Senior colonel Senior colonel Senior colonel is an army officer rank placed between a regular colonel and a major general. The rank typically exists in militaries that do not maintain a rank of brigadier general or brigadier. In Nazi Germany, a rank equivalent to senior colonel, "Oberführer", was used by both the SA and SS. In the branches of the "Allgemeine SS" (General SS) and "Waffen-SS" (Armed SS) the rank of "Oberführer" was widely used. The rank did not exist in the army ("Heer"), although the "Kriegsmarine" (navy) maintained the equivalent rank of "Kommodore". After World War II, armies in Asia, especially
Air force officer ranks considered that in these countries a colonel-general equates to an OF-9 rank, a general to OF-8, a lieutenant-general to OF-7, and a major-general to OF-6 (i.e. the ranks below colonel-general all move down one grade). ¹ No officer of the French Air Force has ever been created a "Maréchal".<br> ² Introduced on 1 July 2000, when promotions to the rank of Överste 1. graden (a field officer rank) ceased.<br> ³ Promotion to the rank of Överste 1. graden ceased on 1 July 2000, when the new junior general officer rank of Brigadgeneral was introduced. Whilst there is a wide range