Ranks_and_rank_insignia_of_the_Soviet_Armed_Forces_1943–1955
Between 1943 and 1955, the ranks and insignia of the Soviet Armed Forces were characterised by a number of changes, including the reintroduction of rank insignia badges and the adoption of a number of higher ranks.
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In conjunction with the permanent increase of the manpower strength of the Soviet armed forces, the service branches and arms were formed by orders of the People' Commissariat of Defence, consisting of artillery, air force, air defence forces, signals corps, corps of engineers and the armoured corps. Major combat support units up to command level were established. This process was characterized by a need for well qualified command staff, in a suitable rank structure. The Soviet state – and party administration – responded to these challenges by the introduction of additional higher ranks, as well as by reintroducing the traditional Russian rank insignia.
A new rank group at OF-9 level (equivalent to the general of the branch in the Wehrmacht and the Imperial Russian Army) was introduced, named marshal of the branch or chief marshal of the branch.
In January 1943 the ranks of marshal of the air force, marshal of the artillery and marshal of the armoured corps came into existence.[1] In October 1943 it was followed by the additional ranks marshal of the communication troops, and marshal of the engineer troops, and the equivalent chief marshal of the branch ranks were added.[2]
The highest rank of generalissimus of the Soviet Union (Russian: Генерали́ссимус Сове́тского Сою́за) was created in October 1943, as an individual award to Stalin, the Head of Government and party chief, and functioned as supreme commander on all Soviet armed forces. Promotion to this rank was limited explicitly to wartime. The instruction was conveyed by an order to the front commanders-in-chief on 26 June 1945,[3] however, Stalin refused to officially implement the rank.
The introduction of new distinction insignia to the officer corps of the Red Army came by order of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet on 6 January 1943.[4][5] Selected were two versions of shoulder straps or epaulettes, one for everyday uniforms and the second for field use (breadth 6 cm, length 14 to 16 cm, depending on body size). On 15 January 1943 the introduction of new uniforms was decided.[6]
Corps colours
The corps colours that were introduced in 1935, remained in use with minor changes. The padding of the newly introduced shoulder straps were made from wool cloth, designed in branch of service colours with piping. Command staff wore silver or gold stars and characteristic metallic branch badges.
Enlisted men and non-commissioned officers
The shoulder board padding indicated the appropriate corps colour of service branch, corps or special appointment, with coloured border piping.
| Colour | Branch | |||||
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| Padding | Piping | Field piping | ||||
| Raspberry | Black | Raspberry | Infantry (generic motorised rifles or motorised infantry) | |||
| Cobalt blue | Black | Cobalt blue | Cavalry | |||
| Sky blue | Black | Sky blue | Aviation troops and air force | |||
| Black | Red | Red | Artillery & armoured corps | |||
| Dark green | Red | Dark green | Medical troops, veterinarian service | |||
| Black | Black | Black | Technical troops | |||
Junior and senior officers
| Piping | Branch | |
|---|---|---|
| Cobalt blue | Cavalry | |
| Raspberry | Army generic infantry, motorised rifles and logistics | |
| Red | Artillery, armoured corps, medical troops and veterinarian service | |
| Sky blue | Aviation troops and air force | |
| Black | Technical troops | |
General officers
| Piping | Branch | |
|---|---|---|
| Deep red ("general's red") | Army generic infantry, motorised rifles and logistics | |
| Sky blue | Aviation troops and air force | |
| Raspberry | All other uses | |
Any other insignia
Regimental numbers in gold lettering were placed on other ranks' shoulder straps along with the emblem of the armed service, branch, special troop, or appointment. For commanders of battle units or task forces the emblem was gold coloured, for others it was silver.
Enlisted men and non-commissioned officers
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Parade uniform | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Air force |  |
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| Field uniform | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Army |  |
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| Air force |  |
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| Старшина́ Starshyná |
Ста́рший сержа́нт Stárshiy serzhánt |
Сержа́нт Serzhánt |
Мла́дший сержа́нт Mládshiy serzhánt |
Ефре́йтор Efréĭtor |
красноармеец (Before 1946)[8] Krasnoarmeyets Рядово́й (After 1946) Ryadovóy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Translation[7] | Sergeant major | Senior sergeant | Sergeant | Junior sergeant | Corporal | Red Army man Private | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Variations
Field and service uniform as shown for Senior sergeant.
| Insignia |  Artillery |
 Armoured Troops |
 Cavalry |
 Chemical Troops |
 Electrical Troops |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank |   |
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| Insignia |  Engineer Troops |
 Medical Corps |
 Motor-Car Units |
 Pontoon Corps |
 Railway Troops, Military Communications |
| Rank |  |
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| Insignia |  Road Troops |
 Sapper Troops |
 Signal Troops |
 Survey Troops |
 Veterinary Corps |
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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.
| Rank | Chief marshal of the branch | ||||
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| Rank designation | Главный маршал артиллерии Glavnyy marshal artillerii |
Главный маршал авиации Glavnyy marshal aviatsii |
Главный маршал бронетанковых войск Glavnyy marshal bronetankovykh voysk |
Главный маршал войск связи Glavnyy marshal voysk svyazi |
Главный маршал инженерных войск Glavnyy marshal inzhenernykh voysk |
| Translation | Chief marshal of artillery | Chief marshal of aviation | Chief marshal of the armoured troops | Chief marshal of the signal troops | Chief marshal of the engineer troops |
| Rank | Marshal of the branch | ||||
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| Rank designation | Маршал артиллерии Marshal artillerii |
Маршал авиации Marshal aviatsii |
Маршал бронетанковых войск Marshal bronetankovykh voysk |
Маршал войск связи Marshal voysk svyazi |
Маршал инженерных войск Marshal inzhenernykh voysk |
| Translation | Marshal of artillery | Marshal of aviation | Marshal of the armoured troops | Marshal of the signal troops | Marshal of the engineer troops |
Commissioned officers
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Parade uniform | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Air force | See above |  |
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| Field uniform | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Air force | See below |  |
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| Маршал советского союза Marshal sovetskogo soyuza |
Генерал армии General armii |
Генера́л-полко́вник Generál-polkóvnik |
Генера́л-лейтена́нт Generál-leytenánt |
Генера́л-майо́р Generál-mayór |
Полко́вник Polkóvnik |
Подполко́вник Podpolkóvnik |
Майо́р Majór |
Kапита́н Kapitán |
Старший лейтена́нт Stárshiy leytenánt |
Лейтенант Leytenant |
Mла́дший лейтена́нт Mládshiy leytenánt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Translation[7] | Marshal of the Soviet Union | General of the army | Colonel general | Lieutenant general | Major general | Colonel | Lieutenant colonel | Major | Captain | Senior lieutenant | Lieutenant | Junior lieutenant | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Variations
Field, service and engineering uniform for various officers.
| Insignia | Armoured Troops |
Artillery |
Cavalry |
Chemical Troops |
Electrical Troops |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank |    |
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| Insignia | Engineer Troops |
 Legal Service |
Medical Corps |
Motor-Car Units |
Pontoon Corps |
| Rank |    |
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| Insignia |  Quartermaster Corps |
Railway Troops, Military Communications |
Road Troops |
Sapper Troops |
Signal Troops |
| Rank |   |
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| Insignia | Survey Troops |
Veterinary Corps | |||
| Rank |    |
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Student officers
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Parade uniform | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Курсант старшина́ Kursánt starshyná |
Курсант ста́рший сержа́нт Kursánt stárshiy serzhánt |
Курсант сержа́нт Kursánt serzhánt |
Курсант мла́дший сержа́нт Kursánt mládshiy serzhánt |
Курсант ефре́йтор Kursánt efréĭtor |
Курсант Kursánt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Translation | Cadet sergeant major | Cadet senior sergeant | Cadet sergeant | Cadet junior sergeant | Cadet first class | Cadet | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet on 15 February 1943 on "distinction insignia to the Soviet Navy" the introduction of shoulder straps and epaulettes took effect, marking the début of Imperial Russian Navy-style insignia to the Soviet Navy.[10][11] As the navy also had coastal services, ground ranks similar to the Red Army and Air Force were introduced with their respective insignia to be used by the coastal service personnel. These ranks were also used by the navy's medical corps and technical services. Shoulder rank insignia were in dark blue shoulder boards (gold on the dress uniform only for officers).
Naval officers and flag officers
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Regular[12][13] |  (1945–1955)[14] |
 (1943–1945) |
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| Engineers |  |
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| All[12][13] | .svg) |
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| Адмирал флота Admirál flota |
Адмирал Admirál |
Вице-адмирал Vitse-admirál |
Контр-адмирал Contre-admirál |
Капитан 1-го ранга Kapitan 1-go ránga |
Капитан 2-го ранга Kapitan 2-go ránga |
Капитан 3-го ранга Kapitan 3-go ránga |
Капитан-лейтенант Kapitan-leytenánt |
Старший лейтенант Starshey leytenánt |
Лейтенант Leytenánt |
Младший лейтенант Mladshiy leytenánt |
Курсант Kursánt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Translation[13] | Admiral of the fleet | Admiral | Vice admiral | Rear admiral | Captain 1st rank | Captain 2nd rank | Captain 3rd rank | Captain lieutenant | Senior lieutenant | Lieutenant | Junior lieutenant | Officer cadet | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Naval ratings (naval service)
| Rank group | Senior ratings | Junior ratings | ||||
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| Мичман Mičman |
Главный старшина Glavny starshina |
Старшина 1 статьи Starshina 1 statie |
Старшина 2 статьи Starshina 2 statie |
Старший краснофлотец Starshina krasnoflotets |
Краснофлотец Krasnoflotets | |
Ranks and insignia of naval ground and technical services
Officers
| Designation | Officers & commanders | General officers | ||||||||
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| Shoulder strap to service uniform (Coastal Services, incl. Naval Infantry and Coastal Defense Artillery) |
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| Shoulder strap to service uniform (Coastal Engineers) |
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| Shoulder strap to service uniform (Naval Aviation) |
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| Shoulder strap to service uniform (Naval Aviation engineers and technical staff) |
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| Rank designation | Junior lieutenant (Младший лейтенант) |
Lieutenant (Лейтенант) |
Senior lieutenant (Старший лейтенант) |
Captain (Капитан) |
Major (Майор) |
Lieutenant colonel (Подполковник) |
Colonel (Полковник) |
Major general (Генерал-майор) |
Lieutenant general (Генерал-лейтенант) |
Colonel general (Генерал-полковник) |
| Engineers rank designation | Junior Technician Lieutenant (Младший техник-лейтенант) |
Technician Lieutenant (Техник-лейтенант) |
Senior Technician Lieutenant (Старший техник-лейтенант) |
Engineer Captain (Инженер-капитан) |
Engineer Major (Инженер-Майор) |
Engineer-Lieutenant colonel (Инженер-Подполковник) |
Engineer-Colonel (Инженер-Полковник) | |||
Other ranks
| Shoulder straps to service uniform basic |
Enlisted men and non-commissioned officers of ground services (Coastal Services and Naval Aviation) | |||||
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| Shoulder board to service uniform (Personnel of coastal services) |
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| Shoulder board to service uniform (Personnel of naval aviation) |
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| Shoulder strap to service uniform (Personnel of coastal services) |
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| Rank designation | Seaman | Senior seaman | Junior Sergeant | Sergeant | Staff Sergeant | Starshina |
- History of Russian military ranks
- Ranks and insignia of the Imperial Russian Armed Forces
- Military ranks of the Soviet Union (1918–1935)
- Military ranks of the Soviet Union (1935–1940)
- Military ranks of the Soviet Union (1940–1943)
- Military ranks of the Soviet Union (1955–1991)
- Ranks and insignia of the Russian Federation's armed forces 1994–2010
- Citations
- Decree of the "Presidium of the Supreme Soviet" of 16 January 1943
- Decree of the "Presidium of the Supreme Soviet" of 9 October 1943
- Decree of the "Presidium of the Supreme Soviet" of 26 June 1945
- "Ukaz Prezidiuma Verkhovnogo Soveta SSSR «O vvedenii novykh znakov razlichiya dlya lichnogo sostava Krasnoy Armii» ot 6 yanvarya 1942 goda" Указ Президиума Верховного Совета СССР «О введении новых знаков различия для личного состава Красной Армии» от 6 января 1942 года [Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR "On the introduction of new insignia for the personnel of the Red Army" dated 6 January 1942] (PDF). Vedomosti of the Supreme Council of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (in Russian). Vol. 2, no. 208. pp. 1–2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
- Decreel of the "Presidium of the Supreme Soviet" of 6 January 1943
- Decree of the "Presidium of the Supreme Soviet" of 15 January 1943
- Rosignoli 1972, Plates 58–62.
- Устав внутренней службы Вооружённых сил СССР, 1946 г.
- Kharitonov 1993, Plate 101.
- "Указ Президиума Верховного Совета СССР "О введении новых знаков различия для личного состава Военно-Морского флота СССР"" [Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR "On the introduction of new insignia for the personnel of the Navy of the USSR"] (PDF). Statements of the Supreme Council Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (in Russian). Vol. 7, no. 213. 19 February 1943. pp. 1–2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
- Decree of the "Presidium of the Supreme Soviet" of 15 February 1943
- Mollo 1981, p. 177.
- Rosignoli 1983, Plates 12–13.
- References
- Barker, A. J. (1976). Soviet Army Uniforms & Insignia 1945-1975. London: Arms & Armour. ISBN 0-85368-390-5.
- Kharitonov, O. V. (1993) [1960]. Soviet Military Uniform and Insignia: 1918–1958. Translated by Suslov, Sergei V. St. Petersburg: Alga-Fund. ISBN 5-87290-017-1.
- Mollo, Andrew (1981). The Armed Forces of World War II: Uniforms, insignia, and organization. New York, N.Y.: Crown Publishers. ISBN 0-517-54478-4. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
- Rosignoli, Guido (1972). Army badges and insignia of World War 2: Book 1. MacMillan Colour Series. New York: Blandford Press Ltd. LCCN 72-85765.
- Rosignoli, Guido (1983). Badges and insignia of World War II: Air Force, Naval, Marine. Blandford Colour Series. New York: Blandford Press Ltd. ISBN 0-671-06008-2.
- "Указ Президиума ВС СССР от 25.05.1945 об изменении знаков различия – погонов для адмиралов флота" [Decree of the Presidium of the USSR Armed Forces of 25 May 1945 on changing the insignia – epaulettes for fleet admirals]. wikisource (in Russian). Vedomosti of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union. 1945. Retrieved 2 April 2022.