Ranks_and_insignia_of_the_Soviet_Armed_Forces_1955–1991

Military ranks of the Soviet Union (1955–1991)

Military ranks of the Soviet Union (1955–1991)

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The ranks and rank insignia of the Soviet Armed Forces between 1955 and 1991 were distinguished by the reorganisation of the Soviet armed forces after the death of Stalin, resulting in changes to ranks, insignia, and uniforms.

Changes to distinction insignia

Shoulder straps to field utilization

In December 1956 the coloured border piping on officers' shoulder straps was changed. A cinnamon-brown color was used instead of the burgundy red previously worn by commanders and commanding officers. All other officers and other ranks wore corps colours as follows:

  • Motorised & mechanised rifles – raspberry
  • Artillery & armored troops – black, red
  • Air Force & aviation – blue
  • Technical troops of any kind and the navy – black

The regimental numberings of the 1943 system were removed altogether.

Enlisted men, non-commissioned officers, warrant officers, and michman

Army, Air Force

More information Rank group, Warrant officers ...

Colors by type of troops:

  • motorized infantry troops – red (scarlet);
  • artillery, rocket, tank, engineering, construction, automobile, railway troops, signal-corps, troops of radiation, chemical and biological protection – black;
  • air force and airborne troops – sky blue;
  • state security troops (KGB troops) – dark blue, instead of the letters "СА" (Советская Армия) the letters "ГБ" (Государственная Безопасность – State Security);
  • internal troops (Interior Ministry troops) – crimson (dark red), instead of the letters "СА" (Советская Армия) the letters "ВВ" (Внутренние Войска);
  • border troops – green, instead of the letters "СА" (Советская Армия) the letters "ПВ" (Пограничные Войска).

Ratings of the Navy, coastal services and other shore commands

More information Rank group, Warrant officers ...

Letter codes from 1972 onward

Army officers and generals (all services)

More information Rank group, General officers ...

Marshals of the branch

The rank of Army general was only awarded to officers of the army from the infantry branch directly, all other branches and services were promoted to the ranks of marshal and chief marshal of the branch.

More information Rank, Chief marshal of the branch ...
More information Rank group, Flag officers ...

See also

References

  1. [1]
    Soper 1991, p. 740.
  2. [2]
    Soper 1991, p. 744.
  3. [3]
    Meyers Konversations-Lexikon, 3th[clarification needed] edition 1982, order number: 576 973 7, licence number: 433 130/182/82, volume IV, page 128-129 "Rank insignia of the Soviet Navy"

Bibliography

  • Barker, A. J. (1976). Soviet Army Uniforms & Insignia 1945-1975. London: Arms & Armour. ISBN 0-85368-390-5.
  • Soper, Karl Wheeler (1991). "Armed Forces and Defence Organization". In Zickel, Raymond E. (ed.). Soviet Union: a country study. Area Handbook (2nd ed.). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. pp. 695–753. LCCN 90025756. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
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