Optimum command rank

[Parinor]

Hello WiTE Fans,

I am just trying to come back to the game and I am reading the manual. I stumbled across the Sentence: " Axis leaders of the lowest rank (Generalmajor for Germany) will be automatically promoted to the next rank (Generalleutnant for Germany) on the date of their historical promotion (if provided in game data). Since the lowest rank is not the optimum rank to command an Axis Corps HQ, there
was no way for these leaders to be appointed to command position without a risk of losing some
skill points."

I am fine with that. But what is the effect, if a leader is not at his optimum level HQ? So, for instance, Guderian being GO (if I am not mistaken) which is the optimum rank for an army group, but actually he is just commanding a Panzergruppe (equals Army). Does this have negative effects? And if so, which?

Thank you so much for your answers.
Parinor

[eskuche]

There are no negative effects once a general is IN the position itself. The only malus is having to pass 1-2 ratings checks upon either manual promotion (costing lots of AP) or automatic early promotion (from when an HQ commander is vacated to another position, leaving an opening that the AI fills, usually with a good commander of inadequate rank). If these ratings checks fail, the commander loses one point in each.

Historical timed promotions do not chance lost ratings ever. I believe they are somewhat random, ie not exactly on time, and affected by win/loss record as well.