Reichsmarschall

{{distinguish|Marshal of the Realm (Denmark)|Marshal of the Realm (Sweden)}}

{{about|the military rank in Nazi Germany|the Reichserzmarschall in the Holy Roman Empire|Prince-elector#High offices}}

{{Multiple issues |

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{{Infobox military rank

| name = {{lang|de|Reichsmarschall}}

| native_name =

| image = Reichsmarschall Version 2 links.svg

| image_size = 100px

| alt =

| caption = Standard from 1941 to 1945 (left side)

| image2 = Luftwaffe collar tabs Reichsmarschall 3D.svg

| image_size2 = 100px

| alt2 =

| caption2 = Collar insignia

| image3 = Luftwaffe Reichsmarschall.svg

| image_size3 = 50px

| alt3 =

| caption3 = Shoulder boards

| country = {{flag|Nazi Germany}}

| service branch = {{armed forces|Nazi Germany}}

| abbreviation =

| rank group =

| pay grade =

| formation = 12th century {{small|(historical)}}
19 July 1940

| abolished = 1945

| higher rank =

| lower rank = {{lang|de|Generalfeldmarschall}}
{{lang|de|Großadmiral}}

| equivalents =

| history =

}}

{{lang|de|Reichsmarschall}} ({{langx|de|Reichsmarschall des Großdeutschen Reiches}}; {{literally|Reich Marshal of the Greater German Reich}}) was an honorary military rank, specially created for Hermann Göring during World War II, and the {{lang |la |de jure}} highest rank in the {{lang |de |Wehrmacht}}. It was senior to the rank of {{lang |de |Generalfeldmarschall}} ({{lit |general field marshal}}, equivalent to field marshal, which was previously the highest rank in the {{lang |de |Wehrmacht}}), but was merely a ceremonial appointment to accentuate Göring's position as Hitler's designated successor.{{sfn|Haskew|2011a|p=46}} No actual subordination of the other field marshals or a superior position of the holder followed from it. It was equivalent to General of the Armies in the United States, or {{lang |it |Generalissimo}} in other countries.{{cite web |title=The History of General Officer Ranks |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241207013852/https://themarshalsbaton.com/History%20of%20Ranks.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241207013852/https://themarshalsbaton.com/History%20of%20Ranks.htm |archive-date=7 December 2024 |access-date=8 May 2025 |website=The Marshal's Baton |quote=The rank of Reichsmarschall was held by Hermann Goring during World War Two, and made him the highest ranking officer in all of Germany, the equivalent of a 6-star General.}}

History

Until July 1940, the highest rank in the German military was {{lang |de |Generalfeldmarschall}}. At the beginning of World War II, the only active holder of that rank was Hermann Göring, Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe.{{sfn|Haskew|2011b|p=46}} On 19 July 1940, following the German victory in the Battle of France, Adolf Hitler held a ceremony in which he promoted twelve generals to the newly awarded rank of {{lang |de |Generalfeldmarschall}}.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-11 |title=Albert Kesselring: Hitler's Go-To Guy |url=https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/albert-kesselring-hitlers-go-to-guy/ |access-date=2025-05-11 |website=Warfare History Network |language=en-US |quote=on July 19, 1940, Hitler bestowed the field marshal’s baton on 12 generals, including Kesselring, in celebration of their swift victory in the west. Kesselring, a General der Flieger, jumped over the rank of Generaloberst directly to Generalfeldmarschall.}} During the same ceremony, Göring was elevated to the newly created rank of {{lang |de |Reichsmarschall}}, a symbolic move to highlight his seniority over other {{lang |de |Wehrmacht}} commanders and to fulfill his ambitions for prestige, though it conferred no additional authority.{{efn|Göring also held many other prestigious titles, such as {{lang|de|Reichsjägermeister}} ({{lit |Reich Master of the Hunt}}){{cite book|title=Görings Reich: Der Reichsjägermeister in der Schorfheide|isbn= 9783788815134|oclc=809373538|author-last1=Knopf|author-first1=Volker|author-last2=Martens|author-first2=Stefan|date=2012|publisher=Neumann-Neudamm GmbH}} and Commissioner Plenipotentiary of the Four Year Plan.}}{{sfn|Haskew|2011a|pp=25, 46, 119}} This was done in order to ensure that the {{lang |de |Oberkommando der Wehrmacht}} ({{gloss |High Command of the Armed Forces}}, abbreviated in German to OKW), which was headed by Hitler, would retain overall control and authority over the German military.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-23 |title=Wehrmacht {{!}} History, Branches, & Definition {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Wehrmacht |access-date=2025-05-11 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}

Earlier, on the day Germany invaded Poland, Hitler designated Göring as his successor, a status underscored by a 1941 decree that empowered Göring to act as Hitler's deputy with full freedom of action in the event Hitler was incapacitated. Nevertheless, on 23 April 1945, when Göring suggested to Hitler that he assume leadership of the crumbling remains of Nazi Germany, Hitler relieved Göring of his duties and named a new successor in his last will and testament, Grand Admiral Karl Dönitz. Dönitz's appointment was made on or before the day of Hitler's suicide.{{sfn|O'Donnell|1979|p=217}}

Standards

{{Gallery

|align=centre

|width=180

|height=180

|File:Reichsmarschall Version 1 links.svg

|Standard from 1940 to 1941 (left side)

|File:Reichsmarschall Version 1 rechts.svg

|Standard from 1940 to 1941 (right side)

|File:Reichsmarschall Version 2 links.svg

|Standard from 1941 to 1945 (left side)

|File:Reichsmarschall Version 2 rechts.svg

|Standard from 1941 to 1945 (right side)

}}

Uniform

{{Gallery

|align=centre

|width=180

|height=180

|Mundur Goeringa.jpg

|Göring's uniform shown in the Luftwaffenmuseum der Bundeswehr in Berlin

|Goering reichsmarschall baton.jpg

|The original baton shown in the West Point Museum

}}

Notes

References

Sources

{{cite book |last=Haskew |first=Michael |title=The Wehrmacht |publisher=Amber Books |year=2011a |isbn=978-1-907446-95-5 }}
{{cite book |last=Haskew |first=Michael |title=The Wehrmacht |publisher=Amber Books |year=2011b |isbn=978-1-907446-99-3 }}
{{cite book |last=O'Donnell |first=James P. |title=The History of the Reich Chancellery Group |date=1979 |oclc=638799214 |publisher=J. M. Dent |location=London, UK }}

Category:German words and phrases

Category:Marshals of Germany

Category:Military of Nazi Germany

Category:Military ranks of Germany