Grand admiral

Grand admiral is a historic naval rank, generally being the highest such rank present in any particular country. Its most notable use was in Germany — the German word is Großadmiral.

France

In Bourbon Restoration France, the rank was an honorific one equivalent to that of marshal in the French Army.

Germany & Austria-Hungary

In the Imperial German Navy, and later in the Kriegsmarine, the rank Großadmiral was the equivalent of a British admiral of the fleet or a United States fleet admiral; as a five-star rank (OF-10). Like field marshals its holders were authorised to carry a baton. It was created in 1901 and finally discontinued in 1945; having 7 men promoted to the rank.

In Austria-Hungary Anton Haus, commander of the Austro-Hungarian navy for part of World War I, was given the title of Großadmiral in 1916. No other active-duty officers, except members of the Imperial family, were ever given this rank:; alhough Haus's immediate successor, Maximilian Njegovan, was promoted to grand admiral on the retired list in 1918.