Field Marshal Jan Christian Smuts, was a South African statesman, military leader and philosopher. In addition to holding various military and cabinet posts, he served as prime minister of the Union of South Africa from 1919 to 1924 and 1939 to 1948.
Smuts in 1947
Jacobus and Catharina Smuts, 1893
Jan Smuts, as a young state attorney general in 1895
Jan Smuts and Boer guerrillas during the Second Boer War, c. 1901
Field marshal is the second most senior military rank, ordinarily senior to the general officer ranks, but junior to the rank of Generalissimo. Usually, it is the highest rank in an army, and as such, few persons are ever appointed to it. It is considered as a five-star rank (OF-10) in modern-day armed forces in many countries. Promotion to the rank of field marshal in many countries historically required extraordinary military achievement by a general. However, the rank has also been used as a divisional command rank and also as a brigade command rank. Examples of the different uses of the rank include Afghanistan, Austria-Hungary, Pakistan, Prussia/Germany, India and Sri Lanka for an extraordinary achievement; Spain and Mexico for a divisional command ; and France, Portugal and Brazil for a brigade command.
General Sir Harold Alexander was promoted to field marshal in the British Army when he was made Supreme Allied Commander Mediterranean during World War II
Marshal Duke of Caxias
Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw
Jan Smuts