Generalstabsarzt


Generalstabsarzt and Admiralstabsarzt are "two-star" ranks and the second highest ranks in the medical service of the German Bundeswehr. Equivalent ranks in the Heer are Generalmajor and in the Marine Konteradmiral.

Bundeswehr

Generalstabsarzt and Admiralstabsarzt are the second highest ranks of the Joint [Medical Service |Joint Medical Service] of the Bundeswehr. Normally the deputy inspector of the medical service is assigned this rank, as is the commander of the Bundeswehr Medical Academy.

Address

Military surgeons with the rank Generalstabsarzt are addressed "Herr Generalarzt" if male, or "Frau Generalarzt" if female. Naval military surgeons with the rank Admiralstabsarzt are addressed "Herr Admiralarzt" or "Frau Admiralarzt", depending on the gender of the person addressed.

Rank insignias

Rank insignia are modified forms of the shoulder straps for major generals, two golden stars surrounded by golden oak leaves, with the addition of a rod of Asclepius. This career insignia, as symbol of medical status or course of studies, is placed above the stars. In the navy, the career insignia is placed three centimeters above the cuff stripes on both sleeves and on the shoulder straps between the stripes of the rank and the button.

Junior rank
Generalarzt
Admiralarzt
German medical officer rank
Generalstabsarzt
Admiralstabsarzt		Senior rank
Generaloberstabsarzt
Admiraloberstabsarzt

History

Wehrmacht 1933 – 1945

Generalstabsarzt of the Wehrmacht was comparable to the Generalleutnant, as well as to the Gruppenführer and Generalleutnant of the Waffen-SS.
In line with the Reich's salary order and appendices to the salary law of the Reich of 1927, the comparative ranks were as follows:
  • Generalleutnant in the Heer and Luftwaffe
  • Vizeadmiral in the Kriegsmarine
  • Generalstabsarzt in the medical service of the Wehrmacht, from 1934 on
  • Generalstabsveterinär in the veterinarian service of the Wehrmacht, from 1934 on

    Comparative military ranks

Kriegsmarine
Rank designations of the Kriegsmarine as on 30 March 1934 are contained in the table below.

Germany before 1933

In Prussia and Bavaria surgeon general of the army was an appointment and the official title of the head of the entire military medical service. Officers assigned to this staff position could rise in rank up to Generalleutnant.
Until 1856 the Generalstabsarzt of the Prussian Army could be promoted to colonel. From then on he could rise to Generalmajor, and from 1873 to Generalleutnant. At the same time the Generalstabsarzt was chief of the medical department of the Prussian Ministry of War and chief of the medical corps. He was also superior to a Generalarzt.
Equivalent authority, mandate and competence was with the Generalstabsarzt of the Imperial German Navy. He was chief of the medical division in the German Imperial Naval Office and chief of the navy's medical corps as well.

Austria-Hungary

In the Common Army there were two regular Generalstabsarzt staff positions established. One was chief of the medical division of the Reichskriegsministerium and chief of the military surgeon officer corps. The second was Praeses of the military medical committee. This rank was comparable to the Generalmajor of the Common Army.
In some cases a surgeon general of a corps could be promoted to the rank of Generalstabsarzt.

Officers with that rank

  • Johann Traugott Dreyer von der Iller, Generalstabsarzt
  • Felix von Kraus, Generalstabsarzt und Sanitätsreferent

    Relevant literature

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