Why did Stalin introduce shoulder straps? What military ranks were there in the USSR army, what shoulder straps did the soldiers wear?

The entire period of the existence of the USSR can be divided into several stages based on various epoch-making events. Typically, changes in political life states are leading to a number of fundamental changes, including in the army. The pre-war period, which is limited to 1935-1940, went down in history as the birth Soviet Union, and special attention should be paid not only to the state of the material part of the armed forces, but also to the organization of the hierarchy in management.

Before the beginning of this period, there was a kind of disguised system by which military ranks Soviet army. However, quite soon the question arose about creating a more advanced gradation. Although ideology did not allow the direct introduction of a structure similar to the one currently in use, for the reason that the concept of an officer was considered a relic of the tsarist era, Stalin could not help but understand that such a ranking would help clearly establish the boundaries of the duties and responsibilities of commanders.

U modern approach There is one more advantage to the organization of army subordination. The activities of personnel are greatly facilitated, since it was possible to develop individual functionality for each rank. It should be noted here that the transition to the introduction of officer ranks has been prepared for several years. The very fact that such concepts as “officer” or “general” were returning into use was perceived critically by military leaders.

Military ranks of the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army

In 1932, a resolution of the Council of People's Commissars was issued, according to which the previously existing division into conventional categories was abolished. By December 1935, the transition to ranks was completed. But until 1943, the ranks of privates and junior officers still included job titles. The entire contingent was divided into the following categories:

command staff;
military-political;
commander;
military-technical;
economic or administrative;
medical and veterinary;
legal;
private.

If you imagine that each squad had its own specific ranks, it becomes clear that such a system was considered quite complex. By the way, it was only possible to finish off its remains closer to the 80s of the 20th century. Reliable information on this issue can be obtained from the edition of the military regulations of the Red Army Armed Forces dated 1938.

Stalin's strange decision

The totalitarian regime, which was especially pronounced during the Great Patriotic War, did not even allow thoughts contrary to the opinion of I.V. Stalin, and his decision to return shoulder straps and officer ranks the Red Army was openly criticized not only in foreign press, but also the brightest representatives of the Soviet command.

Reform in the army took place during the hottest stages of the war. At the beginning of 1943, the officers “returned” to their previous ranks and shoulder straps. Dissatisfaction was caused by the fact that the builders of communism had long ago renounced these archaisms.

By decision of the Presidium of the USSR Supreme Court, a corresponding Decree was adopted. Until now, historians consider such a decision somewhat strange.

Firstly, only a person who clearly understands the ultimate goals can decide to reform the army during a period of active hostilities.
Secondly, there is a certain risk that the soldiers will feel certain steps backward, which will significantly break their morale.

Although the end justifies the means, there is always a percentage probability of a positive outcome of the reform. Naturally, Western press saw in this the first notes of the loss of the Soviet Union in the Second World War.

It cannot be assumed that there were new shoulder straps an exact copy shoulder strap Tsarist Russia, both the designations and the titles themselves differed significantly. The lieutenant replaced the second lieutenant, and the captain replaced the staff captain. Personally, Stalin was the initiator of the idea of using stars on shoulder straps of different sizes.

For example, the highest ranks in the USSR army have been designated since that time big stars(marshal - one star with a coat of arms). Only later did history find out the real reason such a decision of the leader. At all times, the era of Peter's reforms was revered and evoked a feeling of patriotism. A return to that scheme establishing the rank of each soldier was supposed to inspire the soldiers of the Red Army. Despite the war, the USSR was preparing for the Great Victory, which means that Berlin had to be taken by officers whose ranks were consistent with the ranks of the allied countries. Was there a political motive to this? Definitely yes.

Military ranks in the 50s - 80s of the century

Shoulder straps and ranks in the USSR army were revised more than once until the end of its existence. Almost every decade in history has been marked by reforms. Thus, in 1955, the title “Admiral of the Fleet” was abolished, and the title “Admiral of the USSR Fleet” was established. Later, everything returned to its place with the interpretation “... for consistency between the ranks of senior officers.”

In the sixties, it was decided to designate education by adding the specialty of engineer or technician. The complete hierarchy looked like this:

junior engineer lieutenant – engineer-captain;
Major Engineer and further respectively.
junior technical lieutenant - technical service captain;
Major of Technical Services and further accordingly.

By the mid-eighties, the idea had matured to completely remove the previously existing line between command personnel, to equate the ranks of military personnel with different formations, to establish a single training profile, to bring the ranks of the ground forces and troops into line navy. Moreover, this correspondence does not consist only in consonance. The fact is that exercises are increasingly being held in which several branches of the military are involved simultaneously. For effective management The army began to exclude the names of these families from ranks. By a resolution of the Presidium of the USSR Armed Forces, military ranks in the Soviet army ceased to contain special articles.

Since 1969, the procedure for wearing military uniforms has been introduced. It is now divided into front, everyday, field and work. Work uniforms are required only for privates and non-commissioned officers undergoing training conscript service. The shoulder straps of military personnel of the ground forces, air force and navy differ in color. For the category of sergeants, foremen, warrant officers and midshipmen, the following standard is established: SV - red shoulder straps, Air Force - blue, USSR Navy shoulder straps - black.

The corporal in pursuit wears a cloth stripe located across. The SV and Air Force shoulder straps contain the letters SA, which stands for “Soviet Army.” Navy shoulder straps are distinguished not only by color, but also by the presence of a gilded letter F. Since 1933, on the shoulder straps of a petty officer, the stripe has been located lengthwise, and before that it was supplemented by a transverse stripe, forming something like the letter “T”. Receiving the new rank of senior warrant officer since 1981 is accompanied by the addition of a third star on the shoulder strap.

By the way, in modern army the warrant officer's stars are located transversely, and the senior warrant officer's stars form a triangle. During the Soviet era, these stars were lined up along the shoulder strap.

Shoulder straps to full dress uniform officers were made in gold color. The edgings and stripes had the same color differences as in the previous categories. Before the 1974 reforms, the army general wore shoulder straps with four stars. After the transformations, they were replaced by one large star together with the coat of arms of the USSR. The same can be said about Navy veterans.

Senior officers with the rank of marshal, in addition to the star on their shoulder straps, wore a special badge indicating the type of military service. Accordingly, it was added to the rank as an addition. This provision was abolished only in Russian army, which was formed in 1992. The most highest rank in the Soviet Union - Generalissimo. Today the President of the Russian Federation is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, and the marshal is considered the second in importance in the hierarchy.

On January 6, 1943, the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR “On the introduction of new insignia for the personnel of the Red Army” was published. This document prescribed the introduction of new insignia to replace the existing ones - shoulder straps for Red Army personnel, as well as the approval of samples and descriptions of new insignia.
A quarter of a century after the revolution, the country's armed forces returned to their historical form clothes.

The editorial material of the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper dated January 7, 1943 emphasized that “today the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on the introduction of new insignia - shoulder straps for the personnel of the Red Army is published. This event is important event in the life of the army, because it is intended to contribute to the further strengthening of military discipline and military spirit.”

The central body of the People's Commissariat of Defense of the USSR reminded that “epaulettes with clear and clear outlines of insignia highlight the Soviet commander and the Red Army soldier, emphasize ranks, military specialty and make it possible to further strengthen military discipline and smartness.”
The main military newspaper of the country wrote on this day:
"We have first-class military equipment, and every day there will be more and more of it. The country sent its sons - loyal warriors - to the fronts, and the mighty strength of the Soviet soldier became famous throughout the world.
The people brought forward from among themselves cadres of commanders, cadres of military intelligentsia - bearers of everything heroic and noble that is in themselves. In fierce battles with the enemy, our soldiers and commanders raised high the honor of Russian weapons. The importance of a commander in an army is great. He has a primary role in battle, in all military life.
The role of the sovereign commander must be emphasized and strengthened in every possible way. This, in particular, will be facilitated by shoulder straps with their clear designations of service seniority.”
“Red Star” recalled that “epaulets were a traditional decoration of the valiant Russian army. We, the legal heirs of the Russian military glory, we take from the arsenal of our fathers and grandfathers all the best that contributed to raising the military spirit and strengthening discipline. The introduction of shoulder straps once again confirms the glorious continuity of military traditions, which is so valuable for an army that loves its fatherland and values native history. Shoulder straps are not only a detail of clothing. This is a sign of military dignity and military honor.”
The newspaper's editorial emphasized that "the content military uniform determined by the fighting spirit of the troops, their glory, their moral strength, their traditions. By putting on shoulder straps - new signs of rank and military honor - we will feel even more clearly the duty that lies on the army defending its homeland from Nazi gangs. The people will give the army these badges of honor, while demanding that the army's honor be maintained on the battlefield."
The article also reminded: “The people have provided our officers with great rights, but at the same time it imposed great responsibilities on him. To fight selflessly for the homeland, to always feel like an educator of the Red Army masses in everything, to always and in everything instill in the consciousness of your subordinates a feeling of love for the homeland, a correct understanding of your military duty - such is the duty of a Soviet officer.
The shoulder strap must constantly remind the commander of this duty. Wearing shoulder straps should instill in every serviceman a sense of pride that he has the honor of belonging to the valiant Red Army, a sense of pride both for himself and for our entire army.” “Red Star” especially emphasized on this day: “We put on shoulder straps in the great and difficult time of the Patriotic War. Let's immortalize these signs military distinction and military honor with new exploits for the glory of our fatherland and our heroic army!

Everyone according to their shoulder straps

Particularly interesting is the use of the words “officer” and “officership” in the editorial material of “Red Star”. For the first time since 1917, the word “officer” appeared in the May Day order of the People’s Commissar of Defense in 1942. This document noted that “the Red Army has become more organized and stronger, its officer cadres have become battle-hardened, and its generals have become more experienced and insightful.”
However, the word “officer” was officially legalized in the second half of 1943.
Work on new uniforms and insignia began even before the war. According to some reports, the first samples of uniforms and shoulder straps were developed back in 1941.
In the study “Uniforms of the Red Army and the Wehrmacht” by Pavel Lipatov, it is indicated that “new insignia and uniforms began to be developed in mid-1942, taking galloon and field shoulder straps Russian imperial army. They looked for old masters who had once woven gold patterned ribbons and revived a half-forgotten technology. Test samples were cut - lush and archaic double-breasted ceremonial frock coats with gold embroidery and thick epaulettes.”
Temporary technical specifications, which contained a description of the emblems and insignia on shoulder straps, were published on December 10, 1942.
According to Pavel Lipatov, the new uniform was initially supposed to be introduced only in the guard, but the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, Comrade Stalin, decided to put shoulder straps on everyone.
The decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR emphasized that insignia - shoulder straps - serve to determine the military rank and affiliation of military personnel to one or another branch of the military (service). According to the assigned military rank, belonging to the branch of the military (service), insignia (stars, gaps, stripes) and emblems are placed on the shoulder straps, and on the everyday shoulder straps of junior command, enlisted personnel and military school cadets there are also stencils indicating the name of the military unit (connections).
As noted by researchers of domestic military uniforms, the shape of the shoulder straps of the Red Army was 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.
For the first time in Russia, shoulder straps appeared under Peter the Great in 1696. But in those days they were not insignia and were intended to hold the strap of a cartridge or grenade bag on the shoulder of an ordinary soldier.
Then the infantrymen wore, respectively, only one shoulder strap on the left shoulder, the lower edge of which was sewn on, and the upper edge was fastened to the caftan and later to the uniform. In that era, officers, cavalrymen and artillerymen did not have shoulder straps. In other words, they were not present in those branches of the military in which there was no need for them.
Since 1762, shoulder straps have become insignia and determine whether a serviceman belongs to a particular regiment. Under Paul I, shoulder straps again performed only one function - holding the belt of the cartridge bag, but during the reign of Alexander I they again became insignia.
In the armed forces Soviet Russia shoulder straps were abolished on December 16, 1917.

In the midst of the Great Patriotic War, an event occurred that was difficult to expect. In January 1943, as part of the uniform reform, shoulder straps were introduced for Red Army personnel.

But just recently, shoulder straps were a symbol of counter-revolutionary white officers. For those who put on shoulder straps in 1943, during Civil War the word "golden chasers" was a dirty word. Everything was clearly defined in the Decree on the destruction of estates and civil ranks of November 23, 1917, which also abolished shoulder straps. True, they survived on the shoulders of white officers until the end of the Civil War. By the way, you can test your knowledge about the events of 100 years ago.

P.V. Ryzhenko. Royal shoulder straps. Fragment

In the Red Army, military personnel were distinguished only by position. There were patches on the sleeves in the form geometric shapes(triangles, squares, rhombuses) and on the sides of the overcoat. They were used to “read” the rank and affiliation with the military branches. Until 1943, who was who could be determined by the type of buttonholes on the collar and sleeve chevrons.

In fairness, it should be noted that changes began to occur in the army already in the thirties. Military ranks appeared that existed back in tsarist army. By 1940, the ranks of general as well as admiral had emerged.

First options new form(already with shoulder straps) were developed at the very beginning of 1941, but the outbreak of war and the lack of success at the front did not contribute to such innovations. In 1942, the new uniform was positively assessed by the Main Political Directorate of the Red Army, and all that remained was to wait for the resounding victory of the Red Army. Such an event was the Battle of Stalingrad, when the army of Field Marshal Paulus on the Volga was defeated.

Shoulder straps of marshals, generals and officers
Red Army and NKVD model 1943

Soviet shoulder straps were similar to the tsarist ones, but also differed from them. The new samples were 5 mm wider and did not have encryption (regiment number or regimental chief's monogram). Junior officers were entitled to shoulder straps with one gap and from one to four stars, while senior officers had shoulder straps with two gaps and had from one to three stars. Badges for junior commanders were also restored, and ordinary soldiers were not left without shoulder straps.

And one more important point associated with the introduction of a new form: in official language the old word “officer” has returned. Before that he was the “commander of the Red Army.” Gradually, “officer”, “officers” filled the conversations of military personnel, and later moved into official documents. Imagine what the title of V. Rogovoy’s beloved film “Officers” would sound like in the old version: “Commanders of the Red Army”?

So why were shoulder straps introduced? It is believed that the “leader” has calculated all the future benefits from the reform. The introduction of shoulder straps inextricably linked the Red Army with the heroic, combat history of the Russian army. It was not for nothing that at this time the names associated with the names of Nakhimov, Ushakov and Nevsky were approved, and the most distinguished military units received the rank of Guards.

Field and everyday shoulder straps of junior commanders,
Red Army soldiers, cadets, students of special schools and Suvorov soldiers

The victory at Stalingrad turned the tide of the war, and changes in uniforms made it possible to further inspire the army. After this decree, articles on this topic immediately appeared in newspapers. What is very important, they emphasized the symbolism of the inextricable connection of Russian victories.

There was also an assumption that the introduction of shoulder straps was influenced by the love for M. Bulgakov’s play “Days of the Turbins”, but let this remain the lot of the inventors of myths...

You can learn more about the history of the uniform of Russian soldiers at the Museum of Military Uniforms of the Russian Military Historical Society. We invite you!

Introduction of shoulder straps in the Red Army

On January 6, 1943, shoulder straps were introduced in the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army.

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 to the throne of Alexander I. However, they did not indicate 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. Army (in the sense of non-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.

Shoulder straps of the Russian Imperial Army	Shoulder straps of the Russian Imperial Navy

Rank insignia of the Red Army 1935-40	Shoulder straps of the Red Army (from 01/06/1943)

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: warrant officers– 1,second lieutenant, major and major general – 2; lieutenant,lieutenant colonel and lieutenant general - 3; staff captain - 4; at captains,colonels and there were no stars on the epaulets of full generals. 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 stripe went tocorporal ,two to a junior non-commissioned officer, and three to a senior non-commissioned officer. The sergeant major received a 2.5-centimeter-thick transverse stripe on his shoulder strap, andsub-ensign- exactly the same, 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, with the exception that in 1884 the rank of major was abolished, and in 1907 the rank of mediocre ensign .

Shoulder straps also had officials of some civil departments – engineers, railway workers, police .

However, after the October Revolution shoulder straps were canceled together with the military and civil ranks(about this).

The first insignia in the Red Army appeared on January 16, 1919. They were triangles, cubes and diamonds, sewn onto the sleeves (See:). In 1922, these triangles, cubes and rhombuses were transferred to sleeve valves (Cm.:). At the same time, a certain color of the valve corresponded to one or another branch of the military. But these valves did not last long in the Red Army - already in 1924, rhombuses, kubars and triangles moved to buttonholes. In addition, in addition to these geometric figures, another one appeared - a sleeper, intended for those service categories that corresponded to pre-revolutionary staff officers (See for more details).

In 1935, the Red Army was introduced personal military ranks . 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.

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 a ladle, but to a 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.

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.

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.

Soviet officer shoulder straps were five millimeters wider than pre-revolutionary ones. No encryption was placed on them. Field and everyday shoulder straps were established for the Red Army. 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. The field of everyday shoulder straps was 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 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” by the troops. 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's 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 type of troops 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 emblem 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 shape of the shoulder straps of officers of the Soviet Army was changed - 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. 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 1963, there were blue gaps 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 in the pre-revolutionary sub-ensign.

In 1969, gold stars were introduced on gold shoulder straps, and silver stars on silver ones. Clearance colors – red ( ground forces), crimson (medics, veterinarians, lawyers, administrative services) and blue (aviation, airborne forces). Silver coins are abolished general's shoulder straps. 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 warrant officer, whose rank corresponded to the Soviet junior lieutenant, the Soviet warrant officer's rank corresponded to the American warrant officer.

In 1973, SA encryption was introduced ( Soviet Army), VV (Internal Troops), PV (Border Troops), GB (KGB Troops) on the shoulder straps of soldiers and sergeants and K – on the shoulder straps of cadets.

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).

In 1981, shoulder straps of a senior warrant officer were introduced, and in 1986, for the first time in the history of Russians officer's shoulder straps shoulder straps without gaps were introduced, differing only in the size of the stars (field uniform - “Afghan”)

Currently the shoulder straps remain insignia of the Russian army , as well as some categories Russian civil officials .



			Rank insignia of the Red Army 1924-35

In January 1943, at the height of the war, reform took place in the Red Army. Soviet soldiers and the officers put on shoulder straps and changed ranks. Officers appeared in the army again. Like in the tsarist army.

Strange decree

On January 10, 1943, by order of NKO No. 24, it was announced that the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of January 6, 1943 “On the introduction of shoulder straps for personnel of the Red Army” was adopted.

Both this document and the decision itself - to start a serious military reform- have, of course, their own history. Why did Joseph Stalin return the shoulder straps that served as a symbol of the White Army to the Red Army? How was this decree received? For what purpose was the military reform carried out?

Propaganda reaction

It’s interesting how fascist propaganda greeted the return of shoulder straps. German greyhound writers immediately began to see in this step the weakness of Stalin, who made concessions out of fear. The Germans wrote that the head of the USSR would change the name of the army to Russian.
They thus treated this as a forced and hasty decision, although the reality was completely different. The introduction of shoulder straps was part of the planned reform program of the Soviet Union.

How it happened

The idea has been brewing for a long time. Back in 1935, the rank of “Marshal of the Soviet Union” was introduced in the Red Army, and in 1940 the ranks of general and admiral were introduced. This can be considered important milestone on the way to the shoulder straps.

By 1941, samples of the new uniform and shoulder straps were ready. In May 1942, the decree was approved by the Main political administration Red Army. Temporary technical specifications (TTU) of the TC GIU KA No. 0725, which contained a description of the emblems and insignia (“stars”) on the shoulder straps, were published on December 10, 1942.

The Red Army needed a bright turning point victory. Stalingrad became such a victory. When it became clear that the 6th Army of Friedrich Paulus did not have long left, the project was approved by the Politburo of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks on October 23, 1942.

According to the order, it was necessary to switch to shoulder straps within half a month - from February 1 to February 15, 1943, but still Kursk Bulge in July of this year, some pilots and tank crews, as can be seen in the photographs, wore old buttonholes rather than shoulder straps.

How the shoulder straps were changed

The reaction was mixed. For example, Georgy Zhukov did not like them. Many Soviet military leaders we passed the Civil and remembered the “gold chasers”.

Of course, Stalin's shoulder straps were not a copy of the Tsarist ones. Here there was a different system for designating ranks, as well as the ranks themselves. Instead of a second lieutenant there was now a lieutenant. The staff captain became a captain. Instead of a captain - a major. On army uniform Russian Empire ranks were indicated only by small stars. Joseph Stalin was the first to introduce big stars for senior officers. Field marshals in the tsarist army wore shoulder straps with two crossed batons on a zigzag braid. After the introduction of shoulder straps in 1943, the rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union began to be symbolized by a large star and the coat of arms of the USSR.

Officers

Order No. 1 of March 1, 1917 “On democratization former army and the Navy" equalized the rights of soldiers and officers. Soon the very word “officer” began to be perceived as counter-revolutionary.

Only in the May Day order of the People's Commissar of Defense in 1942 did it appear again. At the beginning of 1943, with the introduction of shoulder straps in the Red Army, the word “officer” officially fell out of favor. The commanders from the platoon commander to the brigade commander began to be called differently.

Why?

It is not entirely correct to consider the introduction of shoulder straps to be the personal initiative of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. Shoulder straps were introduced by decision of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. The Chairman of the Presidium was Mikhail Ivanovich Kalinin. This was a planned reform, preparation for it took almost ten years.

Shoulder straps have been an element of the uniform of the Russian army since the time of Peter the Great, and appealing to the names of the great Russian commanders was one of the methods of instilling patriotism. Victory in Battle of Stalingrad turned the tide of the war. Changes in uniforms helped to invigorate the army.

In addition, it was clear that the war would end sooner or later. It was short-sighted to come to Berlin as “commanders” and “brigade commanders” - an approximate unification with the ranks of the allied countries was needed.

The media eagerly began to discuss the newly adopted decree, emphasizing the symbolism of the introduction of shoulder straps precisely from the position of the inextricable connection of Russian victories.