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''Generaloberstabsarzt'' and ''Admiraloberstabsarzt'' are the top Joint Medical Service OF8-ranks of the German ''
Bundeswehr The ''Bundeswehr'' (, meaning literally: ''Federal Defence'') is the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. The ''Bundeswehr'' is divided into a military part (armed forces or ''Streitkräfte'') and a civil part, the military part con ...
''. The equivalent to this ranks in the ''Heer'' is ''
Generalleutnant is the Germanic variant of lieutenant general, used in some German speaking countries. Austria Generalleutnant is the second highest general officer rank in the Austrian Armed Forces (''Bundesheer''), roughly equivalent to the NATO rank of O ...
'' and in the
German Navy The German Navy (, ) is the navy of Germany and part of the unified ''Bundeswehr'' (Federal Defense), the German Armed Forces. The German Navy was originally known as the ''Bundesmarine'' (Federal Navy) from 1956 to 1995, when ''Deutsche Mari ...
the ''
Vizeadmiral (abbreviated VAdm) is a senior naval flag officer rank in several German-speaking countries, equivalent to Vice admiral. Austria-Hungary In the Austro-Hungarian Navy there were the flag-officer ranks ''Kontreadmiral'' (also spelled ''Kont ...
''.


''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 rank An officer of three-star rank is a senior commander in many of the armed services holding a rank described by the NATO code of OF-8. The term is also used by some armed forces which are not NATO members. Typically, three-star officers hold the ...
s ( 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 ''Generalarzt'' (short: ''GenArzt'' or ''GA'') is the designation of a military rank as well as the official title in German speaking armed forces. It is equivalent to the ''Admiralarzt'' / ''Generalapotheker'' and Brigadegeneral / Flottillenadmiral ...
'' (OF-6, one-star rank), ''
Generalstabsarzt Generalstabsarzt and Admiralstabsarzt are in German armed forces the rank designations of the second highest grad of the generals rank group. Germany Bundeswehr Generalstabsarzt and Admiralstabsarzt are the second highest general ranks of the ...
'' (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 A general of the branch, general of the branch of service or general of the ... (where instead of the ellipsis an appropriate name of the military branch is being put) is a three or four-star general officer rank in some armies. Several nations di ...
grade ''Generaloberstabsarzt'' was the most senior ranks of the medical service of the German ''
Wehrmacht The ''Wehrmacht'' (, ) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the ''Heer'' (army), the ''Kriegsmarine'' (navy) and the ''Luftwaffe'' (air force). The designation "''Wehrmacht''" replaced the previous ...
'' 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 A general of the branch, general of the branch of service or general of the ... (where instead of the ellipsis an appropriate name of the military branch is being put) is a three or four-star general officer rank in some armies. Several nations di ...
(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) The as the German army and part of the inherited its uniforms and rank structure from the of the Weimar Republic (1921–1935). There were few alterations and adjustments made as the army grew from a limited peacetime defense force of 100,0 ...


''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 The surgeon general of the United States is the operational head of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHSCC) and thus the leading spokesperson on matters of public health in the federal government of the United States. Th ...
* Surgeon General (Canada) *
Surgeon-General (United Kingdom) The Surgeon-General of the United Kingdom Armed Forces is the most senior uniformed medical officer in the British Armed Forces. Army The post of Surgeon-General dates from 1664; there was also, from 1685, a Physician-General appointed; together, ...
*
Chief Medical Officer (Ireland) The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) ( ga, An Príomh-Oifigeach Míochaine) for Ireland is the most senior government advisor on health-related matters. It is a government post as the lead medical expert in the Department of Health. The key respon ...
*
Chief Medical Officer (United Kingdom) In the United Kingdom, a Chief Medical Officer (CMO) is the most senior government advisor on matter relating to health. There are four CMOs in the United Kingdom who are appointed to advise their respective governments: * His Majesty's Governm ...


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