Lieutenant field marshal, also frequently historically field marshal lieutenant (german: Feldmarschall-Leutnant, formerly , historically also and, in official

Imperial and Royal The phrase Imperial and Royal (German: ''kaiserlich und königlich'', ), typically abbreviated as ''k. u. k.'', ''k. und k.'', ''k. & k.'' in German (the "und" is always spoken unabbreviated), ''cs. és k. (császári és királyi)'' in Hungari ...

Austrian army documents from 1867 always , abbreviated ''FML''), was a senior army rank in certain European armies of the 17th to 20th centuries. It emerged as the rank of

field marshal Field marshal (or field-marshal, abbreviated as FM) is the most senior military rank, ordinarily senior to the general officer ranks. Usually, it is the highest rank in an army and as such few persons are appointed to it. It is considered as ...

(german: Feldmarschall) came to be used for the highest army commander in the 17th century (having originally been the equivalent of a cavalry colonel). In German-speaking countries the commander-in-chief usually appointed an "under marshal" () or "lieutenant field marshal" to support and represent the field marshal. Amongst his functions as the personal deputy to the field marshal, were the supervision of supply depots and routes, and inspection of the guards.

Austria

It was introduced to the Army of the

Austrian Empire The Austrian Empire (german: link=no, Kaiserthum Oesterreich, modern spelling , ) was a Central- Eastern European multinational great power from 1804 to 1867, created by proclamation out of the realms of the Habsburgs. During its existence, ...

in the period 1804 to 1866, and the Austro-Hungarian Army from 1867 to 1918, where it was the second highest general rank after the various generals of the branch- the general of infantry, cavalry and artillery - until the introduction of the rank of

colonel general Colonel general is a three- or four-star military rank used in some armies. It is particularly associated with Germany, where historically general officer ranks were one grade lower than in the Commonwealth and the United States, and was a ra ...

in 1915. On the re-introduction of the rank of

, it fell back to third place in terms of seniority. Prince Montecuccoli, a field marshal himself in the Habsburg army of the mid 17th century gives the order of precedence in the Imperial Army as follows: *

Feldhauptmann The ''Feldhauptmann'' (plural: ''Feldhauptleute'') was a historical military appointment, during the time of the ''Landsknechte'' or mercenaries in European warfare, who commanded a '' Fähnlein'', a unit of roughly battalion-size. A literal transla ...

( commander-in-chief) * General-Lieutenant or Feldhauptmann Lieutenant (

lieutenant general Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on th ...

) *

Feldmarschall ''Generalfeldmarschall'' (from Old High German ''marahscalc'', "marshal, stable master, groom"; en, general field marshal, field marshal general, or field marshal; ; often abbreviated to ''Feldmarschall'') was a rank in the armies of several ...

(field marshal) *

General der Kavallerie General of the Cavalry (german: General der Kavallerie) was a General officer rank in the cavalry in various states of which the modern states of German and Austria are successors or in other armies which used the German model. Artillery officers o ...

and

General der Artillerie General der Artillerie ( en: General of the artillery) may mean: 1. A rank of three-star general, comparable to modern armed forces OF-8 grade, in the Imperial German Army and its contingency armies of Prussia, Bavaria, Saxony and Württembe ...

(general of cavalry and general of artillery) * Felmarschall-Lieutenant (field marshal lieutenant) *

General-Feldwachtmeister ''Generalfeldwachtmeister'' is a historical military rank of general officer level in the armies of the German and Scandinavian countries, corresponding to the rank of ''maréchal de camp'' in France. A Generalfeldwachtmeister ranked above a brig ...

(major general) In 1789, for example, the Emperor conferred the rank of "Lieutenant Field Marshal on the Major Generals Count de Harrach, Baron d'Alvinzi, Prince Christian de Waldeck, Baron de Levenehr and Baron de Wallisch..."''The Gentleman's Magazine'', Vol 65., London, 1789, p. 558. Subsequently, the order of precedence of general ranks in the Austro-Hungarian Army was as follows: *

- Tárbornagy (field marshal) * Generaloberst - Vezérezredes, introduced in 1915 (colonel general) * General der Infanterie - Gyalogsági Tábornok,

- Lovassági Tábornok and

Feldzeugmeister ''Feldzeugmeister'' was a historical military rank in some German and the Austro-Hungarian armies, especially in use for the artillery. It was commonly used in the 16th or 17th century, but could even be found at the beginning of the 20th century i ...

- Táborszernagy (general of infantry, general of cavalry and general of artillery) *Feldmarschall-Leutnant - Altábornagy (field marshal lieutenant) *

Generalmajor is the Germanic variant of major general, used in a number of Central and Northern European countries. Austria Belgium Denmark is the second lowest general officer rank in the Royal Danish Army and Royal Danish Air Force. As a two-s ...

- Vezérőrnagy (major general) At that time, a field marshal lieutenant of the k.u.k. Army was equivalent to the ''Generalleutnant'' (

) of the

Prussian Army The Royal Prussian Army (1701–1919, german: Königlich Preußische Armee) served as the army of the Kingdom of Prussia. It became vital to the development of Brandenburg-Prussia as a European power. The Prussian Army had its roots in the co ...

(today comparable to an OF7, major general or two-star rank). The normal assignment of a lieutenant field marshal was command of a division-sized formation. He was addressed by the honorific title of "

excellency Excellency is an honorific style given to certain high-level officers of a sovereign state, officials of an international organization, or members of an aristocracy. Once entitled to the title "Excellency", the holder usually retains the r ...

". In Austria the rank continued to be used after 1918 by the commander-in-chief (FML

Adolf von Boog Adolf von Boog (27 April 1866, Belluno — 15 February 1929, Vienna) was an Austro-Hungarian Army officer who served in World War I, holding senior positions in the General Staff and commanding field units, and later was briefly the commander-in-c ...

) of the so-called ''Volkswehr'' (People's Defence) until 1919. However, the Bundesheer of the First Republic adopted the designation, structure and sequence of the German ranks in 1920. In 1933, following national tradition, Austrian ranks, insignia and uniforms were reintroduced, including lieutenant field marshal. These ranks remained in use until the ''

Anschluss The (, or , ), also known as the (, en, Annexation of Austria), was the annexation of the Federal State of Austria into the German Reich on 13 March 1938. The idea of an (a united Austria and Germany that would form a " Greater Germa ...

'' in 1938.

Denmark

The rank of Lieutenant field marshal ( da, Feltmarskal Lieutenant) was codified on 25 May 1671, by

King Christian V Christian V (15 April 1646 25 August 1699) was king of Denmark and Norway from 1670 until his death in 1699. Well-regarded by the common people, he was the first king anointed at Frederiksborg Castle chapel as absolute monarch since the decree ...

, with the publication of the Danish order of precedence. Here the rank of Lieutenant field marshal was placed above the rank of

general A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". O ...

, and below the position of Quartermaster general ( da, General Feldt-Tøymester).

Hungary

During the time of the Austro-Hungarian Army, the rank of Lieutenant field marshal was called . The rank is still used by the Hungarian Defence Forces.

References

Literature

* * Georg von Alten: ''Handbuch für Heer und Flotte.'' Vol. III, Berlin, 1911 * Constantin von Wurzbach: ''Biographisches Lexikon des Kaiserthums Österreich'', 60 vols., Vienna, 1856-1891 * ''Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie'', 56 vols., Munich-Leipzig, 1875-1912 * ''Österreichisches Biographisches Lexikon 1815-1950'', hitherto 12 volumes, Vienna,1957 ff. * ''Neue Österreichische Biographie'' (ab Band 10: ''Grosse Österreicher''), hitherto 21 volumes, Vienna, 1935-1982 * Felix Czeike: ''Historisches Lexikon Wien'', 5 vols., Vienna, 1992-1997 * Antonio Schmidt-Brentano: ''Kaiserliche und k.k. Generale 1618-1815'', Austrian State Archives * Antonio Schmidt-Brentano: ''Die k.k. bzw. k.u.k. Generalität 1816-1918'', Austrian State Archives * ''Adjustierungsvorschrift für die k.u.k. gemeinsame Armee, die k.k. Landwehr, die k.u. Landwehr, die verbundenen Einrichtungen und das Corps der Militär-Beamten.'' complete works Vienna/Bozen, 1912 {{DEFAULTSORT:Feldmarschallleutnant Military ranks of Austria Austro-Hungarian Army Military of Austria-Hungary Military of Austria

Austria

Denmark

Hungary

See also

References

Literature