high command
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high command
The highest military command authority of a country's armed forces, responsible for strategic planning and issuing orders.
Das Oberkommando der Armee gab den Befehl zum Rückzug.
The army high command gave the order to retreat.
The word is made up of 'Ober-' and 'Kommando' (command). The prefix 'Ober-' means 'highest' or 'leading' and indicates a high position in a hierarchy.
Der Oberbürgermeister ist das Oberhaupt der Stadtverwaltung.
The Lord Mayor is the head of the city administration.
This word is used almost exclusively in military or historical contexts. It refers to the highest level of leadership in the armed forces.
Historiker analysierten die strategischen Fehler des Oberkommandos.
Historians analyzed the strategic mistakes of the high command.
'Das Oberkommando' (the high command) is very often combined with a genitive to specify which military unit is meant, for example 'das Oberkommando der Armee' (the army high command) or 'des Heeres' (of the army).
Das Oberkommando der Marine plante die nächste Operation.
The navy high command planned the next operation.
command / commando
'das Kommando' and 'das Oberkommando' can both have to do with military leadership. 'Kommando' can generally mean command authority or leadership over a group. 'Oberkommando' is much more specific: it refers to the highest military command authority, that is, the top leadership of the armed forces. Learners may confuse the words because both contain the word 'Kommando'. The important difference is the level: 'Kommando' can also be smaller or more general, while 'Oberkommando' always means the highest military command.
Das Oberkommando entschied über die weitere Strategie der Armee.
The high command decided on the army's further strategy.
Während der Übung hatte eine erfahrene Offizierin das Kommando über die Einheit.
During the exercise, an experienced officer had command over the unit.