Military rank "army general"

The general of the army is not just a military rank, it is a personal military rank, meaning the highest (or one of the highest) military position in the armies of almost all modern states. Above the rank of general - only the title of marshal or field marshal, which are used in some countries. And if such a title is not available, then the rank of general is the highest military post. Examples of such countries are the United States and Ukraine.

However, there are some atypical moments in the history of this title. For example, in Spain, the title of "general-captain", approximately corresponding to the rank of field marshal, which is higher than the rank of general, is appropriated.

To better understand the concept of "army general", one should compare the titles of the generals of the USA and the USSR.

In the Republican states of the United States, the title of marshal, which is subconsciously associated with the monarchy, has never existed. Serious attempts were not made to introduce it. As its counterpart in July 1866, Congress established a supreme military rank - army general, awarding them US Grant, who had the glory of the hero of the Civil War, who later became president of America. At that time, it existed only as a personal military title, and not a regular army rank. And at the same time this title could be worn by only one commander.

In the mid 40-ies of the twentieth century, the title was revised by Congress and established as a permanent military rank. However, since September 20, 1950, this title is no longer used, although it is still prescribed in the army regulations. The generals of the US Army began to have a title equivalent to the rank of admiral of the fleet and the general of the Air Force, which were then introduced.

In the USSR this title was given a somewhat different meaning. Here, the title "army general" was a personal military rank below the marshal of the Soviet Union and higher than the rank of colonel general. After the departure of the serviceman from service to the rank, the words "retired" or "reserve" were added.

The military rank of the army general was one of the four highest ranks that were introduced in 1940 in the Soviet Army. Before the revolution in Russia, the rank of army general did not exist, in fact, the supreme military rank belonged to the tsar. The first generals of the Soviet army - G.K. Zhukov, I.V. Tyulenev, K.A. Meretskov. Since then, the title of general of the Soviet army, as well as of the Marshal of the Soviet Union, was not appropriated to anyone until 1943, when epaulettes with four stars were solemnly presented to A.M. Vasilevsky.

Subsequently, during the Great Patriotic War, the rank of army general was given to an additional eighteen military commanders, of whom ten were later awarded the rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union.

Their main task was to guide the strategic directions. During the war period, the army general was assigned the role of commander of the front, and at the end of the war, his deputy.

After the war, the rank of general was no longer attributed to outstanding military achievements, but to the members of the top management of military units of the state, including security forces and political workers, on the fact of their employment.