Ranks of the Czechoslovak Armed Forces

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Ranks of the Czechoslovak Armed Forces shows the military ranks and rank insignia in use by the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Czechoslovak Republic.

## Overview[edit]

After the independence of Czechoslovakia, the new republic at first used the ranks of the Austro-Hungarian Army, but from 1920 a system was introduced that was basically similar to the one used by today's Army of the Czech Republic.

## Ranks (1918–1919)[edit]

### Officers[edit]

Rank group | Generals | Field Officers | Company Officers | Officer Cadets

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Czechoslovak Home Army [1] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Polní zbrojmistr | Polní podmaršálek | Generálmajor | Plukovník | Podplukovník | Major | Setník | Nadporučík | Poručík | Praporčík | Kadet aspirant

### Other ranks[edit]

Rank group | Senior NCO | Junior NCO | Enlisted

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|
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Czechoslovak Home Army [1] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Důstojnický
zástupce | Štábní
šikovatel | Šikovatel | Četař | Desátník | Svobodník | Vojín

## Ranks (1919–1920)[edit]

### Officers, officials and cadets[edit]

Rank group | Generals | Field Officers | Company Officers | Officials without rank class | Officer Cadets

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Czechoslovak Army |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Polní zbrojmistr | Polní podmaršálek | Generálmajor | Plukovník | Podplukovník | Major | Setník | Nadporučík | Poručík | Gážista | Praporčík

### Other ranks[edit]

Rank group | Senior NCO | Junior NCO | Enlisted

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|
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Czechoslovak Army |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Důstojnický
zástupce | Štábní
šikovatel | Šikovatel | Četař
(Jednoročni
dobrovolník) | Četař | Desátník | Svobodník | Vojín

## Ranks (1920–1929)[edit]

### Officers[edit]

Rank group | Generals | Field Officers | Company Officers

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|
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Czechoslovak Army[2] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Generál | Plukovník | Podplukovník | Major | Štábní kapitán | Kapitán | Nadporučík | Poručík | Podporučík |

### NCO and enlisted[edit]

Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted

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Czechoslovak Army[2] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Praporčík | Štábní rotmistr | Rotmistr
with 12 years
service | Rotmistr
with 6 years
service | Rotmistr | Rotný | Četař | Desátník | Svobodník | Vojín

Note: The different colours of the epaulettes distinguish different corps, for example maroon standing for infantry, red for artillery, green for sappers and engineers, yellow for cavalry, light blue for the air force, etc.[3]

## Ranks (1930–1939)[edit]

### Officers[edit]

Rank group | Generals | Field Officers | Company Officers

|
|
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Czechoslovak Army
[4][2] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Armádní generál | Divisní generál | Brigádní generál | Plukovník | Podplukovník | Major | Štábní kapitán | Kapitán | Nadporučík | Poručík | Podporučík  |

### NCOs and enlisted[edit]

Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted

|
|
|

Czechoslovak Army
[4][2] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Štábní praporčík | Praporčík | Štábní rotmistr | Rotmistr | Rotný | Četař | Desátník | Svobodník | Vojín

Note: The different colours of the epaulettes distinguish different corps, for example maroon standing for infantry, red for artillery, green for sappers and engineers, yellow for cavalry, light blue for the air force, etc.[5]

## Ranks (1945–1950)[edit]

### Officers[edit]

Rank group | Generals | Field Officers | Company Officers

|
|
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Czechoslovak Army |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Armádní generál | Divisní generál | Brigádní generál | Plukovník | Podplukovník | Major | Štábní kapitán | Kapitán | Nadporučík | Poručík | Podporučík  |

### NCOs and enlisted[edit]

Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted

|
|
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Czechoslovak Army
(1945-1948) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Štábní praporčík | Praporčík | Štábní rotmistr | Rotmistr | Rotný | Četař | Desátník | Svobodník | Vojín
Czechoslovak Army
(1949-1950) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | Rotmistr | Rotný | Četař | Desátník | Svobodník | Vojín

## Ranks (1951–1959)[edit]

### Officers[edit]

Rank group  | General / flag officers  | Senior officers  | Junior officers  | Officer cadet

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|
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Czechoslovak People's Army
(1951-1952) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Vrchní velitel branné moci | Armádní generál | Sborový generál | Divisní generál | Brigádní generál | Plukovník | Podplukovník | Major | Štábní kapitán | Kapitán | Nadporučík | Poručík | Podporučík |
Czechoslovak People's Army
(1953-1959)[6] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Vrchní velitel branné moci | Armádní generál | Generálporučík | Generálmajor | Brigádní generál | Plukovník | Podplukovník | Major | Kapitán | Nadporučík | Poručík | Podporučík |

### Other ranks[edit]

Rank group  | Senior NCOs  | Junior NCOs  | Enlisted

|
|
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Czechoslovak People's Army[6] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Staršina |  |  |  | Rotný | Četař | Desátník | Svobodník | Vojín

Note: The different colour variants of the epaulettes, rank and edging distinguish different corps. [7]

## Ranks (1960–1990)[edit]

### Officers[edit]

Rank group  | General / flag officers  | Senior officers  | Junior officers  | Officer cadet

|
|
|
|

Czechoslovak People's Army[8] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Armádní generál | Generálplukovník | Generálporučík | Generálmajor | Plukovník | Podplukovník | Major | Kapitán | Nadporučík | Poručík | Podporučík |

### Warrant officers, NCOs and enlisted[edit]

Rank group | Warrant officers | NCOs | Enlisted

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Czechoslovak People's Army[8] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Nadpraporčík | Praporčík | Podpraporčík | Nadrotmistr | Rotmistr | Rotný | Četař | Desátník | Svobodník | Vojín

## See also[edit]

* Government Army (Bohemia and Moravia)
* Czech military ranks (current form)

## References[edit]

Citations

1. ^ a b Purdek 2013, p. 100.
2. ^ a b c d Václavíček 2010, p. 41.
3. ^ "České vojenské hodnosti používané v letech 1937 – 1939 – Kutilův zápisník". Kutilův zápisník. 14 February 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
4. ^ a b Rosignoli 1983, Plates 60-61.
5. ^ "České vojenské hodnosti používané v letech 1937 – 1939 – Kutilův zápisník". Kutilův zápisník. 14 February 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
6. ^ a b DA Pam 30-50-2 1960, p. 78.
7. ^ "Hodnosti ČSLA v letech 1951 – 1959 – Kutilův zápisník". Kutilův zápisník. 21 February 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
8. ^ a b Nyirady 1989, p. 248.

Bibliography

* Nyirady, Kenneth E. (1989). "National Security". In Gawdiak, Ihor (ed.). Czechoslovakia: a country study. Area Handbook (3rd ed.). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. p. 248\. LCCN 88600487. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
* Purdek, Imrich (2013). Československá vojenská symbolika 1914-1939 (PDF) (in Slovak). Bratislava: Vojenský historický ústav. ISBN 978-80-89523-24-5. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
* Rosignoli, Guido (1983). Badges and insignia of World War II: Air Force, Naval, Marine. Blandford Colour Series. New York: Blandford Press Ltd. ISBN 0-671-06008-2.
* Václavíček, Ivo (2010). "Nový rok – nové hodnosti" (PDF). A Report : čtrnáctideník Ministerstva obrany ČR (in Czech). Vol. 3\. Ministry of Defense of the Czech Republic. pp. 36–41. ISSN 1211-801X. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
* Handbook On The Satellite Armies. Washington, D.C.: Department of the Army. 1 April 1960. Retrieved 2 June 2022.

* v
* t
* e

Military ranks and insignia by country

* List of comparative military ranks

Africa|

* Algeria
* Angola
* Benin
* Botswana
* Burkina Faso
* Burundi
* Cameroon
* Cape Verde
* Central African Republic
* Chad
* Comoros
* DR Congo
* Republic of the Congo
* Djibouti
* Egypt
* Equatorial Guinea
* Eritrea
* Eswatini
* Ethiopia
* Gabon
* Gambia
* Ghana
* Guinea
* Guinea-Bissau
* Ivory Coast
* Kenya
* Lesotho
* Liberia
* Libya
* Madagascar
* Malawi
* Mali
* Mauritania
* Morocco
* Mozambique
* Namibia
* Niger
* Nigeria
* Rwanda
* São Tomé and Príncipe
* Senegal
* Seychelles
* Sierra Leone
* Somalia
* South Africa
* South Sudan
* Sudan
* Tanzania
* Togo
* Tunisia
* Uganda
* Zambia
* Zimbabwe

States with
limited recognition|

* Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
* Somaliland

Former|

* People's Republic of Angola
* Biafra
* Bophuthatswana
* Ciskei
* Kingdom of Egypt
* Ethiopian Empire
* Katanga
* People's Republic of Mozambique
* Rhodesia
* South West Africa
* Transkei
* Venda
* Zaire

Comparative|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Apartheid States in Southern Africa

Americas|

* Antigua and Barbuda
* Argentina
* Bahamas
* Barbados
* Belize
* Bolivia
* Brazil
* Canada
* Chile
* Colombia
* Cuba
* Dominican Republic
* Ecuador
* El Salvador
* Guatemala
* Guyana
* Haiti
* Honduras
* Jamaica
* Mexico
* Nicaragua
* Paraguay
* Peru
* Saint Kitts and Nevis
* Suriname
* Trinidad and Tobago
* United States
* Officers:
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Coast Guard
* Enlisted:
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Coast Guard
* Other:
* Marine Corps
* Space Force
* Warrant officer
* Opposing forces
* Uruguay
* Venezuela

Former|

* Canada (pre-Unification)
* Confederate States of America
* Union
* Army
* Navy
* Costa Rica
* Empire of Brazil
* Panama
* Republic of Texas
* Army
* Navy
* United States Army enlisted
* World War I
* World War II

Comparative|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Asia|

* Afghanistan
* Bahrain
* Bangladesh
* Bhutan
* Brunei
* Cambodia
* PR of China
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* East Timor
* India
* Army
* Air Force
* Navy
* Coast Guard
* Border Roads Organisation
* Paramilitary forces
* Indonesia
* Iran
* Iraq
* Israel
* Japan
* Jordan
* Kazakhstan
* Korea
* North
* South
* Kuwait
* Kyrgyzstan
* Laos
* Lebanon
* Malaysia
* Maldives
* Mongolia
* Myanmar
* Nepal
* Oman
* Pakistan
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Marines
* Civil Armed Forces
* Maritime Security Agency
* Philippines
* Qatar
* Saudi Arabia
* Singapore
* Sri Lanka
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Coast Guard
* Syria
* Tajikistan
* Thailand
* Turkmenistan
* United Arab Emirates
* Uzbekistan
* Vietnam
* Yemen

States with
limited recognition|

* Abkhazia
* Artsakh
* Palestine
* South Ossetia
* Taiwan (Republic of China)

Former|

* China
* Empire
* Republic (1912–1949)
* Dutch East Indies
* East Turkestan (Second Republic)
* People's Republic of Kampuchea
* Imperial Iran
* Imperial Japan
* Army
* Navy
* Korea
* Empire
* Liberation Army
* Kingdom of Laos
* Manchukuo
* Mengjiang
* Mongolian People's Republic
* Vietnam
* State
* South
* South Yemen
* Tibet
* Tuva

Comparative|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Europe|

* Albania
* Armenia
* Austria
* Azerbaijan
* Belarus
* Belgium
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Home Guard
* Estonia
* Finland
* France
* Army
* Navy
* Gendarmerie
* Air and Space Force
* Foresters
* Germany
* Georgia
* Greece
* Hungary
* Iceland
* Land Forces
* Coast Guard
* Ireland
* Italy
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Carabinieri
* Finance Guard
* Latvia
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* North Macedonia
* Malta
* Moldova
* Monaco
* Montenegro
* Netherlands
* Norway
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Russia
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Cossacks
* Between 1994 and 2010
* San Marino
* Serbia
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Spain
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* Turkey
* Ukraine
* United Kingdom
* Army officers
* Army other ranks
* Navy officers
* Navy ratings
* Air Force officers
* Air Force other ranks
* Vatican

States with
limited recognition|

* Kosovo
* Northern Cyprus
* Transnistria

Former|

* Albania
* Kingdom
* People's Socialist Republic
* Austria–Hungary
* Army
* Navy
* Bulgaria
* Kingdom
* People's Republic
* Independent State of Croatia
* Czechoslovakia
* German Empire
* Weimar Republic
* Nazi Germany
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* East Germany
* Kingdom of Greece
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* France
* Napoleonic Grand Army
* Hungary
* Kingdom
* People's Republic
* Italy
* Kingdom
* Social Republic
* Ottoman Empire
* Polish People's Republic
* Republika Srpska
* Romania
* Kingdom
* Socialist Republic
* Russian Empire
* White Movement
* Slovakia (First Republic)
* Soviet Union
* 1918–35
* 1935–40
* 1940–43
* 1943–55
* 1955–91
* Spain
* 2nd Republic
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* State
* Yugoslavia
* Kingdom
* Socialist Federal Republic
* Federal Republic

Comparative|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Oceania|

* Australia
* Fiji
* New Zealand
* Papua New Guinea
* Tonga
* Vanuatu

Comparative|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Language|

| Anglophone|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

|

Arabophone|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Francophone|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Hispanophone|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Lusophone|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Military police
* Officers
* Enlisted

Post-Soviet states|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Commonwealth of Nations|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

European Union|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

NATO|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air Force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Comparative ranks of

* Highest ranks
* Star ranking
* Officers of World War I
* Officers of World War II
* Women's Services in World War II
* Marine forces
* Space forces
* Gendarmeries
* UK and US

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