Austro-Hungarian Army and Navy Ranks (World War I, 1914–1918)

This reference list provides the military ranks used by the Austro-Hungarian Army and Navy during the First World War. It includes officer and enlisted grades, with abbreviations and English renderings. Where no exact modern equivalent exists, the literal historical form has been retained.

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Austro-Hungarian Military Ranks (1914–1918)

The Austro-Hungarian Monarchy maintained a complex military hierarchy that reflected both its dynastic traditions and its multinational character. The general officer corps included Feldmarschall and Generaloberst, supported by branch-specific titles such as General der Infanterie, General der Kavallerie, and Feldzeugmeister. The intermediate grade of Feldmarschalleutnant was unique to the Habsburg system, falling between major general and full general. Field and company officers followed continental usage, with Hauptmann and the cavalry’s Rittmeister at company level, while Fähnrich and Kadett represented the path of junior entrants. The enlisted and NCO ladder included Stabsfeldwebel, Zugsführer, and Korporal, echoing German but with distinctive Austrian usage. The Navy paralleled contemporary German and British practice, recognizing Grossadmiral at the apex, while scaling down to Matrose IV. Klasse at the recruit level. This structure embodied the Empire’s balancing of historical tradition with modern coalition warfare needs.

Army Ranks

Army Rank

Abbreviation

English Rendering

Feldmarschall

FM

Field Marshal or General of the Army

Generaloberst

GO

Colonel General

General der Infanterie

GdI

General of Infantry

General der Kavallerie

GdK

General of Cavalry

Feldzeugmeister

FZM

General of Artillery

Feldmarschalleutnant

FML

Lieutenant Field Marshal

Generalmajor

GM

Major General

Oberst

Obst

Colonel

Oberstleutnant

Obstlt

Lieutenant Colonel

Major

Mjr

Major

Hauptmann

Hptm

Captain

Rittmeister (Cavalry)

Rittm

Cavalry Captain

Oberleutnant

Oblt

First Lieutenant

Leutnant

Lt

Lieutenant

Fähnrich

Fhn

Ensign

Offizierstellvertreter

Offstv

Acting Officer

Kadett

Kdt

Cadet



Army Enlisted

Army Rank

Abbreviation

English Rendering

Stabsfeldwebel

Stbsfw

Staff Sergeant

Feldwebel

Fw

Master Sergeant

Unteroffizier

Uffz

Non-Commissioned Officer, Sergeant

Zugsführer

Zgsf

Master Corporal

Korporal

Kpl

Corporal

Gefreiter

Gfr

Private First Class

Soldat

—

Private



Navy Ranks

Naval Rank

Abbreviation

English Rendering

Grossadmiral

GrAdm

Admiral of the Fleet

Admiral

Adm

Admiral

Vizeadmiral

VAdm

Vice Admiral

Kontreadmiral

KAdm

Rear Admiral

Linienschiffskapitän

Lkpt

Captain

Fregattenkapitän

Fkpt

Commander

Korvettenkapitän

Kkpt

Lieutenant Commander

Linienschiffsleutnant

Lschlt

Lieutenant

Fregattenleutnant

Flglt

Lieutenant Junior Grade

Korvettenleutnant

Kklt

Sub-Lieutenant

Fregattenfähnrich

Ffhr

Ensign

Korvettenfähnrich

Kfhr

Midshipman

Seefähnrich

Sfr

Naval Academy Midshipman

Kadett (Navy)

Kdt

Naval Academy Candidate



Navy Enlisted

Naval Rank

Abbreviation

English Rendering

Oberstabsbootsmann

OStBtsm

Master Chief Petty Officer

Stabsbootsmann

StBtsm

Senior Chief Petty Officer

Bootsmann

Btsm

Chief Petty Officer

Oberbootsmannmaat

OBtsmaat

Petty Officer First Class

Bootsmaat

Btsmaat

Petty Officer Second Class

Quartiermeister

Qm

Leading Seaman

Matrose I. Klasse

Mat I

Seaman First Class

Matrose II. Klasse

Mat II

Seaman Second Class

Matrose III. Klasse

Mat III

Seaman Apprentice

Matrose IV. Klasse

Mat IV

Recruit


Note: Equivalences are approximate. Titles such as Feldmarschalleutnant ('Lieutenant Field Marshal') and Feldzeugmeister ('General of Artillery') are shown in their literal historical form, which differs from later NATO or U.S. rank structures.

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