View source for Vizeadmiral

{{Italic title}}
{{Short description|Rank in the German Navy}}
{{refimprove|date=July 2022}}

'''{{lang|de|Vizeadmiral}}''' ({{IPA|de|ˈfiːtsəʔatmiˌʁaːl, ˈvi-|-|De-Vizeadmiral.ogg}}; abbreviated VAdm) is a senior naval [[flag officer]] rank in several [[German (language)|German]]-speaking countries, equivalent to [[Vice admiral]].

== Austria-Hungary ==
{{see also|Ranks in the Austro-Hungarian Navy}}
In the [[Austro-Hungarian Navy]] there were the flag-officer ranks ''Kontreadmiral'' (also spelled ''Konteradmiral'' in the 20th century), ''Viceadmiral'' <!--Schreibweise with c -->, and ''Admiral'', as well as ''Großadmiral''.
{{multiple image
| align     = right
| direction = horizontal
| header    =  ''K.u.K. Kriegsmarinerank''
| caption_align = center
| image1    = Flag of an Austro-Hungarian Vice-Admiral (1915).svg
| caption1  = <small>Command flag</small>
| width1    = 80
| image2    = KUK-Navy-Vizeadmiral.svg
| caption2  = <small>Cuff title</small>
| width2    = 50
| footer    = <span style="color:white;">''K.u.K. Konteradmiral''</span>
| footer_align = center
| footer_background = #007
}}

== Belgium ==
{{see also|Belgian military ranks}}
In the [[Belgian Navy]], the rank is known as {{lang|de|Vizeadmiral}} {{In lang|de}}, {{lang|nl-BE|vice-admiraal}} {{In lang|nl-BE}} and {{lang|fr-BE|vice-amiral}} {{In lang|fr-BE}}.<ref name=Belgium_Navy>{{cite web |title=Marinecomponent |url=http://www.mil.be/def/ranks/index.asp?LAN=nl&ID=1&IDS=3&IDT=3 |website=mil.be |access-date=25 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050220083946/http://www.mil.be/def/ranks/index.asp?LAN=nl&ID=1&IDS=3&IDT=3 |archive-date=20 February 2005 |language=nl}}</ref>

==Germany==
{{see also|Ranks of the German Bundeswehr|Rank insignia of the German Bundeswehr|List of admirals of Germany#Vizeadmirale}}
{{Infobox military rank
| name           = Vice admiral
| native_name    = {{lang|de|Vizeadmiral}}
| image          = {{nobreak| [[File:MDS 63 Vizeadmiral Trp.svg|50px]] [[File:MA OG5 63 Vizeadmiral.svg|50px]]}}
| image_size     = 
| alt            =
| caption        = Shoulder board and mounting loop 
| image2         = MDJA 63 Vizeadmiral Trp Lu.svg
| image_size2    = 50px
| alt2           =
| caption2       = Cuff title
| image3         = 
| image_size3    = 
| alt3           =
| caption3       = 
| country        = {{flagu|Germany}}
| service branch = {{navy|Germany}}
| abbreviation   = VAdm
| rank group     = [[Flag officer]]
| rank           = 
| NATO rank      = [[Ranks and insignia of NATO armies officers|OF-8]]
| Non-NATO rank  = 
| pay grade      = B8
| formation      = 
| abolished      = 
| higher rank    = {{lang|de|[[Admiral (Germany)|Admiral]]}}
| lower rank     = {{lang|de|[[Konteradmiral]]}}
| equivalents    = {{lang|de|[[Generalleutnant]]}}
| history        = 
}}

=== Rank insignia and rating ===
Its rank insignia, worn on the sleeves and shoulders, are one five-pointed star above a big gold stripe and two normal ones (without the star when rank loops are worn). It is grade B8 in the pay rules of the [[Federal Ministry of Defence (Germany)|Federal Ministry of Defence]].

The sequence of ranks (top-down approach) in that particular group is as follows:
*OF-9: [[Admiral (Germany)]] / [[General (Germany)]]
*OF-8: '''Vizeadmiral''' / [[Generalleutnant]]
*OF-7: [[Konteradmiral]] / [[Generalmajor]]
*OF-6: [[Flottillenadmiral]] / [[Brigadegeneral]]

===History===

==== Imperial German Navy and ''Kriegsmarine'' ====
{{see also|Uniforms and insignia of the Kriegsmarine#Commissioned Officer ranks}}

In the ''[[Imperial German Navy|Kaiserliche Marine]]'' and ''[[Kriegsmarine]]'', ''Vizeadmiral'' was a flag officer rank equivalent to a ''Heer'' or ''Luftwaffe'' ''Generalleutnant'', and to an {{lang|de|[[Gruppenführer|SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant]]}} of the ''[[Waffen-SS]]''.

The rank insignia consisted of shoulder strap and sleeve stripes. Shoulder straps had to be worn on uniform jackets and consisted of twisted gold-braids (one pip or star) on padding in navy blue weapon color.

Cuff insignia consisted of one golden big stripe, two normal stripes, and a five-point naval star above. The sleeve rings encircled the lower cuffs.

====National People's Army====
{{see also|Ranks of the National People's Army#Volksmarine}}

''Vizeadmiral'' was the second lowest flag officer grade of the ''Volksamarine'', equivalent to the ''[[Generalleutnant]]''.

In the [[German Democratic Republic|GDR]] ''[[Volksmarine]]'' there were 3 flag officer ranks: ''Konteradmiral'', ''Vizeadmiral'', and ''Admiral''. The [[State Council of East Germany|GDR State Council]] decided 25 March 1982 to introduce the rank of ''Flottenadmiral''.

===Insignia===
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
|- style="background-color:#CCCCCC; text-align:center;"
! Insignia || Shoulder || Sleeve || Rank flag || Higher/lower<br />rank
|- style="text-align:center;"
! {{navy|German Empire}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Dienstgrade und Uniformen |url=http://www.kleiner-kreuzer-dresden.de/html/dienstgrade_.html |website=kleiner-kreuzer-dresden.de |access-date=3 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170730143716/http://www.kleiner-kreuzer-dresden.de/html/dienstgrade_.html |archive-date=30 July 2017 |language=de}}</ref>
| <span style="{{Transform-rotate|90}}">[[File:Vizeadmiral (OF-7).gif|120x50px]]</span>
| [[File:Kaiserliche Marine-Vizeadmiral.svg|50px]]
| [[File:Vizeadmiral.svg|border|75px]]
| rowspan=5| {{lang|de|[[Admiral (Germany)|Admiral]]}}{{hr}}{{lang|de|[[Konteradmiral]]}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
! {{navy|Weimar Republic}}<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Hoyer|first1=K|title=Die Uniformen des Reichsheeres und der Reichsmarine nebst amtlichen Uniformtafeln; mit Genehmigung des Reichswehrministeriums|last2=Brennecke|first2=F|date=1925|publisher=Verlag "Offene Worte, "|location=Charlottenburg|language=de|oclc=44571687}}</ref>
| [[File:Vizeadmiral der Deutschen Kriegsmarine.png|50px]]
| [[File:Kriegsmarine-Vizeadmiral.svg|50px]]
| [[File:Vizeadmiral.svg|border|75px]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
! {{navy|Nazi Germany}}{{sfn|Mollo|2001|p=19}}
| [[File:Vizeadmiral der Deutschen Kriegsmarine.png|50px]]
| [[File:Kriegsmarine-Vizeadmiral.svg|50px]]
| [[File:Kriegsmarine Vizeadmiral-Flag 1945 v1.svg|border|75px]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
! {{navy|East Germany}}<ref>{{cite book |author-last1=Luft |author-first1=Kathleen |editor-last1=Burant |editor-first1=Stephen R. |title=East Germany: a country study |series=Area Handbook |date=1988 |publisher=Library of Congress |location=Washington, D.C. |lccn=87600490 |pages=264–265 |edition=3rd |url=https://www.loc.gov/resource/frdcstdy.eastgermanycount00bura_0/?sp=302 |access-date=19 October 2021 |chapter=National Security}}</ref>
| [[File:OF-7 Vizeadmiral VM.png|50px]]
| [[File:OF-7 Vizeadmiral VM Ärmelstreifen.svg|50px]]
| [[File:OF-7 Command flag vice admiral VM1.svg|75px]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
! {{navy|Germany}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Dienstgradabzeichen Marine |url=https://www.bundeswehr.de/de/aktuelles/mediathek/dienstgradabzeichen-marine-69062 |website=bundeswehr.de |publisher=Bundeswehr |access-date=30 May 2021 |language=de }}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
| [[File:MDS 63 Vizeadmiral Trp.svg|50px]]
| [[File:Kriegsmarine-Vizeadmiral.svg|50px]]
| [[File:Kriegsmarine Vizeadmiral-Flag 1945 v1.svg|border|75px]]
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

* {{cite book |last1=Mollo |first1=Andrew |author-link1=Andrew Mollo |title=The Armed Forces of World War II: Uniforms, Insignia & Organisation |date=2001 |publisher=Silverdale books |location=Leicester |isbn=1-85605-603-1}}

{{German military ranks}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vizeadmiral}}
[[Category:Naval ranks]]
[[Category:Naval ranks of Germany]]
[[Category:Admirals]]
[[Category:Two-star officers of Nazi Germany]]
[[Category:Three-star officers of the Bundeswehr]]

[[ru:Вице-адмирал]]