Insignia of soldiers and sergeants. Shoulder straps

From left to right: 1- Petty Officer (ceremonial uniform or overcoat ground forces). 2-Senior sergeant (ceremonial uniform or overcoat of the Airborne Forces or aviation). 3- Sergeant (ceremonial uniform or overcoat of the ground forces). 4-Junior Sergeant (white blouse of a female soldier). 5- Corporal (beige dress of a female soldier). 6th Private (green shirt).

Emblems for the branches of the military are worn only on shirt shoulder straps, shoulder straps on raincoats (demi-season and summer), woolen jackets, and on shoulder straps on blouses and dresses of female military personnel. On other types of uniforms, the emblems are worn on the collar in its lower corners.

Cadets' rank insignia. Shoulder straps

Cadets of military schools wear green (in the Air Force blue) soldier-type shoulder straps with galloon on the side edges of the shoulder straps in full dress uniforms, overcoats and types of uniforms similar to those of officers. The emblems of the branches of the military are worn only on shirt shoulder straps. Cadets with sergeant ranks wear golden squares on their shoulder straps. On field and casual uniforms (in "Afghanka" type uniforms), cadets wear camouflage-colored muffs with the plastic letter "K" and golden squares on regular shoulder straps.

From left to right: 1-Cadet with the rank of sergeant major. 2-Cadet with the rank of senior sergeant. 3- Air Force College cadet with the rank of sergeant. 4-Cadet with the rank of junior sergeant. 5-Cadet at the Air Force School with the rank of corporal. 6-Cadet. 7- Muff for the shoulder strap of a cadet with the rank of sergeant major.

Insignia of lieutenants. Shoulder straps

Ensigns on their dress and everyday uniforms received soldier-style shoulder straps, green with scarlet stripes along the edges for the ground forces and with blue stripes for the Airborne Forces. Aviation ensigns received the same shoulder straps, but blue with blue side stripes. The green shirt (blue in the Air Force) has the same shoulder straps, but without the side stripes. On a white shirt, the shoulder straps are white.

Emblems for the branches of the military are only on shirt shoulder straps. The stars are golden. On the field uniform there are gray stars on the shoulder straps

From left to right: 1- Senior warrant officer of the ground forces. 2-Ensign air force. 3-Ensign of the airborne or military space forces. 4-Epaulette for a green warrant officer's shirt with the emblem of the military space forces. 5- Shoulder strap for the white shirt of a senior warrant officer with the emblem of motorized rifle troops.

Officers' rank insignia The Russian Army were introduced by Russian Presidential Decree No. 1010 of May 23, 1994, simultaneously with the introduction of the Russian Army uniform. There was no significant change in the officers' rank insignia. Only the size of the shoulder straps and shape have decreased, the colors of the shoulder straps have changed. The emblems of the military branches have changed. Now the shoulder strap does not reach the collar of the jacket, has a pentagonal shape and a button at the top. Shoulder strap width 5 cm, length 13.14 or 15 cm.

Shoulder strap colors:
*epaulettes on a white shirt white with colored gaps, golden-colored emblems for the types of troops and golden stars;
*on a green shirt, green shoulder straps with colored gaps, emblems for the branches of the military in golden color and golden stars;
*for an everyday jacket, a woolen jacket, an overcoat, a summer raincoat, a demi-season jacket, green shoulder straps with colored gaps, emblems for the branches of the military in golden color (where required) and golden stars;
*on the ceremonial tunic, golden-colored shoulder straps with colored gaps and edging, golden stars;
*on a blue Air Force shirt, the shoulder straps are blue with blue highlights, golden Air Force emblems and golden stars;
*for a casual tunic, a woolen jacket, an overcoat, a summer raincoat, a demi-season jacket, the Air Force shoulder straps are blue with blue gaps, golden Air Force emblems (where required) and golden stars.
* on the field uniform, shoulder straps are the color of the uniform with stars of a dull gray color.

The number of gaps and stars has not changed. Also, as before, the stars of senior officers are larger than those of warrant officers and junior officers.

Junior officers - one star and one star:
1st Junior Lieutenant.
2nd Lieutenant.
3-Senior Lieutenant.
4-Captain.

Examples of officer's shoulder straps:

1st ceremonial shoulder strap of a captain of the ground forces. 2nd shoulder strap of a major in the Air Force, Aerospace Forces, Airborne Forces. 3rd parade shoulder strap of a colonel of the ground forces. 4-Everyday shoulder strap of a colonel of the ground forces. 5-Everyday shoulder strap of an Air Force major. 6-Everyday shoulder strap of a senior lieutenant of the Airborne Forces, VKS. 7-Lieutenant's shoulder straps to a white shirt with a combined arms emblem. 8-field shoulder strap of a lieutenant colonel. 9-Field shoulder strap of a lieutenant. 10-field shoulder strap of captain. 11-Lieutenant's shoulder straps to a green shirt with a combined arms emblem.

The ranks of senior officers with the creation of the Armed Forces of Russia (Decree of the President of Russia No. 466 of May 7, 1992) underwent significant changes. First of all, the ranks of marshals and chief marshals of the military branches were abolished, the title “marshal” was abolished as meaningless Soviet Union"The general ranks lost the addition of the type “general-……..artillery”. This addition was left only to the generals of the medical, veterinary services and justice. A new rank of “marshal of the Russian Federation” was introduced.

In connection with this, as well as in connection with the change in uniform (Decree of the President of Russia No. 1010 of May 23, 1994), in 1994 the shape, size of generals' shoulder straps and other insignia changed.

Color of shoulder straps for dress uniform for everyone, golden, the edging of shoulder straps and sewn stars (diameter 22mm) is red for generals of the ground forces and blue for generals of aviation, airborne troops and military space forces.

The color of everyday shoulder straps for generals of the ground forces is green with red edging on the shoulder straps. For generals of the Airborne Forces and Aerospace Forces, the edging of the shoulder straps is blue with a green field.

The color of everyday shoulder straps of aviation generals is blue with blue edging

Green field shoulder straps of generals with green stars

Generals' shoulder straps for white shirts are white with golden embroidered stars. Green shirts have green shoulder straps with golden embroidered stars. Blue aviation shirts have blue shoulder straps with gold embroidered stars. Only generals of the medical, veterinary and justice services wear emblems on their shirt shoulder straps.

It should be noted that if earlier generals differed by branch of the military (for example, major general of the signal troops, lieutenant general of artillery, etc.), now the general ranks, as well as officer ranks, have become the same for all branches of the military and among themselves There is no difference in colors or emblems. All that remains is the color difference between the generals of the Airborne Forces and the Aerospace Forces, and in aviation with the transition to blue uniform shoulder straps became blue.

Insignia of generals (sewn stars with a diameter of 22 m, arranged in one vertical row):
1 star - major general
2 stars - Lieutenant General
3 stars - Colonel General
1 big star and higher general arms emblem- army general
1 large star and higher double-headed eagle- Marshal of the Russian Federation

1st shoulder strap of Marshal of the Russian Federation. 2nd shoulder strap of an army general. 3rd dress shoulder strap of Colonel General of Aviation, Airborne Forces, Aerospace Forces. 4-parade shoulder strap of a lieutenant general of the ground forces. 5-Everyday shoulder strap of a Marshal of the Russian Federation. 6-Everyday shoulder strap of an army general. 7-Everyday shoulder strap of a Colonel General. 8-Everyday shoulder strap of an aviation major general.9-Epaulette for the green shirt of a lieutenant general of the medical service. 10-Epaulette for the white shirt of the Lieutenant General of Justice. 11-Field shoulder strap of an army general. 12-Field shoulder strap of Lieutenant General.

By Decree of the President of Russia No. 48 of January 27, 1997. For army generals, shoulder straps with one large star and a general arms emblem were abolished, and ordinary general shoulder straps with four stars in one vertical row were introduced.

Shoulder straps have a long history in the Russian army. They were first introduced by Peter the Great back in 1696, but in those days, shoulder straps served only as a strap that kept the gun belt or cartridge pouch from slipping off the shoulder. The shoulder strap was only an attribute of the uniform of the lower ranks: the officers were not armed with guns, and therefore they did not need shoulder straps.

Epaulets began to be used as insignia of rank with the accession of Alexander I to the throne. However, they did not denote rank, but membership in a particular regiment. The shoulder straps depicted a number indicating the number of the regiment in the Russian army, and the color of the shoulder strap indicated the number of the regiment in the division: red indicated the first regiment, blue the second, white the third, and dark green the fourth.

Since 1874, in accordance with the order of the military department No. 137 of 04.05. 1874, the shoulder straps of the first and second regiments of the division became red, and the color of the buttonholes and cap bands became blue. The shoulder straps of the third and fourth regiments became blue, but the third regiment had white buttonholes and bands, and the fourth regiment had green ones.
Army (not guards) grenadiers had yellow shoulder straps. The shoulder straps of the Akhtyrsky and Mitavsky Hussars and the Finnish, Primorsky, Arkhangelsk, Astrakhan and Kinburn Dragoon Regiments were also yellow. With the advent of rifle regiments, they were assigned crimson shoulder straps.

To distinguish a soldier from an officer, officer's shoulder straps were first trimmed with galloon, and since 1807, officers' shoulder straps were replaced with epaulettes. Since 1827, officer and general ranks began to be designated by the number of stars on their epaulettes: for warrant officers - 1, second lieutenant, major and major general - 2; lieutenant, lieutenant colonel and lieutenant general - 3; staff captain - 4; Captains, colonels and full generals did not have stars on their epaulettes. One star was retained for retired brigadiers and retired second majors - these ranks no longer existed by 1827, but retirees with the right to wear a uniform who retired in these ranks were preserved. Since April 8, 1843, insignia also appeared on the shoulder straps of lower ranks: one badge went to the corporal, two to the junior non-commissioned officer, and three to the senior non-commissioned officer. The sergeant major received a 2.5-centimeter-thick transverse stripe on his shoulder strap, and the ensign received exactly the same one, but located longitudinally.

In 1854, shoulder straps were also introduced for officers, leaving epaulettes only on ceremonial uniforms, and until the revolution there were almost no changes in shoulder straps, except that in 1884 the rank of major was abolished, and in 1907 the rank of ordinary ensign was introduced .
Officials of some civil departments - engineers, railway workers, police - also had shoulder straps.

However, after October Revolution shoulder straps were abolished along with military and civilian ranks.
The first insignia in the Red Army appeared on January 16, 1919. They were triangles, cubes and diamonds sewn onto the sleeves.

Rank insignia of the Red Army 1919-22

In 1922, these triangles, cubes and diamonds were transferred to sleeve valves. At the same time, a certain color of the valve corresponded to one or another branch of the military.

Rank insignia of the Red Army 1922-24

But these valves did not last long in the Red Army - already in 1924, rhombuses, kubars and triangles moved to the buttonholes. Moreover, in addition to these geometric shapes Another one appeared - a sleeper, intended for those service categories that corresponded to pre-revolutionary staff officers.

In 1935, personal military ranks were introduced into the Red Army. Some of them corresponded to the pre-revolutionary ones - colonel, lieutenant colonel, captain. Some were taken from the ranks of the former Tsarist Navy - lieutenant and senior lieutenant. The ranks corresponding to generals remained from the previous service categories - brigade commander, division commander, corps commander, army commander of the 2nd and 1st ranks. The rank of major, abolished under Alexandra III. The insignia, in comparison with the buttonholes of the 1924 model, has hardly changed in appearance - only the four-cube combination has disappeared. In addition, the title of Marshal of the Soviet Union was introduced, no longer designated by diamonds, but by one big star on the collar valve.

Rank insignia of the Red Army 1935

On August 5, 1937, the rank of junior lieutenant (one kubar) was introduced, and on September 1, 1939, the rank of lieutenant colonel. Moreover, the three sleepers now corresponded not to the colonel, but to the lieutenant colonel. The colonel received four sleepers.

On May 7, 1940, general ranks were introduced. The major general, as before the revolution, had two stars, but they were located not on the shoulder straps, but on the collar flaps. The lieutenant general had three stars. This is where the similarities with pre-revolutionary generals ended - instead of a full general, the lieutenant general was followed by the rank of colonel general, modeled on the German general oberst. The colonel general had four stars, and the army general who followed him, whose rank was borrowed from the French army, had five stars.
The insignia remained in this form until January 6, 1943, when shoulder straps were introduced into the Red Army. On January 13, they began to enter the troops.

Rank insignia of the Red Army 1943

Soviet shoulder straps had much in common with pre-revolutionary ones, but there were also differences: officer shoulder straps of the Red Army (but not the Navy) in 1943 were pentagonal, not hexagonal; the colors of the gaps indicated the type of troops, not the regiment; the clearance was a single whole with the shoulder strap field; there were colored edgings according to the type of troops; the stars were metal, gold or silver, and varied in size for junior and senior officers; ranks were designated by a different number of stars than before 1917, and shoulder straps without stars were not restored.

Soviet officer shoulder straps were five millimeters wider than pre-revolutionary ones. No encryption was placed on them. Unlike pre-revolutionary times, the color of the shoulder strap now corresponded not to the regiment number, but to the branch of the army. The edging also mattered. Thus, rifle troops had a crimson background shoulder strap and black edging, cavalry had dark blue with black edging, aviation had blue shoulder straps with black edging, tank crews and artillerymen had black with red edging, but sappers and other technical troops had black but with black edging. edging. Border troops and the medical service had green shoulder straps with red trim, and the internal troops received cherry shoulder straps with blue trim.

On khaki-colored field shoulder straps, the type of troops was determined only by the edging. Its color was the same as the color of the shoulder strap on the everyday uniform. Soviet officer shoulder straps were five millimeters wider than pre-revolutionary ones. Encryptions were placed on them very rarely, mostly by cadets of military schools.
A junior lieutenant, a major and a major general received one star each. Two each went to a lieutenant, a lieutenant colonel and a lieutenant general, three each went to a senior lieutenant, a colonel and a colonel general, and four went to the captain and general of the army. The shoulder straps of junior officers had one gap and from one to four silver-plated metal stars with a diameter of 13 mm, and the shoulder straps of senior officers had two gaps and from one to three stars with a diameter of 20 mm.

Badges for junior commanders were also restored. The corporal still had one stripe, the junior sergeant had two, the sergeant had three. The former wide sergeant major's stripe went to the senior sergeant, and the sergeant major received the so-called “hammer” for his shoulder straps.

According to the assigned military rank, belonging to the branch of the military (service), insignia (stars and gaps) and emblems were placed on the shoulder straps. For military lawyers and doctors, there were “medium” sprockets with a diameter of 18 mm. Initially, the stars of senior officers were attached not to the gaps, but to the field of braid next to them. Field shoulder straps had a field of khaki color (khaki cloth) with one or two gaps sewn to it. On three sides, the shoulder straps had piping according to the color of the branch of service. Clearances were installed - blue - for aviation, brown - for doctors, quartermasters and lawyers, red - for everyone else.

Everyday field officer's shoulder straps made of golden silk or galloon. For everyday shoulder straps of engineering and command personnel, quartermaster, medical and veterinary services and lawyers, silver braid was approved. There was a rule according to which silver stars were worn on gilded shoulder straps, and vice versa, gilded stars were worn on silver shoulder straps, except for veterinarians - they wore silver stars on silver shoulder straps. The width of the shoulder straps is 6 cm, and for officers of the medical and veterinary services, military justice - 4 cm. It is known that such shoulder straps were called “oaks” in the army. The color of the piping depended on the type of military service and service - crimson in the infantry, blue in aviation, dark blue in cavalry, a gilded button with a star, with a hammer and sickle in the center, in the navy - a silver button with an anchor.

General's shoulder straps of the 1943 model, unlike soldiers' and officers', were hexagonal. They were gold, with silver stars. The exception was the shoulder straps of generals of the medical and veterinary services and justice. Narrow silver shoulder straps with gold stars were introduced for them. Navy officer shoulder straps, unlike army ones, were hexagonal. Otherwise, they were similar to the army ones, but the color of the shoulder straps was determined: for officers of the naval, naval engineering and coastal engineering services - black, for aviation and engineering - aviation service - blue, quartermasters - crimson, for everyone else, including number of justice – red. Emblems were not worn on the shoulder straps of command and ship personnel. The color of the field, stars and edging of the shoulder straps of generals and admirals, as well as their width, were also determined by the branch of the army and service; the field of shoulder straps of senior officers was sewn from a special braid. The buttons of the Red Army generals had the image of the coat of arms of the USSR, and the admirals and generals of the Navy had the coat of arms of the USSR superimposed on two crossed anchors. On November 7, 1944, the location of the stars on the shoulder straps of colonels and lieutenant colonels of the Red Army was changed. Until this moment, they were located on the sides of the gaps, but now they have moved to the gaps themselves. On October 9, 1946, the uniform of officers' shoulder straps was changed Soviet Army– they became hexagonal. In 1947, a golden (for those who wore silver shoulder straps) or silver (for gold-plated shoulder straps) patch was introduced on the shoulder straps of officers transferred to the reserve and retired by order of the Minister of the Armed Forces of the USSR No. 4, which they are required to wear when they wear military uniform(This patch was abolished in 1949).

In the post-war period, minor changes occurred in the insignia. So, in 1955, everyday field double-sided shoulder straps were introduced for privates and sergeants.
In 1956, field shoulder straps for officers with stars and khaki emblems and clearances according to the branch of service were introduced. In 1958, the narrow shoulder straps of the 1946 model for doctors, veterinarians and lawyers were abolished. At the same time, the edging for everyday shoulder straps of soldiers, sergeants and foremen was also canceled. Silver stars are introduced on gold shoulder straps, and gold stars on silver ones. The colors of the gaps are red (combined arms, airborne forces), crimson ( engineering troops), black (tank troops, artillery, technical troops), blue (aviation), dark green (medics, veterinarians, lawyers); blue (the color of cavalry) was abolished due to the liquidation of this type of troops. For generals of the medical, veterinary services and justice, wide silver shoulder straps with gold stars were introduced, for others - gold shoulder straps with silver stars.
In 1962, the “Project for the abolition of shoulder straps in the Soviet Army” appeared, which, fortunately, was not implemented.
In 1963, blue lights were introduced for airborne officers. The 1943 model sergeant's shoulder straps with the sergeant's hammer are being abolished. Instead of this “hammer”, a wide longitudinal braid is introduced, like a pre-revolutionary ensign.

In 1969, gold stars were introduced on gold shoulder straps, and silver stars on silver ones. The colors of the gaps are red (ground forces), crimson (medics, veterinarians, lawyers, administrative services) and blue (aviation, airborne forces). Silver general's shoulder straps are being abolished. All general's shoulder straps became gold, with gold stars framed with edging according to the branch of service.

In 1972, ensign shoulder straps were introduced. Unlike the pre-revolutionary ensign, whose rank corresponded to the Soviet junior lieutenant, the Soviet ensign was equivalent in rank to the American warrant officer.

In 1973, the codes SA (Soviet Army), VV (Internal Troops), PV (Border Troops), GB (KGB Troops) were introduced on the shoulder straps of soldiers and sergeants, and K on the shoulder straps of cadets. It must be said that these letters appeared back in 1969, but initially, according to Article 164 of Order of the USSR Minister of Defense No. 191 of July 26, 1969, they were worn only on the ceremonial uniform. The letters were made of anodized aluminum, but since 1981, for economic reasons, metal letters were replaced by letters made of PVC film.

In 1974, new army general shoulder straps were introduced to replace the 1943 model shoulder straps. Instead of four stars they had a marshal's star, above which was the emblem of motorized rifle troops.
In 1980, all silver shoulder straps with silver stars were abolished. The colors of the gaps are red (combined arms) and blue (aviation, airborne forces).

Shoulder straps SA 1982

In 1981, shoulder straps for a senior warrant officer were introduced, and in 1986, for the first time in the history of Russian officer shoulder straps, shoulder straps without gaps were introduced, differing only in the size of the stars (field uniform “Afghan”)
Currently, shoulder straps remain insignia Russian army, as well as some categories of Russian civil officials.

Each branch and type of troops has its own attributes. In addition to the battle flag and chevrons, the concept of distinctive signs includes shoulder straps. It is by this accessory that one can determine not only the rank of a serviceman, but also his affiliation with one or another army. However, it is very difficult for an unprepared person to do this. Today we will try to understand the colors and letter designations on the shoulder straps of military personnel and cadets of the Russian army, as well as law enforcement agencies.

Shoulder straps of the USSR (1973-1991)

Since there are quite a lot of types of modern shoulder straps, first let’s take a little dip into history, namely, in the seventies of the last century, where in the ranks of the USSR armed forces, in terms of shoulder straps, everything was simple and clear - the accessories on the shoulders of non-officer personnel were monolithic in color with the corresponding letters notations. For clarity, we list some types of shoulder straps:

• crimson with the letters BB meant that the soldier belonged to the internal troops of the USSR;
• scarlet shoulder straps with the inscription SA (it was simply deciphered - “Soviet army”) belonged to employees of the motorized rifle troops;
• red ones with the inscription SA were considered combined arms;
• border guard soldiers wore green shoulder straps with the letters PV;
• black shoulder badges with the letters SA were worn by tank crews and artillerymen;
• blue shoulder straps with SA markings belonged to paratroopers, as well as to all Air Force employees;
• blue shoulder straps decorated with the letters GB were worn by representatives of the State Security Committee.

Separately, it is worth highlighting the shoulder straps of the USSR Navy servicemen. They were black, but for some time they distinctive feature was the letter designation of the fleet in which the sailor served. For example, the markings of the BF and TF were deciphered as “Baltic Fleet” and “Pacific Fleet”, respectively.

Modern shoulder straps

Of course, some elements of shoulder straps migrated to the modern army from the USSR (some of them have not even undergone changes), but today the military accessories familiar to everyone look a little different. For example, you will no longer see a soldier in red or blue shoulder straps - now the colors are reflected only in the so-called gaps (stripes). In addition, today's field uniform completely implies the abandonment of traditional shoulder straps (the rank insignia is located in the chest area).

Fortunately, the everyday and dress uniforms of military personnel of all ranks have undergone minimum quantity changes in terms of attributes compared to Soviet period. Let's take a closer look appearance shoulder strap modern army Russia, security forces, as well as military educational institutions.

We should start with the fact that every contract soldier, regardless of the type of service, has at least 3 pairs of shoulder straps. This is due to the presence of casual and dress uniforms, as well as the rules for wearing military accessories on them.

An interesting fact is that on the tunic of an officer’s dress uniform (for example, the Airborne Forces) golden shoulder straps will be worn, while on a white shirt under the same tunic there should be accessories of the same white color. Of course, the shades of the gaps are strictly observed.

Now let's move on to the consideration of uniform paraphernalia by branches and types of troops.

Shoulder straps of the Ministry of Defense (combined arms, shoulder straps of the ground forces). This category of accessories includes products in the following colors:

• olive (everyday);
• white (ceremonial shirt);
• golden (ceremonial ones on the jacket);
• gray (everyday overcoat);
• green (for the office uniform of Moscow Region employees).

Possible as classic version hexagonal shoulder straps, and products with a bevel.

The presence of red gaps and edging of the same shade implies shoulder straps for all officer and non-officer ranks:

• without edging or gaps;
• with edging, but without gaps;
• with one or two gaps and edging.

In addition, the shoulder straps of the Ministry of Defense include olive cadet ones (with yellow edging and the letter K).

• blue shoulder straps with blue edging or gaps (everyday, depending on rank);
• white with edging or gaps (ceremonial shirt);
• golden with blue gaps or edging (ceremonial jacket);
• blue with blue edging or gaps (for office uniforms).

It is also possible to use both rectangular shoulder straps with a bevel and hexagonal products.

The shoulder straps of the airborne troops are in many ways identical to the paraphernalia of the Aerospace Forces (in the case where the shoulder straps look the same, the difference is made by the lapel near the button) with a few exceptions. Thus, the main color of everyday airborne shoulder straps is olive, and office accessories are painted in a dark green shade.

Shoulder straps of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (police) are rectangular products with one rounded side. For police officers, shoulder straps with red edging and similar clearances are intended. Accessories come in the following shades:

• gray-blue (for casual uniform);
• light blue (for a dress shirt);
• white (for a dress shirt; externally the same as the shoulder straps of the MO, with the exception of the buttonhole);
• golden (for a ceremonial jacket; also differs from the shoulder straps of the MO in the buttonhole).

In addition, gray-blue shoulder straps with yellow gaps, red edging and the letter K are intended for cadets of police schools.

For employees of such law enforcement agencies as the FSB and FSO, shoulder straps are made in the following colors:

• olive with cornflower blue (hereinafter) gaps and edging (everyday);
• blue-black (casual);
• blue (ceremonial shirt);
• white (ceremonial shirt);
• golden (ceremonial ones on the jacket).

Moreover, in the same color scheme shoulder straps are produced for presidential regiment, they are decorated with the letters PP.

The Internal Troops of the Russian Federation have shoulder straps with maroon (crimson) gaps and edging. Accessories in olive, white and golden colors are intended for such military personnel.

Employees of the Russian Prosecutor's Office are the owners of blue shoulder straps with green gaps and edging.

Shoulder straps for military personnel navy The Russian Federation deserves a separate discussion. The reason for this is that sailors do not have a single color for the edging of their shoulder straps due to the fact that in the fleet several structures pay their debt to their homeland. Thus, there are the following types of Navy shoulder straps:

• black and cream with blue gaps and edging (everyday and ceremonial accessories for naval aviation);
• black and cream with yellow and black highlights, respectively (everyday and dress);
• black with white trim and white with black trim;
• black and cream with green highlights (everyday and formal for maritime border guards);
• black and cream with red highlights (for Marines).
• black with blue highlights (for office services).

For border service personnel, shoulder straps are made in olive, white and golden colors with green gaps and edging.

Shoulder straps for employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations are made using orange gaps and edging. The following shades of shoulder straps are used:

• black;
• white;
• blue;
• gray-blue (everyday, as well as cadet).

As for military educational institutions, cadets Suvorov School traditionally wear red shoulder straps with the letters SVU, and representatives cadet corps The letters KK are attached to the shoulder straps (the color depends on the body).

Now few people remember that shoulder straps in the Soviet Army were different colors: red armored ones were for motorized riflemen (infantry), burgundy for the VV (internal troops), black for tankers, artillery, etc., green for border guards, blue for airborne forces and aviation, etc.

Have you ever wondered why you almost never saw discharges with red shoulder straps in civilian life? Only the Airborne Forces, border guards and sailors differed and were distinguished by a different form. All the others had black shoulder straps, and only the badges on the buttonholes were different?

And this was explained very simply. Almost all demobilizers from combined arms units, which spent their entire service wearing red SA shoulder straps, went to demobilization with black ones. Neither the commanders nor the political workers prevented them from doing this, and even, on the contrary, they made sure that everyone quit “in the dark.”

In another case, the demobilizer’s chances of getting home safely were rapidly decreasing. Our country is large, and most often a soldier had to travel several days to get home, during which, if he had red shoulder straps on his shoulders, he could almost be guaranteed to get a knife in the side in some dirty vestibule or in the back streets of a station for toilet. The thing is that the burgundy shoulder straps of the BB (a person with an art education would even say that it was more like a “kraplak”) differed only slightly in color from the red ones of the SA, and in a country where the majority of the population had the opportunity to come into contact with the prison system, there was a fierce hatred of the wearers the letters BB on red epaulets were significantly faster than the speed of reading letters, if it even came to that...

I can’t say that it was like this absolutely everywhere, but in most parts it was like that. Maybe somewhere in major cities in crowded places and during daylight hours, it was possible to appear “in red” without taking much risk, but the majority of the population of the USSR does not live “in the center”, but where God is high, power is far away, and the bear is the boss in the forest...

Therefore, now, when the press has begun a campaign to protect the fighters of the Russian National Guard and police officers and members of their families, who are allegedly threatened with death through social media for harshness towards citizens who are detained mass events, this is hardly a surprise for our country...

First, they created a structure, subordinated it to virtually the same former Internal Troops, as a result of which many military officers refused to serve in it, because for them the very idea of ​​​​being subordinate to the “guards” and using force against their own citizens turned out to be wild. Then they showed how “guardsmen”, eight to ten people per person, loaded girls, students and random passers-by into paddy wagons. Then they began to imprison for significant periods those who “touched the body armor with their hands and caused pain and suffering to the guardsmen.” Now they are surprised that the guards, to put it mildly, do not attract the love of the population.

Caught between orders from their superiors (often “oral” and not always legal) and people who do not always break the law, “law enforcement officers” are increasingly “jumping off the handle” for minor reasons, as in two cases yesterday...

Where are we going and what are we doing? Maybe, before it’s too late, not knowing what to do, we will begin to act according to the LAW, which will be the same for everyone?

P.S. This article unexpectedly received a lot of responses on social networks and online media. Thanks to EVERYONE who did not remain indifferent and contributed their part to this story.
The most interesting comments collected here:

Vit Adams And so it was. “Black shoulder straps mean a clear conscience.”

Dmitry Shevtsov Nice article. She is 99% correct about history... about explosives and the dislike of troops among ordinary people.

Bryansk Lukhari resort
I confirm the author. In 1982, my brother was demobilized from the Urals from the VV, and came home wearing a demobilization parade, but with black shoulder straps of the SA and combined arms chevrons. He said that many from afar did not make it safely, they were caught at train stations and on trains and beaten half to death, their uniforms were torn, and their money and documents were taken away.

Galley foreman
A good article, informative, with an excursion into history for comparison with the present. I fully support the premise, and the author’s point of view in this issue I completely agree. Law enforcement officers must act strictly within the law while carrying out their work, especially when we're talking about not about criminals, but about ordinary citizens, whose civil rights they have no right to suppress. Even with the permission of their superiors, otherwise they themselves turn into criminals. The protection of a certain group of persons (the untouchable) should not be carried out to the detriment of everyone else. That is why there is a law, and as the author correctly noted, everyone should be equal before it. Otherwise, law enforcement officers, by not observing the law themselves, encourage others to disobey it. And this is the great responsibility of the authorities.

current
He served in the 80s, in the navy. I remember these stories about VVshnikov, it happened, they changed clothes, but not everything is so terrible! It was more likely that such horror stories influenced 20-year-old soldiers than that in reality everything was so sad. But this is my private, subjective opinion.

AlexV
In the early 80s, former soldiers who served in Far East and in Siberia, they went to demobilization mainly by trains along the Trans-Siberian Railway. (At that time, there was no asphalt on the Moscow-Vladivostok road in some places at all, and this railway, built under the Tsar, carried a huge amount of cargo. Lying on the second shelf of the car, sometimes it swayed and it threw so much that some drunks, and even sober ones, fell down to the floor. It was in such carriages that the “Red Pogonnik” rode home. They were distinguished by their shoulder straps and even without them - by their well-fed face and sleek hands. It was not entirely pleasant for them. .He also said that here and there, near the railway embankment, bodies were discovered that had “fallen” from the carriages. That’s why almost everyone went home, dressed in “civilian clothes”, and did not remember about their “red-shouldered” service for the protection of prisoners and camps. Unless he was drunk, as a result of which there was a chance of getting hit in the side. The author of these lines at that time was also a soldier and wore black shoulder straps. Sometimes the train with the equipment went separately, and we went to a new place on the Trans-Siberian Express. We had our hands. in sores and abscesses (climate, diesel fuel, lack of TB) and carried backpacks, overcoats and machine guns with them. The people on the train treated us well, many even offered us a drink and a snack, and we felt that the country around us was ours, common to everyone. And then one day it all ended, because we were sent to fulfill our “international duty.”

Alexander L
They were called Vovans.

Shoulder straps in the Red Army 1943, 1944, 1945

(using the example of artillery shoulder straps)

On January 6, 1943, the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Council (PVS) of the USSR “On the introduction of shoulder straps for the personnel of the Red Army” was signed, announced by NKO order No. 24 of January 10, 1943. Following this, on January 15, 1943, the USSR NKO order No. 25 “On the introduction of new insignia and changes in the uniform of the Red Army” (). In it, in particular, it was determined that field shoulder straps are worn by military personnel in active army and personnel of units being prepared to be sent to the front. Everyday shoulder straps are worn by military personnel of other units and institutions, as well as when wearing dress uniforms. That is, in the Red Army there were two types of shoulder straps: field and everyday. Differences in shoulder straps were also introduced for command and command personnel (see the regulations on command and command personnel) so that the commander could be distinguished from the chief.

It was ordered to switch to the new insignia in the period from February 1 to February 15, 1943. Later, by order of the NKO of the USSR No. 80 dated February 14, 1943, this period was extended until March 15, 1943. By the beginning of the transition to summer uniforms, the Red Army was fully provided with new insignia.

In addition to the above-mentioned directive documents, later the Instruction of the Technical Committee of the Main Quartermaster Directorate of the Red Army (TK GIU KA) No. 732 01/08/1943 “Rules for the selection, attachment to uniforms and wearing of shoulder straps by Red Army personnel” was issued, as well as a whole range of technical specifications of the TC GIU KA. In addition, some technical documentation was adopted long before the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. For example, the Temporary Technical Specifications (TTU) of the TC SIU KA No. 0725, which contained a description of the emblems and insignia (stars) on shoulder straps, were published on December 10, 1942.

The dimensions of the shoulder straps were established:

• Null– 13 cm (only for women’s uniforms)
• First– 14 cm.
• Second– 15 cm.
• Third- 16 cm.
  The width is 6 cm, and the width of the shoulder straps of officers of justice, medical, veterinary and administrative services is 4 cm. The length of the sewn-in shoulder straps was set to 1 cm longer for each size.
  The width of the general's shoulder straps is 6.5 cm. The width of the shoulder straps of the generals of the medical, veterinary services and the highest command. composition of the military-legal service - 4.5 cm. (in 1958, a single width for such shoulder straps was established for all generals of the Soviet Army - 6.5 cm.)

Types of field shoulder straps according to manufacturing method:

• Soft sewn shoulder straps( ) consisted of a field (top), lining (lining), lining and edging.
• Soft removable shoulder straps( ), in addition to the above parts, they had a semi-flap, a semi-flap lining and a jumper.
• Hard detachable shoulder straps( ) differed from soft ones in that during their manufacture, fabrics and shoulder straps were glued together with a paste consisting of 30% wheat flour and wood glue, as well as the presence of an additional lining made of electrical cardboard - pressed board, jacquard or calibrated, 0.5 - 1 mm thick .

— Coloring of field and everyday shoulder straps of the Red Army - .

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

Shoulder straps of junior command, command and rank and file of the Red Army
(privates, sergeants and sergeants)

FIELD EMAILS: The field of field shoulder straps was always khaki. The shoulder straps were edged (trimmed) along the edges, except for the bottom, with colored cloth edging according to the branches of the military or services. The stripes on the shoulder straps of junior command and command personnel were silk or semi-silk galloon. The patches were produced in various sizes: narrow (1 cm wide), medium (1.5 cm wide) and wide (3 cm wide). Junior command staff were entitled to burgundy-colored braid, and junior command staff – brown.

Ideally, the stripes should have been sewn onto shoulder straps in factories or in sewing workshops attached to military units. But often the servicemen themselves attached the stripes. In conditions of front-line shortages, stripes made from scrap materials were often used. It was common to use everyday (golden or silver) stripes on field shoulder straps and vice versa.

Field shoulder straps were supposed to be worn without emblems of military branches and stencils. On the shoulder straps there were uniform 20-mm iron buttons of a khaki color with a star in the center of which was a hammer and sickle.

This type of shoulder straps existed until December 1955, when double-sided shoulder straps were introduced. In the period from 1943 to 1955, the technology for manufacturing these shoulder straps changed several times. In particular, in 1947 and 1953 (TU 1947 and TU 1953)

Field shoulder straps of junior command personnel using the example of a senior artillery sergeant. The patch (galloon) is factory sewn on sewing machine. Iron buttons of khaki color.

EVERYDAY EMAILS: Everyday shoulder straps of junior commanders, junior commanders and enlisted personnel were edged (trimmed) along the edges, except for the bottom, with colored cloth edging, and also had a field of colored cloth according to the branch of service. The stripes on the shoulder straps of junior command and command personnel were silk or semi-silk galloon. The patches were produced in various sizes: narrow (1 cm wide), medium (1.5 cm wide) and wide (3 cm wide). The junior command staff was entitled to a golden-yellow galloon, and the junior command staff – silver.

Everyday shoulder straps had golden emblems for the branch of service and yellow stencils indicating the unit (formation). It is worth noting that stencils were used extremely rarely.

On the shoulder straps there were shaped golden brass 20-mm buttons with a star, in the center of which was a hammer and sickle.

This type of shoulder straps existed until December 1955, when double-sided shoulder straps were introduced. In the period from 1943 to 1955, the technology for manufacturing these shoulder straps changed several times. In particular in 1947 and 1953. In addition, since 1947, encryption was no longer applied to everyday shoulder straps.

Everyday shoulder straps of junior command personnel using the example of a senior artillery sergeant. The patch (braid) is sewn on by the soldier himself. There are no encryptions, as on most shoulder straps. Buttons: top is brass (respectively yellow-golden color), bottom is iron.

Shoulder straps of senior and middle command and command personnel of the Red Army
(officers)

FIELD EMAILS: The field of field shoulder straps was always khaki. The shoulder straps were edged (trimmed) along the edges, except the bottom, with colored cloth edging. One or two burgundy-colored gaps were sewn onto the shoulder strap for command personnel and brown for the commanding staff. In accordance with the assigned military rank, belonging to a branch of the military or service, insignia were placed on the shoulder straps.

The shoulder straps of the middle command personnel have one gap and silver-plated metal 13-mm stars.

The shoulder straps of senior officers have two gaps and silver-plated metal 20-mm stars.

On the shoulder straps of the command personnel, in addition to the infantry command personnel, silver-plated emblems were installed according to the branch of the army and service.

On the shoulder straps there are uniform 20-mm metal buttons in a khaki color with a star in the center of which is a hammer and sickle.

Field shoulder straps of middle command personnel using the example of ml. artillery lieutenant. The star denoting rank must be silver. In this case, the silver plating has worn off.

EVERYDAY EMAILS: The field of shoulder straps for command personnel is made of golden silk or golden braid. The shoulder straps of the engineering and command staff, commissary, medical, veterinary, military-legal and administrative services are made of silver silk or silver braid. The shoulder straps were edged (trimmed) along the edges, except the bottom, with colored cloth edging. In accordance with the assigned military rank, belonging to a branch of the military or service, insignia were placed on the shoulder straps.

The shoulder straps of the middle command personnel have one gap and 13-mm gold metal stars.

The shoulder straps of the senior officers have two gaps and 20-mm gold metal stars.

On the shoulder straps of the command personnel, in addition to the infantry command personnel, golden emblems were installed according to the branch of the army and service.

The emblems and stars on the shoulder straps of the engineering and command personnel, quartermaster, administrative and medical services are gold plated. On the shoulder straps of military veterinary personnel, the stars are gold-plated, the emblems are silver-plated.

On the shoulder straps there are uniform golden 20-mm buttons with a star, in the center of which is a hammer and sickle.

The shoulder straps and insignia of the middle and senior command staff of the military legal service fully corresponded to the shoulder straps and insignia of the senior and middle command staff of the medical and veterinary services, but with their own emblems.

The shoulder straps of the military administrative personnel were exactly the same as the shoulder straps for the senior and mid-level command staff of the medical and veterinary services, but without emblems.

These shoulder straps existed until the end of 1946, when technical specifications TU TC GIU VS No. 1486 dated October 9, 1946 for officers of the Armed Forces, shoulder straps with a cut off corner top were installed, i.e. shoulder straps became hexagonal.

Everyday shoulder straps of middle command personnel using the example of the shoulder straps of an artillery captain. The button should be golden.

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

FIELD EMAILS: A field of shoulder straps made of specially woven silk braid on a cloth lining. The color of the shoulder straps is protective. Color of shoulder straps: generals, artillery generals, tank troops, medical and veterinary services, higher education. composition of the military legal service - red; aviation generals - blue; generals of technical troops and quartermaster service - crimson.

The stars on the shoulder straps were embroidered in silver, 22 mm in size. On the uniform of generals of the medical and veterinary services and the highest command. members of the military legal service - gold, size 20 mm. The buttons on the shoulder straps with the coat of arms are gilded. On the uniforms of generals there is honey. services – gilded metal emblems; there is a breeze on the generals' uniforms. services - the same emblems, but silvered; on uniform of the highest beginning. members of the Supreme Legal Service - gilded metal emblems.

By order of the NKO of the USSR No. 79 dated February 14, 1943, shoulder straps were installed, including. and for the highest engineering and technical personnel of the signal troops, engineering, chemical, railway, topographic troops - to the generals of the engineering and technical service, according to the model established for the generals of the technical troops. From this order the highest beginning. The composition of the military legal service began to be called generals of justice.

EVERYDAY EMAPOLDS: Field of shoulder straps made of braid of a special weave: made of gold wire. And for generals of medical and veterinary services, the highest level. members of the military legal service - made of silver wire. Color of shoulder straps: generals, artillery generals, tank troops, medical and veterinary services, senior commanders. composition of the military legal service - red; aviation generals - blue; generals of technical troops and quartermaster service - crimson.

The stars on the shoulder straps were embroidered on a gold field - in silver, on a silver field - in gold. The buttons on the shoulder straps with the coat of arms are gilded. On the uniforms of generals there is honey. services – gilded metal emblems; there is a breeze on the generals' uniforms. services - the same emblems, but silvered; on uniform of the highest beginning. members of the Supreme Legal Service - gilded metal emblems.

By order of the NKO of the USSR No. 61 dated February 8, 1943, silver emblems were installed for artillery generals to wear on their shoulder straps.

By order of the NKO of the USSR No. 79 dated February 14, 1943, shoulder straps were installed, including. and for the highest engineering and technical personnel of the signal troops, engineering, chemical, railway, topographic troops - to the generals of the engineering and technical service, according to the model established for the generals of the technical troops. Probably from this order the highest beginning. The composition of the military legal service began to be called generals of justice.

These shoulder straps existed without fundamental changes until 1962, when by order of the USSR Ministry of Defense No. 127 of May 12, sewn shoulder straps with a steel-colored field were installed on the ceremonial overcoats of generals.

An example of everyday and field shoulder straps of generals. Since 02/08/1943, artillery generals additionally had artillery emblems on their shoulder straps.

Literature:

• Uniforms and insignia of the Red Army 1918-1945. AIM, Leningrad 1960
• Shoulder straps of the Soviet Army 1943-1991. Evgeniy Drig.
• Color chart for field and everyday shoulder straps of the Red Army ()
• Newspaper "Red Star" dated January 7, 1943 ()
• Article by Alexander Sorokin “Field shoulder straps of soldiers, sergeants and officers of the Red Army, model 1943”
• Website - http://www.rkka.ru

article code: 98653