Divisional general is a rank of general in command of a division. Examples would include the Spanish general de división, the French général de division and the Polish generał dywizji. For convenience such ranks are often translated into English as "major-general", the equivalent rank used by most English-speaking nations. The corresponding NATO code is OF-7, or a "two-star rank". Some countries of Latin America such as Brazil, Mexico and Chile use divisional general as the equivalent of "lieutenant-general". This corresponding NATO code is OF-8, or a "three-star rank" for these countries. In Japan and Taiwan the rank of lieutenant-general is equivalent to divisional general.
Description
The rank is mostly used in countries where it is used as a modern alternative to a previous older rank of major-general or lieutenant-general. The rank is almost always above a rank corresponding to command of a brigade, and normally below a rank corresponding to command of a corps.
Bosnia
Division General was a military rank in the Bosnian army from 1992 to 1998.
Brazil
The Brazilian rank general-de-divisão translates literally as "general of division", and is used by the army. This rank is equivalent to lieutenant-general. The air force equivalent is major-brigadeiro. The navy equivalent is vice-almirante
Chile
The Chilean rank General de División translates literally as "general of division", and is used by the army. This rank is equivalent to lieutenant-general. The air force equivalent is General de Aviación. These officers occupy positions such as Chief of the Joint Staff, Chief of the General Staff of the Army and Commanders of High Repartitions.
France
A French Armygénéral de division translates as a "general of division". The French Air Force equivalent is général de division aérienne. Rank insignia is that of 3 white stars on the epaulette, sleeve mark or shoulder board. As well as commanding a division, a général de division may be appointed as général de corps d'armée commanding an army corps, or as a général d'armée, commanding a field army. These are not ranks, but appointments of the same rank. The insignia of a général de corps d'armée is four stars in a diamond formation, and that of a général d'armée is five stars in a cross-shaped arrangement. The arrangement for the air force is the same, but the ranks are called général de corps d'armée aérien and général d'armée aérienne respectively.
Italy
The Italian army and Carabineer rank of generale di divisione translates as "divisional general". The air force equivalent is generale di divisione aerea.
Mexico
Poland
The Polish equivalent is generał dywizji. The symbols of this rank are the general's wavy line and two stars, featured both on the rogatywka, on the sleeves of the uniform and above the breast pocket of a field uniform.
Spain
The Spanish rank general de división translates literally as "general of division", and is used by the army, the air force and the Guardia Civil.
Switzerland
The Swiss military use 4 languages, German, French, Romansh and Italian. The names of the OF-7 rank are divisionär ; divisionnaire ; divisiunari ; divisionario. In all cases, these are abbreviated as "Div", and in all cases represent the head of a division, and hence can be translated as "divisional general".
Serbia and Yugoslavia
In the Royal Serbian Army there was a proposition in 1898 by HM King Alexander I to introduce the rank of divisional general along with Brigade general and Army general was introduced. The newly created Royal Yugoslav Army introduced the rank of Divisional general in 1923 and confirmed by law in 1929, modeled after French army, as the second general rank, higher than Brigade general but lower than Army general and had similar role as France général de division rank at time of introduction who could be appointed to command corps but had no separate rank for corps. This rank was also used during World War II by the Chetniks. Most notable holders are div. gen. Miroslav Trifunović and Ivan Prezelj. These ranks were replaced in 1945 by Tito's Yugoslav Partisans with the introduction of Soviet-style ranks.
