Romanian Army and Navy Ranks

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

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Romanian Military Ranks (1914–1918)

Romania entered the First World War in 1916 and employed a rank system shaped by continental models, particularly French and Austro-Hungarian influences. General officers included General de Armată, General Colonel, General Locotenent, and General Maior. Field and company officers descended through Colonel, Locotenent Colonel, Maior, Căpitan, Locotenent, and Sublocotenent. The NCO structure placed Plutonier Major Șef and Plutonier Major at the top, with Sergent Major, Caporal, and Soldat forming the lower enlisted grades. The Romanian Navy paralleled wider European maritime usage, with Amiral, Vice Amiral, and Contraamiral as flag officers, supported by Comandor, Căpitan Comandor, and Locotenent Comandor. Junior officers included Locotenent and Sublocotenent. No independent air service existed during the war; Army and Navy personnel provided aviation detachments under their parent branches. This hierarchy reflected Romania’s rapid modernization efforts during its late entry into the war, while preserving native titles consistent with national tradition.

Army — Officer Ranks

Army — NCO & Enlisted Ranks

Navy — Officer Ranks

Notes

• Equivalences are functional, based on command level, not literal translations.
• Romanian titles are kept in their native form with English rendering alongside.
• Abbreviations are included only where attested in WWI sources; others are left blank.
• No distinct Romanian Air Force existed in WWI; aviation was part of the Army.