View source for Reichsmarschall

{{short description|Military rank}}
{{distinguish|Marshal of the Realm (Denmark)|Marshal of the Realm (Sweden)}}
{{about|the military rank in Nazi Germany|the Reichserzmarschall in the Holy Roman Empire|Prince-elector#High offices}}
{{italic title}}
{{Multiple issues |
{{refimprove|date=September 2021}}
{{Expand German|topic=mil|Reichsmarschall|date=January 2019}}
}}
{{Use Oxford spelling |date=May 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates |date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox military rank
| name           = {{lang|de|Reichsmarschall}}
| native_name    = 
| image          = Reichsmarschall Version 2 links.svg
| image_size     = 100px
| alt            =
| caption        = Standard from 1941 to 1945 (left side)
| image2         = Luftwaffe collar tabs Reichsmarschall 3D.svg
| image_size2    = 100px
| alt2           =
| caption2       = Collar insignia
| image3         = Luftwaffe Reichsmarschall.svg
| image_size3    = 50px
| alt3           =
| caption3       = Shoulder boards
| country        = {{flag|Nazi Germany}}
| service branch = {{armed forces|Nazi Germany}}
| abbreviation   = 
| rank group     = 
| pay grade      = 
| formation      = 12th century {{small|(historical)}}<br>[[1940 Field Marshal Ceremony|19 July 1940]]
| abolished      = 1945
| higher rank    = 
| lower rank     = {{lang|de|[[Generalfeldmarschall]]}}<br>{{lang|de|[[Grand admiral|Großadmiral]]}}
| equivalents    = 
| history        = 
}}
'''{{lang|de|Reichsmarschall}}''' ({{langx|de|Reichsmarschall des Großdeutschen Reiches}}; {{literally|[[Reich]] [[Marshal]] of the [[Nazi Germany|Greater German Reich]]}}) was an honorary military rank, specially created for [[Hermann Göring]] during [[World War II]], and the {{lang |la |[[de jure]]}} highest rank in the {{lang |de |[[Wehrmacht]]}}. It was senior to the rank of {{lang |de |[[Generalfeldmarschall]]}} ({{lit |general field marshal}}, equivalent to [[field marshal]], which was previously the highest rank in the {{lang |de |Wehrmacht}}), but was merely a ceremonial appointment to accentuate Göring's position as [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler's]] designated successor.{{sfn|Haskew|2011a|p=46}} No actual subordination of the other field marshals or a superior position of the holder followed from it. It was equivalent to [[General of the Armies]] in the United States, or {{lang |it |[[Generalissimo]]}} in other countries.<ref>{{cite web |title=The History of General Officer Ranks |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241207013852/https://themarshalsbaton.com/History%20of%20Ranks.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241207013852/https://themarshalsbaton.com/History%20of%20Ranks.htm |archive-date=7 December 2024 |access-date=8 May 2025 |website=The Marshal's Baton |quote=The rank of Reichsmarschall was held by Hermann Goring during World War Two, and made him the highest ranking officer in all of Germany, the equivalent of a 6-star General.}}</ref>

==History==
Until July 1940, the highest rank in the German military was {{lang |de |Generalfeldmarschall}}. At the beginning of World War II, the only active holder of that rank was Hermann Göring, [[Oberkommando der Luftwaffe#Organization|Commander-in-Chief of the ''Luftwaffe'']].{{sfn|Haskew|2011b|p=46}} On 19 July 1940, following the German victory in the [[Battle of France]], Adolf Hitler held a [[1940 Field Marshal Ceremony|ceremony]] in which he promoted twelve generals to the newly awarded rank of {{lang |de |Generalfeldmarschall}}.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-11 |title=Albert Kesselring: Hitler's Go-To Guy |url=https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/albert-kesselring-hitlers-go-to-guy/ |access-date=2025-05-11 |website=Warfare History Network |language=en-US |quote=on July 19, 1940, Hitler bestowed the field marshal’s baton on 12 generals, including Kesselring, in celebration of their swift victory in the west. Kesselring, a General der Flieger, jumped over the rank of Generaloberst directly to Generalfeldmarschall.}}</ref> During the same ceremony, Göring was elevated to the newly created rank of {{lang |de |Reichsmarschall}}, a symbolic move to highlight his seniority over other {{lang |de |Wehrmacht}} commanders and to fulfill his ambitions for prestige, though it conferred no additional authority.{{efn|Göring also held many other prestigious titles, such as {{lang|de|Reichsjägermeister}} ({{lit |Reich Master of the Hunt}})<ref>{{cite book|title=Görings Reich: Der Reichsjägermeister in der Schorfheide|isbn= 9783788815134|oclc=809373538|author-last1=Knopf|author-first1=Volker|author-last2=Martens|author-first2=Stefan|date=2012|publisher=Neumann-Neudamm GmbH}}</ref> and [[Four Year Plan|Commissioner Plenipotentiary of the Four Year Plan]].}}{{sfn|Haskew|2011a|pp=25, 46, 119}} This was done in order to ensure that the {{lang |de |[[Oberkommando der Wehrmacht]]}} ({{gloss |High Command of the Armed Forces}}, abbreviated in German to OKW), which was headed by Hitler, would retain overall control and authority over the German military.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-23 |title=Wehrmacht {{!}} History, Branches, & Definition {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Wehrmacht |access-date=2025-05-11 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> 

Earlier, on the day [[Invasion of Poland|Germany invaded Poland]], Hitler designated Göring as his successor, a status underscored by a 1941 decree that empowered Göring to act as Hitler's deputy with full freedom of action in the event Hitler was incapacitated. Nevertheless, on 23 April 1945, when [[Göring telegram|Göring suggested to Hitler that he assume leadership]] of the crumbling remains of Nazi Germany, Hitler relieved Göring of his duties and named a new successor in [[Last will and testament of Adolf Hitler|his last will and testament]], [[Grand admiral|Grand Admiral]] [[Karl Dönitz]]. Dönitz's appointment was made on or before the day of [[Death of Adolf Hitler|Hitler's suicide]].{{sfn|O'Donnell|1979|p=217}}

==Standards==
{{Gallery
|align=centre <!-- default left -->
|width=180
|height=180
<!-- |mode=packed -->

|File:Reichsmarschall Version 1 links.svg
|Standard from 1940 to 1941 (left side)

|File:Reichsmarschall Version 1 rechts.svg
|Standard from 1940 to 1941 (right side)

|File:Reichsmarschall Version 2 links.svg
|Standard from 1941 to 1945 (left side)

|File:Reichsmarschall Version 2 rechts.svg
|Standard from 1941 to 1945 (right side)
}}

==Uniform==
{{Gallery
|align=centre <!-- default left -->
|width=180
|height=180
<!-- |mode=packed -->

|Mundur Goeringa.jpg
|Göring's uniform shown in the [[Militärhistorisches Museum Flugplatz Berlin-Gatow|''Luftwaffenmuseum der Bundeswehr'']] in Berlin

|Goering reichsmarschall baton.jpg
|The original [[Baton (military)|baton]] shown in the [[United States Military Academy#West Point Museum|West Point Museum]]
}}

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist |30em}}

==Sources==
{{Refbegin |30em |indent=yes}}
*{{cite book |last=Haskew |first=Michael |title=The Wehrmacht |publisher=Amber Books |year=2011a |isbn=978-1-907446-95-5 }}
*{{cite book |last=Haskew |first=Michael |title=The Wehrmacht |publisher=Amber Books |year=2011b |isbn=978-1-907446-99-3 }}
*{{cite book |last=O'Donnell |first=James P. |title=The History of the Reich Chancellery Group |date=1979 |oclc=638799214 |publisher=J. M. Dent |location=London, UK }}
{{Refend}}

{{Highest Military Ranks}}
{{Star officer ranks}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:German words and phrases]]
[[Category:Marshals of Germany]]
[[Category:Military of Nazi Germany]]
[[Category:Military ranks of Germany]]