Workers' and Peasants' Red Army abbreviated as (RKKA), the term Soviet Army (SA) appeared later; strangely enough, the beginning of the Second World War was met in a military uniform of the 1925 model.

The People's Commissariat of Defense, by its order dated December 3, 1935, introduced new uniforms and insignia for all personnel of the Red Army. The old official ranks were partially retained for military-political, military-technical. military legal, military medical and junior command and control personnel.

This article is about the military ranks of private and junior commanding personnel of the Red Army; we will touch a little on the changes in the middle, senior and senior commanding personnel.

The lapel insignia, used since 1924, existed virtually unchanged until 1943, when shoulder straps were introduced.

Lapel insignia since 1924, existed without changes until 1943

Over the 19 years of existence of lapel insignia, changes in Red Army insignia and buttonholes small contributions were made.

The appearance of the emblems of the military branches and services changed, the colors of the edgings and buttonholes, the number of badges in the buttonholes, and the technology for producing badges underwent changes.

Over the years, sleeve patches were introduced and abolished as an additional element to the buttonholes.

But according to by and large insignia of the military uniform of the Red Army, the entire pre-war period and the first year and a half of the beginning of the Great Patriotic War remained virtually unchanged. With the exception of changes in production technologies towards cheaper products, cheaper materials were used. But the degradation of the quality of the materials used was not as catastrophic as in the Wehrmacht troops, which, as is known, steadily reduced the quality of the materials used for the production of military uniforms.

The branches of the military differed in the colors of their buttonholes, the colors of their caps, the piping on their uniforms, and their emblems. Here everything is described in more detail about the samples of uniforms of the Red Army of 1940-43.

The width of the buttonholes for tunics and jackets was 32.5 mm including piping, the length of the buttonhole was about 10 cm. Diamond-shaped overcoat buttonholes diagonally measured 11 x 9 centimeters; the Marshal of the Soviet Union had a larger size of 13.5 x 9.

The buttonholes of senior military personnel were edged with gold embroidery; for the rest, cloth edging was used, depending on the type of troops.

Brass was used to make emblems; the emblems were silvered and covered with gold, but mainly with red enamel.

Interestingly, by order, the emblems on the buttonholes of the rank and file were supposed to be painted using a stencil, but this was rare; metal emblems were used on the tabs or screws.

Rank and file: 0. Red Army soldier.

Junior command staff:

1. junior sergeant,
2. sergeant,
3. senior sergeant,
4. foreman.

Many people get confused about military ranks; it’s all about changes in 391 orders.

Buttonholes and sleeve insignia for sergeant major up to 40 years and after

For example, before the age of 40, the foreman had three triangles in his buttonhole and three stripes on his sleeve, and from the age of 40, four.

Squares and rectangles defining military rank were colloquially called “kubari” or “cubes”, respectively, rectangles “sleepers”.

Diamonds and triangles had no slang names, with the exception of the foreman, whose four triangles were called “saw.”

Emblems and sleeve patches of the Red Army

• (A) Sleeve chevron. Junior lieutenant, model 1935
• (B) Sleeve chevron of deputy politov
• (C) Air Force Airman Sleeve Pattern, Khaki, Field Uniform
• (D) Air Force Airman sleeve insignia "casual" dress uniform
• (E) Traffic Controller's Sleeve Badge
• (F) Artillery sleeve chevron

Artillerymen and armored troops used black buttonholes, but tank commanders had velvet buttonholes. The emblem of artillerymen and motorists was introduced in the First World War, crossed cannons and winged wheels with a steering wheel for drivers. Both are still used today with minimal changes. The tankers have emblems in the form of miniature BT tanks. The chemists had two cylinders and a gas mask on their emblem. In March 1943 they were changed to hammer and wrench.

private and junior commanding officers of the Red Army

The corporal received a red cloth stripe regardless of the branch of service. And the corporal began to look like a student of a sergeant's school, which also caused some confusion. With further assignments of ranks, the triangles were applied to the fabric strip.

• 1st Red Army soldier, autobat
• 2nd corporal, artilleryman
• 3 ml. Sergeant, technical service
• 4th sergeant, military air force
• 5th senior sergeant, armored forces
• 6th sergeant, sapper

The petty officer's buttonholes were different from the rest of the junior command staff. Between the edging and the field of the buttonhole, along the edge there is a golden braid, the same as that of senior officers.

The pilots' emblem has also remained virtually unchanged to this day, the same winged propeller, on blue buttonholes with black edging.

A golden or silver bowl with a snake (exactly the same as today) for military doctors and veterinary services.

The year 1937 marked the creation of military schools. Metal letters were applied to the buttonholes according to the color of the troops. The letters MPU, for example, corresponded to the Moscow Border School.

Metal letters were applied to the buttonholes according to the color of the troops.

For Academy students, the letter A had enamel triangles attached in front of it, indicating military rank.

Ranks and insignia of the Red Army in the middle, senior and highest command personnel, 1936

At the end of 1935, the armed forces were almost entirely built on the personnel principle. On September 22, 1935, the Supreme Council of the USSR approved personal military ranks, for compliance with which certification for the command staff of the Red Army was completed in just two months.
And December 3, 1935 Nar. The Commissioner of Defense signed an order introducing new uniforms and insignia for all Red Army personnel. New insignia and military uniforms, based on their distinctive details, made it possible to determine to which branch of the military or service a soldier belonged.

Ranks and insignia of the Red Army in the middle, senior and senior command personnel, 1940.

Four years later, another change in military uniforms and ranks occurs.

Order of the NKO of the USSR No. 226 dated July 26, 1940 introduces new and changes old insignia for the command and political personnel of the Red Army.

Rank	Insignia V buttonhole	Sleeve insignia according to rank
middle and senior com. compound
Junior Lieutenant	One square	One square made of gold braid 4 mm wide, on top of the braid there is a gap of red cloth 10 mm wide, at the bottom there is a edging 3 mm wide
Lieutenant	Two squares	Two squares made of gold galloon 4 mm wide, between them there is a gap of red cloth 7 mm wide, at the bottom there is a edging 3 mm wide
Senior Lieutenant	Three squares	Three squares made of gold braid, 4 mm wide, between them two gaps of red cloth, each 5 mm wide, with a 3 mm wide edging at the bottom.
Captain	One rectangle	Two squares made of gold galloon 6 mm wide, between them there is a gap of red cloth 10 mm wide, at the bottom there is a edging 3 mm wide
Major	Two rectangles
Lieutenant colonel	Three rectangles	Two squares made of gold braid, the top 6 mm wide, the bottom 10 mm, between them there is a gap of red cloth 10 mm wide, at the bottom there is a 3 mm wide edging
Colonel	Four rectangles	Three squares made of gold braid, the top and middle 6 mm wide, the bottom 10 mm, between them two gaps of red cloth, each 7 mm wide, with a 3 mm wide edging at the bottom
Political composition
Junior political instructor	Two squares
Political instructor	Three squares	Red star with hammer and sickle
Senior political instructor	One rectangle	Red star with hammer and sickle
Battalion Commissar	Two rectangles	Red star with hammer and sickle
Senior battalion commissar	Three rectangles	Red star with hammer and sickle
Regimental Commissar	Four rectangles	Red star with hammer and sickle

Regarding military ranks "of the 1935 model" The rank of “lieutenant colonel” is introduced for command personnel, and “senior battalion commissar” for military-political personnel.

Lapel insignia and sleeve patches of the Red Army

The colonel and regimental commissar now wear four sleepers instead of three on their buttonholes, which went to the lieutenant colonel and senior battalion commissar.
The order completely revised the system of sleeve insignia for senior and middle command personnel. Red cloth chevrons gave way to sleeve insignia using golden braid.

According to the rules for wearing uniforms from 1936, political workers could not wear emblems of military branches on their buttonholes. Although they were given equal rights to unit commanders, by order of May 10, 1937, the same as in 1925.

Drawing on the experience of the Finnish company of 1939, to strengthen unity of command in July - August 1940, all commissars were transferred to the positions of deputy commanders for political affairs. By obliging them to wear the lapel emblems of their branch of the military, and to master the military specialty of the branch of the military.

sleeve patches using golden braid

Examples of buttonholes various genera and titles.

A. Major. One sleeper. Armored troops. Dress uniform 1935
B. Officer's ceremonial buttonhole 1943
C. Overcoat buttonhole, ml. Sergeant '40
D. Marshal of the Soviet Union. 1940
E. Border Troops senior lieutenant 1935
F. General's buttonhole 1943

Insignia and uniform of the Marshal of the Soviet Union and generals of the Red Army since May 1940.

The Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of May 7, 1940 introduced the ranks of general. On July 13, the corresponding insignia was approved. The general's uniform turned out to be similar to the general's uniform tsarist generals, the same closed jacket, trousers with stripes, a hat and a trimmed overcoat with “coat of arms” buttons. The ceremonial single-breasted uniform is the same as in the German army. The general's cap had a round gilded cockade. To top it all off, the general was given a white cotton jacket.

General in summer uniform, Major General in dress uniform, Marshal in everyday uniform.

On the buttonholes of the Army General there were five gilded stars, a colonel general had four, a lieutenant general had three stars, a major general was supposed to wear two in his buttonholes. Komkor G.K. Zhukov was the first to receive the rank of army general.

Designer Major General V.G. Grabin and Army General Zhukov.G.K in ceremonial general uniforms 1940

The title of Marshal of the Soviet Union was established on September 22, 1935 by a resolution of the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR. The marshal was dressed in a general's uniform, the differences were red buttonholes, a gold embroidered star, laurel branches and at their crosshairs a hammer and sickle, sleeve squares with laurel branches embroidered in gold and large sleeve stars. Until the fortieth year, there was no ornament of laurel branches with a hammer and sickle on the marshal’s buttonholes.

The difference between the Marshal's buttonholes is clearly visible on Budyonny's uniforms. S.M on the left is the uniform of the 1936 model, and K.E. Voroshilov in a 1940 uniform

The first to be awarded the title of Marshal of the Soviet Union were Tukhachevsky, Voroshilov, Egorov, Budyonny and Blyukher.

Ranks and insignia of the Red Army in middle, senior and senior command personnel. Two months after the start of the war, due to differences in the military uniform of senior and senior command personnel from the rest of the military uniform. On August 1, 1941, an order was sent by telegraph obliging to abolish the wearing of sleeve insignia for all command personnel participating in hostilities, and to establish for all branches of the military the wearing of khaki buttonholes with protective insignia. The generals will be given khaki tunics and trousers without stripes.

Typically, the most difficult period of the beginning of the war seemed to be complete confusion, but by the end of August 1941, protective buttonholes and insignia were sent to the fronts.

Personal belongings, mobilization, leave and award documents, the black arrow indicates the “white ticket”

The uniform of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army (RKKA), which was a combination of military uniforms, equipment and insignia, was sharply different from all that existed in pre-war years analogues. It was a kind of material embodiment of the declared Soviet power in November 1917, the abolition of the class division of citizens and civilian (and then military) ranks.

The Bolsheviks believed that in the free army of the new state they were creating, there could be no workers and peasants. external forms, which would indicate the power and superiority of some over others. Therefore, following military ranks and ranks, the entire system of external insignia that existed in the Russian army - stripes, shoulder straps, orders and medals - was abolished.

Only job titles were preserved in the appeals. Initially, two forms of address were allowed: citizen and comrade (citizen battalion commander, comrade platoon commander, etc.), but soon “comrade” became the generally accepted form of address.

When forming the first units and formations of the Red Army, stocks of uniforms stored in the warehouses of the Russian army demobilized in 1918 were widely used. Therefore, the Red Army soldiers and commanders were dressed in field shirts of the 1912 model, khaki color, approved by Tsar Nicholas II, trousers of the same color, tucked into boots or windings with boots, as well as caps.

They differed from the Russian military personnel and the White armies created during the Civil War only by the absence of shoulder straps, a badge and a red star on the band of their cap.

To develop new uniforms for the Red Army, on April 25, 1918, a special commission was established, which already in December of the same year submitted a new type for approval to the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic (the Revolutionary Military Council - the body that managed the military development and combat activities of the Red Army during the Civil War). headdress - the famous “Budenovka”, distinctive insignia for command personnel and distinctive insignia of the main branches of the military. They were approved on January 16, 1919 and became a kind of starting point for a rather long process of creating a uniform that was used during the Great Patriotic War.

The diameter of the sleeve star of the Marshal of the Soviet Union and Army General, together with the edging, was 54 mm. The sleeve star of the Marshal of the Soviet Union and combined arms generals had a border of red cloth 2 mm wide, the sleeve star for other generals had a border in the color of the branch of service (crimson, blue or red), 2 mm wide. The diameter of the sleeve star together with the edging was 44 mm.

The army general's chevron consisted of one square of gold galloon 32 mm wide, and in the upper part - of red cloth 10 mm wide. Generals of the military branches were entitled to one square made of gold braid 32 mm wide, with a 3 mm wide edging at the bottom according to the branch of service.

The commanding staff's chevrons, which looked very impressive, were abolished shortly before the start of the Great Patriotic War, and with its beginning, in the active army and marching units, insignia were replaced by field insignia: all branches of the military were required to wear khaki-colored buttonholes with khaki-colored insignia. The wearing of commissar stars on the sleeves of political workers was also abolished.

A radical change in the system of insignia occurred on January 15, 1943, when, in accordance with the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of January 6, 1943, People's Commissar of Defense I.V. Stalin issued an order “On the introduction of new insignia for the personnel of the Red Army.” In accordance with this order, new insignia were introduced - shoulder straps.

In their form, the shoulder straps of the Red Army were similar to the shoulder straps adopted in the Russian army before 1917. They were a strip with parallel long sides, the lower end of the shoulder strap was rectangular, and the upper end was cut at an obtuse angle. The shoulder straps of marshals and generals have the top of an obtuse angle cut parallel to the bottom edge.

Military personnel in the active army and personnel of units preparing to be sent to the front were required to wear field shoulder straps, and for military personnel of other units and institutions of the Red Army - everyday shoulder straps. Both field and everyday shoulder straps were edged along the edges (except for the bottom edge) with colored cloth edging. According to the assigned military rank, belonging to the branch of the military (service), insignia (stars, gaps, stripes) and emblems were placed on the shoulder straps, and on the everyday shoulder straps of junior commanders, enlisted personnel and cadets of military schools - also stencils indicating the names of the military unit (connections). Field and everyday shoulder straps of generals and all infantry personnel - without emblems, in other branches of the military - with emblems.

For Marshals of the Soviet Union and generals, the shoulder straps were made of specially woven braid: for field shoulder straps - from khaki silk, for everyday ones - from gold wire.

With the introduction of shoulder straps, the functions of buttonholes were reduced mainly to indicating the military affiliation of Red Army soldiers, while the placement of buttonholes on jackets and tunics was completely abolished.

On the collar of the uniform of senior and middle command personnel there were longitudinal buttonholes made of instrument cloth without edging. The finished length of the buttonholes was 82 mm, width - 27 mm. Color of buttonholes - by branch of service:

infantry - crimson;

artillery - black;

armored forces - black;

aviation - blue;

cavalry - light blue;

engineering and technical troops - black;

quartermaster service - raspberry;

medical and veterinary services - dark green;

military-legal composition - crimson.

On the buttonholes of senior officers there are two longitudinal stripes, sewn with gold thread, intertwined with silver thread. On the buttonholes of middle command personnel there is one stripe.

The ranks for a military man determine his official position and legal status, that is, his rights, powers and responsibilities. Military ranks provide for the principle of seniority and subordination. Ranks are assigned to military personnel in accordance with their vocational training, position in service, official title, length of service, as well as merit.

The meaning of military ranks

Ranks for the military are one of the important motivators for military service. military service, personnel placement and their most effective use. The presence of ranks in the army establishes relationships of seniority and subordination between military personnel. A specific military rank gives a serviceman the right to a certain monetary allowance and material support, and to receive certain benefits.

Military rank can be determined by insignia. They are shoulder straps, buttonholes and chevrons.

Introduction of ranks into the Red Army

Since the creation of the Red Army (abbreviation: Workers' and Peasants' Red Army), the need arose to introduce military ranks. Since 1918, as the Red Army developed and strengthened, the names of military ranks and insignia changed several times. Only in 1939-1940. they were finally established, and these ranks of the Red Army did not change until 1943.

The first ranks and their insignia in the Red Army

In December 1917, the new government, by decree, abolished military ranks in the army. And it was decided to form a new type of army. A decree on this was adopted at the beginning of 1918.

IN initial period In the Red Army, the commanding staff was elected. But in conditions of increasing Civil War The formation of the armed forces of the young republic began on the principle of conscription. In this situation, it became urgently necessary to move away from the principle of elected commanders.

It was decided to restore the principle of unity of command in the army and introduce military ranks in the troops. The first to establish military ranks in order to strengthen discipline in his units was the head of division No. 18, I. P. Uborevich.

He was warmly supported by the founder of the Red Army, chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic, Lev Davidovich Trotsky. It took almost a year to develop and approve a uniform military uniform and distinctive insignia for army command personnel. The first military ranks and insignia of the Red Army were based on positions held. And so that the serviceman’s position was visible, signs were approved that were sewn onto the sleeves (diamonds, squares and triangles).

Military positions and insignia from 1918 to 1924

Military rank		Signs on the sleeves	Occupied job title
	Red Army soldier	No signs
	and equivalent	Star and triangle	Commander departments
Platoon commander	Platoon commander and equivalent	Star and two triangles	Assistant platoon commander
Sergeant Major	Foreman and those equivalent to him	Star and three triangles	Company Sergeant Major
Komvzvoda	Komvzvod and equated to it		Commander
	equivalent	A star and two squares	Company commander, Squadron commander
	equivalent	Star and three squares	Battalion Commander
Regimental Commander	Regimental commander, brigade commander equated to them	Star and four squares	Regimental commander
	Brigade commander, pomnachdiv and equivalents	Star and diamond	Brigade commander
	Chiefs and those equated to them	Star and two diamonds	Head of Division
Commander	Commander, deputy commander of the front, deputy commander of the district and equivalent to them	Star and three diamonds	Army commander
Comfront		Star and four diamonds	Front Commander

All distinctive signs, in accordance with the order of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic No. 116, were sewn on the left sleeves of clothing. A little later, the RVSR approved a new military uniform, uniform for the entire Red Army: an overcoat, a tunic and a headdress (“Budenovka”). In general, the clothing of an ordinary Red Army soldier and the command staff did not differ significantly. Only insignia indicated the position held.

Unification of military clothing and insignia since 1924

During the Civil War, the established uniform in the Red Army was used along with the uniform of the Tsarist army, civilian clothing and other items of clothing stylized as military cut.

At the end of the Civil War, a gradual transition of the entire army to uniform uniforms began. It was decided to reduce the cost of production of military uniforms and eliminate unnecessary elements. In May 1924, summer cotton caps and summer tunic shirts without colored chest flaps, but with two patch pockets on the chest, were supplied to military uniforms. Almost all items military clothing have undergone changes.

It was established that rectangular cloth buttonholes were sewn onto the collars of tunics and tunics, corresponding to the color of the military branches with edging of a different shade. The size of the buttonholes was determined to be 12.5 cm by 5.5 cm. The buttonholes sewn onto the collar of overcoats were shaped like a rhombus with unequal sides of 13 cm by 12.5 cm.

On the buttonholes, along with insignia by category, emblems of the serviceman's specialty were attached. The dimensions of the emblems should not be larger than 3 x 3 cm.

Introduction of service categories for military personnel

Order of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR No. 807 from mid-1924 abolished sleeve flaps with signs indicating the military position held, and introduced buttonholes with signs corresponding to the assigned category and corresponding emblems indicating the specialty of military personnel. Subsequently, these innovations were supplemented by additional orders (No. 850 and No. 862). Categories have been developed and approved. All military personnel were divided into four groups:

• junior command and control officer;
• average command and control;
• senior command and control officer;
• highest commanding officer.

Categories by positions held in the Red Army

Each group, in turn, was divided into categories.

1. Junior commanders and command staff:

• squad leader, boatswain - K-1;
• company foreman, deputy platoon commander, chief boatswain, warhead foreman, deputy warhead commander, chief boatswain - K-2;

2. Middle management and command staff:

• warhead commander, platoon commander, deputy commander 4th rank - K-3;
• deputy company commander, senior mate of the 4th rank - K-4;
• chief comrade of a ship of the third rank, comrade comrade of the 4th rank, squadron (company) comrade - K-5;
• commander of a separate company, deputy commander of a battalion, comrade corps of the third rank, senior comrade comrade of the 2nd rank - K-6.

3. Senior management and command staff:

• corps comrade 2nd rank, battalion comrade - K-7;
• deputy regiment commander, senior comrade comrade 1st rank - K-8;
• regiment commander, deputy brigade commander, corps comrade 1st rank - K-9;

4. Senior management and command staff:

• brigade commander, deputy division commander, ship brigade commander - K-10;
• division commander, deputy corps commander, squadron commander - K-11;
• corps commander, deputy army commander, flotilla commander - K-12;
• commander of the army, deputy commander of the front, deputy commander of the military district, commander of the fleet, commander-in-chief of the naval forces of the republic - K-13;
• front commander, military district commander - K-14.

Introduction of individual ranks for military personnel

In 1935, the Council of People's Commissars, by its resolution, announced another reform in the armed forces of the USSR, clarifying ranks and insignia in the Red Army. Personal ranks are established for military personnel.

The highest rank was established - Marshal. The distinctive sign for marshals was big star on the buttonholes. Simultaneously with the establishment of new military ranks, the command and control personnel of the Armed Forces are divided into the following areas of service activity:

1. Command.

2. Military-political.

3. The commander, who, in turn, was divided into:

• economic and administrative;
• technical;
• medical;
• veterinary;
• legal.

Correlation of ranks of command, administrative and political personnel

The decals remain largely unchanged. Belonging to a particular service or branch of the military was indicated by the color of the buttonholes and emblems. Command staff of all levels sewed a chevron in the form of a corner onto their sleeves. The distinctive insignia of various ranks on the buttonholes were diamonds for senior personnel, rectangles for senior personnel, squares for middle personnel and triangles for junior personnel. An ordinary soldier had no insignia on his buttonhole.

Personal rank insignia for all military personnel was based on previous ranks. So, for example, two “kubar” lieutenants on the buttonholes had a junior political instructor, a military technician of the second rank, a junior military lawyer, etc. The indicated ranks of the Red Army existed until 1943. In 1943, they moved away from “cumbersome” military ranks. So, for example, instead of the rank of “military paramedic,” the rank of “lieutenant of medical service” was introduced.

In 1940, continuing the process of assigning personal military ranks, the USSR government approved ranks for junior and senior command levels. The ranks of lieutenant colonels and generals have been legalized.

Insignia by military rank in 1941

Met with aggression fascist Germany in 1941, having the following on his military uniform military insignia differences:

Military ranks of the Red Army	Signs
	On the buttonhole	On the sleeve
Red Army soldier	None	None
Corporal	One yellow gap in the middle of the buttonhole
Junior Sergeant	1 triangle	None
	2 triangles
Senior Sergeant	3 triangles
Sergeant Major	4 triangles
Junior Lieutenant	One square	10 mm red top square, 1 4 mm yellow braid square, 3 mm red border at the bottom
Lieutenant	2 squares	2 squares made of yellow galloon 4 mm, a red gap between them of 7 mm, a three-millimeter red edging at the bottom
Senior Lieutenant	Three squares	3 squares of 4 mm yellow braid, 5 mm red gaps between them, 3 mm red edging at the bottom
	Rectangle	2 squares made of yellow galloon 6 mm, a red gap between them of 10 mm, a three-millimeter red edging at the bottom
	rectangle
Lieutenant colonel	rectangle	2 squares made of yellow galloon: upper 6 mm, lower 10 mm, red gap between them 10 mm, three-millimeter red border at the bottom
Colonel	rectangle	3 squares made of yellow galloon: top and middle 6 mm, bottom 10 mm, red gaps between them 7 mm each, three mm red border at the bottom
Major General	2 small yellow stars	Small one square of yellow galloon 32 mm, three-millimeter edging at the bottom
Lieutenant General	3 small yellow stars
Colonel General	4 small yellow stars	Small yellow star, one square of 32 mm yellow braid, three mm border at the bottom
Army General	5 small yellow stars	Large yellow star, one square of yellow braid 32 mm, above the braid a red square of 10 mm
Marshal of the Soviet Union	A large yellow star above a square of oak leaves	A large yellow star, two squares of yellow galloon on a red field. There are oak branches between the braids. There is a red edging at the bottom.

The above insignia and ranks of the Red Army did not change until 1943.

Correlation of ranks of the NKVD and the Red Army

In the pre-war years, the NK of Internal Affairs consisted of several main departments (GU): the Main Directorate of State Security, the Main Directorate of Internal Security and Border Troops, the Main Directorate of the Workers' and Peasants' Militia and others.

In internal security units and military positions and the ranks were the same as in the Red Army. And in the police and state security, due to the specifics of the tasks performed, there were special ranks. If we compare, for example, special ranks in security agencies with army ranks, then the following results: a state security sergeant was equated to a lieutenant of the Red Army, a state security captain to a colonel, and so on.

Conclusion

Thus, from the very formation of the Republic of Soviets, the Red Army troops were always in the field special attention senior management countries. Not only were weapons and equipment improved, but the clothing supply for military personnel was also improved. The photographs show that the Red Army soldier of 1941 is strikingly different in clothing and equipment from the Red Army soldier of 1918. But the military ranks of the Red Army themselves changed several times before 1943.

And in 1943, as a result of radical reforms, the abbreviation RKKA (decoding: Workers' and Peasants' Red Army) became a thing of the past. The concept “ Soviet army"(SA).

Articles in the May and June issues of newspapers for 1940 emphasized the importance and authority of the ranks of generals and admirals of the Soviet Union, and noted the responsibility and role of the holders of these ranks to the country and history:

The lives of thousands and thousands of soldiers were handed over to the highest commander. He leads the battle and knows how best to use the available forces and means. He is responsible for the outcome of the battle, for the decisive defeat of the enemy. A huge mass of people, the entire powerful organism modern warfare must strictly obey the will of the sovereign commander, flexibly and clearly carry out his orders and decisions.

Also received military ranks:

• Colonel General of Artillery:

• Lieutenant General:

• Lieutenant General of Artillery:
  • Drozdov N. F.

• lieutenant general tank troops:

• lieutenant general engineering troops:

• Major General:

• admiral

and others.

Since July 1940 new form and new insignia for the Marshals of the Soviet Union:

• on the diamond-shaped buttonholes there was embroidered a large golden star, two laurel branches and an emblem - a hammer and sickle,
• on the sleeves there is a large gold star bordered by a red edging and a gold embroidered square with two gold laurel branches in the red gap.

Insignia of the command and control personnel of the armed forces on June 22, 1941

Military rank	Insignia
	in buttonholes	on the sleeves
Ground forces, air force (except naval aviation) and troops NKVD including border troops
Rank and file
No	No
		Red longitudinal gap 5 mm wide (on tunics), 1 cm (on overcoats)
Junior command staff
Junior Sergeant	Red longitudinal gap 5 mm wide (on tunics), 1 cm (on overcoat), 1 enamel triangle	No
Red longitudinal gap 5 mm wide (on tunics), 1 cm (on overcoat), 2 enamel triangles
Red longitudinal gap 5 mm wide (on tunics), 1 cm (on overcoat), 3 enamel triangles
	Red longitudinal gap 5 mm wide (on tunics), 1 cm (on overcoats), parallel to the edging there was a gold braid 3 mm wide, 4 enamel triangles
Average command staff
Junior Lieutenant	1 enamel square	1 square made of gold braid, 4 mm wide, red cloth gaps: top 10 mm, bottom 3 mm
2 enamel squares	2 squares made of gold braid 4 mm wide, between the braids there is a gap of red cloth 7 mm wide, at the bottom there is a edging 3 mm wide
3 enamel squares	3 squares made of gold braid 4 mm wide, between the braids there are gaps of red cloth 5 mm wide, 3 mm wide edging at the bottom
Senior command staff
	1 enamel rectangle	2 squares made of gold braid 6 mm wide, between the galloons there is a gap of red cloth 10 mm wide, at the bottom there is a edging 3 mm wide
	2 enamel rectangles	3 squares made of gold braid 6 mm, between the braids there is a gap of red cloth 10 mm wide, at the bottom there is a edging 3 mm wide
	3 enamel rectangles	2 squares made of gold braid: the upper one is 6 mm wide, the lower one is 10 mm wide, between the galloons there is a gap of red cloth 10 mm wide, at the bottom there is a 3 mm wide edging
	4 enamel rectangles	3 squares made of gold braid: top and middle 6 mm wide, bottom - 10 mm, between the galloons there are gaps of red cloth 7 mm wide, bottom edging 3 mm wide
Senior command staff
Major General	2 gilded metal stars
3 gilded metal stars	Embroidered small gold star, bordered with edging according to the branch of service, one square of gold braid 32 mm wide, below - edging according to the branch of service 3 mm wide
4 metal gilded stars	Embroidered small gold star, bordered with edging according to the branch of service, one square of gold braid 32 mm wide, below - edging according to the branch of service 3 mm wide
5 metal gilded stars	An embroidered large gold star, bordered with a red edging, one square of gold braid 32 mm wide, in the upper part of the braid - made of red cloth 10 mm wide
	Embroidered large gold star, two gold embroidered at the bottom of the buttonhole laurel branches and the hammer and sickle emblem	An embroidered large gold star edged with a red edging, one square of red cloth, in the middle of which two laurel branches are embroidered in gold, on both sides of the square there is gold embroidery with a red edging
Political composition
Junior political instructor	2 enamel squares	Red star with hammer and sickle
Political instructor	3 enamel squares
Senior political instructor	1 enamel rectangle
Battalion Commissar	2 enamel rectangles
Senior battalion commissar	3 enamel rectangles
Regimental Commissar	4 enamel rectangles
Brigade Commissar	1 golden diamond
Divisional Commissioner	2 golden diamonds
Corps Commissioner	3 golden diamonds
Army commissar 2nd rank	4 golden diamonds
Army Commissar 1st Rank	4 diamonds and a small golden star
Navy
Rank and file
Red Navy man		red star
Senior Red Navy man
Junior command staff
Petty Officer 2nd Article	There are no buttonholes at all, insignia are only on the sleeves
Petty Officer 1st Article
Chief Petty Officer
Midshipman
Average command staff
There are no buttonholes at all, insignia are only on the sleeves	1 medium gold stripe
	2 medium golden stripes
	Lieutenant Commander
Senior command staff
Captain 3rd rank	There are no buttonholes at all, insignia are only on the sleeves	3 medium golden stripes
Captain 2nd rank		4 medium golden stripes
Captain 1st rank		1 wide strip
Senior command staff
Rear Admiral	There are no buttonholes at all, insignia are only on the sleeves
Vice Admiral
Admiral
Fleet Admiral		Large star, lower wide and 4 middle stripes
Naval aviation, coastal defense troops and maritime border troops
Rank and file
There are no buttonholes at all, insignia are only on the sleeves	red star
	Red star with golden edging
Junior command staff
There are no buttonholes at all, insignia are only on the sleeves	Red star with gold edging and 1 narrow short gold stripe
	Red star with gold edging and 2 narrow short gold stripes
	Red star with gold edging and 3 narrow long gold stripes
	Red star with gold edging and 4 narrow long gold stripes
Average command staff
There are no buttonholes at all, insignia are only on the sleeves	1 medium gold stripe
	1 medium and 1 narrow golden stripes
	2 medium golden stripes
	2 medium and one narrow golden stripes
Senior command staff
There are no buttonholes at all, insignia are only on the sleeves	3 medium golden stripes
	4 medium golden stripes
	1 wide strip
Senior command staff
There are no buttonholes at all, insignia are only on the sleeves	Small star, lower wide and 1 middle stripe
	Small star, lower wide and 2 middle stripes
	Small star, lower wide and 3 middle stripes
Political composition of the Navy
Junior political instructor	There are no buttonholes at all, insignia are only on the sleeves	Red star with hammer and sickle, 1 medium and 1 narrow golden stripes
Political instructor		Red star with hammer and sickle and 2 medium gold stripes
Senior political instructor		Red star with hammer and sickle, 2 medium and one narrow golden stripes
Battalion Commissar		Red star with hammer and sickle and 3 medium gold stripes
Senior battalion commissar		Red star with hammer and sickle and 4 medium gold stripes
Regimental Commissar		Red star with hammer and sickle and 1 wide golden stripe
Divisional Commissioner		Red star with hammer and sickle, lower wide and 1 middle golden stripes
Corps Commissioner		Red star with hammer and sickle, lower wide and 2 middle golden stripes
Army commissar 2nd rank		Red star with hammer and sickle, lower wide and 3 middle golden stripes
Army Commissar 1st Rank		Red star with hammer and sickle, lower wide and 4 middle golden stripes
Special ranks of military personnel of the NKVD (NKGB since 1941)
State Security Sergeant	Two enamel squares
Junior Lieutenant of State Security	Three enamel squares	The sign is an oval embroidered on maroon cloth with a sword, sickle and hammer in the center. The oval and blade of the sword are silver, the hilt of the sword, the sickle and hammer are golden.
Lieutenant of State Security	One enamel rectangle	The sign is an oval embroidered on maroon cloth with a sword, sickle and hammer in the center. The oval and blade of the sword are silver, the hilt of the sword, the sickle and hammer are golden.
Senior Lieutenant of State Security	Two enamel rectangles	The sign is an oval embroidered on maroon cloth with a sword, sickle and hammer in the center. The oval and blade of the sword are silver, the hilt of the sword, the sickle and hammer are golden.
State Security Captain	Three enamel rectangles	The sign is an oval embroidered on maroon cloth with a sword, sickle and hammer in the center. The oval and blade of the sword are silver, the hilt of the sword, the sickle and hammer are golden.
Major of State Security	1 enamel diamond
Senior Major of State Security (Commissioner of State Security)	2 enamel diamonds	The sign is an oval embroidered on maroon cloth with a sword, sickle and hammer in the center. the oval is golden in color, the sword, sickle and hammer are silver.
Commissioner of State Security 3rd rank	3 enamel diamonds	The sign is an oval embroidered on maroon cloth with a sword, sickle and hammer in the center. the oval is golden in color, the sword, sickle and hammer are silver.
Commissioner of State Security 2nd Rank	4 enamel diamonds	The sign is an oval embroidered on maroon cloth with a sword, sickle and hammer in the center. the oval is golden in color, the sword, sickle and hammer are silver.
Commissioner of State Security 1st Rank	Star and 4 enamel diamonds	The sign is an oval embroidered on maroon cloth with a sword, sickle and hammer in the center. the oval is golden in color, the sword, sickle and hammer are silver.
Commissioner General of State Security		Golden star with hammer and sickle
Engineering and technical staff, military-economic and administrative staff, military medical and military-veterinary staff, military-legal staff
Junior military technician	one enamel square	No
Military technician 2nd rank Quartermaster technician 2nd rank Military paramedic Military veterinarian Junior military officer	two enamel squares
Military technician 1st rank Quartermaster technician 1st rank Senior military paramedic Senior military veterinarian Military lawyer	three enamel squares
Military engineer 3rd rank Quartermaster 3rd rank Military doctor 3rd rank Military veterinarian 3rd rank Military lawyer 3rd rank	one enamel rectangle
Military engineer 2nd rank Quartermaster 2nd rank Military doctor 2nd rank Military veterinarian 2nd rank Military lawyer 2nd rank	two enamel rectangles
Military engineer 1st rank Quartermaster 1st rank Military doctor 1st rank Military veterinarian 1st rank Military lawyer 1st rank	three enamel rectangles
Brigade Engineer Brigade Intendant Brigade doctor Brigvoenveterinarian Brigvoenurist	1 golden (enamel) diamond
Major General of Technical Troops Major General of the Quartermaster Service Military doctor Divvoenveterinarian Divvoenurist	2 golden stars or 2 golden (enamel) diamonds
Lieutenant General of Technical Troops Lieutenant General of the Quartermaster Service Military doctor Corvoenveterinarian Corvoyurist	3 gold stars or 3 (enamel) gold diamonds
Colonel General of Technical Troops Colonel General of the Quartermaster Service Armed military doctor Armed military veterinarian Armmilitary lawyer	4 golden stars or 4 golden (enamel) diamonds

Notes

1. The colors of stripes, buttonholes and piping for generals and Marshals of the Soviet Union are as follows:

• for the Marshal of the Soviet Union and generals - red.
• for generals of artillery and tank troops the color of the buttonholes is black (velvet), the stripes and piping on the cap are red.
• for aviation generals - blue.
• for generals of the signal troops, engineering, technical troops and quartermaster service - crimson.

2. Generals of artillery, tank troops, aviation, signal troops, engineering, technical troops and quartermaster service had established emblems on their buttonholes according to their branch of service and service.

3. The colors of the military branches were as follows:

• infantry - crimson;
• artillery and armored forces - black;
• Air Force and Airborne Forces - blue;
• cavalry - blue;
• economic and administrative staff - dark green;
• for the NKVD and NKGB troops: border guards - bright green, GB - dark blue, the rest - maroon.

4. Commanders' buttonholes were colored according to the branch of service with a twisted gold braid border. They were assigned to the political composition with a color border according to the type of troops. The command and political personnel had emblems on their buttonholes according to the type of military service.

5. Buttonholes for junior commanding officers - in color according to the branch of the military or service, with cloth edging in the color of the branch of service, the red longitudinal clearance for all branches of the military and service is the same. The buttonholes contained the emblem of the military branch and a golden triangle (in the upper corner).

6. B fiction The colloquial name for a square is often found - “cube”, “kubar”, and for a rectangle - “sleeper”.

Military ranks of the Red Army and USSR Navy services

During 1942-1943, the People's Commissariat of Defense continued to train the military ranks of the commanding staff of the Red Army and the VFM of the USSR. The changes were due to the fact that the military ranks of commanding personnel were characterized by a plurality of positions and differed sharply not only from the ranks of command personnel, but were significantly different for different services.

The first decisions of the USSR State Defense Committee on this issue were:

• Decree of the State Defense Committee of the USSR No. 1528 of 04.04. “On the introduction of personal military ranks to the engineering and technical personnel of the Navy Air Force” and by order of the People's Commissariat of the Navy dated April 10. the same ranks were introduced into the USSR Navy.

• in March, similar decisions were made regarding the military ranks of military-technical personnel:
  • Decree of the State Defense Committee of the USSR No. 1381 dated 03.03. “On the introduction of personal military ranks to the engineering and technical staff of the artillery of the Red Army” and Order of the NKO of the USSR No. 68 of 04.03. the following ranks of artillery engineering and technical personnel were introduced: lieutenant technician, senior lieutenant technician, engineer captain, engineer major, engineer lieutenant colonel, engineer colonel, major general, lieutenant general, colonel general engineering and artillery service,
  • Decree of the State Defense Committee of the USSR No. 1408 dated 07.03. “On the introduction of personal military ranks to the engineering and technical personnel of the armored forces of the Red Army” and Order of the NKO of the USSR No. 71 of 08.03. the following ranks of engineering and technical personnel of the armored forces were introduced: lieutenant technician, senior lieutenant technician, engineer captain, major engineer, lieutenant colonel engineer, colonel engineer, major general, lieutenant general, colonel general Tank Engineering Service.
  • By order of NPO No. 93 of March 30. resolution announced State Committee Defense No. 1494 dated March 26. introducing military ranks for the senior and middle command of the commissary service: lieutenant of the commissary service, senior lieutenant of the commissary service, captain of the commissary service, major of the commissary service, lieutenant colonel of the commissary service and colonel quartermaster service.

• Decree of the State Defense Committee of the USSR No. 1912 of June 17. “On the introduction of personal military ranks to all engineering and technical personnel of the coast service Navy Union of the SSR" and the order of the NK Navy dated June 27. the following ranks were introduced: lieutenant engineer, senior lieutenant engineer, captain engineer, major engineer, lieutenant colonel engineer, colonel engineer, major general engineer, lieutenant general engineer, colonel general engineer coast guard USSR Navy.

• The idea of ​​differentiating military ranks for those with higher and secondary technical education leads to the introduction of new military ranks to the existing ones (technical lieutenant and senior technical lieutenant) for artillery commanders with secondary technical education: Decree of the State Defense Committee of the USSR No. 2303 of September 13. “On the introduction of personal military ranks to the commanding staff of the artillery of the Red Army who have a secondary technical education” and Order of the NKO of the USSR No. 278 of September 14. : captain of the artillery technical service, major of the artillery technical service, lieutenant colonel of the artillery technical service and colonel artillery technical service.

• By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated 09.10. “On the establishment of complete unity of command and the abolition of the institution of military commissars in the Red Army” announced by order of NKO No. 307 of 09.10. existing ranks canceled political composition. It was also supposed:
  • military councils of fronts and armies within a month to assign command military ranks to political workers within the limits of the rights granted to them;
  • military councils of the fronts to provide the People's Commissariat of Defense no later than November 15, 1942 through the Main Political Directorate of the Red Army with certification material for assigning command military ranks to political employees, starting with the senior battalion commissar and above.

• Order No. 10 of the NGO announced the resolution of the State Defense Committee No. 2685 of 04.02. “On the introduction of personal military ranks to the military medical and military-veterinary personnel of the Red Army”, No. GOKO-2822 “On the introduction of personal military ranks engineering, technical, legal and administrative staff of the Red Army"(the same decree introduced a new category of military personnel - administrative staff; it included persons serving in headquarters, institutions, military educational institutions and local military authorities (military commissariats) and performing organizational, mobilization and other work) in the Red Army
• from 14.02. No. 2890 “On the establishment of personal military ranks for quartermaster, medical, veterinary, administrative and legal staff of the Navy"in the USSR Navy,

• By order of NPO No. 55 of 06.02. Decree of the State Defense Committee No. 2822 of 04.02 was announced. established for the middle, senior and higher engineering and technical personnel of the signal troops, engineering troops, chemical defense troops, topographic troops, railway troops of the Red Army the ranks: junior technical lieutenant, technical lieutenant, senior technical lieutenant, engineer-captain, engineer- major, lieutenant-colonel engineer, colonel-engineer, major general, lieutenant general, colonel general engineering and technical service,

and for the legal and administrative staff of the Red Army the ranks: junior lieutenant of justice, lieutenant of justice, senior lieutenant of justice, captain of justice, major of justice, lieutenant colonel of justice, colonel of justice, major general of justice, lieutenant general of justice, colonel general Justice. , which introduced the following military ranks: captain, major, lieutenant colonel, colonel aviation technical service.

In the medical service	In the veterinary service	For the engineering and technical staff of the coastal service of the Navy of the USSR	For naval engineers	In the artillery technical service	In the engineering and artillery service	In the aviation engineering service (rank from captain to colonel only with higher education)	In the tank engineering service (rank from captain to colonel only with higher education)	For the engineering and technical staff of the signal troops, engineering, chemical protection, railway and topographic troops of the Red Army (rank from captain to colonel only with higher education)	In the quartermaster service	For military legal personnel	For administrative staff
Middle and senior command staff
junior lieutenant of medical service	junior lieutenant of veterinary service	The rank was not introduced		The rank was not introduced					The rank was not introduced	junior lieutenant of justice	junior lieutenant of administrative service
medical lieutenant	veterinary lieutenant	lieutenant engineer	lieutenant engineer	technician-lieutenant of the artillery technical service		technical lieutenant of the aviation engineering service	Lieutenant Technician, Tank Engineering Service		Quartermaster Lieutenant	Lieutenant of Justice	Administrative Lieutenant
senior lieutenant of medical service	senior lieutenant of veterinary service	senior lieutenant engineer	senior engineer-lieutenant of the naval service	senior technical lieutenant of the artillery technical service	senior technical lieutenant of the engineering and artillery service	senior technical lieutenant of the aviation engineering service	senior technical lieutenant of the tank engineering service	senior technical lieutenant of engineering and technical service	senior lieutenant of the quartermaster service	senior lieutenant of justice	senior lieutenant of administrative service
medical captain	veterinary captain	engineer-captain	engineer-captain-lieutenant of the naval service	captain of the artillery technical service	engineer-captain of the engineering and artillery service	engineer-captain of the aviation engineering service	engineer-captain of the tank engineering service	Captain of Engineering and Technical Services	quartermaster captain	captain of justice	administrative captain
medical service major	major of veterinary service	major engineer	engineer-captain-lieutenant 3rd rank	major of artillery technical service	Major Engineer of the Engineering and Artillery Service	Major Engineer of Aviation Engineering Service	Major Engineer, Tank Engineering Service	Major of Engineering and Technical Services	Quartermaster Major	Major of Justice	administrative service major
lieutenant colonel of medical service	lieutenant colonel of veterinary service	engineer-lieutenant colonel	engineer-captain-lieutenant 2nd rank	Lieutenant Colonel of Artillery and Technical Service	engineer-lieutenant colonel of the engineering and artillery service	engineer-lieutenant colonel of the aviation engineering service	engineer-lieutenant colonel of the tank engineering service	Lieutenant Colonel of Engineering and Technical Service	Lieutenant Colonel of the Quartermaster Service	Lieutenant Colonel of Justice	lieutenant colonel of administrative service
medical colonel	Colonel of the Veterinary Service	engineer-colonel	engineer-captain-lieutenant 1st rank	Colonel of the artillery technical service	engineer-colonel of the engineering and artillery service	engineer-colonel of the aviation engineering service	engineer-colonel of the tank engineering service	Colonel of Engineering and Technical Service	Colonel of the Quartermaster Service	Colonel of Justice	administrative service colonel
Senior command staff
Major General of Medical Service	Major General of Veterinary Service	Major General Coast Guard Engineer	Highest rank not entered	The highest rank was not introduced	Major General of the Engineering and Artillery Service	Major General of the Aviation Engineering Service	Major General of the Tank Engineering Service	Major General of Engineering and Technical Service	Introduced 05/07. See above “Soviet generals and admirals”	Major General of Justice	The highest rank was not introduced
Lieutenant General of Medical Service	Lieutenant General of Veterinary Service	Coast Guard Lieutenant General Engineer			Lieutenant General of the Engineering and Artillery Service	Lieutenant General of the Aviation Engineering Service	Lieutenant General of the Tank Engineering Service	Lieutenant General of Engineering and Technical Service		Lieutenant General of Justice
Colonel General of Medical Service	Colonel General of Veterinary Service At the end of September or beginning of October 1942, G.K. Zhukov and I, busy preparing the offensive operation near Stalingrad, were summoned to Headquarters with another report. After the discussion of the report was completed and all decisions on it were made, Stalin informed us of the intention of the State Defense Committee, in order to further strengthen and raise the authority of the command staff of the army and navy, to establish unity of command in them, to abolish the institution of military commissars and, following this, to change the uniform officers and generals, taking as a basis the previous insignia of the old army - shoulder straps. We were immediately invited to look at samples of these clothes prepared in the next room by Comrade Khrulev. M.I. Kalinin and some other members of the Politburo were present during the inspection. While discussing this issue, we became convinced that this was not the first conversation our leadership had on this topic. Military-historical magazine. 1963. No. 15. P.115. “From the memoirs of Marshal of the Soviet Union A. M. Vasilevsky” A serious reason that prompted the Soviet government to introduce shoulder straps in the Red Army was the introduction of unity of command. In combat conditions, they decided to raise and strengthen the authority of command cadres with new insignia. The need to introduce shoulder straps was also dictated by upcoming joint actions and close interaction on the battlefield with the allied armies. It was found useful to introduce Armed Forces generally recognized insignia are shoulder straps. Right there. “From the memoirs of Chief Marshal of Artillery N. N. Voronov” Shoulder straps were introduced in the Army by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Council dated January 6. “On the introduction of new insignia for Red Army personnel”; in the Navy - 15.02 Wikipedia Military ranks in the Armed Forces of the USSR 1955-1991- See also: Insignia of the Armed Forces of the USSR ... Wikipedia Military ranks in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation- In the Russian Federation, there are two types of military ranks for military personnel: military and naval. Ship military ranks are assigned to sailors of surface and submarine forces. navy(Navy), naval military units internal... ... Wikipedia This is an article about military ranks in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation from 1994 to 2010. About modern military ranks and accepted insignia in 2010, see the article Military ranks in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation... ... Wikipedia Military ranks in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (1994-2010)- This is an article about shoulder straps from the period 1994-2010, about modern shoulder straps adopted in 2010, see the article Military ranks in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Military ranks in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (1994-2010) insignia ... Wikipedia

Buttonholes of the Red Army 1940, 1941, 1942,1943.

In the Red Army (Red Army) two types of buttonholes were used: everyday (“colored”) and field (“khaki”). In turn, they were diamond-shaped and parallelogram-shaped.

Everyday buttonholes introduced back in 1922. Since then they were constantly modernized until 1940. With the outbreak of the war, modernization was stopped because Field single-color khaki buttonholes were introduced, which, along with everyday colored buttonholes, existed until the buttonholes were replaced with shoulder straps at the beginning of 1943.

The color scheme was very varied and quite complex. The color of the buttonhole field corresponded to the branch of the military (see table below), and the color and (or) shape of the piping indicated membership in the command or command staff.

For example, the everyday buttonholes of a captain, commander of a rifle company, had a crimson field color and a golden 5-mm braid along the edges (see diagram below). And the political instructor of this company wore buttonholes with a crimson field color, but with black edging.

Cadets of military schools, police and government agencies. Security had its own schemes for everyday buttonholes.

Field buttonholes were introduced by order of the NKO of the USSR No. 253 of August 1, 1941, which abolished the wearing of colored insignia for all categories of military personnel. It was ordered to switch to buttonholes, emblems and insignia of completely green khaki color (). However, in conditions of war and the rapid increase in the size of the army, protective buttonholes and insignia were received mainly by military personnel mobilized from the reserves. In peacetime, a uniform with wartime insignia was prepared for them. The rest switched to new signs whenever possible. A number of military leaders opposed the transition to wartime insignia. For example, the commander of the 9th Mechanized Corps of the Kyiv Special Military District, Lieutenant General Rokossovsky K.K. By his order, he categorically forbade all commanders to change their insignia to field insignia, believing that the Red Army soldiers should see their commanders in battle.

Difficulties in supply led to the fact that the troops simultaneously encountered both those and other insignia in a variety of combinations (red cubes and sleepers on field buttonholes, field cubes and sleepers on colored buttonholes, etc.). This situation lasted until the army switched to shoulder straps in the winter-spring of 1943, and in the rear districts until mid-summer of 1943.

Since the field buttonholes were completely khaki for all categories of military personnel and differed only in the number of insignia, there is no point in examining them in detail.

Buttonhole sizes in the Red Army (Red Army):

• Buttonholes for tunics and jackets are in the form of a parallelogram, 32.5 mm wide including piping, about 10 cm long.
• Buttonholes for overcoats are diamond-shaped, 11 cm on the larger diagonal and 8.5-9 cm on the smaller one. One upper (edged) side had a length from corner to corner of 6.5 cm.
• General's buttonholes are diamond-shaped, length from corner to corner is 11 cm, width from corner to corner is 7.5 cm, length of the edged side is 6.1 cm, width of the edge of the buttonholes with gimp is 2.5 mm. The buttonholes on the general's overcoats were a bit large sizes- length from corner to corner 11.5 cm (13.5 cm - for the Marshal of the Soviet Union), width from corner to corner 8.5 cm, length of the edging side 6.5 cm, width of the edging of the buttonholes with gimp 2.5 mm.

Sewing buttonholes of the Red Army (RKKA):

• folding the unedged edge under the collar - () ().
• the unedged edge of the buttonhole was sewn into the collar - () ().
• exactly along the edge of the collar - () ().

Colors of everyday buttonholes of the Red Army:

• open table (table under development...)

Military ranks of the USSR Armed Forces 1935-1945. (table of ranks):

• open table (table under development...)

Buttonholes of privates and junior officers of the Red Army
(privates, sergeants and sergeants)

In the form of a parallelogram. The color of the buttonhole field corresponded to the branch of the army. Colored edging on three sides.

Overcoat buttonholes- diamond-shaped. On the upper sides there is a colored edging. The color of the buttonhole field corresponded to the branch of the army.

In addition to the colored edging, military officers with the rank of sergeant major also had a 3-mm golden braid sewn on the same sides where the colored edging went. But not instead of colored edging like the officers, but in addition to it.

Insignia:

Equilateral metal triangles covered with red enamel. The side of the triangle is 10 mm.

The buttonholes from corporal to sergeant major also included: a golden equilateral triangle, side length 20 mm; a longitudinal strip of 5 mm (on overcoat buttonholes 10 mm) of red piping (the color of the edging is the same for all branches of the military).

The emblems of the military branches were supposed to be painted yellow, but this rule was very rarely followed. As a result, you can see privates and junior command personnel either without emblems at all, or with metal emblems assigned to officers.

In 1940, in connection with a change in the scale of ranks of the Red Army, the insignia of the ranks of junior command and command personnel also changed. By Order of the NKO of the USSR No. 391 of November 2, 1940, personal ranks were established for private and junior command and command personnel: Red Army soldier, corporal, junior sergeant, sergeant, senior sergeant and foreman.

The same order introduced new insignia for them, which they were ordered to switch to on January 1, 1941. Until this time, the junior command and command staff did not have personal ranks, but were named and wore insignia according to their positions.

Buttonholes of senior and middle command staff of the Red Army
(officers)

Buttonholes for gymnasts and French jackets- in the form of a parallelogram. The color of the buttonhole field corresponded to the branch of the army. A 5-mm golden braid was sewn onto the three upper corners instead of a colored edging.

Overcoat buttonholes- diamond-shaped. The color of the buttonhole field corresponded to the branch of the army. A 5mm gold braid was sewn to the two upper sides instead of a colored edging.

Insignia:

• from junior lieutenant to senior lieutenant, they wore equilateral metal cubes (“kubari”) covered with red enamel. The side of the cube is 10mm.
• from captain to colonel - they wore metal rectangles (“sleepers”) covered with red enamel. The size of the “sleeper” is 16x7mm.
  ________________________________________________________________

In 1940, the scale of ranks of senior command and command personnel changed slightly. On July 26, 1940, by order of the NKO of the USSR No. 226, the ranks of “lieutenant colonel” and “senior battalion commissar” were introduced, and in connection with this, the insignia of senior command and command personnel was changed.

The buttonholes of middle and senior political, technical, administrative, veterinary personnel, and judicial authorities had, like those of the rank and file, a colored edging.

In addition to the insignia of rank in the buttonholes, it was determined to wear the emblems of the military branches established by order of the NKO of the USSR No. 33 of March 10, 1936. The emblems were metallic golden in color. Political workers do not have any emblems; the rest wear the emblems of their military branches. Insignia - cubes and sleepers, just like the command staff.

Rank insignia on buttonholes:

A. Middle command and management personnel:

1 cube - junior lieutenant, junior military technician.

2 dice - lieutenant, junior political instructor, military technician of the 2nd rank, quartermaster technician of the 2nd rank, military paramedic, junior military specialist.

3 dice - senior lieutenant, political instructor, military technician 1st rank, quartermaster technician 1st rank, senior military paramedic, military lawyer.

B. Senior command and control personnel:

1 sleeper - captain, senior political instructor, military engineer, quartermaster, military doctor, senior military lawyer.

2 sleepers - major, battalion commissar, military engineer 2nd rank, quartermaster 2nd rank, military doctor 2nd rank, military officer 2nd rank.

3 sleepers - lieutenant colonel, senior battalion commissar, military engineer 1st rank, quartermaster 1st rank, military doctor 1st rank, military officer 1st rank.

4 sleepers - colonel, regimental commissar.

Note - There is an interesting point here. Commanding officers with the ranks of military engineer 1st rank, quartermaster 1st rank, military doctor 1st rank, military officer 1st rank wore three sleepers in their buttonholes until 1940, and so they remained with three sleepers. In fact, nothing has changed at all, because... They were already considered a step below the colonel. But if previously they had as many sleepers on their buttonholes as the colonel, now it turned out that they had all been demoted in rank. There were a lot of grievances, to the point that many of them arbitrarily attached the fourth sleeper. The regimental commissars were pleased, because they now wore four sleepers and this distinguished them from quartermasters, engineers, and military doctors of the regimental level, that is, their more high status, equal to the regiment commander. But the battalion commissars were dissatisfied (especially those who were about to be assigned another title) due to the fact that another one was wedged between their rank and the coveted rank of regimental commissar.

Middle and senior command personnel, middle and senior political personnel had additional insignia on their sleeves. The command staff wore various triangular braids that differed by rank. All political workers had the same ones in the form of a sewn-on star.

The middle and senior commanding staff (lawyers, doctors, veterinarians, quartermasters, administrative staff, technical staff) did not have any marks on their sleeves.

Although wearing emblems of military branches in buttonholes was mandatory (except for political workers, infantry and cavalry for whom emblems did not exist), there were significant difficulties in their production and supply of troops. Expensive red copper was used for the emblems; emblems were stamped on machines, and there were not enough such machines in the country. Sewing emblems from golden thread was prohibited. Therefore, the overwhelming majority of Red Army soldiers and sergeants, and a significant part of the officers, did not have emblems in their buttonholes at all. To combat the shortage of insignia, they began to use cheaper materials for their production. But even these measures could not significantly correct the shortage of insignia.

By the decision of the State Defense Committee of October 9, 1942, the system of military commissars was eliminated in the army and navy, and all of them were assigned command ranks. Moreover, titles are assigned one step lower. For example, if previously a junior political instructor was equal to a lieutenant, then he was given a new rank - junior lieutenant. The number of political positions was sharply reduced. Some of yesterday's political instructors and commissars were appointed deputy commanders for political affairs (from company and above), some were transferred to command positions. If previously a political instructor or commissar enjoyed equal power with the commander in a unit or unit, now they have become deputy commanders.

It is obviously difficult to imagine the ocean of resentment among political workers with this decision of the State Defense Committee. Only a wartime situation and an increased role Special Departments(NKVD), perhaps, kept them from openly showing discontent. Many of them had to change the comfortable position of a commander who is not responsible for anything, but an all-powerful commander, to the bitter fate of a commander responsible for everything and everyone; others had to come to terms with the fate of the second person in a regiment, battalion, company; places of an equal, or even superior, commander to the place of a subordinate. It is much easier to imagine the relief of commanders who have lost the obligation to constantly look back at the opinion of the commissar and are obliged to coordinate every step with him. Previously, you had to decide together and answer alone, but now you decide it yourself and answer it yourself.

Buttonholes of the Red Army senior command staff
(generals, marshals)

BUTTONBOARDS FOR UNIFORM AND COAT (sewn sizes) - diamond-shaped, length from corner to corner 11 cm, width from corner to corner 7.5 cm, length of the edged side 6.1 cm, width of the edge of the buttonholes with gimp 2.5 mm. Generals of artillery and ABTV have a black buttonhole field.

Overcoat buttonholes- diamond-shaped, length from corner to corner 11.5 cm (13.5 cm - for the Marshal of the Soviet Union), width from corner to corner 8.5 cm, length of the edging side 6.5 cm, width of the edging of the buttonholes with gimp 2.5 mm . Generals of artillery and ABTV have a black buttonhole field.

Insignia:

The stars for the generals' buttonholes were made of gilded brass of a regular pointed shape, 2 cm in diameter, with ribbed rays. In field buttonholes they used stars painted in green(defensive 4BO).

The star on the buttonholes of the Marshal of the Soviet Union: on the overcoat buttonholes the diameter is 5 cm, on the buttonholes of the uniform and jacket the diameter is 4.4 cm. The star of the Marshal of the Soviet Union had a regular pointed shape and was embroidered with gilded threads. The embroidery is continuous, convex, all outer edges are bordered by perpendicular embroidery with thin threads. At the bottom of the buttonhole, two laurel branches were embroidered with gold threads, at the crosshairs of which a sickle and hammer were embroidered in gold.

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On July 13, 1940, by Order of the NCO of the USSR No. 212, in accordance with the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of May 7, 1940 “On the establishment of military ranks of the highest command personnel of the Red Army,” uniforms and insignia on buttonholes and sleeves were established for generals.

For senior command staff, the insignia remains the same - rhombuses numbering from two to four with the same rank names.

Field buttonholes

Everyday buttonholes

Literature:

• Uniforms and insignia of the Red Army 1918-1945. AIM, Leningrad 1960
• Insignia of ranks of military personnel of the Red Army 1940-1942. Author - Yu. Veremeev.
• Insignia of the command and control personnel of the armed forces as of June 22, 1941 ( link)
• Russian uniform air force. Volume II, Part 1 (1935-1955)

article code: 89769