Colonel general is a specific rank of the senior rank of general. North Korea and Russia are two countries that have used the rank extensively throughout their histories. The rank is also closely associated with Germany, where Generaloberst has been a rank above the full General and a rank below Generalfeldmarschall.

Austria

Colonel general (Generaloberst) was the second-highest rank in the Austro-Hungarian Army, introduced following the German model in 1915. The rank was not used after World War I in the Austrian Army of the Republic.

China (PRC)

The People's Liberation Army rank of Da jiang (大将: literally, "grand general") was a rank used from 1955 to 1965. There were four grades of general officers during this period. They were (from senior to junior), 大(grand)将(general), 上(senior)将(general)，中(middle)将(general)，少(junior)将(general). China did not and does not have brigadier general, but instead an officer of this rank is awarded 大校(grand colonel). 大将 (grand general) corresponded to the Soviet rank of colonel general. All ranks in the PLA were abolished between 1965 and 1988. When it was restored, 大将 (grand general) was not reintroduced.

A Colonel General was an officer of the French army during the Ancien Régime, Napoleonic era and the Bourbon Restoration.

The positions were not military ranks, but rather offices of the crown. The position was first created under François I. The Colonels General served directly below the Marshals of France, and they were divided by their branch of service. By the end of the Ancien Régime, the Colonels General were:

Judging the position of Colonel General of the Infantry to be too powerful, Louis XIV suppressed the position in 1661 and only appointed Colonel Generals of honorific branches like the Colonel General of the Dragoons (created in 1668), the Colonel General of the Cent-Suisses and Grisons, who oversaw the Swiss regiments of the Maison du Roi, and the Colonel of the Gardes Françaises. The position was reinstated under Louis XV.