Generaloberstabveterinär'' of the ''Wehrmacht''.

Comparative ranks

''Generaloberstabsarzt'' of the ''Wehrmacht'' was comparable to the General of the branch (OF8, tree stars), as well as to the ''Obergruppenführer'' and ''General'' of the ''Waffen-SS''.

In line to the so-called ''Reichsbesoldungsordnung'' (en: Reich's salary order), appendixes to the Salary law of the German Empire (de: ''Besoldungsgesetz des Deutschen Reiches'') of 1927Besoldungsgesetz vom 16. Dezember 1927 (RGBl. I …, C Soldaten S. 391), changes 1937 to 1940 (changes 1937 – 1940), the comparative ranks were as follows: C 1

*''General of the branch'' (Heer and Luftwaffe)
* Admiral (Kriegsmarine)
*''Generaloberstabsarzt'', from 1934 (medical service of the ''Wehrmacht'')
*''Generaloberstabsveterinär'', from 1934 (veterinarian service of the ''Wehrmacht'')

;See also main article: Ranks and insignia of the German Army (1935–1945)

''Kriegsmarine''

Rank designations of the ''Kriegsmarine'' as to Match 30, 1934, are contained in the table below.

Other armed forces

* Surgeon General of the United States
* Surgeon General (Canada)
* Surgeon-General (United Kingdom)
* Chief Medical Officer (Ireland)
* Chief Medical Officer (United Kingdom)

Relevant literature

* Neumann, Alexander: ''Arzttum ist immer Kämpfertum - Die Heeressanitätsinspektion und das Amt "Chef des Wehrmachtsanitätswesens" im Zweiten Weltkrieg (1939-1945), 2005.
* Süß, Winfried: ''Der "Völkskörper" im Krieg: Gesundheitspolitik, Gesundheitsverhältnisse und Krankenmord im nationalsozialistischen Deutschland 1939–1945'', 2003.

References

{{General ranks of the Wehrmacht

Three-star officers
Military ranks of Germany
Three-star officers of Nazi Germany
Three-star officers of the Bundeswehr