and are "two-star" ranks and the second highest ranks in the medical service of the German Bundeswehr. Equivalent ranks in the are and in the .
and are the second highest ranks of the Joint Medical Service of the Bundeswehr. Normally the deputy inspector of the medical service () is assigned this rank, as is the commander of the Bundeswehr Medical Academy.
Military surgeons with the rank are addressed "Herr Generalarzt" if male, or "Frau Generalarzt" if female. Naval military surgeons with the rank are addressed "Herr Admiralarzt" or "Frau Admiralarzt", depending on the gender of the person addressed.
Rank insignia are modified forms of the shoulder straps for major generals, two golden stars surrounded by golden oak leaves, with the addition of a rod of Asclepius. This career insignia (), as symbol of medical status or course of studies, is placed above the stars. In the navy, the career insignia is placed three centimeters above the cuff stripes on both sleeves and on the shoulder straps between the stripes of the rank and the button.
of the Wehrmacht was comparable to the , as well as to the and of the Waffen-SS.
In line with the Reich's salary order () and appendices to the salary law of the Reich () of 1927 (with changes 1937âÂÂ1940), the comparative ranks were as follows:
Rank designations of the as on 30 March 1934 are contained in the table below.
In Prussia and Bavaria surgeon general of the army () was an appointment and the official title of the head of the entire military medical service. Officers assigned to this staff position could rise in rank up to (OF-7).
Until 1856 the of the Prussian Army could be promoted to colonel (). From then on he could rise to , and from 1873 to . At the same time the was chief of the medical department of the Prussian Ministry of War and chief of the medical corps. He was also superior to a .
Equivalent authority, mandate and competence was with the of the Imperial German Navy. He was chief of the medical division in the German Imperial Naval Office and chief of the navy's medical corps as well.
In the Common Army there were two regular staff positions established. One was chief of the medical division of the and chief of the military surgeon officer corps. The second was Praeses of the military medical committee. This rank was comparable to the of the Common Army.
In some cases a surgeon general of a corps () could be promoted to the rank of .