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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 April 1936.
Other holders of the title where:
| • | Conrad Albrecht, | 1 April 1939, | | • | Alfred Saalwächter, | 1 January 1940, | | • | Rolf Carls, | 19 July 1940, | | • | Hermann Boehm, | 1 April 1941, | | • | Karl Witzell, | 1 April 1941, | | • | Otto Schultze, | 31 August 1942, | | • | Wilhelm Marschall, | 1 February 1943, | | • | Otto Schniewind, | 1 March 1944, | | • | Walter Warzecha, | 1 March 1944, | | • | Oskar Kummetz, | 16 September 1944, | | • | Hans-Georg von Friedeburg, | 1 May 1945. |
It it interesting to note that Karl Dönitz was made Grand Admiral without becoming a General Admiral first.
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