Konteradmiral Explained

German: Konteradmiral (abbreviated KAdm) is a senior naval flag officer rank in several German-speaking countries, equivalent to counter or rear admiral.

Austria-Hungary

See also: Ranks in the Austro-Hungarian Navy.

In the Austro-Hungarian K.u.K. Kriegsmarine (1849 to 1918) there were the flag officer ranks Kontreadmiral (also spelled Konteradmiral in the 20th century), Viceadmiral, Admiral and Großadmiral.

Germany

Counter admiral
Native Name:German: Konteradmiral
Image Size2:50px
Abbreviation:KAdm
Rank Group:Flag officer
Nato Rank:OF-7
Pay Grade:B7
Higher Rank:German: [[Vizeadmiral]]
Lower Rank:German: [[Flottillenadmiral]]
Equivalents:German: [[Generalmajor]]

Konteradmiral, abbreviated KAdm or KADM, is the second lowest naval flag officer rank in the German Navy. It is equivalent to Generalmajor in the Heer and Luftwaffe or to Admiralstabsarzt and Generalstabsarzt in the Zentraler Sanitätsdienst der Bundeswehr.

Rank insignia and rating

See main article: Ranks of the German Bundeswehr and Rank insignia of the German Bundeswehr. The rank insignia, worn on the sleeves and shoulders, is a single five-pointed star above a single normal stripe and a wide stripe. The star is omitted on rank loops. Konteradmiral is a B7 grade in the pay rules of the Federal Ministry of Defence.

The sequence of ranks in decreasing seniority is:

History

Imperial German Navy and Kriegsmarine

In the Kaiserliche Marine and Kriegsmarine, Konteradmiral was an OF-6 one-star officer rank equivalent to a Heer or Luftwaffe Generalmajor, and to an SS-Brigadeführer and Generalmajor of the Waffen-SS.

The rank insignia consisted of shoulder strap and sleeve stripes. Shoulder straps had to be worn on uniform jackets and consisted of twisted gold-braids (no pips or stars) on padding in navy blue weapon color.

Cuff insignia consisted of one golden big stripe, one normal stripe, and a five-point naval star above. The sleeve rings encircled the lower cuffs.

The last surviving Kriegsmarine Konteradmiral, Eberhard Godt, died at the age of 95 on 13 September 1995.

National People's Army

Konteradmiral (OF-6) was the lowest flag officer grade of the Volksmarine, equivalent to the one-star rank Generalmajor (OF-6 as well).

In the GDR Volksmarine there were three flag officer ranks: Konteradmiral, Vizeadmiral, and Admiral. The GDR State Council decided from 25 March 25, 1982 to introduce the rank of Flottenadmiral.

Konteradmirals of the GDR Volksmarine:
Name Dates Name Dates
1931–1929–96
1934–20101944–
1924-20021932–
1906–911941–
1935–1934–2011
1933–851930–2012
1929–1933–
1929–1940–2013
1920–20041915–86
1917–871931–2008
1935–1921–90
1931–1923–95
1941–1935–2012

Insignia

See also

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dienstgrade und Uniformen . kleiner-kreuzer-dresden.de . 3 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170730143716/http://www.kleiner-kreuzer-dresden.de/html/dienstgrade_.html . 30 July 2017 . de.
  2. Book: Hoyer. K. Die Uniformen des Reichsheeres und der Reichsmarine nebst amtlichen Uniformtafeln; mit Genehmigung des Reichswehrministeriums. Brennecke. F. 1925. Verlag "Offene Worte, ". Charlottenburg. de. 44571687.
  3. Book: Luft . Kathleen . Burant . Stephen R. . East Germany: a country study . Area Handbook . 1988 . Library of Congress . Washington, D.C. . 87600490 . 264–265 . 3rd . 19 October 2021 . National Security.
  4. Web site: Dienstgradabzeichen Marine . bundeswehr.de . Bundeswehr . 30 May 2021 . de.