Who is higher - Major General or Lieutenant General? People who have not served in the army cannot answer this seemingly simple question with absolute certainty. Many argue that the matter is the number of stars on officer uniforms. Whoever has more of them is, accordingly, older in military rank. The lieutenant general and lieutenant of the Russian army wear two stars each, and the major general and major one each. It turns out that the lieutenant general is older?
Others talk about the fact that the highest ranks are given in the reverse order, from Colonel General to Lieutenant General. Still others believe that since an ordinary major is older than a lieutenant, then senior officer ranks follow in the same order. In fact, all of these versions have nothing to do with reality. How to figure out who is higher - Major General or Lieutenant General? For this, it is necessary to turn to the history of the emergence of higher military ranks.
So who is superior: Major General or Lieutenant General?
In the modern Russian army, Major General is the first highest rank for an officer. It is received after the colonel. He is followed by the lieutenant general. Next, two senior ranks for an officer - Colonel General and Army General.
Top officers in the Russian army
These ranks appeared in the Russian army at the end of the 17th century and existed for more than two centuries, until 1917. After the revolution, the decree "On equalization of military personnel in rights" entered into force. Instead of ranks, service categories were introduced. At this time, there was no question of who is higher - Major General or Lieutenant General.
All military ranks were abolished, and on the form of Soviet soldiers there were no shoulder straps, orders, or other traditional insignia. They returned to the former system of officer ranks only in 1935. And a few years later the highest military ranks were returned.
What does the general command
And why is the lieutenant general higher than the major general? Major General commands large wax compounds: division, corps. He may also be deputy commander of the district. On his shoulder straps, one big star. A lieutenant general may command a military district or a separate army. You rarely see such officers in the regular unit; they serve in headquarters. On the shoulder straps of the lieutenant general, two large stars.
The history of the emergence of military ranks
Incidentally, all officer and general ranks appeared in France in the 14th century. Therefore, the names of most military ranks have French roots. Initially, the word "general" was used only as a prefix to the title in the meaning of "principal". But then they began to designate a special higher military rank.
Also called the heads of the knights generals. And in the XVIII century, lieutenant generals were already called the governors of the king in the French provinces. In the guard troops, the word "guard" is added to the rank of the rank.
Currently, general ranks exist in most armies in the world. At the same time, the system of army ranks is constantly undergoing changes. It may differ depending on belonging to one or another branch of the army, police and other services. In different countries, the same name means different ranks and positions.
Military reform of Peter the Great
The general military ranks appeared in the Russian army under Emperor Peter the Great, when military reform was carried out and the “Table of Ranks” was introduced. This document made it possible to compare military ranks in ordinary and guard units with civilian ones. The state has a regular army. A general military draft and compulsory military service for the nobility were also introduced. It was there that they received officer ranks.
Before the reform, mercenaries from other states were called up for service. And for a long time the rank of lieutenant general was used only in the navy. Interestingly, before the military reform, the commanders were called by the number of soldiers under his command (for example, a thousand-strong). Such a system has long been used in parallel with the new.
Each next emperor made his own changes to the "Table of Ranks." By the way, in many armies of Europe at that time the rank of "lieutenant" did not exist, instead the rank of lieutenant was used. There was also the rank of "full general" (in the modern Russian army, he corresponds to the rank of army general). And the word "lieutenant" was used to mean the deputy commander.
To finally understand why a lieutenant general is older than a major general, it should be noted that the ranks in the army determine the rights and obligations of a soldier. They correspond to a specific position. There is even a special term for service compliance. Why is a major general younger than a lieutenant general? Initially, the ranks designated only duties that were assigned to the soldier or officer. That is, getting the rank meant the military’s readiness for the corresponding service, his certain knowledge and skills. The one who led the fleet received the rank of admiral general. The regiment commander was called the colonel, responsible for the battalion - major, for the company - captain. The lieutenant was his assistant (this title corresponds to the modern lieutenant). The commander in chief was Field Marshal, his assistant was called the lieutenant general.
Ranks and positions
Over time, the title began to be separated from the post. This process was lengthy and complex. Only in the middle of the 19th century did insignia appear: epaulettes, epaulets and stars on them.
Gradually, the ranks began to receive for the length of service, the solution of complex combat missions and other merits. The commander who commanded large formations received the rank of major general. And the lieutenant general was only one step lower than the "full general". Therefore, there was no question of who was the most important - major general or lieutenant general.