Reichsmarschall
The Reichsmarschall (also Erzmarschall ) was originally the military deputy to the emperor and held one of the Erzämter in the Holy Roman Empire . In the 17th and 18th centuries the title of Reich Field Marshal was bestowed by the Kaiser and the Reichstag .
In 1938 he was reintroduced in Fascist Italy and in 1940 in the German Reich during National Socialism for both a military and a political commander-in-chief.
Reichsmarschall corresponds roughly to the title of generalissimo . Today the rank of Reichsmarschall is only used in Sweden for the head of the royal court .
Holy Roman Empire
The office of marshal had been one of the ore offices since Otto I. and later connected with the electoral dignity. In the Golden Bull , the Elector of Saxony is named as Reich Archmarschall (Archimarescallus). He was the bearer of the imperial sword on ceremonial occasions . His official sign were two crossed red swords, which he carried in the coat of arms (see Reichsrennfahne ). The deputy was hereditary as Reichshermarschall (Vicemarescallus) to the Counts of Pappenheim . In the High Middle Ages, both offices had a real function as commanders of the entire imperial contingent , but since the Renaissance at the latest they only had to perform ceremonial tasks at imperial coronations and imperial days .
When Generalissimo was in the Thirty Years' War Albrecht von Wallenstein called top general of the emperor. In the electoral capitulations of the emperors of the 17th century, the Reichsheer , a contingent army of the empire in addition to the armies of the principalities with some field marshals of their own , was to be commanded by an Reich General Field Marshal . The decision as to who should be entitled to this appointment rests with the emperor and the Reichstag. Two Reich Field Marshals were always appointed, one each from the Catholic and one from the Protestant camp. In 1734 four Reich Field Marshals were appointed for a limited period.
Denmark
In Denmark , the Reichsmarschall (Danish: Rigsmarsk ) was the second most important Reich office in the Danish Reichsrat after the Reich Chancellor until 1660 . Frederik III. replaced the existing elected monarchy in 1660/61 in favor of a hereditary monarchy and abolished the office of Rigsmarsk. The last holder of the office was Joachim von Gersdorff.
Sweden
In Sweden , the meaning of the Reichsmarschalles (Riksmarsk and Riksmarskalk) has changed over time. Originally head of the Swedish cavalry , like the marshals of other countries, the Riksmarsk developed into the military commander in chief from the middle of the 13th century . Important Reichsmarschalls were among others Torgils Knutsson and Karl Knutsson .
Under the Vasa kings , the title of Riksmarsk was given as a military title. In the constitution of 1634 two offices were established, that of Riksmarsk, who was president of the War College, and that of Riksmarskalk , who was represented in the Imperial Council as head of the Swedish court . After the death of Reich Marshal Carl Gustav Wrangel in 1676, the office of Riksmarsk was not filled. In 1680 the title Riksmarskalk was changed to Överstemarskalk (Oberstmarschall ), but in 1722 it was changed back to Reichsmarschall.
Even today, the Reichsmarschall is the head of the Swedish court . As such, he takes part in the festive opening of a new Reichstag . The Reichsmarschall held the title of excellence until 1982 .
.png)
Italy 1938 to 1946
After the victory over Ethiopia , Benito Mussolini, as Commander-in-Chief of the Italian Armed Forces and Capo del governo , introduced himself to the title of First Reich Marshal (Primo maresciallo dell'Impero) on March 30, 1938 , which he was forced to give to King Victor Emanuel III. as head of state had to apply. The rank above the Marshals of Italy (Maresciallo d'Italia) introduced in 1924 was abolished with these in 1946.
German Empire 1940 to 1945
On July 19, 1940, the rank of "Reichsmarschall des Großdeutschen Reich " was created in the Wehrmacht , above Field Marshal General . It served exclusively to highlight Hermann Göring's leading position as the highest-ranking German soldier (and second man in the state). Goering was the only one to receive the title.
On the same day, Hitler appointed twelve generals field marshal.
| Rank | ||
| lower: Field Marshal General |
.svg){kind=small} Reichsmarschall |
higher: none |
meaning
In Goering's case, the rank of Reichsmarschall was only of a formal nature. A command authority over the armed forces as a whole was not connected with it. (See also: Nazi ranks , Wehrmacht High Command )
uniform
The shoulder pieces of the uniform differed from those of the General Field Marshals with crossed marshal's baton through an imperial eagle holding a wreath with the marshal's baton in its claws.
Marshal's baton
Goering received a special marshal's baton made of ivory , gold and diamonds . The marshal's baton differs from that of the army and was more similar to that of the air force . In addition to the Iron Cross , the Luftwaffe's Balkenkreuz was placed on this rod .
In addition, Goering received an interim staff , the tip of which was made of ivory.
Equivalents
France
The Reichsmarschall has been the connétable of France since the 11th century . The comes stabuli (stable companion) is the Middle Latin equivalent of the German marahscalc (marshal - groom ). From the 14th century he was the commander-in-chief of the army (supreme crown general ), to whom the marshals of France served as deputies from 1190 . In the following years it was one of the most powerful functions in France. The office of connectable was finally abolished by Richelieu in 1624/1627 because the abundance of power could not be combined with the ideology of absolutism. His powers were temporarily transferred to the office of General Marshal (maréchal général des camps et armées du roi), which was newly created in the late 16th century .
The marshals of France or grand marshals of his palace appointed by Napoleon as marshals of the Empire (Maréchaux d'Empire) are also incorrectly referred to as imperial marshals .
Japan
The Dai-Gensui , who was first appointed in 1871, corresponds to the Reichsmarschall.
United States of America
For the bicentenary, the General of the Armies of the United States (6 stars) was created as the highest rank on October 11, 1976 , above the General of the Army (5 stars) comparable to a field marshal . Only George Washington was posthumously awarded this dignity "for the past and present". It was determined that no US officer can ever hold a higher rank than Washington.
General John J. Pershing took the title after World War I in recognition of his performance as Commander in Chief of the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe. As a badge of rank he wore four stars, but in gold instead of the usual silver. However, at that time the rank was more like that of the field marshal, as the 5-star general did not yet exist.
So far, no other personality has been awarded this rank.
See also
literature
- Hermann Graml, Hermann Weiss, Wolfgang Benz (ed.): Encyclopedia of National Socialism. dtv, p. 683.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ See Reichs-General-Feld-Marschall, Reichs-Feld-Oberster. In: Johann Heinrich Zedler : Large complete universal lexicon of all sciences and arts . Volume 31, Leipzig 1742, column 81 f.
- ↑ Riksmarskalk . In: Theodor Westrin, Ruben Gustafsson Berg (eds.): Nordisk familjebok konversationslexikon och realencyklopedi . 2nd Edition. tape 23 : Retzius – Ryssland . Nordisk familjeboks förlag, Stockholm 1916, Sp. 377 (Swedish, runeberg.org ).
- ^ A b c Adolf Schlicht, John R. Angolia: The German Wehrmacht, Uniforms and Equipment 1933–1945 . Volume 3: The Air Force . Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 1999, ISBN 3-613-02001-7 .
- ↑ Public Law 94-479 on Wikisource .