Feldmarschalleutnant
Feldmarschalleutnant or Feldmarschall-Leutnant (FML/FMLt; rarely also written Feldmarschalllleutnant until 1867, formerly also Feldmarschall-Lieutenant and Obermarschall-Leutnant) was a German military rank in the German Army of the HRE (Reichsarmee), the Imperial Army (Kaiserliche Armee), the k.k. Army, the Common Army, the k.u.k. Army, the Austrian Bundesheer, and in the Kingdom of Hungary (1920–1944; thereafter as Altábornagy). It corresponded to the rank of Generalleutnant (Lieutenant General) in the Prussian Army (not to be confused with the original Generalleutnant of the Reichsarmee, the second-highest rank after General-Oberst-Feldhauptmann or Generalissimus) and ranked below the Feldzeugmeister (General der Waffengattung), the Generaloberst, and the Generalfeldmarschall. Feldmarschall-Leutnant officers were entitled to the honorary title "Excellency" in written correspondence and address.
Contents
History
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The rank of Lieutenant Field Marshal was used in the Imperial Habsburg Army of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation from the 17th century until 1806, in the army of the Austrian Empire from 1804 to 1866, and in the Austro-Hungarian Army from 1867 to 1918. It was the second-lowest general officer rank, subordinate only to the Generalwachtmeister or Major General. Superior to him were the Feldzeugmeister (artillery, and until 1908 also infantry), the General of Infantry (from 1908), and the General of Cavalry. At the top of the hierarchy was the Field Marshal, to whom the newly created rank of Colonel General was directly subordinate from 1915 onward.
Historical rank comparison
The generals of the Roman-German Emperor held the following ranks (in descending order):
- General-Capo or Generalissimus (briefly as Reichsfeldoberster or Reich Field Colonel in the Reich Army)
- Lieutenant General (GL)
- Field Marshal (FM)
- Feldzeugmeister (FZM) or General of Cavalry (GdK)
- Lieutenant Field Marshal (FML)
- Generalfeldwachtmeister (GFWM), from around 1770 Major General (GM)
- General Commandant of Horse and Foot (17th century; Brigadier)
Imperial ranks of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation were appointed by the Reichstag (HRE):
- Imperial Field Marshal (RGFM; before its introduction called Imperial Lieutenant General)
- Imperial Lieutenant Field Marshal (RGFML)
- Imperial General of Cavalry
- Imperial Reichs-Generalfeldzeugmeister / General Master of Ordnance (Infantry) or Imperial Reichsfeldzeugmeister / Master of Ordnance (RFZM)
- Imperial Reichs-Generalfeldzeugmeisterleutnant / Lieutenant General of Ordnance (Infantry)
- Imperial Reichs-Generalwachtmeister zu Roß / Master of Ordnance on Horseback (Major General)
- Imperial Reichs-Generalfeldzeugmeister / General Master of Ordnance of Foot (Major General)
General ranks of other territories during the time of the Empire:
- General of the Wagon (Electorate of Bavaria, Swabian Circle, Upper Rhenish Circle, Franconian Circle)
- Brigadier (Kingdom of Spain, Republic of the Seven United Provinces)
- Maréchal de camp (Kingdom of France)
Austria-Hungary
The rank in the Austro-Hungarian Army was equivalent to Lieutenant General in the Prussian Army. The Lieutenant Field Marshal usually commanded a troop division, and from 1917 onward, a division. Medical officers with the rank of Feldmarschall-Leutnant held the rank of senior medical officer in the Austro-Hungarian Army.
Post-WWI
In the Republic of Austria, after World War I, the rank was (continued to be) held by the commander-in-chief of the Deutschösterreichische Volkswehr (German-Austrian People's Militia; until 1919). Adolf Boog was already a Lieutenant Field Marshal in the Austro-Hungarian Army when he became commander-in-chief of the People's Militia. In the Federal Army of the First Republic (Bundesheer), German ranks and insignia were introduced in 1920. It was not until July 1933, by order of Engelbert Dollfuß, that historical ranks, insignia, and uniforms of the Austrian Army, including the rank of Lieutenant Field Marshal, were reintroduced and remained in use until 1938 (Anschluss).
Further reading
- Dr. Antonio Schmidt-Brentano: Die k. k. bzw. k. u. k. Generalität 1816–1918, Wien 2007
