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Military ranks of the Soviet Union (1943–1955)

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Ranks and rank insignia of the Soviet Armed Forces in the period 1943–1955 were characterised by a number of changes in the armed forces of the Soviet Union, including the reintroduction of rank insignia badges and the adoption of a number of higher ranks.

Changes

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]

Generalissimus of the Soviet Union

The highest rank of generalissimus of the Soviet Union (Template:Lang-ru) was created in October 1943, as an individual award to Stalin, the head of state 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.

Ranks and distinction insignia for the land forces and air force

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
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 forc
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
Parade uniform
Army[7] 41st Guards Rifle Czestochowski, Order of Kutuzov Regiment 123rd Rifle Regiment 7th Motorised Rifle Brigade 61st Motorised Rifle Regiment 36th Guards Rifle Silesian, Order of the Red Star Regiment 306th Rifle Regiment
Air force 16th Guards Fighter Sandomierz Aviation, Order of Alexander Nevsky Regiment 28th Guards Bomber Aviation Regiment 173rd Guards Assault Aviation Regiment 909th Fighter Aviation, Order of Kutuzov Regiment 108th Bomber Aviation Regiment 104th Guards Fighter Krakov Aviation, Order of Alexander Nevsky Regiment
Field uniform
Army
Air force
Старшина́
Starshyná 		Ста́рший сержа́нт
Stárshiy serzhánt 		Сержа́нт
Serzhánt 		Мла́дший сержа́нт
Mládshiy serzhánt 		Ефре́йтор
Efréĭtor 		Рядово́й
Ryadovóy
Translation[7] Sergeant major Senior sergeant Sergeant Junior sergeant Corporal Private

Variations

Field and service uniform as shown for Senior sergeant.

Insignia
Artillery
Armoured Troops
Cavalry
Chemical Troops
Electrical Troops
Rank 4th Guards Artillery Regiment 8th Guards Tank, Order of the Red Banner, Order of Suvorov Brigade
Insignia
Engineer Troops
Medical Corps
Motor-Car Units
Pontoon Corps
Railway Troops,
Military Communications
Rank 5th Guards Motorcycle Regiment
Insignia
Road Troops
Sapper Troops
Signal Troops
Survey Troops
Veterinary Corps
Rank

Officer up to сommander-in-chief

Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
Parade uniform
Infantry
Air force See below
Field uniform
Infantry
Air force See below
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 		Курсант
Kursant
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 Officer cadet

Marshals of the branch

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

Rank Chief marshal of the branch
Service uniform
Field uniform
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
Service uniform February-November 1943 since November 1943 February-November 1943 since November 1943 February-November 1943 since November 1943
Field uniform February-November 1943 1943 February-November 1943 1943 February-November 1943
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

Variations

Field, service and engineering uniform for various officers.

Insignia
Armoured Troops
Artillery
Cavalry
Chemical Troops
Electrical Troops
Rank
Insignia
Engineer Troops
Legal Service
Medical Corps
Motor-Car Units
Pontoon Corps
Rank
Insignia
Quartermaster Corps
Railway Troops,
Military Communications
Road Troops
Sapper Troops
Signal Troops
Rank
Insignia
Survey Troops
Veterinary Corps
Rank

Ranks and rank insignia of the Soviet Navy

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.[8][9] 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).

Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
Shoulder insignia
Regular[10][11]
(1945–1955)[12]
(1943–1945)
Engineers
Sleeve insignia
All[10][11]
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
Translation[11] 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
Designation Junior ratings Senior ratings
Shoulder board
to
service uniform 		Black Sea Fleet Caspian Flotilla Danube Flotilla, Dnieper Flotilla Pacific Fleet Baltic Fleet
Shoulder strap
to
service uniform 		Volga Flotilla (1943-1944), Danube Flotilla, Dnieper Flotilla
Rank designation Seaman Senior seaman Petty officer 2nd class Petty Officer 1st class Chief petty officer Michman

Ranks and insignia of naval ground and technical services

Officers

Designation Officers & commanders General officers
Shoulder strap
to
service uniform
(Coastal Services, incl. Naval Infantry and Coastal Defense Artillery)
Shoulder strap
to
service uniform
(Coastal Engineers)
Shoulder strap
to
service uniform
(Naval Aviation)
Shoulder strap
to
service uniform
(Naval Aviation engineers and technical staff)
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)
Shoulder board
to
service uniform
(Personnel of coastal services) 		Onega Flotilla Coastal Services Northern Fleet Coastal Services Black Sea Fleet Coastal Services Caspian Flotilla Coastal Services Amur Military Flotilla Coastal Services
Shoulder board
to
service uniform
(Personnel of naval aviation) 		Black See Fleet Air Arm Baltic Fleet Air Force Northern Fleet Air Force General Navy (naval aviation) Pacific Fleet Air Force
Shoulder strap
to
service uniform
(Personnel of coastal services) 		General Navy
Shoulder strap
to
service uniform
(Personnel of naval aviation) 		Caspian Flotilla Air Service
Rank designation Seaman Senior seaman Junior Sergeant Sergeant Staff Sergeant Starshina

See also

References

Citations
  1. ^ Decree of the "Presidium of the Supreme Soviet" of 16 January 1943
  2. ^ Decree of the "Presidium of the Supreme Soviet" of 9 October 1943
  3. ^ Decree of the "Presidium of the Supreme Soviet" of 26 June 1945
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ Decreel of the "Presidium of the Supreme Soviet" of 6 January 1943
  6. ^ Decree of the "Presidium of the Supreme Soviet" of 15 January 1943
  7. ^ a b c Rosignoli 1972, Plates 58–62.
  8. ^ "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). No. 7 (213). 19 February 1943. pp. 1–2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  9. ^ Decree of the "Presidium of the Supreme Soviet" of 15 February 1943
  10. ^ a b Mollo 1981, p. 177.
  11. ^ a b c Rosignoli 1983, Plates 12–13.
  12. ^ Vedomosti 1945.
References

Further reading

  • Kharitonov, O. V. (1993). Soviet Military Uniforms and Insignia 1918-1958. Translated by Suslov, Sergei. Alga-fund. ISBN 978-5872900177.
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