Divisional general is a
general officer
A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry.
In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". OED O ...
rank who commands an
army division
A division is a large military unit or Formation (military), formation, usually consisting of between 6,000 and 25,000 soldiers.
In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades; in turn, several divisions typically mak ...
. The rank originates from the
French (Revolutionary) System, and is used by a number of countries. The rank is above a
brigade general
Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed to ...
, and normally below an
army corps general
An army corps general or corps general is a rank held by a General officer who commands an army corps. The rank originates from the French (Revolutionary) System, and is used by a number of countries. Normally, the rank is above the divisional ge ...
.
The rank is mostly used in countries where it is used as a modern alternative to a previous older rank of
major-general
Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...
or
lieutenant-general
Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...
.
Specific countries
Brazil
The Brazilian rank ''general-de-divisão'' translates literally as "general of division", and is used by the army. This rank is equivalent to lieutenant-general. The air force equivalent is ''major-brigadeiro''(literally "major-brigadier"). The navy equivalent is ''vice-almirante'' (literally, vice-admiral)
Chile
The Chilean rank ''general de división'' translates literally as "general of division", and is used by the army. This rank is equivalent to lieutenant-general. The air force equivalent is ''general de aviación'' (literally "aviation general"). These officers occupy positions such as Chief of the Joint Staff, Chief of the General Staff of the Army and commanders of high repartitions.
France
A French Army ''général de division'' translates as a "general of division". The French Air and Space Force equivalent is ''général de division aérienne'' (literally "general of air division"). Rank insignia is that of 3 white stars on the
epaulette
Epaulette (; also spelled epaulet) is a type of ornamental shoulder piece or decoration used as insignia of military rank, rank by armed forces and other organizations. Flexible metal epaulettes (usually made from brass) are referred to as ''sh ...
, sleeve mark or shoulder board.
As well as commanding a division, a ''général de division'' may be appointed as ''
général de corps d'armée
An army corps general or corps general is a rank held by a General officer who commands an army corps. The rank originates from the French (Revolutionary) System, and is used by a number of countries. Normally, the rank is above the divisional ge ...
'' (a "
corps general
An army corps general or corps general is a rank held by a General officer who commands an army corps. The rank originates from the French (Revolutionary) System, and is used by a number of countries. Normally, the rank is above the divisional ...
") commanding an army corps, or as a ''
général d'armée
Army general (french: Général d'armée) is the highest active military rank of the French Army and the National Gendarmerie. It is also used in the Air and Space Force, where it is called .
Officially, it is not a rank but a position and styl ...
'' (a "general of an army"), commanding a
field army
A field army (or numbered army or simply army) is a military formation in many armed forces, composed of two or more corps and may be subordinate to an army group. Likewise, air armies are equivalent formation within some air forces, and with ...
. These are not ranks, but appointments of the same rank. The insignia of a ''général de corps d'armée'' is four stars in a diamond formation, and that of a ''général d'armée'' is five stars in a cross-shaped arrangement. The arrangement for the air force is the same, but the ranks are called ''général de corps d'armée aérien'' ("general of an air corps") and ''général d'armée aérienne'' ("general of an air army") respectively.
Italy
The Italian army and Carabineer rank of ''generale di divisione'' translates as "divisional general". The air force equivalent is ''generale di divisione aerea'' (literally "general of air division").
The ordinary law n. 299, come into force on December 2, 2004, has restored the traditional ranks of Army Brigade General, Divisional General and
Army corps general
An army corps general or corps general is a rank held by a General officer who commands an army corps. The rank originates from the French (Revolutionary) System, and is used by a number of countries. Normally, the rank is above the divisional ge ...
, which had been changed in 1997. Some general divisions wear a third functional star with red border, which indicates they are enrolled in a ''special responsibility'' or as deputy officials of their proximate superiors.
Poland
The Polish equivalent is ''generał dywizji'' (literally, "general of division"). The symbols of this rank are the ''general's wavy line'' and two stars, featured both on the ''
rogatywka
Rogatywka (; sometimes translated as ''peaked cap'') is the Polish generic name for an asymmetrical, peaked, four-pointed cap used by various Polish military formations throughout the ages. It is a distant relative of its 18th-century predece ...
'' (the Polish peaked, four-pointed cap), on the sleeves of the uniform and above the breast pocket of a field uniform.
Spain
The Spanish rank ''general de división'' translates literally as "general of division", and is used by the army, the air force and the
''Guardia Civil''.
Switzerland
The Swiss military use 4 languages, German, French,
Romansh and Italian. The names of the OF-7 rank are ''divisionär'' (German); ''divisionnaire'' (French); ''divisiunari'' (Romansh); ''divisionario'' (Italian). In all cases, these are abbreviated as "Div", and in all cases represent the head of a division, and hence can be translated as "divisional general".
Serbia and Yugoslavia
There was a proposition in 1898 by HM King
Alexander I Alexander I may refer to:
* Alexander I of Macedon, king of Macedon 495–454 BC
* Alexander I of Epirus (370–331 BC), king of Epirus
* Pope Alexander I (died 115), early bishop of Rome
* Pope Alexander I of Alexandria (died 320s), patriarch of ...
to introduce the rank of divisional general (''Дивизијски ђенерал'') to the
Royal Serbian Army
The Army of the Kingdom of Serbia ( sr-cyr, Војска Краљевине Србије, Vojska Kraljevine Srbije), known in English language, English as the Royal Serbian Army, was the army of the Kingdom of Serbia that existed between 1882 a ...
, along with
brigade general
Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed to ...
and
army general
Army general is the highest ranked general officer in many countries that use the General officer#French (Revolutionary) system, French Revolutionary System.
In countries that adopt the general officer four rank system, it is rank of genera ...
.
The newly created
Royal Yugoslav Army
The Yugoslav Army ( sh-Latn-Cyrl, Jugoslovenska vojska, JV, Југословенска војска, ЈВ), commonly the Royal Yugoslav Army, was the land warfare military service branch of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (originally Kingdom of Serbs ...
introduced the rank of divisional general in 1923 and confirmed by law in 1929, modeled after French army, as the second general rank, higher than
brigade general
Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed to ...
but lower than
army general
Army general is the highest ranked general officer in many countries that use the General officer#French (Revolutionary) system, French Revolutionary System.
In countries that adopt the general officer four rank system, it is rank of genera ...
. The rank had a similar role as the French ''général de division'' at time of introduction, able to command a corps, as there was no separate rank for corps command. This rank was also used during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
by the
Chetniks
The Chetniks ( sh-Cyrl-Latn, Четници, Četnici, ; sl, Četniki), formally the Chetnik Detachments of the Yugoslav Army, and also the Yugoslav Army in the Homeland and the Ravna Gora Movement, was a Yugoslav royalist and Serbian nationa ...
. The most notable holders are Miroslav Trifunović and Ivan Prezelj. These ranks were replaced in 1945 by
Tito
Tito may refer to:
People Mononyms
* Josip Broz Tito (1892–1980), commonly known mononymously as Tito, Yugoslav communist revolutionary and statesman
* Roberto Arias (1918–1989), aka Tito, Panamanian international lawyer, diplomat, and journ ...
's
Yugoslav Partisans
The Yugoslav Partisans,Serbo-Croatian, Macedonian, Slovene: , or the National Liberation Army, sh-Latn-Cyrl, Narodnooslobodilačka vojska (NOV), Народноослободилачка војска (НОВ); mk, Народноослобод ...
with the introduction of
Soviet
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...
-style ranks.
Divisional general's insignia
Argentina-Army-OF-8.svg,
(Argentine Army
The Argentine Army ( es, Ejército Argentino, EA) is the land force branch of the Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic and the senior military service of Argentina. Under the Argentine Constitution, the president of Argentina is the commander- ...
)
blank.svg,
( Benin Army)
GenDivEB.svg,
(Bolivian Army
The Bolivian Army ( es, Ejército Boliviano) is the land force branch of the Armed Forces of Bolivia.
Figures on the size and composition of the Bolivian army vary considerably, with little official data available. It is estimated that the arm ...
)
Barzil-Army-OF-8.svg,
( Brazilian Army)
16. Burkina Faso Army - MG.svg,
( Burkina Faso Ground Forces)
Cameroon-Army-OF-7.svg,
( Cameroon Ground Forces)
17.CAGF-MG.svg,
( Central African Ground Forces)
Chad-Army-OF-7.svg,
(Chadian Ground Forces The Chadian Ground Forces (french: Armée de terre tchadienne) are the main and largest component of the Chadian National Army (''Armée nationale tchadienne''). Historically Chad has had one of the strongest armies in the Sahara region, larger tha ...
)
Chile-Army-OF-8.svg,
(Chilean Army
The Chilean Army ( es, Ejército de Chile) is the land arm of the Military of Chile. This 80,000-person army (9,200 of which are conscripts) is organized into six divisions, a special operations brigade and an air brigade.
In recent years, and a ...
)
15-ROCongo Army-MG.svg,
( Congolese Ground Forces)
Cuba-Army-OF-7.svg,
(Cuban Revolutionary Army
The Cuban Revolutionary Army ( es, Ejército Revolucionario) serve as the ground forces of Cuba. Formed in 1868 during the Ten Years' War, it was originally known as the Cuban Constitutional Army. Following the Cuban Revolution, the revolutiona ...
)
16.ECA-MG.svg,
(Ecuadorian Army
The Ecuadorian Army ( es, ''Ejército Ecuatoriano'', italic=unset) is the land component of the Ecuadorian Armed Forces. Its 160,500 soldiers are deployed in relation to its military doctrine. The contemporary Ecuadorian Army incorporates many jung ...
)
E 4 17 GD.png,
(Salvadoran Army
The Salvadoran Army (Spanish language, Spanish: ''Ejército Salvadoreño'') is the land branch and largest of the Armed Forces of El Salvador.
Conflicts The Football War
The Football War (also called The Soccer War or 100-hours War) was a ...
)
Image :Army-FRA-OF-07.svg,
(French Army
The French Army, officially known as the Land Army (french: Armée de Terre, ), is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces. It is responsible to the Government of France, along with the other components of the Armed For ...
)
File:Guatemala-army-OF-7.svg,
(Guatemalan Army
The Guatemalan Armed Forces ( es, Fuerzas Armadas de Guatemala) consists of the National Army of Guatemala (''Ejercito Nacional de Guatemala'', ENG), the Guatemalan National Defense Navy (''Marina de la Defensa Nacional'', includes Marines), the ...
)
Mali-Army-OF-7.svg,
( Guinea Ground Forces)
HON-army-OF-7.svg,
(Honduran Army
The Armed Forces of Honduras ( es, Fuerzas Armadas de Honduras), consists of the Honduran Army, Honduran Navy and Honduran Air Force.
History Pre-1979
The Armed Forces of Honduras were created through article 44, subsection 4 of the First Consti ...
)
Rank insignia of generale di divisione of the Army of Italy (1973).svg,
()
(Italian Army
"The safeguard of the republic shall be the supreme law"
, colors =
, colors_labels =
, march = ''Parata d'Eroi'' ("Heroes's parade") by Francesco Pellegrino, ''4 Maggio'' (May 4) ...
)
Ivory Coast-Army-OF-7.svg,
( Ivory Coast Ground Forces)
Madagascar-Army-OF-7.svg,
( Madagascar Ground Forces)
14.Mali Army-MG.svg,
( Malian Ground Forces)
Mexico army OF8.svg,
(Mexican Army
The Mexican Army ( es, Ejército Mexicano) is the combined land and air branch and is the largest part of the Mexican Armed Forces; it is also known as the National Defense Army.
The Army is under the authority of the Secretariat of National De ...
)
16-Moldovan Army-MG.svg,
(Moldovan Ground Forces ''
, image= Flag of the Armed Forces of Moldova.svg
, image_size =
, caption = Moldovan Ground Forces flag
, start_date = 25 December 2008
, country=
, allegiance =
, branch =
, type = Army
, role = Land warfare
, size = 4,000
, comman ...
)
18-Moroccan Army-MG.svg,
(Royal Moroccan Army
zgh, ⵜⴰⵙⵔⴷⴰⵙⵜ ⵜⴰⴳⵍⴷⴰⵏⵜ
, image =
, caption = Flag of the Royal Moroccan Army
, start_date = active since: 1088 CE
current form: 14 May 1956
, ...
)
blank.svg,
( Niger Ground Forces)
Paraguay-Army-OF-8.svg,
(Paraguayan Army
To win or to die
, march= Marcha al Mariscal Lopez
, mascot=
, equipment=
, equipment_label=
, battles= War of the Triple AllianceChaco WarParaguayan People's Army insurgency
, anniversaries= 24 of July (Mariscal Lopez Birthday)
, decorations=
, ba ...
)
Peru-Army-OF-8.svg,
(Peruvian Army
The Peruvian Army ( es, Ejército del Perú, abbreviated EP) is the branch of the Peruvian Armed Forces tasked with safeguarding the independence, sovereignty and integrity of national territory on land through military force. Additional missions ...
)
Army-POL-OF-07.svg,
(Polish Land Forces
The Land Forces () are the land forces of the Polish Armed Forces. They currently contain some 62,000 active personnel and form many components of the European Union and NATO deployments around the world. Poland's recorded military history stret ...
)
Senegal-Army-OF-6.svg,
( Senegalese Ground Forces)
Spain-Army-OF-7.svg,
(Spanish Army
The Spanish Army ( es, Ejército de Tierra, lit=Land Army) is the terrestrial army of the Spanish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is one of the oldest active armies — dating back to the late 15th century.
The ...
)
CHE OF7 Div.svg,
(Swiss Army
The Swiss Armed Forces (german: Schweizer Armee, french: Armée suisse, it, Esercito svizzero, rm, Armada svizra; ) operates on land and in the air, serving as the primary armed forces of Switzerland. Under the country's militia system, re ...
)
blank.svg,
( Togolese Ground Forces)
Grade Terre tunisienne O9.png,
(Tunisian Army
The Tunisian Land Army ( ar, جيش البر التونسي, Jaîsh el-Barr et'Tunsi, french: Armée de terre tunisienne) is the ground component of the Tunisian Armed Forces . The Land Forces Command is located in Bizerte. The TAF itself was cr ...
)
GDEJB-GNB.png,
(Venezuelan Army
The Venezuelan Army, officially the National Army of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, Ejército Nacional de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is one of the six professional branches of the Armed Forces of Venezuela. Also known ...
)
See also
*
Divisional admiral
References
{{reflist
Military ranks
General de division
Divisional general is a general officer rank who commands an army division. The rank originates from the French (Revolutionary) System, and is used by a number of countries. The rank is above a brigade general, and normally below an army corps ...
Military ranks of Poland