It's a general, 2 star in the US system after brigadier-general (1). The lowest general in the UK and other anglo systems (where it's just a plain Brigadier below).
General (4stars) is at the top (except in rare cases like world wars where there have been 5 star generals (equivalent to UK field marshal). Then lieutenant-general (3 star).
I believe it's origins actually are shortening of Sergeant-Major-General at some point in the modern period.
Yeah though the Soviets used some different ranks like Colonel General and even Generalissimo above marshal (but only Stalin was ever awarded it and he thought it was too pompous and stuck to wearing his marshal uniform).
But as a rule yeah plain general is often the highest and every modifier below it, representing some historic aspect. Like lieutenant-general meaning second in command, etc
It's a general, 2 star in the US system after brigadier-general (1). The lowest general in the UK and other anglo systems (where it's just a plain Brigadier below).
General (4stars) is at the top (except in rare cases like world wars where there have been 5 star generals (equivalent to UK field marshal). Then lieutenant-general (3 star).
I believe it's origins actually are shortening of Sergeant-Major-General at some point in the modern period.
I've heard of that term! Zhukov was a field marshal too! :D
Thanks for explaining. So a plain "general" is the highest type of general, and every type under it has some modifier in front of it?
Yeah though the Soviets used some different ranks like Colonel General and even Generalissimo above marshal (but only Stalin was ever awarded it and he thought it was too pompous and stuck to wearing his marshal uniform).
But as a rule yeah plain general is often the highest and every modifier below it, representing some historic aspect. Like lieutenant-general meaning second in command, etc