France A
French Army général de division translates as a "general of division". The French Air and Space Force equivalent is
général de division aérienne (literally "general of air division"). Rank insignia is that of 3 white stars on the
epaulette, sleeve mark or shoulder board. After World War II, the corresponding rank of divisional general was changed to major general, and before that it corresponded to lieutenant general. As well as commanding a division, a
général de division may be appointed as ''
général de corps d'armée (a "corps general") commanding an army corps, or as a général d'armée (a "general of an army"), 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
("general of an air corps") and général d'armée aérienne'' ("general of an air army") respectively.
Général de division ayant un commandement supérieur (literally, "divisional general holding higher command") was an unofficial rank used in
World War I. At the time, France had a two-rank system of general officers; as a temporary measure, to bring its system into alignment with the rank systems of general officers of other countries, a horizontal bar was attached to the top or bottom of the three stars on the
kepi and sleeves of the
horizontal-blue uniform. Such divisional generals enjoyed the status and treatment of
full generals.
Italy The Italian army and Carabineer rank of
generale di divisione translates as "divisional general". The air force equivalent is
generale di divisione aerea (literally "general of air division"). The ordinary law n. 299, come into force on December 2, 2004, has restored the traditional ranks of Army Brigade General, Divisional General and
Army corps general, which had been changed in 1997. Some general divisions wear a third functional star with red border, which indicates they are enrolled in a
special responsibility or as deputy officials of their proximate superiors.
Serbia and Yugoslavia There was a proposition in 1898 by HM King
Alexander I to introduce the rank of divisional general (
Дивизијски ђенерал) to the
Royal Serbian Army, along with
brigade general and
army general. 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. The rank had a similar role as the French
général de division at time of introduction, able to command a corps, as there was no separate rank for corps command. This rank was also used during
World War II by the
Chetniks. The most notable holders are Miroslav Trifunović and Ivan Prezelj. These ranks were replaced in 1945 by
Tito's
Yugoslav Partisans with the introduction of
Soviet-style ranks. ==Divisional general's insignia==