Generaloberstabsarzt

Generaloberstabsarzt and Admiraloberstabsarzt are the top Joint Medical Service OF8-ranks of the German Bundeswehr. The equivalent to this ranks in the Heer is Generalleutnant and in the German Navy the Vizeadmiral.

Bundeswehr
In accordance with traditions in German armed forces, both ranks might be used in Bundeswehr medical service. Normally the Bundeswehr Surgeon General of the medical service (de: Inspekteur des Sanitätsdienstes), or the Chief of Medical Operation´s Command (de: Kommandeur Sanitätsführungskommando) might be assigned. However, in future the Chief position might remain vacant, because the Deputy Surgeon General is mandated to command the Medical Operation´s Command.

Equivalent to that three-star ranks (NATO-Rangcode OF-8) are Generalleutnant (en: Lieutenant general) of the Heer or Luftwaffe, and the Vizeadmiral (en: Viceadmiral) of the Marine.

Address
The manner of formal addressing of military surgeons with the rank Generalarzt (OF-6, one-star rank), Generalstabsarzt (OF-7, two-star rank) or Generaloberstabsarzt is, „Herr/Frau Generalarzt“. At the other hand, military surgeons with the rank Admiralarzt (OF-6, one-star rank), Admiralstabsarzt (OF-7, two-star rank) or Admiraloberstabsarzt is, „Herr/Frau Admiralarzt“.

Rank insignias
On the shoulder straps (Heer, Luftwaffe) there are three golden stars in golden oak leaves and the career insignia (de: Laufbahnabzeichen) as symbol of the medical standing, or course of studies. Regarding the Marine, the career insignia is in the middle of both sleeves, three centimeters above the cuff strips, and on the shoulder straps between strips and button.

Heer
Both General of the branch grades Generaloberstabsarzt and Generaloberstabveterinär were the most senior ranks of the medical – and veterinarian service of the German Wehrmacht 1933 to 1945.

Siegfried Handloser was assigned to Generaloberstabsarzt of the German Wehrmacht. He was simultaneous "Chief of the Wehrmacht´s Medical Service in Supreme Command of the Wehrmacht" (de: Chef des Wehrmachtsanitätswesens im Oberkommando der Wehrmacht) as to July 28,. 1942. Curt Schulze was Generaloberstabveterinär of the Wehrmacht.

Generaloberstabsarzt and Generaloberstabveterinär of the Wehrmacht were comparable to the General of the branch (OF8, tree stars), as well as to the Obergruppenführer and General of the Waffen-SS.

Kriegsmarine
The equivalent to Generaloberstabsarzt of the Wehrmacht was the Chief of Medical Service of the Kriegsmarine (de: Sanitätschef der Kriegsmarine) with the rank up to Admiraloberstabsarzt of the Kriegsmarine.

Luftwaffe
The equivalent to the Heeres-Sanitätsinspekteur and Sanitätschef of the Kriegsmarine was in the area of responsibility of the Luftwaffe the Sanitätsinspekteur of the Luftwaffe.

Other armed forces



 * Surgeon General of the United States
 * Surgeon General (Canada)
 * Surgeon-General (United Kingdom)
 * Chief Medical Officer (Ireland)
 * Chief Medical Officer (United Kingdom)

Relevant literature

 * Neumann, Alexander: ''Arzttum ist immer Kämpfertum - Die Heeressanitätsinspektion und das Amt "Chef des Wehrmachtsanitätswesens" im Zweiten Weltkrieg (1939-1945), 2005. ISBN 3-7700-1618-1
 * Süß, Winfried: Der "Völkskörper" im Krieg: Gesundheitspolitik, Gesundheitsverhältnisse und Krankenmord im nationalsozialistischen Deutschland 1939–1945, 2003. ISBN 3-486-56719-5