During World War II, Hermann Göring, Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe, was the only man elevated to Reichsmarschall.[2][3] He was promoted by Adolf Hitler, who first declared himself 1st Soldier of German Empire and Supreme Commander, during the 1940 Field Marshal Ceremony on 19 July, primarily to make Göring senior to the other Wehrmacht commanders made Generalfeldmarschall that day, and confirm his position as Hitler's designated successor.