Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star

military A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...

rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...

, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a

captain general Captain general (and its literal equivalent in several languages) is a high military rank of general officer grade, and a gubernatorial title. History The term "Captain General" started to appear in the 14th century, with the meaning of Comma ...

. In modern armies, lieutenant general normally ranks immediately below general and above

major general Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of ...

; it is equivalent to the navy rank of vice admiral, and in air forces with a separate rank structure, it is equivalent to air marshal. A lieutenant general commands an

army corps Corps (; plural ''corps'' ; from French , from the Latin "body") is a term used for several different kinds of organization. A military innovation by Napoleon I, the formation was first named as such in 1805. The size of a corps varies great ...

, made up of typically three army divisions, and consisting of around 60 000 to 70 000 soldiers (U.S.). The seeming incongruity that a lieutenant general outranks a major general (whereas a major outranks a

lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often ...

) is due to the derivation of major general from sergeant major general, which was a rank subordinate to lieutenant general (as a lieutenant outranks a

sergeant major Sergeant major is a senior non-commissioned rank or appointment in many militaries around the world. History In 16th century Spain, the ("sergeant major") was a general officer. He commanded an army's infantry, and ranked about third in th ...

). In contrast, in

Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-eig ...

and a number of other countries of the former

Soviet Union The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...

, lieutenant general is a ''two''-star rank, immediately below colonel general, and above

– in these systems this last rank having one star, without any use of the

brigadier general Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

of many Western countries. However, some countries of Latin America (such as Brazil and Chile) use divisional general as the equivalent of lieutenant general. In addition, because no brigadier general rank is used in Japan and Taiwan, lieutenant general is the rank of divisional commander. Therefore, it corresponds to divisional general of these countries. In a number of smaller states which employ NATO and western style military organisational structures, because of the limited number of soldiers in their armies, the rank of lieutenant general is the highest army rank in use. In Latvia, Lithuania, and Singapore, the chief of defence is a lieutenant general, and in the Irish Defence Forces and

Israel Defence Forces The Israel Defense Forces (IDF; he, צְבָא הַהֲגָנָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל , ), alternatively referred to by the Hebrew-language acronym (), is the national military of the State of Israel. It consists of three service branch ...

, the Chief of Staff holds this rank.

Lieutenant general ranks by country

* Lieutenant general (Australia) * Lieutenant general (Bangladesh) * '' General-pukovnik'' (Bosnia & Herzegovina) * Lieutenant-general (Canada) * (Finland) * (Estonia) * (Germany) * Lieutenant General (India) *

Lieutenant general (Pakistan) Lieutenant General is a three-star army officer rank in the Pakistan Army. It is equivalent to a vice admiral in the Pakistan Navy and an air marshal in the Pakistan Air Force. A lieutenant general is also called a three-star general. Like o ...

* Lieutenant general (Sri Lanka) * (Sweden) *

Lieutenant general (United Kingdom) Lieutenant general (Lt Gen), formerly more commonly lieutenant-general, is a senior rank in the British Army and the Royal Marines. It is the equivalent of a multinational three-star rank; some British lieutenant generals sometimes wear three ...

* Lieutenant general (United States)

Army ranks

File:ALB-Army-OF-8.svg,
( Albanian Army) File:Angola-Army-OF-8.svg,
( Angolan Army) File:Argentina-Army-OF-9.svg,
( Argentine Army) File:Armenia-Army-OF-7.svg,

(

Armenian Ground Forces The Armenian Ground Forces () is the collective term for personnel branches of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Armenia that are responsible for the country's land-based operations. It was established in conjunction with the other compone ...

) File:Australian Army OF-8.svg, Lieutenant general
( Australian Army) File:Bundesheer - Rank insignia - Generalleutnant.png,
( Austrian Army) File:17.AzLF-LG.png,
(

Azerbaijani Land Forces The Azerbaijani Land Forces ( az, Azərbaycan Silahlı Qüvvələri Quru Qoşunları) are the land force component of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan has been trying to create professional, well trained ...

) File:Bangladesh-army-OF-8.svg, Lieutenant general

(

Bangladesh Army The Bangladesh Army is the land warfare branch and the largest component of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. The primary mission of the Army is to provide necessary forces and capabilities to deliver the Bangladeshi government's security and defe ...

) File:Post-Soviet-Army-OF-7.svg,

(

Belarusian Ground Forces The Belarusian Ground Forces is a service branch of the Armed Forces of Belarus. History The ground forces were founded on March 20, 1992, on the same day the Defence Ministry of Belarus was established. By 1994, the ground forces had over 5 ...

) File:Army-BEL-OF-08.svg,
( Belgian Land Component) File:15.Bhutan Army-LG.svg,
Lieutenant general
( Royal Bhutan Army) File:Rank insignia of Генерал-лейтенант of the Bulgarian Army.png,

(

Bulgarian Land Forces The Bulgarian Land Forces ( bg, Сухопътни войски на България, Sukhopŭtni voĭski na Bŭlgariya, lit=Ground Forces of Bulgaria) are the ground warfare branch of the Bulgarian Armed Forces. The Land Forces were established ...

) File:Botswana-Army-OF-8.svg, Lieutenant general
(

Botswana Ground Force The Botswana Ground Forces is the army of the country of Botswana, and the land component of the Botswana Defence Force. History The Botswana Defence Force was raised in April 1977 by an Act of Parliament called the 'BDF Act NO 13 of 1977. At it ...

) File:18.RBrLF-LG.svg,
(

Royal Brunei Land Forces The Royal Brunei Land Forces (Malay: Tentera Darat Diraja Brunei, abbreviated TDDB) is the land component of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces. The RBLF has responsibility for maintaining the territorial defence of Brunei Brunei ( , ), form ...

) File:Blank.svg,

(

Burundi Army The ''Burundi'' National Defence Force (french: Force de defense nationale ''du Burundi'', or FDNB) is the state military organisation responsible for the defence of Burundi. A general staff (''État-Major Général'') commands the armed forces, ...

) File:Canadian Army OF-8.svg, Lieutenant-general

(

Canadian Army The Canadian Army (french: Armée canadienne) is the command responsible for the operational readiness of the conventional ground forces of the Canadian Armed Forces. It maintains regular forces units at bases across Canada, and is also res ...

) File:DR Congo Army OF-8.svg,
( Land Forces of the DR Congo) File:CzArmy 2011 OF8-Generalporucik shoulder.svg,
(

Czech Land Forces The Czech Land Forces ( cs, Pozemní síly) are the land warfare force of the Czech Republic. The Land Forces consisting of various types of arms and services complemented by air and special operations forces constitute the core of the Czech Ar ...

) File:Denmark-Army-OF-8-M11.svg,
( Royal Danish Army) File:Capona Teniente General Ejercito Nacional.svg,
(

Dominican Army The Dominican Army ( es, Ejército de República Dominicana, is one of the three branches of the Armed Forces of the Dominican Republic, together with the Dominican Navy, Navy and the Dominican Air Force, Air Force. The Dominican army with 28,75 ...

) File:Estonia-Army-OF-8.svg,
( Estonian Land Forces) File:Kenraaliluutnantti M05.svg,

(

Finnish Army The Finnish Army ( Finnish: ''Maavoimat'', Swedish: ''Armén'') is the land forces branch of the Finnish Defence Forces. The Finnish Army is divided into six branches: the infantry (which includes armoured units), field artillery, anti-aircraf ...

) File:15.Gambian Army-LG.svg, Lieutenant general
( Gambian National Army) File:Georgia-Army-OF-8.svg,

(

Georgian Land Forces The Georgian Land Forces ( ka, საქართველოს სახმელეთო ძალები) are the land force component of the Defense Forces of Georgia. They are the largest branch of the military and constitute the bulk o ...

) File:HD H 63 Generalleutnant.svg,
( German Army) File:15-Ghana Army-LG.svg, Lieutenant general
(

Ghana Army The Ghana Army (GA) is the main ground warfare organizational military branch of the Ghanaian Armed Forces (GAF). In 1959, two years after the Gold Coast obtained independence as Ghana, the Gold Coast Regiment was withdrawn from the Royal Wes ...

) File:14. Guinea-Bissau LG.svg,
( Army of Guinea-Bissau) File:Haiti-Army-OF-8.svg,
( Haitian Army) File:Lieutenant General of the Indian Army.svg, Lieutenant general

( Indian Army) File:21-TNI Army-LG.svg,
( Indonesian Army) File:Ireland-Army-OF-8.svg, Lieutenant-general

(

Irish Army The Irish Army, known simply as the Army ( ga, an tArm), is the land component of the Defence Forces of Ireland.The Defence Forces are made up of the Permanent Defence Forces – the standing branches – and the Reserve Defence Forces. The A ...

) File:IT-Army-OF8.svg,
( Italian Army) File:Jamaica-Army-OF-8 (new).svg, Lieutenant general
( Jamaican Army) File:18-RKGF-LG.svg,

(

Kazakh Ground Forces The Kazakh Ground Forces (, ; ) is the land service branch of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan. It is one of the three uniformed military services, and is the most senior branch of the Kazakh military in order of precedence. The mai ...

) File:15. Kenyan Army LG.svg, Lieutenant general
(

Kenya Army The Kenya Army is the land arm of the Kenya Defence Forces. History The origin of the present day Kenya Army lie with the British Army's King's African Rifles. In the last quarter of the 19th Century the British began actively enforcing the abo ...

) File:Kosovo-Army-OF-8.svg,
( Kosovo Security Force) File:LV-Army-OF8.png,
(

Latvian Land Forces The Latvian Land Forces ( lv, Sauszemes spēki, SzS) together with the Latvian National Guard form the land warfare branch of the Latvian National Armed Forces. Since 2007, land forces are organized as a fully professional standing army. Mission ...

) File:Blank.svg, Lieutenant general
( Lesotho Army) File:Liberia-Army-OF-8.svg, Lieutenant general
( Liberian Ground Forces) File:21-Lithuania Army-LG.svg,
(

Lithuanian Land Forces The Lithuanian Land Forces (LLF) form the backbone of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, capable of acting as an integral part of NATO forces. Lithuanian Land Forces consist of three brigades, the Engineer Battalion, and the National Defence Volunte ...

) File:15. Malawi Army - LG.svg, Lieutenant general
(

Malawi Army The Malawian Defence Force is the state military organisation responsible for defending Malawi. It originated from elements of the British King's African Rifles, colonial units formed before independence in 1964. The military is organized under ...

) File:Malaysia-army-OF-8.svg,
( Malaysian Army) File:Mongolian Army-LTG-service.svg,

( Mongolian Ground Forces) File:Mozambique-Army-OF-7.svg,
( Mozambican Army) File:15-Namibia Army-LG.svg, Lieutenant general
(

Namibian Army The Namibian Army is the ground warfare branch of the Namibian Defence Force. History Development of Namibia's army was fastest of the three arms of Service. The first units of the Army were deployed as early as 1990. The Army was formed when ...

) File:Nl-landmacht-luitenant generaal.svg,
( Royal Netherlands Army) File:19.Nepalese Army-LG.svg, Lieutenant general

(

Nepali Army The Nepali Army ( ne, नेपाली सेना, translit=Nēpālī Sēnā), technically the Gorkhali Army ( ne, गोरखाली सेना, translit=Gōrakhālī Sēnā, label=none; see ''Gorkhas''), is the land service branch ...

) File:New Zealand-Army-OF-8.svg, Lieutenant-general
( New Zealand Army) File:Nigeria-Army-OF-8.svg, Lieutenant general
( Nigerian Army) File:Norway-army-OF-8.svg,
(

Norwegian Army The Norwegian Army ( no, Hæren) is the land warfare service branch of the Norwegian Armed Forces. The Army is the oldest of the Norwegian service branches, established as a modern military organization under the command of the King of Norway ...

) File:OF-8 PakistanArmy.svg, Lieutenant general

( Pakistan Army) File:PA Lt. Gen.png, Lieutenant general
(

Philippine Army The Philippine Army (PA) (Tagalog: ''Hukbong Katihan ng Pilipinas''; in literal English: ''Army of the Ground of the Philippines''; in literal Spanish: ''Ejército de la Tierra de la Filipinas'') is the main, oldest and largest branch of the ...

) File:Army-POR-OF-08.svg,
( Portuguese Army) File:Romania-Army-OF-8.svg,
( Romanian Land Forces) File:Russia-Army-OF-7-2010.svg,

( Russian Ground Forces) File:15-Rwanda Army-LG.svg, Lieutenant general
( Rwandan Land Forces) File:Blank.svg, Lieutenant general
(

Sierra Leone Army The Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) are the armed forces of Sierra Leone, responsible for the territorial security of Sierra Leone's borders and defending the national interests of Sierra Leone, within the framework of the 1991 Si ...

) File:10-RSA-OF08.svg, Lieutenant general
( Singapore Army) File:Army-SVK-OF-08.svg,
( Slovak Ground Forces) File:Spain-Army-OF-8.svg,
( Spanish Army) File:Sri Lanka-army-OF-8.svg, Lieutenant general
(

Sri Lanka Army ta, இலங்கை இராணுவம் , image = File:Sri Lanka Army Logo.png , image_size = 180px , caption = Emblem of the Sri Lanka Army , start_date ...

) File:SAA-OF-8.svg, Lieutenant general
( South African Army) File:Blank.svg, Lieutenant general
( South Sudan Army) File:Blank.svg, Lieutenant general
( Eswatini Army) File:Sweden-Field-OF-8 (2019).svg,
( Swedish Army) File:Tajikistan-Army-OF-7.png,

(

Tajik National Army tg, Қувваҳои Мусаллаҳи Ҷумҳурии Тоҷикистон, italics=off , image=File:Tajik Armed Forces Shoulder Patch.jpg , image_size= , image2 = , alt2 = Roundel , caption=The shoulder patch o ...

) File:16-Tanzania Army-LG.svg, Lieutenant general

( Tanzanian Army) File:Timor-Leste-Army-OF-8.svg,
( Timor-Leste Army) File:Post-Soviet-Army-OF-7.svg,
( Turkmen Ground Forces) File:Uganda-Army-OF-8.svg, Lieutenant general
( Ugandan Army) File:Погон генерал-лейтенанта ЗСУ (2020).svg,

( Ukrainian Ground Forces) File:British Army OF-8.svg, Lieutenant-general
(

British Army The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...

) File:US Army O9 (Army greens).svg, Lieutenant general
(

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land warfare, land military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight Uniformed services of the United States, U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army o ...

) File:Blank.svg,
(

National Army of Uruguay The National Army of Uruguay ( es, Ejército Nacional del Uruguay) is the land force branch of the Armed Forces of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay. Organization The army consists of some 15,000 personnel organized into four divisions. His s ...

) File:Uzbekistan-army-OF-7.svg,
(

Uzbek Ground Forces The Uzbek Ground Forces are the land component of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Operating since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the army is made up of former Soviet Army units that were in the territory of Uzbekistan. A ...

) File:Blank.svg, Lieutenant general
(

Zambian Army The Zambian Army, is the land military branch of the Zambian Defence Force. Like all branches of the Zambian military, citizens of the nation are required to register at 16 years old, and citizens can join at 16 years old with parental consent or ...

) File:Zimbabwe-Army-OF-8.svg, Lieutenant general
( Zimbabwe National Army)

Air force ranks

File:ALB-Airforce-OF-8.svg, Gjeneral lejtant
( Albanian Air Force) File:BE-Air Force-OF8.svg, ''Lieutenant général'' / ''Luitenant-generaal''
( Belgian Air Component) File:Rank insignia of Генерал-лейтенант of the Bulgarian Air forces.png, ''Генерал-лейтенант''
( Bulgarian Air Force) File:RDAF Lt Gen.svg, ''Generalløjtnant''
(

Royal Danish Air Force The Royal Danish Air Force ( da, Flyvevåbnet, lit=The Flying weapon) (RDAF) is the aerial warfare force of The Kingdom of Denmark and one of the four branches of the Danish Defence. Initially being components of the Army and the Navy, it was ...

) File:16 - FAE - Pala de Teniente General - Lieutenant General.jpg, ''Teniente general''
(

Ecuadorian Air Force The Ecuadorian Air Force ( es, Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana, FAE) is the Air arm of the Military of Ecuador and responsible for the protection of the Ecuadorian airspace. Mission To develop the military air wing, in order to execute institutional ...

) File:Finland-AirForce-OF-8.svg, ''

Kenraaliluutnantti ''Kenraaliluutnantti'' (Lieutenant General) is an officer's rank in Finland, immediately above (Major General) and below (General). In Finland, the rank is translated as lieutenant general. Finnish Defence Forces rank of is comparable to Ranks ...

/ Generallöjtnant''
( Finnish Air Force) File:Georgia Air Force OF-9.png, ''გენერალ ლეიტენანტი''
( Georgian Air Force) File:Nl-luchtmacht-luitenant generaal.svg, ''Luitenant-generaal''
( Royal Netherlands Air Force) File:PAF LTGEN Svc.svg, ''Tenyente heneral''
( Philippine Air Force) File:Rank insignia of generał broni of the Air Force of Poland.svg, ''Generał broni''
( Polish Air Force) File:TenGen t.jpg, ''Tenente-general''
( Portuguese Air Force) File:Russia-Airforce-OF-7-2010.svg, ''Генера́л-лейтена́нт''
( Russian Aerospace Forces) File:SP-08 Teniente General EA.svg, ''Teniente-general''
( Spanish Air Force) File:OF-8_Generallöjtnant_FV.jpg, ''Generallöjtnant''
( Swedish Air Force) File:Turkey-air-force-OF-8.svg, ''Korgeneral''
(

Turkish Air Force The Turkish Air Force ( tr, ) is the aerial warfare service branch of the Turkish Armed Forces. The Turkish Air Force can trace its origins back to June 1911 when it was founded by the Ottoman Empire, however, the air force as it is known to ...

) File: UAAF shoulder mark 20.svg, Генерал-лейтенант
( Ukrainian Air Force) File:US Air Force O9 shoulderboard.svg, Lieutenant general
( United States Air Force)

Naval infantry

Generic-Navy-O11.svg,
(

Colombian Naval Infantry The Colombian Naval Infantry, also referred to as Colombian Marines ( es, Infantería de Marina Colombiana), is the marine force of the Colombian National Armada. The 53,123-member Colombian Marine Infantry is organized into a single division wit ...

) 21-TNI Navy-VADM.svg,
(

Indonesian Marine Corps '' ("Glorious on the Land and Sea") , colors = , colors_label = Beret color , march = Mars Korps Marinir , mascot = , equipment = ...

) Maldives Army OF-8.svg,
Lieutenant general
( Maldivian Marine Corps) Netherlands-Navy-OF-8.svg,
( Netherlands Marine Corps) 0infant.png,
(

Spanish Marine Infantry The Spanish Naval Infantry ( es, Infantería de Marina) is the naval infantry unit of the Spanish Navy () responsible for conducting amphibious warfare by utilizing naval platforms and resources. The Marine Corps is fully integrated into the A ...

) Sweden-Navy-OF-8.svg,
( Swedish Amphibious Corps) British Royal Marines OF-8.svg, Lieutenant-general
( Royal Marines) US Marine O9 shoulderboard vertical.svg, Lieutenant general
(

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...

) UAN shoulder mark 20.svg,

( Ukrainian Naval Infantry)

References

External links