Brigade general Brigade general is a rank used in many armies to denote the lowest rank of general , corresponding to command of a brigade . The rank is mostly used in countries where it is used as a modern alternative to a previous older rank of brigadier or brigadier general . The rank was first used in the French revolutionary armies . Belgium . The Land Component , the Air Component and the Medical Component of the Belgian Armed Forces use the rank of brigade general ( French : " général de brigade " , Dutch : " brigadegeneraal " ) . However , in this small military there are no permanent promotions to this rank , and it is only awarded as a temporary promotion to a full colonel who assumes a post requiring the rank , notably in an international context ( e . g . as Military Attaché in a major embassy such as Washington , D . C . ) . France . France uses the rank of brigade general . It formerly used the historic rank , until 1793 , of " brigadier des armées " ( " brigadier of the armies " ) . The rank contrasts with the French sub - officer rank of brigadier . As with all French general officers , a French brigade general is titled " general " ( e . g . , notably General Charles de Gaulle ) without any implication that he is an army general . Until 1793 , a rank of " brigadier des armées " ( " brigadier of the armies " ) existed in the French Army , which could be described as a senior colonel or junior brigade commander . The normal brigade command rank was field marshal ( " maréchal de camp " ) ( which elsewhere is a more senior rank ) . A " brigadier of the armies " wore one star and a " field marshal " wore two stars . During the French Revolution , the revolutionaries ' drive to rationalise the state led to a change in the system of ranks . The rank of " brigadier of the armies " was abolished and the normal brigade command rank , field marshal , was replaced by brigade general . The rank of brigade general inherited the two stars of the rank of field marshal , explaining the absence since 1793 of a French rank with only one star . Nowadays , a French " général de brigade " generally commands a brigade , which is the biggest permanent formation in the French army . The rank can also be awarded in an honorary fashion to retiring colonels . The insignias are two stars , worn on the shoulder are at the sleeve of the uniform , depending on the dress . Two different kepi s are issued : the service kepi sports the two starts , while the formal kepi features a large band of oak leaves ( the kepi of a division general has two smaller such bands ) . Charles de Gaulle held the rank of brigade general . He was given a temporary promotion to this rank in May 1940 as commander of the 4th Armoured Reserve Division ( " 4ème division cuirassée de réserve " ) . However his authority as head of the Free French really came not from his military rank , but from being the only cabinet member outside occupied France , as he was appointed Under Secretary of State for National Defence and War in June 1940 . As a reminder of his war position , he refused any further promotion . Germany . German military uses the rank of brigade general , in German " brigadegeneral " . The concept of a brigade general rank is relatively new , as prior to 1950 the lowest German general officer rank was major - general , in part reflecting German colonels ' former higher command responsibility than in many other armies . Latin America . Most Latin American countries use the rank of brigade general , for instance Peru , Bolivia , Venezuela and Guatemala , although some still use brigadier or brigadier general ( e . g . , Colombia ) . Argentina . In the Argentine army , brigade general is the lowest rank of general , equivalent to an air force brigadier or a navy rear - admiral . The Argentine rank of brigade general is sometimes described as a " two - star " general , on the description of " senior colonel " as a " one - star " rank ; however this overstates the responsibilities of brigade generals and " senior colonels " in the Argentine army in comparison to other armies . The Argentine rank of brigade general is junior to the Argentine air force ranks of brigadier - major and brigadier general . Mexico . In Mexico , brigade general is the rank below divisional general and , confusingly , the rank above brigadier general . A Mexican brigade general wears as rank insignia the arms of Mexico above two stars . ( A Mexican brigadier general wears the arms of Mexico above one star . )