Vizeadmiral

Vizeadmiral (abbreviated VAdm) is a senior naval flag officer rank in several German-speaking countries, equivalent to Vice admiral.

Austria-Hungary

See also: Ranks in the Austro-Hungarian Navy

In the Austro-Hungarian Navy there were the flag-officer ranks Kontreadmiral (also spelled Konterdmiral in the 20th century), Viceadmiral, and Admiral, as well as Großadmiral.

K.u.K. Kriegsmarinerank

Command flag

Cuff title

K.u.K. Konteradmiral

Belgium

See also: Belgian military ranks

In the Belgian Navy, the rank is known as Vizeadmiral(in German), vice-admiraal(in Flemish) and vice-amiral(in French). ^[1]

Germany

See also: Ranks of the German Bundeswehr, Rank insignia of the German Bundeswehr, and List of admirals of Germany § Vizeadmirale

Vice admiral Vizeadmiral
Shoulder board and mounting loop
Cuff title
Country	Germany
Service branch	German Navy
Abbreviation	VAdm
Rank group	Flag officer
NATO rank code	OF-8
Pay grade	B8
Next higher rank	Admiral
Next lower rank	Konteradmiral
Equivalent ranks	Generalleutnant

Rank insignia and rating

Its rank insignia, worn on the sleeves and shoulders, are one five-pointed star above a big gold stripe and two normal ones (without the star when rank loops are worn). It is grade B8 in the pay rules of the Federal Ministry of Defence.

The sequence of ranks (top-down approach) in that particular group is as follows:

• OF-9: Admiral (Germany) / General (Germany)
• OF-8: Vizeadmiral / Generalleutnant
• OF-7: Konteradmiral / Generalmajor
• OF-6: Flottillenadmiral / Brigadegeneral

History

Imperial German Navy and Kriegsmarine

See also: Uniforms and insignia of the Kriegsmarine § Commissioned Officer ranks

In the Kaiserliche Marine and Kriegsmarine , Vizeadmiral was a flag officer rank equivalent to a Heer or LuftwaffeGeneralleutnant, and to an SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant 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 (one pip or star) on padding in navy blue weapon color.

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

National People's Army

See also: Ranks of the National People's Army § Volksmarine

Vizeadmiral was the second lowest flag officer grade of the Volksamarine, equivalent to the Generalleutnant .

In the GDR Volksmarine there were 3 flag officer ranks: Konteradmiral, Vizeadmiral, and Admiral. The GDR State Council decided 25 March 1982 to introduce the rank of Flottenadmiral.

Insignia

Insignia	Shoulder	Sleeve	Rank flag	Higher/lower rank
Imperial German Navy [2]				Admiral Konteradmiral
Reichsmarine [3]
Kriegsmarine [4]
Volksmarine [5]
German Navy [6]

References

1. "Marinecomponent". mil.be (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 20 February 2005. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
2. "Dienstgrade und Uniformen". kleiner-kreuzer-dresden.de (in German). Archived from the original on 30 July 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
3. Hoyer, K; Brennecke, F (1925). Die Uniformen des Reichsheeres und der Reichsmarine nebst amtlichen Uniformtafeln; mit Genehmigung des Reichswehrministeriums (in German). Charlottenburg: Verlag "Offene Worte, ". OCLC   44571687.
4. Mollo 2001, p. 19.
5. Luft, Kathleen (1988). "National Security". In Burant, Stephen R. (ed.). East Germany: a country study. Area Handbook (3rd ed.). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. pp. 264–265. LCCN   87600490 . Retrieved 19 October 2021.
6. "Dienstgradabzeichen Marine". bundeswehr.de (in German). Bundeswehr. Retrieved 30 May 2021.

• Mollo, Andrew (2001). The Armed Forces of World War II: Uniforms, Insignia & Organisation. Leicester: Silverdale books. ISBN   1-85605-603-1.