Grand admiral

Grand admiral is a historic naval rank, the highest rank in the several European navies that used it. It is best known for its use in Germany as Großadmiral. A comparable rank in other navies is that of fleet admiral.

In Bourbon Restoration France, the rank was an honorific one equivalent to that of marshal in the French Army.

In the Imperial German Navy, and later in the Kriegsmarine, the rank Großadmiral was the equivalent of a British admiral of the fleet or a United States fleet admiral; as a five-star rank (OF-10). Like field marshals its holders were authorised to carry a baton.

The rank was created in 1901 and discontinued in 1945, after seven men were promoted to it. The next most junior rank was Generaladmiral (admiral-general).

Before and during World War I, the following were made grand admirals of the Imperial German Navy (Kaiserliche Marine):

There were no more grand admirals until 1939. The following men were made grand admirals of the German Kriegsmarine:

Anton Haus, commander of the Austro-Hungarian navy for part of World War I, was given the title of Großadmiral in 1916. No other active-duty officer (except members of the Imperial family) was ever given this rank (although Haus's immediate successor, Maximilian Njegovan, was promoted to grand admiral on the retired list in 1918).

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