Ranks_and_rank_insignia_of_the_Russian_armed_forces_until_1917

Ranks and insignia of the Imperial Russian Armed Forces

Ranks and insignia of the Imperial Russian Armed Forces

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The Ranks and insignia of the Imperial Russian Armed Forces were the military ranks used by the Imperial Russian Army and the Imperial Russian Navy. Many of the ranks were derived from the German model.[1] The ranks were abolished following the Russian Revolution, with the Red Army adopting an entirely different system.

Army ranks and rank designation

The following ranks and their respective insignia were also used by the personnel of the Imperial Russian Air Service from 1912 to 1917.

Army ranks

1698–1716

More information Rank group, General officers (Russian: Генералы, romanized: Generaly) ...
More information Rank group, Field officers (Russian: Штаб-офицеры, romanized: Shtabofitsery) ...
More information Rank group, Non-commissioned officers (Russian: Урядники, romanized: Uryadniky) ...

1716–1722

More information Rank group, General officers (Russian: Генералы, romanized: Generaly) ...
More information Rank group, Field officers (Russian: Штаб-офицеры, romanized: Shtabofitsery) ...
More information Rank group, Non-commissioned officers (Russian: Урядники, romanized: Uryadniky) ...

1722–1731

More information Rank group, General officers (Russian: Генералы, romanized: Generaly) ...
More information Rank group, Field officers (Russian: Штаб-офицеры, romanized: Shtab-ofitsery) ...
More information Rank group, Non-commissioned officers (Russian: Унтер-офицеры, romanized: Unter-ofitsery) ...

1731-1765

More information Rank group, General officers (Russian: Генералы, romanized: Generaly) ...
More information Rank group, Field officers (Russian: Штаб-офицеры, romanized: Shtab-ofitsery) ...
More information Rank group, Non-commissioned officers (Russian: Унтер-офицеры, romanized: Unter-ofitsery) ...

1765-1798

More information Rank group, General officers (Russian: Генералы, romanized: Generaly) ...

1798-1800

More information Rank group, General officers (Russian: Генералы, romanized: Generaly) ...

1800-1826

More information Rank group, General officers (Russian: Генералы, romanized: Generaly) ...

1826-1884

More information Rank group, General officers (Russian: Генералы, romanized: Generaly) ...

1884-1917

More information Rank group, General officers (Russian: Генералы, romanized: Generaly) ...

Other regiments and cadet corps

The following shoulder board insignias of the Imperial Army used by specific units and cadet corps are illustrated below:

1696-1706

More information Rank group, Flag officers (Russian: Флаг-офицеры, romanized: Flag ofitzery) ...

1706-1713

More information Rank group, Flag officers (Russian: Флаг-офицеры, romanized: Flag ofitzery) ...

1713-1717

More information Rank group, Flag officers (Russian: Флаг-офицеры, romanized: Flag ofitzery) ...

1717-1722

More information Rank group, Flag officers (Russian: Флаг-офицеры, romanized: Flag ofitzery) ...

1722-1732

More information Rank group, Flag officers (Russian: Флаг-офицеры, romanized: Flag ofitzery) ...

1732-1751

More information Rank group, Flag officers (Russian: Флаг-офицеры, romanized: Flag ofitzery) ...

1751-1758

More information Rank group, Flag officers (Russian: Флаг-офицеры, romanized: Flag ofitzery) ...

1758-1764

More information Rank group, Flag officers (Russian: Флаг-офицеры, romanized: Flag ofitzery) ...

1764-1798

More information Rank group, Flag officers (Russian: Флаг-офицеры, romanized: Flag ofitzery) ...

1798-1827

More information Rank group, Flag officers (Russian: Флаг-офицеры, romanized: Flag ofitzery) ...

1827-1884

More information Rank group, Flag officers (Russian: Флаг-офицеры, romanized: Flag ofitzery) ...

1884-1907

More information Rank group, Flag officers (Russian: Флаг-офицеры, romanized: Flag ofitzery) ...

1907-1911

More information Rank group, Flag officers (Russian: Флаг-офицеры, romanized: Flag ofitzery) ...

1911-1917

More information Rank group, Flag officers (Russian: Флаг-офицеры, romanized: Flag ofitzery) ...

Sleeve insignia of the Russian Navy from 1917

By order No. 125 of the Navy Ministry of the Russian Provisional Government, from April 16, 1917, was provided:

  1. Abolishment of the hitherto used shoulder rank insignia.
  2. Abolishment of the (naval) scarf.
  3. Deletion of any monogram, or initial letter on weapons and equipment.
  4. Paint over of the cockade center on caps with red color, until availability of the peaked cap with new national emblem.

The traditional shoulder rank insignia were replaced by golden sleeve strips for naval officers, admiralty officers, and naval engineers, as well as – after completion of mandatory examinations – praporshchiks and officers of the hydrographical service.

Silver sleeve strips were introduced to officers of the admiralty staff, before completion of mandatory examinations, as well to ship engineers, officials of the naval administration and naval physicians with officer rank or status.

Both cuff insignias were used in uniforms with the executive curl.

As discrimination criteria to specific appointments or assignments additional corps colours on the lower part of sleeve stripes was determinate:

  • red = ship engineers;
  • raspberry coloured = naval administration;
  • dark blue = hydrographical service;
  • white = physicians

The table below shows examples of rank insignia of the Russian Navy, to be worn on the lower part of uniform cuffs, as to the order No. 125 of the Russian Navy Ministry from April 16, 1917.

More information Rank group, Flag officers ...

See also


References

  1. Erich Donnert. Peter der Große. Leipzig: Koehler & Amelang. p. 130.
  2. A graduate of the Naval School. Depending on the grades received at the final exam, it could belong to the XIV or XIII class. This rank existed from 1860 to 1882.
  3. Williams, Dion (1918). Army and Navy Uniforms and Insignia. New York, N.Y.: Frederick A. Stokes Company. p. 256. Retrieved 5 July 2022.

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