The first officer to be promoted to the rank was general Mohamed Lamari, chief of staff of the ANP (1993-2004).
In 2006 three officers were promoted to the rank - Ahmed Gaid Salah, chief of staff of the ANP, Bennabes Ghzeiel, military advisor to president Abdelaziz Bouteflika and former head of the gendarmerie, and Toufik Mediene, head of the Département du Renseignement et de la Sécurité.
After Ghezeiel's death in July 2014, only Toufik and Gaid Salah were the only living holders of the rank.
It was replaced by the colonel general (generálplukovník) rank under Soviet Army influence in 1953.
The equivalent rank in the Air and Space Force is général de corps aérien ("general of air army corps") and in the Navy is vice-amiral d'escadre ("vice-admiral of squadron").