NKVD ranks 1941. Senior major of state security

For command personnel, from senior lieutenant to police major inclusive, two golden stripes 6 mm wide were sewn along. The strips are arranged so that there is a gap of 11.8 mm between them. The senior police lieutenant has one silver star between the stripes in the middle of his buttonhole. The police captain has two silver stars located on the stripes in the middle buttonholes. The police major has three silver stars arranged in a triangle on his buttonhole. One between the stripes, at a distance of 5.4 cm from the rear edge buttonholes, and two on strips, each at a distance of 3.4 cm from the rear edge buttonholes .

For command personnel from senior police major and above, three golden stripes 5 mm wide were sewn along, with 7 mm gaps between stripes. The senior police major had one silver star on the middle stripe in the middle of his buttonhole. The police inspector had two silver stars in the middle of his buttonhole, in the gaps adjacent to the middle stripe. The police director has three silver stars on his buttonhole, arranged in a triangle. One star on the middle strip, at a distance of 5.4 cm from the back edge of the buttonhole and two others on the outer stripes, at a distance of 3.4 cm from the back edge buttonholes. The chief police director has four silver stars on his buttonhole, two of them were located on the middle stripe, one at a distance of 3.4 cm, the other at a distance of 5.4 cm from the rear edge of the buttonhole. The other two have one star on the outer stripes at a distance of 3.4 cm from the rear edge of the buttonhole.

Commanding officers from police sergeant and higher wore a sleeve badge on their left sleeve.
By order of the USSR No. 381 of 09/07/1936 were installed insignia for candidates for the title. They were buttonholes of the standard standard for command personnel with one gold-colored stripe along the buttonhole without stars. For headdresses - a gold-colored coat of arms.

Candidates for the title were all persons of the police command staff (precinct inspector, assistant commissioner, platoon, passport officer) who had not served the prescribed period, did not have the appropriate training and for other reasons did not receive the title of police commander.

By order of the NKVD of the USSR No. 1 of 01/02/1937. It was announced that the wearing of old-style buttonholes would cease from 02/01/1937.

By order of the NKVD of the USSR No. 418 of September 28, 1937. new Rules for wearing uniforms by RCM employees were introduced. All previously issued orders and circulars of the GURKM NKVD of the USSR on the issue of wearing uniforms by RKM employees were cancelled.
According to the new Rules, RKM employees were required to strictly follow all the rules for wearing uniforms. Items of uniform, shoes and equipment had to be of the established standard and always be in good condition. Mixing items of uniform with non-uniform clothing, as well as mixing summer uniforms with winter ones, except as permitted by the Rules, was not allowed.
In the ranks and in the outfit (guard, duty, etc.), the entire composition of the unit or outfit had to be in a uniform and identical uniform.
Dress codes varied by season and purpose:
a) according to the time of year uniform divided into summer and winter;
b) as intended uniform was divided into daily and official (Appendix 11 and Appendix 12).

Casual clothing was used outside of service, in service outside the formation or outfit, and in some cases in the formation.
The service uniform was used:
a) on guard, on duty, in outfits and at posts;
b) in an operational combat situation;
c) during exercises;
d) when escorting arrested persons;
e) on the special instructions of the heads of RCM departments.
The timing of wearing uniforms according to the time of year was established by the heads of the RKM departments of the republics, territories, and regions by orders for the garrison, depending on climatic conditions.
When wearing uniforms, the following rules were observed:
Installed insignia were worn by commanding officers and junior commanding officers strictly according to their assigned ranks. Wearing insignia without an assigned rank or above an assigned rank was strictly prohibited.
Helmet or helmet should not have been moved to the side or to the back of the head. Headphones were allowed to be worn only in frosts of -6°C and below. The cap was put on straight, without breaking the front part of the crown and visor, the back part of the crown had to be lowered.
Shoes, windings and cloth had to be fitted.
Overcoat, bekesha and leather coat (jacket) were worn only in the sleeves and had to be fastened with all hooks and buttons. The overcoat was belted with a waist belt. In a raincoat and leather coat (jackets) it was allowed to unfasten the hook at the collar and the top button, as well as turn down the sides. Commanding officers out of formation were allowed to wear an overcoat without a waist belt. Raising the collar of an overcoat was allowed only during guard duty and operational work, in frosts of -15°C and below.
Shirt ( summer and winter) had to be buttoned at all buttons and hooks and belted with a leather belt.
felted shoes And galoshes worn only during guard duty and operational work associated with prolonged exposure to the cold. Wearing felted shoes and galoshes in the ranks was prohibited. Spurs were worn by all personnel of cavalry units. Belts for the Spurs there had to be shoe colors.
The duty officers and orderlies, dressed up as commanding officers, had to be armed with revolvers (pistols). Those dressed up as privates and junior commanders are armed with edged weapons (bayonet, saber), and the bayonet is placed in a bayonet sheath.
Orders of the USSR and union republics, membership badges of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR and the Central Executive Committee of the union republics, the honorary badge of the Cheka-OGPU, the honorary badge of a policeman, as well as badges of public organizations (Voroshilovsky shooter, Osoaviakhim, etc.) were worn in accordance with the established rules for wearing them.
Wearing civilian clothing in service was permitted to privates and commanding officers of the RKM only when performing special operational tasks.

By order of the NKVD of the USSR No. 96 of February 13, 1938. for the rank and file and commanding staff of the railway police was introduced cap with a crimson top, turquoise band and edging, lacquered visor and black chin strap.
The cap was introduced on April 1, 1938. (Table 53).

As a winter headdress; for the railway police was introduced cap brown fur with a crimson wool top. (Table 53). For private and junior commanding officers of the rest of the police, fur was introduced as a winter headdress. cap brown with a top made of gray-green woolen fabric (Table 53).
In the Uzbek, Turkmen, Kyrgyz, Georgian, Armenian and Azerbaijan SSR, Crimean ASSR and Southern Kazakhstan, except for high mountain regions, instead of fur hats cloth was introduced cap .
On the headdress it was established to wear the sign assigned to the RKM - a coat of arms in gold color for command personnel and in silver color for private and junior command personnel.
By order of the NKVD of the USSR No. 383 of June 16, 1938. New uniform overcoats were introduced for RKM personnel, jacket And trousers .
Overcoat - coat for command personnel It was made of drape or overcoat cloth of a gray-green color, lined to the waist and in the sleeves, double-breasted, with open lapels, with two rows of large, gold-colored uniform buttons, six on each side, with a fastening with six slotted loops. The collar of the overcoat is turn-down. At the ends of the collar, buttonholes of the established pattern were sewn. The collar, if necessary, was fastened with a hook and loop. The sleeves are two-seam, with straight stitched cuffs. The pockets are transverse, welt, covered with straight flaps. In the middle of the back there is a counter fold, fastened at the top with two transverse stitches. There is a strap at the back of the waist, shaped like a stretched figure eight, fastened with two loops on two large uniform ones, gold color, buttons: Sewn on posts, sewn in at the waist into the side seams. At the bottom of the overcoat there is a cut (slit) with five small uniform, gold-colored buttons. The collar and cuffs of the overcoat were edged with red piping (Table 54).

Overcoat for privates and junior command personnel made of gray-green overcoat cloth, lined to the waist and in the sleeves, double-breasted, with closed lapels, with two rows of large, silver-colored uniform buttons (oxidized), five on each side; with five-loop clasp. Turn-down collar, fastened with one hook. At the ends of the collar, buttonholes of the established pattern were sewn. The sleeves are two-seam, with straight stitched cuffs. The pockets are oblique welts, covered with straight flaps. In the middle of the back there is a counter fold, fastened at the top with two transverse stitches. There is a tab at the back of the waist, shaped like a stretched figure eight, fastened with two large, shaped, silver-colored loops. buttons, sewn on posts; sewn at the waist into the side seams. There is a cut (slit) at the bottom of the overcoat. The collar and cuffs of the overcoat were edged with red cloth (Table 54).
Jacket for command personnel made of steel-colored fabric, lined to the bottom and in the sleeves, closed, single-breasted, without a strap, fastened with six large, uniform, gold-colored buttons; back - to the waist. The collar of the jacket is turn-down, with a single hook-and-loop closure. Double-seam sleeves with straight cuffs, each with two small uniform sleeves, gold-colored, buttons. At the ends of the jacket collar, buttonholes of the established pattern were sewn. Chest pockets are patch pockets with a bow fold and three-arm flaps each, with a fastener with one small, uniform, gold-colored button. Side pockets slotted, straight, transverse with flaps of the same shape as the chest ones, but without a clasp. The collar and cuffs of the jacket were edged with red cloth (Table 55).

Jacket allowed to be worn with untucked dark blue trousers. IN summer At the time, with white or dark blue trousers untucked, it was allowed to wear a white jacket of the same cut, but without piping along the collar and cuffs, with a white cap (Table 55).
Trousers untucked were made of dark blue woolen fabric with piping along the side seam. White trousers- without edging.
By order of the NKVD of the USSR No. 439 of July 17, 1938. a new RCM was introduced for the rank and file and commanding staff cap .
Cap for privates and junior commanding officers was made from cotton fabric. The crown is made of gray diagonal cotton with red edging, the band is made of turquoise cotton suede. The cap for command personnel was made of woolen fabric. The crown is made of gray-green cloth with a red edging, the band is made of turquoise cloth. Cap visor - black, varnished. Chin strap, lacquered, black, fastened with two small buttons gold color - for command personnel and silver color - for ordinary and junior command personnel (Table 56).

By order of the NKVD of the USSR No. 472 of August 5, 1938. The order of the NKVD of the USSR No. 208 of June 15, 1936 on the introduction of new buttonholes and insignia for the rank and file and commanding personnel of the RKM was canceled. Until a new order is issued insignia remained the same.
By order of the NKVD of the USSR No. 563 of December 23, 1938. for the commanding staff of the RKM, with the exception of the railway police, fur was introduced as a winter headdress cap brown, with a cap made of gray-green woolen fabric. On the fur hat, the symbol assigned to command personnel was worn - the coat of arms of the USSR, golden in color (Table 56).
In the Uzbek, Turkmen, Tajik, Kyrgyz, Georgian, Armenian, Azerbaijan SSR, Crimean ASSR and Southern Kazakhstan, with the exception of high mountain regions, fur cap I didn't rely on it.

By order of the NKVD of the USSR No. 524 of August 16, 1939. was canceled headdress guard - helmet(felt and white). For all police personnel (private and commanding) it was established to wear caps And hats fur, established by orders of the NKVD of the USSR No. 96 and 439 of 1938.
The same order introduced new buttonholes and insignia for the rank and file and command of the Workers' and Peasants' Militia.
Buttonholes were installed in turquoise color with red cloth edging. The tunic buttonholes had the shape of a parallelogram. The length of the sewn buttonhole together with the piping is 9 cm, the width of the buttonhole with piping is 32.5-33 mm, the width of the piping is 2.5 mm. The buttonhole was sewn on the collar of a tunic or jacket. The overcoat buttonholes had the shape of a diamond. The size of buttonholes for an overcoat in sewn form: length from corner to corner is 10-11 cm, width from corner to corner is 8-9 cm, length of edged side is 6.5 cm, edge width is 2.5 mm.

Patch for political personnel was a five-pointed turquoise star bordered by a gold stripe. In the middle of the star is a gold-colored sickle and hammer. The diameter at the edge of the star is 43-45 mm.

First we need to remind you what the internal troops of the NKVD were like by 1937.

In 1937, the Main Directorate of Border and Internal Security (GUPVO NKVD) was renamed the Main Directorate of Border and Internal Troops of the NKVD of the USSR.

On February 2, 1939, the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR adopted the Resolution "On the reorganization of the management of border and internal troops", according to which the Main Directorate of Border and Internal Troops of the NKVD of the USSR was divided into six main departments:
- Main Directorate of Border Troops of the NKVD of the USSR;
- Main Directorate of the USSR NKVD troops for the protection of railway structures;
- Main Directorate of the USSR NKVD troops for the protection of particularly important industrial enterprises;
- Main Directorate of Convoy Troops of the NKVD of the USSR;
- Main Directorate of Military Supply of the NKVD of the USSR;
- Main Military Construction Directorate of the NKVD of the USSR.

November 20, 1939 By order of the NKVD of the USSR, the “Regulations on the escort troops of the NKVD of the USSR” were introduced. They carried out tasks of escorting persons in custody and provided external security for individual prisons. This Regulation provided for wartime tasks related to the escort and protection of prisoners of war.
I should note that the escort troops carried out their functions mixed with the paramilitary guards of the Gulag (VOKHR GULAG NKVD). Some places of detention were guarded by soldiers of convoy units, others by military personnel.

Below we will discuss the uniform and insignia:
- troops of the NKVD of the USSR for the protection of especially important industrial enterprises,
- NKVD troops for the protection of railway structures,
- NKVD escort troops.

In addition, before the start and in the first weeks of the war, several rifle divisions of the internal troops of the NKVD were formed, whose personnel, numbers, and weapons did not differ from the rifle divisions of the Red Army. These divisions took part in battles at the front along with the divisions of the Red Army.

Note.
The uniform and insignia of the NKVD border troops were no different from other NKVD troops, except that the buttonhole field was not maroon with crimson edging, but green with crimson edging. The caps also had different colors. Therefore, the article will not say anything about border troops. The reader just needs to keep in mind these differences between the border guards.

The picture shows servicemen of the NKVD troops in the uniform of model 1937 and model 1940.

On the left is a senior political instructor of the NKVD troops, in the center is a Red Army soldier in winter uniform,
on the right is an infantry colonel of the NKVD troops in summer uniform model 1940.

So, below we will talk about uniforms and insignia:
- rifle units and formations of internal troops of the NKVD,
- units and divisions of the NKVD of the USSR for the protection of especially important industrial enterprises,
- units and divisions of the NKVD for the protection of railway structures,
- convoy units and divisions of the NKVD.

All of these units and formations have uniforms and insignia that are exactly the same and almost completely, with the exception of some elements and colors of buttonholes, coincide with the uniform of the Red Army.
For brevity in the text, we will call them “NKVD troops.”

It should be noted that if in the NKVD troops all military personnel wore ranks and insignia identical to the army, then NKVD officers(various types of departments, institutions, etc.) bore titles with the prefix either “...internal service” or “....state security”. For example, “internal service captain”, “state security sergeant”.
This means that an employee has this title only while he is working in the NKVD system and his title is, so to speak, “for internal use.” But a serviceman of the NKVD troops retains his rank in all cases in the same way as a serviceman of the Red Army. Simply put, the difference between a lieutenant of the Red Army and a lieutenant of the NKVD troops is only that one is subordinate to the NKO, and the second to the NKVD.

By a resolution of the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR dated July 10, 1937, the personnel of the NKVD troops were transferred to the system of insignia adopted by the Red Army.

In pursuance of this resolution of the NKVD of the USSR, on July 15, 1937, Order No. 278 was issued, in accordance with which the following changes were introduced in the uniform:
- a cap with a light blue crown instead of blue;
- in the previous color of the tunic, the collar and sleeve cuffs were trimmed with crimson piping;
- instead of a jacket, a jacket made of khaki woolen fabric with chest patch pockets and six fastener buttons was introduced; there was crimson piping on the collar and cuffs of the sleeves;
- the untucked trousers were now also khaki, and not dark blue.

Buttonhole color and edging remained the same (maroon field and crimson edging), only the longitudinal strip in the center disappeared.
Buttonholes maroon-colored military personnel of middle, senior and higher command staff they did not have a colored edging, but were trimmed along the edge with narrow golden braid (3 mm wide), similar to the Red Army
Buttonholes maroon color of middle, senior and highest commanding staff(political, technical, administrative, economic, medical, veterinary, justice) had a crimson edging, like the rank and file, junior command and command personnel. Buttonhole sizes on the tunic and overcoat decreased somewhat compared to 1933:
- the buttonholes on the tunic had the shape of a parallelogram, 10 cm long and 3.25 cm high;
- the buttonholes on the overcoat had a diamond shape with rounded concave upper sides with a buttonhole height of 11 cm and a width of 8.5 cm.

Insignia for junior command and command personnel- from one to four triangles with a side size of 1 cm, made of copper, coated with dark red enamel.
Insignia for middle command and command personnel - two or three squares (commonly referred to as “cubes” or “cubes”) measuring 1x1 cm, made of copper coated with dark red enamel.
Badges of senior command and command personnel - from one to three rectangles (commonly called “sleepers”) made of copper measuring 1.6x0.7 cm, coated with dark red enamel.
The insignia for senior command and command personnel were diamonds 1.7 cm high and 0.8 cm wide, made of copper coated with dark red enamel.

In the picture: samples of insignia on the same scale

Wearing the emblems of military branches and services in their buttonholes was mandatory for everyone except political personnel.
In the Red Army, things were somewhat different. The main types of troops - infantry and cavalry - did not have emblems at all. Specialists—tankers, signalmen, artillerymen, etc.—were distinguished from the main branches of the armed forces by their emblems.

Besides:
* middle, senior and senior command staff of the NKVD troops wore rank chevrons on their sleeves above the cuff, similar to those adopted in the Red Army,
* the military-political composition of the NKVD troops wore commissar stars on the sleeves above the cuff (one star regardless of rank),
* the rest of the middle, senior and highest command staff (technical, medical, veterinary, quartermaster (administrative and economic), legal) of the NKVD troops did not have any insignia on their sleeves.

The colors of the buttonholes and insignia of military personnel of the internal troops of the NKVD and employees of the NKVD bodies (and the GB bodies that were part of the NKVD system) were completely the same. The difference was that all military personnel of the NKVD troops wore emblems, including the main units - infantry and cavalry. But employees of the NKVD and state security agencies did not wear emblems. None. Like commissars in the army. But state security officers wore the 1935 GB badge on both sleeves above the elbow.

Emblems for the branches of the NKVD troops the following were installed:

Here you should pay attention to the following points:
1. The emblems in the buttonholes are worn by all rank and file, command and command personnel, except for the military-political personnel.
2. All military-technical personnel in all branches of the military wear a single emblem “engineering and technical personnel”.
3. The emblem of doctors is golden, veterinarians are silver. Everyone else's is golden.
4. The cavalry emblem is worn differently from how it will be worn in the Red Army cavalry when it is introduced there in 1943. In the cavalry of the NKVD troops, the emblem is with the hilts of the sabers up, and in the cavalry of the Red Army, the hilts of the sabers are down. The only cavalry regiment in the entire Armed Forces in the 70-80s (part of the Dzerzhinsky division) wore these emblems in this way.
5. The famous infantry emblem was introduced into the NKVD troops in July 1937, and into the Red Army in July 1940.
6. The images of the emblems are taken from a secondary source and I could neither accurately date it nor refer to the document from which it was taken. Therefore, errors cannot be ruled out here.

Note from Veremeev Yu.G.
I have never been able to find a single directive document from the government or NGO that introduced this emblem for the Red Army infantry. The only document is NKO Order No. 226 dated July 26, 1940, where the infantry emblem is simply shown in the drawings of the new insignia as already existing. I am inclined to think that the NGO simply borrowed this emblem from the NKVD.
And please also pay attention - the NKVD infantry commanders and the Red Army infantry commanders wore almost identical buttonholes and exactly the same insignia (cubes, sleepers, diamonds). It is usually possible to distinguish between the crimson (Red Army) and maroon (NKVD troops) color of buttonholes only if you see them at the same time. And in black and white photographs of that time it is completely impossible to distinguish. A golden braid along the edge of the buttonholes was worn in both departments. Thus, if there is no exact dating of the photograph, it is absolutely impossible to determine who is in the picture - the infantry commander of the NKVD troops or the infantry commander of the Red Army. Therefore, the presence of this emblem in the buttonholes in photographs literally misleads everyone as to whether these emblems were in the Red Army or not.

Insignia of the ranks of private and junior command and command personnel in 1937

1. Red Army soldier. Infantry of the NKVD troops.
2. Separate commander. Cavalry of the NKVD troops.
3. Junior platoon commander. Automobile units of the NKVD troops.
Note. The same emblem was worn by all car drivers in all units of the NKVD troops.
4. Foreman. Infantry of the NKVD troops.

Please note - these are military ranks of junior commanding officers of the NKVD troops, and not positions, as many believe.
The fact that these titles sound similar to positions should not mislead anyone. For example, the rank of “junior platoon commander” was held by a serviceman who usually held the positions of “assistant platoon commander” or “commander of an independent (not part of the platoon) squad”, or “gun commander”, “commander of the ammunition department”.
For comparison - after all, with the introduction of personal military ranks in 1935, members of the senior command staff received ranks very similar to the names of the positions - brigade commander, division commander, corps commander, army commander.

Insignia of middle command ranks since 1937

In August 1937, in addition to existing ranks are introduced
* command staff - junior lieutenant (1 cube in the buttonhole and 1 chevron on the sleeve);
* military-technical personnel - junior military technician (1 cube in the buttonhole);
* military-political personnel - junior political instructor (2 cubes in buttonhole)

There are overcoat buttonholes at the top, tunic buttonholes below, and a chevron on the sleeve at the bottom.
The buttonholes do not have colored edging, but are trimmed with narrow gold braid (3mm)

1. Junior lieutenant. Infantry of the NKVD troops.
2. Lieutenant. Cavalry of the NKVD troops.
3. Senior lieutenant. Armored units of the NKVD troops.
Note: The rank of junior lieutenant has been introducedby resolution of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR 08/20/1937

Insignia of mid-level command ranks since 1937

Insignia	Ranks of commanding staff
1 square	junior military technician
2 squares	military technician 2nd rank, quartermaster technician 2nd rank, military paramedic, military veterinary paramedic, junior military lawyer.
3 square	political instructor, military technician 1st rank, quartermaster technician 1st rank, senior military paramedic, senior military veterinary paramedic, military lawyer.
1 rectangle	senior political instructor, military engineer 3rd rank, quartermaster 3rd rank, military doctor 3rd rank, military veterinarian 3rd rank, military officer 3rd rank.
2 rectangles	battalion commissar, military engineer 2nd rank, quartermaster 2nd rank, military doctor 2nd rank, military veterinarian 2nd rank, military officer 2nd rank.
3 rectangles	regimental commissar, military engineer 1st rank, quartermaster 1st rank, military doctor 1st rank, military veterinarian 1st rank, military lawyer 1st rank.
1 diamond	brigade commissar, brigade engineer, brigintendant, brigade doctor, brigvet doctor, brigade military lawyer.
2 diamonds	divisional commissar, divisional engineer, divintendant, divisional doctor, divisional veterinarian, divisional military lawyer
3 diamonds	corps commissar

The maroon buttonholes had a crimson edging, just like those of privates, junior officers and commanding officers. Emblems - by specialty. There are no sleeve insignia (with the exception of military-political personnel).

1. Junior military technician.
2. Military paramedic.
Note - veterinarians have the emblem of the veterinary service (silver).
3. Political instructor.
Note: the sleeve patch is a commissar's star.

Rank insignia for senior command personnel since 1937

The buttonholes do not have colored edging, but are trimmed with narrow gold braid (3mm)

1. Captain. Infantry of the NKVD troops.
2. Major. Infantry of the NKVD troops.
3. Colonel. Cavalry of the NKVD troops.

Rank insignia for senior command personnel since 1937

The maroon buttonholes had a crimson edging, just like those of privates, junior officers and commanding officers. Specialty emblems. No sleeve insignia

1. Military engineer 3rd rank - one sleeper on the buttonhole
A military engineer of the 2nd rank - 2 sleepers, and a military engineer of the 1st rank - 3 sleepers.
2. Military doctor 2nd rank - two sleepers
A military doctor of the 3rd rank had 1 sleeper, and a military doctor of the 1st rank had 3 sleepers. The same goes for veterinarians.
3. Regimental commissar - three sleepers. Sleeve patch - commissar's star
The senior political instructor had 1 sleeper in his buttonholes, the battalion commissar - 2 sleepers.

Insignia of ranks of senior command and command personnel since 1937

Command buttonholes

Command composition:
1. Brigade commander.
2. Divisional Commander .
3. Komkor.
Note. In the NKVD troops the highest rank was "Komkor".

Below are examples of command buttonholes:
4. Brigade engineer.
Note. The military-technical personnel had only two ranks - brigade engineer and divisional engineer. Accordingly, one or two diamonds.
5. Military doctor.
The military medical staff had two ranks - brig doctor and division doctor. The military veterinary staff is a brigvet doctor and a division veterinary doctor.
6. Corps commissar.
Note. The senior military-political personnel, unlike the rest of the commanding personnel, had not two ranks, but three. In addition to the brigade commissar, the division commissar also had the title of corps commissar (this is not a mistake - it is “corps”, not “corps”).
Naturally, the highest military-economic personnel had the titles of brigintendant and divintendant, and the military-legal personnel had the titles of brigvoenurist and divintendant.

Changes to insignia in 1940

In 1940, the scale of ranks of senior and senior command and control personnel changed slightly.
By the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of May 7, 1940, new military ranks were introduced for the senior command staff of the Red Army to replace the ranks of division commander, corps commander, and army commander.

On July 13, 1940, by order of NKO No. 212, the ranks of “brigade commander” and “brigade commissar” were abolished.
Accordingly, these changes are reflected in the NKVD troops.
However, changes in ranks are not made automatically, but by appropriate orders. As a rule, new titles were awarded to:
Divisional commander - major general,
Comcor - Lieutenant General.

Yesterday's brigade commanders, in the order of re-certification, were awarded, depending on their position, either the rank of colonel or major general. However, this process dragged on, and by the beginning of the war there were still several brigade commanders in the NKVD troops who still wore one diamond in their buttonholes.

With regard to brigade commissars, the then head of the Main Political Directorate of the Red Army achieved a decision according to which the rank of “brigade commissar” was no longer awarded, but the existing brigade commissars retained their rank and insignia until they were assigned the next rank (divisional commissar). Thus, some brigade commissars carried their rank until the complete abolition of the scale of ranks of political workers in the fall of 1942.

In accordance with the changes in ranks, new insignia are also introduced. For the senior command staff of the NKVD troops (as well as in the Red Army), the shape of the buttonholes is now becoming the same on the overcoat, the jacket and the tunic. The field of buttonholes is maroon, the stars are metal or embroidered in golden color. Along the upper edge of the buttonholes there is a commander's gold braid 3 mm wide. The generals of the NKVD troops did not have emblems in their buttonholes.
The sleeves are similar to the chevrons of the Red Army generals. both major generals and lieutenant generals wear the same chevrons.

For the rest of the senior command staff, there were no changes in insignia compared to 1937. They continued to wear their diamonds in their buttonholes of the same shape.

From the author.
Please note that the brigade level in 1940 was abolished only for command and military-political personnel. The ranks of brigengineer, brigintendant, brigdrach, brigvetvrach, brigvoenyurist and their insignia were preserved.

On July 26, 1940, by order of the USSR NKO No. 226, the ranks of “lieutenant colonel” and “senior battalion commissar” were introduced, and in connection with this, the insignia of senior command and command personnel was changed. Now three sleepers are worn by the lieutenant colonel and the senior battalion commissar, and the colonel and regimental commissar each wear four sleepers.
On August 5, 1940, by order of the NKVD of the USSR No. 642, the order of the NKO of the USSR No. 226 of July 26, 1940 on changing the insignia was extended to the NKVD troops.

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

Insignia of middle and senior command personnel of the NKVD troops since July 1940:
1. Junior lieutenant. Infantry.
2. Lieutenant. Cavalry.
3. Senior lieutenant. Armored units.
4. Captain. Infantry.
5. Major. Infantry.
6. Lieutenant Colonel. Cavalry.
7. Colonel. Infantry.

Among middle and senior management, with the exception of the military-political personnel (3 sleepers, senior battalion commissar, and 4 sleepers, regimental commissar), the insignia did not change in 1940.

Please note the change in sleeve patches. Now these are gold braid sewn onto a red cloth chevron. The number and width of galloons depend on the rank. Major and lieutenant colonel have the same sleeve insignia.

Note by Veremeev Yu.G. These signs can only be called chevrons. "Chevron" means "angle" in French. Hence, only a patch in the shape of an angle can be called a chevron. Moreover, it does not matter where this patch is attached - on the sleeve, shoulder strap, headdress or on the chest. All other signs that do not have the shape of an angle are simply called stripes. Unfortunately, general blatant ignorance in uniform design led to the fact that in post-Soviet times any sleeve stripes began to be called chevrons. This illiteracy has also penetrated into regulatory official documents.

In November 1940, the names of the ranks of the junior command and command staff of the Red Army and, accordingly, the NKVD troops were radically changed. These ranks in the Red Army were announced by order of the NKO No. 391 of November 2, 1940, and in the NKVD troops by order of the NKVD of November 5, 1940.
Naturally, the insignia also changes.

For the newly introduced rank of “corporal,” the insignia was a horizontal red stripe on the overcoat buttonhole, 1 cm wide, and on the tunic buttonhole, 5 mm wide. In addition to triangles, all other members of the junior command and command staff have the same stripe on their buttonholes.
The sergeant-major additionally received gold braiding (3 mm) on his buttonholes, however, unlike the middle and senior officers, this braid was placed not instead of the crimson edging, but between it and the field of the buttonhole.

Insignia and ranks of private and junior command and command personnel:
1. Red Army soldier. Infantry of the NKVD troops.
2. Corporal. Infantry of the NKVD troops.
3. Junior sergeant. Infantry of the NKVD troops.
4. Sergeant. Cavalry of the NKVD troops.
5. Senior Sergeant. Automobile units and units of the NKVD troops. The same emblem was worn by all car drivers in all units of the NKVD troops,
6. Foreman. Cavalry of the NKVD troops.

From the author. It is worth focusing on the fact that the word “sergeant major” has always existed in our armed forces in two meanings - “sergeant major” as a military rank, and “sergeant major” as a position (company sergeant major, squadron sergeant major, artillery division sergeant major). And the position of unit sergeant major did not necessarily have to be occupied by a serviceman with the rank of “sergeant major.” He could have the rank of staff sergeant or sergeant.
But a serviceman with the rank of “sergeant major” necessarily holds the position of company foreman or an equal position (for example, head of a radio station, head of a canteen). Or even higher. For example, the position of support platoon commander. During the war, when there was a shortage of officers, commanders of combat platoons, or even companies, were often appointed from among the sergeants. And usually they were given the rank of sergeant major.

In general, the system of insignia was somewhat complex and it was difficult for an ordinary ordinary soldier (especially one from the outback) to determine who was in front of him - the commander of the internal troops, the quartermaster or an employee of the state security agencies.

For example, let’s compare the insignia of different categories:

So, in the picture from left to right:
1. Lieutenant of the internal troops (command staff) - a braid around the buttonhole and a sleeve chevron.
2. Junior political instructor (commanding staff) - no emblems, commissar stars on the sleeves.
3. Military paramedic (commanding staff) - the emblem of a specialist.
4. State security sergeant (an employee of the NKVD, had no relation to the explosives at all) - no emblems, a state security sign on the sleeves.

Servicemen of the NKVD troops wore rank insignia of the 1940 model until the introduction of new uniforms and insignia (shoulder straps) in the winter of 1943. With the beginning of the Great Patriotic War in August 1941 (Order of the USSR NKO No. 253 of 08/01/1941), green field buttonholes without edging and without braiding were introduced into the active army. Triangles, cubes, sleepers also became green. However, in units not related to the active army, pre-war insignia were retained. Thus, in the NKVD troops, field insignia actually switched to only in the rifle divisions of the NKVD troops, who fought at the front along with the Red Army divisions. It is generally impossible to distinguish a serviceman of an NKVD rifle division from a serviceman of the Red Army when both wear the same field insignia.

Note by Veremeev Yu.G.
This is where the confusion with the famous infantry emblem (crossed rifles against a target background) widens. If in the infantry of the NKVD troops this emblem was introduced back in 1937 and was mandatory for everyone to wear, then in the infantry of the Red Army it appeared only in July 1940 (and even then in some strange way - the order of the NGO on its introduction is unknown, but in the order NKO No. 226 dated July 1940, it is only painted on the buttonholes of the Red Army infantry).
Military personnel of the NKVD troops, in order to emphasize that they were from the NKVD system (considering service in the NKVD more honorable than in the Red Army), sought to retain their emblems even when their rifle division was withdrawn from the subordination of the NKVD and transferred to the Red Army.
We should not forget that at the beginning of the war, military personnel of the NKVD border troops, retreating from the state border line, joined the infantry units of the Red Army. But they usually kept their “native” buttonholes with emblems.
The situation was approximately the same with the sailors who fought on land. They also tried in every possible way to preserve their “native” elements of the uniform - caps, vests, etc.

Sources and literature

1. Magazine "Tseykhgauz" No. 1. 1991
2. Materials of the Central Museum of Internal Troops of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs.
3. M.I. Shcherbak. "Your military uniform." Main Political Directorate of the VV. Moscow. 1986
4. J. Rutkiewicz, W.N. Kulikov. Wojska NKWD 1917-1945, Barwa i Broh, Lampart, Warszawa 1998
5. V. Voronov, A. Shishkin "NKVD of the USSR: structure, leadership, uniform, insignia 1934-1937." - Moscow. LLC Publishing House "Russian Intelligence". 2005
6. Great Patriotic War. Active army. 1941-1945 Animi Fortitudo. Kuchkovo field. Moscow. 2005

Part 2.
Bodies and Internal Troops of the NKVD 1935-1937.

Let me remind you that over the years of its existence the Internal Troops have undergone numerous reorganizations, renamings, etc.

With the creation immediately after the October 1917 coup of the Council of People's Commissars (SNK), the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs of the Russian Republic (NKVD) was immediately created as one of the thirteen people's commissariats.

Then it became known as the NKVD of the RSFSR.

Then, as the union republics were formed, the NKVD of the union republics was added in parallel.

Only in 1934 was a single union People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs of the USSR formed.

So, 06/10/1934. The People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs of the USSR (NKVD) was formed, which included former troops of the Cheka-GPU-OGPU.

The uniform of NKVD employees, border guards and internal security personnel remained the same (adopted back in 1924): a khaki shirt or French shirt, blue trousers, colored caps, and a cavalry overcoat.

Insignia for positions (red enamel rhombuses, rectangles, squares and triangles) were placed on the buttonholes: maroon with crimson edging - for the NKVD organs and troops and green - for the border guard.

Similar form was also worn by employees of other structures that were part of the NKVD system:
- Main Directorate of forced labor camps, labor settlements and places of detention (GULAG),
- Main Fire Department (GUPO),
- Administrative and economic management (AHU) and its divisions.

From the author. During that period in the life of the Soviet state, a peculiar fashion for wearing military or paramilitary uniforms developed. All senior officials, starting with Stalin, wore a paramilitary jacket, a “Stalin” cap, and boots. Remember, for example, the film "Volga-Volga".
In addition, many departments acquired their own uniforms and insignia - police, firefighters, OSOAVIAKHIM (the predecessor of DOSAAF), in particular, the merchant marine and river fleet, civil aviation and even urban electric transport workers. All of these uniforms were, to one degree or another, based on the uniform of the Red Army.

This introduced a certain confusion and confusion, and therefore, by Decree of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks No. PZZ/95 of September 10, 1935, all organizations, institutions and individuals were strictly prohibited wearing a uniform and insignia similar to the Red Army (with the exception of military personnel of the border and internal security forces of the NKVD, recruited by conscription).

Let me remind you that at this time a very unique period in the life of the Soviet state began and the role of the NKVD in the life of the country increased significantly.

Note by Veremeev Yu.G. The catchphrase "revolution always devours its children." A normal stage in the process of a revolutionary change of power of any kind (be it a bourgeois, democratic, socialist or Nazi revolution) in any country - those who together stood at the head of the revolutionary forces in the initial period now begin to share power And each of them believes that in He should now be the head of the country. An acute political struggle begins, in which any means of ousting, isolating, eliminating or destroying (including physical) rivals in power are used. In addition, in the country during such a period there were quite a lot of those who considered themselves offended by positions, and their revolutionary merits were not appreciated. It is from them that the head of the opposition draws personnel, while those at the helm of power use the apparatus of law and order (police, militia, gendarmerie, state security agencies, SS, etc.) to suppress the opposition. Naturally, this apparatus is endowed with special powers during such a period.

And if not Stalin, but Kirov, Trotsky, Bukharin or someone else had been in power, nothing would have happened differently. This is the dialectic of any revolution. This was the case during the bourgeois revolution of the mid-17th century in England, this was also the case during the revolutions of the late 18th century in France, and this was also the case after the Nazis came to power in 1933. In today's Russia, this stage is still ahead.

Most of those who abuse the Cheka-GPU-NKVD believe and try to convince everyone that the actions of the employees of these bodies in the thirties were a manifestation of personal malice, personal negative qualities, or even worse - the desire of the “organs” to generally rise to the head of the state, crushing under itself the party (as N.S. Khrushchev claimed).
However, in reality, the “bodies” were just an instrument of internecine struggle among the top of the party and state leadership. For example, an ax can end up in the hands of a carpenter and in the hands of a murderer. But an ax is an ax; in all cases it remains just a tool.

People's Commissar G.G. Yagoda felt the “taste of power” and, apparently, decided to distinguish his employees with new uniforms and insignia. The leadership of the NKVD immediately developed vigorous activity regarding the introduction of new uniforms. The People's Commissar in letters to I.V. Stalin put forward many projects for uniforms and insignia.

10/4/1935 The Politburo approved projects for new uniforms. It was decided to make the uniform for the NKVD bodies and troops uniform, and not as varied as Yagoda proposed.

On November 27, 1935, by order No. 399, a new uniform and insignia for the personnel of the Internal Security was announced to the NKVD troops.

Due to the low capabilities of the country's clothing industry, it was impossible to quickly change into new uniforms all employees of the divisions, bodies and units of the NKVD troops. Therefore, the command staff of the internal security (Politburo decision of November 29, 1935) was allowed until October 1, 1937 to wear socks with new insignia and buttonholes until the expiration of the old-style uniform: - a shirt with piping, according to the assigned rank; - raincoat without edging; - an overcoat without edging.

The dates for the transition to wearing new insignia and buttonholes were determined: for command personnel of organs and troops - as special and military ranks were awarded, and for private and junior command personnel of the NKVD troops - from 1.3.1936.

Outfit by order No. 399 of November 27, 1935.

1. Hats:
a) The main headdress of the NKVD bodies and troops was the Red Army cap of the 1935 model. The cap was made of woolen fabric in traditional NKVD colors: - cornflower blue crown and maroon band - for internal troops; On all types of caps, crimson piping was sewn along the top of the band and crown. The cap had a slightly widened black fiber varnished visor, above which a similarly varnished black sliding chin strap was attached to two small uniform buttons. Higher, senior and middle command personnel wore a cap all year round, and private and junior command personnel - only in the summer. In the summer, when out of formation, while wearing a white uniform, command personnel could wear a white cap with a white fabric visor and chin strap.
b) For wearing in the field, the commanders of the ground units of the NKVD troops were equipped with a khaki woolen cap. The pilots of the NKVD troops were assigned a dark blue wool cap, which was worn along with a cap with a dark blue jacket or shirt. The rank and file of all branches of the military wore a khaki cotton cap in their field uniform. Crimson piping was sewn into the seams of the cap and sides of all command caps, and a five-pointed star made of instrument cloth with a diameter of 3 cm was sewn onto the front seam.
c) For military personnel of the NKVD troops serving in areas with a hot climate, a khaki cotton helmet with a five-pointed star made of instrumental cloth with a diameter of 7.5 cm was introduced.
d) As a winter headdress, they introduced -
*for the command staff: a Finnish hat made of gray or brown fur, with a top (cap) made of dark gray woolen fabric - worn only with a coat with a buttoned fur collar.
*rank and file: winter helmet - “Budenovka” made of dark gray semi-rough cloth with a five-pointed star made of instrument cloth with a diameter of 8 cm in the front part of the cap.

Tool cloth:
- maroon - for internal security and air units;
- light green - for border guards.

On the band of the caps and on top of the cloth stars on the helmets there was a red enamel five-pointed Red Army star of the established pattern, 3.4 cm in diameter with gilded outer edges and a hammer and sickle in its center. By order, only cloth stars were worn on caps.

2. Outerwear.

Instead of the overcoat adopted in the Red Army for command personnel (except junior ones) of the NKVD organs and troops, a double-breasted raglan coat-raincoat made of dark gray woolen fabric, with 4 large uniform buttons, with a turn-down collar, was introduced as outerwear. IN winter time the coat was attached with a fur lining and collar in the color of the fur of the Finnish cap. The collar of the coat of the highest command staff of the NKVD troops was edged with crimson cloth.

Note: In addition to the outerwear established by orders, command personnel were allowed to wear raincoats, coats and jackets made of black or dark brown leather outside the formation, with or without insignia.

In the photo: on the left is a major of the NKVD troops in a coat-cloak with a fur collar and a cap. The rank insignia is located on the sleeve. On the right is a colonel of the NKVD troops in a coat. (reconstruction).

Metal buttons were introduced for command personnel uniforms special type without a side, with a convex image of a straight five-pointed star with a hammer and sickle, diameter: small - 17 mm and large - 28 mm; for senior command personnel - golden; for senior and middle - silver; for outerwear of the entire command staff - oxidized, dark gray. Ordinary army buttons were often used. Buttons for privates and junior command staff - the existing Red Army sample, black

The rank and file, as well as junior command and command personnel, were left with the old single-breasted overcoat of the Red Army type, made of semi-rough gray overcoat cloth, with a fastener with hooks.

3. Dress code.

The uniform of the internal troops of the NKVD consisted of the following items:
a) For middle, senior and senior command staff:
- cloth tunic of dark khaki color with two chest patch pockets;
- dark blue cloth trousers with crimson piping;
- summer tunic made of light cotton fabric in a khaki color with two chest patch pockets;
- summer trousers made of light cotton fabric in a khaki color, without piping;
b) For junior command staff and rank and file:
- a gymnast made of light cotton fabric in a khaki color with two chest patch pockets;
-harem pants made of light cotton fabric of a khaki color, without piping;

4. Equipment.

For command personnel, uniform army equipment made of brown leather with white metal fittings was installed. To carry a weapon, a holster was put on the waist belt on the right side. When wearing a jacket, a hanging holster was worn, attached with training boots to the waist belt. The rank and file and junior command staff wore a waist belt of brown or natural color, with a metal single-pin buckle.

In the pictures: on the left is a captain of the NKVD internal troops, on the right is a Red Army soldier of the NKVD internal troops.

For the command staff of departments and institutions of the NKVD troops with breeches, they wore leggings with chrome boots made of black or dark brown leather, or black chrome boots, for the command staff of combat units and schools - black chrome or cowhide boots, and outside the formation - boots with leggings . With untucked trousers (out of formation), all command personnel wore chrome boots or low shoes made of black or brown leather. The rank and file and junior command staff were assigned to wear cowhide boots with windings or black cowhide boots.

From the author. I would like to emphasize once again that this article describes the uniform and insignia of only the Internal Troops of the NKVD, which had nothing to do with the protection of places of detention (GULAG), nor with the state security agencies (GB), nor with the police. The main tasks of the internal troops were the protection of important state facilities and military support of the internal integrity and security of the state. Of course, since the internal troops belonged to the NKVD system, their uniforms and insignia were very similar to the uniforms and insignia of other NKVD structures.
Similar, but nothing more.
In addition, the system of ranks of the internal troops practically coincided with the ranks accepted in the Red Army, while the ranks in state security, the protection of places of detention and the police differed quite significantly.

Insignia of the internal troops of the NKVD.

On March 1, 1936, insignia of a completely new type were introduced, which were sharply different from the previously existing ones, as well as from the insignia of the Red Army. And not by positions, but by personal titles.

They existed for a relatively short time - from March 1, 1936 to 1937, and therefore are little known.

The insignia was a combination of lapel insignia and sleeve stars.

From the author. In the Soviet state, stars first appeared as the main insignia in the NKVD (on buttonholes). The insignia of military ranks of the Red Army at that time were geometric shapes - “diamonds”, “sleepers”, “kubari”, “triangles”. We will see stars in the Red Army, and then only on the buttonholes of the highest command staff of the Red Army with the introduction of general ranks in 1940. And only at 43 they will appear on the shoulder straps of Red Army officers.

I would like to remind you that at that time in the Internal Troops (as in the Red Army) the command and control personnel were divided into:
1. command staff,
2. commanding staff:
a) - military-political composition,
b) - military-economic and administrative composition
c) - military-technical personnel
d) - military medical personnel,
e) - military veterinary personnel,
f) - military-legal staff.

Once again from the author. Within the NKVD system, there were several parallel rank scales:
*scale of ranks of the internal troops of the NKVD,
*scale of ranks of state security officers,
*scale of police ranks,
*scale of insignia for positions of employees and guards of places of detention,
*rank scale for fire department employees.

Moreover, the insignia were often very similar, differing only in the color of the buttonholes and insignia. In black and white photographs of that time, it is sometimes impossible to determine who it is - a military serviceman, an employee of the State Security Service or the police.

In the photo on the right (reconstruction) is a colonel of the NKVD internal troops. Note that three stars in the buttonholes, but without golden triangles in the lower part of the buttonholes, were also worn by the state security captain. However, it does not follow from this that a GB captain is equal to a VV colonel. These rank scales are too different, even in terms of the number of ranks.

First let's understand the difference between special And military ranks.

So, "employees" persons with special ranks are referred to as "military personnel"- having military ranks.

Let's think about the names. What is an “employee” (a variant of the concept - employee) and how does he differ from a military man?
Employee This is a person who, of his own free will, goes to work in any institution, including the NKVD, and resigns of his own free will. He is subject to the provisions of the Labor Code, but not to the provisions of military law.
Serviceman, no matter how he entered military service (by conscription or voluntarily), he is obliged to serve the period established by law in those positions and in those areas where he was sent. He does not have the right to refuse to perform his duties and resign at his own request. His service is governed exclusively by military law.

It is this fundamental difference that leaves a certain imprint on the performance of official duties.

The internal troops of the NKVD are a purely military organization (one can say simply military units, only subordinate not to the People's Commissariat of Defense, but to the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs), while the NKVD bodies are a semi-civilian organization. Discipline, efficiency and order in a military organization are many times higher than in a semi-civilian one. They serve in the Internal Troops and work in government agencies.

In the NKVD system of that time (and even now in the Ministry of Internal Affairs) there were both military and special ranks.

All who served in the Internal Troops were and are considered military personnel and have army military ranks. Upon dismissal from service, they are registered with the district military registration and enlistment office on a par with army servicemen and their ranks are taken into account as well as the ranks of military personnel of the Defense Ministry.

But everyone else who served in the “bodies” (state security, police, firefighters, various types of business executives) was assigned special ranks - with the prefix “state security”, “police”, “internal service”. For example - state security lieutenant, police captain, internal service major.

Special ranks are not equated to military ranks in any way. And although many of them wear army uniforms, in fact they have nothing to do with either the army or the NKVD (MVD) troops. Let's say the current Minister of Internal Affairs Nurgaliev wears a uniform army general, although he does not serve either in the army or in the internal troops.

For example, a person served in the army, retired to the reserve with the rank of corporal, and then went to work in the Ministry of Internal Affairs in administrative and economic bodies. He was given a special rank, he worked for many years, received a promotion and eventually retired with the special rank of “Colonel of the Internal Service.”
So, upon arrival at the district military registration and enlistment office for military registration, he will be recorded as a corporal, and not as a colonel, since his military rank is corporal. The special rank for the military registration and enlistment office has no meaning.

Another example. The officer served under a contract, left the army, and joined the militia (police). The police unconditionally, in the order of re-certification, assign him a special rank of militia (police) corresponding to his military rank(i.e. confirm).
But the other way around won’t work.
Let's say that a lieutenant from the Internal Troops left the army, joined the police, rose to the rank of police major and then decided to return to the Internal Troops. He can only be accepted into service as a lieutenant.

This is how, since the time of Peter I, military ranks have dominated in the Russian state.

Military ranks for military personnel of the internal security of the NKVD of the USSR (internal troops) were introduced by Decree of the Council of People's Commissars No. 2250 of October 7, 1935 and announced by order of the People's Commissar of Internal Affairs No. 319 of October 10, 1935.

Command composition:

	Military rank
Rank and file	Red Army soldier
Junior command and command staff	Detached commander
	Junior platoon commander
	Sergeant Major
Candidate for title
Average command staff	Lieutenant
Average command staff	Senior Lieutenant
Senior command staff	Captain
	Major
	Colonel
Senior command staff	Brigade commander
	Divisional Commander
	Komkor

Military-political composition:

Military-economic and administrative composition:

	Military rank
Average military-economic and administrative personnel	Quartermaster technician 2nd rank
Average military-economic and administrative personnel	Quartermaster technician 1st rank
Senior military, economic and administrative personnel	Quartermaster 3rd rank
	Quartermaster 2nd rank
	Quartermaster 1st rank
Senior military, economic and administrative personnel	Brigintendant
Senior military, economic and administrative personnel	Divintendant

Military-technical composition:

	Military rank
Average military-technical personnel	Military technician 2nd rank
Average military-technical personnel	Military technician 1st rank
Senior military technical personnel	Military engineer 3rd rank
	Military engineer 2nd rank
	Military engineer 1st rank
Higher military-technical personnel	Brigengineer
Higher military-technical personnel	Development engineer

Military medical personnel:

Military veterinary staff:

Military-legal composition:

	Military rank
Average military-legal personnel	Junior military officer
Average military-legal personnel	Military lawyer
Senior military legal staff	Military lawyer 3rd rank
	Military lawyer 2nd rank
	Military lawyer 1st rank
Higher military-legal staff	Brigvoenurist
Higher military-legal staff	Divvoenurist

Stars of different colors in buttonholes and sleeve insignia served as insignia for military ranks.

Let's start with the sleeve insignia.

In the figure: from left to right: sleeve insignia of middle command personnel, senior command personnel, senior command personnel, military-political personnel.

The average command staff wore two or three so-called on both sleeves above the cuff (above the cuff). "truncated triangles" embroidered with red silk thread depending on rank.

Senior command staff wore red stars on both sleeves above the cuff (above the cuff), embroidered in red silk with silver edging in the number of ranks (as many stars in the buttonholes, as many on the sleeves).

The highest command staff wore red stars on both sleeves above the cuff (above the cuff), embroidered in red silk with golden edging in the number of ranks (as many stars in the buttonholes, so many on the sleeves)..

The military-political personnel wore one star on both sleeves above the cuff (above the cuff), regardless of rank. These stars were completely similar to the stars of the political composition of the Red Army, i.e. a red star with a golden sickle and hammer embroidered inside it.

The military-economic and administrative, military-technical, military-medical, military-veterinary and military-legal personnel did not have sleeve insignia by rank.

The main means of distinguishing the ranks of the internal troops (internal security) of the NKVD were buttonholes.

The buttonholes model 1935 were cloth flaps in the shape of a parallelogram, 10 cm long and 3.3 cm wide.
The color of the buttonholes remained traditional - maroon. The buttonholes were trimmed with crimson piping 0.25 cm wide.

Along the middle part of the field on the buttonholes, a longitudinal strip (clearance) of soutache cord 0.3-0.35 cm wide was sewn:
- golden color - for senior command staff;
- silver color - for senior and middle command personnel;
- crimson color - for privates and junior command personnel.

At the front unedged edge of the buttonholes were placed:
*for command staff, equilateral triangles (side 3 cm): golden (gallon or metal)
*for military-economic and administrative personnel, dark blue (fabric or metal enameled)

The wearing of triangles was not established on the buttonholes of the military-political, military-medical, military-veterinary, military-technical and military-legal personnel of the NKVD troops of the USSR.

The commanding staff (military-technical, military-medical, military-veterinary, military-legal) of the specialized services of the NKVD troops at the edged edge of the buttonholes, according to their specialty, wore emblems made of white or yellow metal, which were located like those of the Red Army specialists .. Moreover, before the introduction in 1936, new emblems of the Red Army (NKO Order No. 33 dated March 10, 1936) used the emblems of the Red Army arr. 1922 (Order of the RVSR No. 322 of January 31, 1922).

In the picture on the left:
1st Major of the Internal Troops,
2nd rank quartermaster,
3rd rank 2nd military engineer,
4-battalion commissar (political commissar star on sleeve),
5-military doctor 2nd rank,
6-military veterinarian of rank 2.

Rank insignia:

*Private and junior command and command personnel - metal red enamel squares with silver-plated sides, shaped like a chevron. The squares were placed on the buttonholes in one row on a longitudinal strip with the apex towards the unedged end of the buttonhole. The top of the inner corner of the first square was located at a distance of 4 cm from the edged end of the buttonhole, the distance between the angles was 0.3 cm. The angles had a height of 2.6 cm, the width of the side cuts was 0.7 cm. The length of the side was 1.6 cm, and the width of the plane enamel 0.4 cm. Red Army soldiers wore clean buttonholes with a longitudinal stripe, without insignia.

Red Army soldiers and junior commanders did not wear any emblems or insignia of command and military personnel in their buttonholes.

1st sergeant,
2nd junior platoon commander,
3-department commander,
4th Red Army soldier.

“Candidate for title” was an intermediate level between junior and middle command staff.

This rank existed in the internal troops of the NKVD for a very long time. not for long. Already in April 37, by order of the NKVD of the USSR No. 169 dated April 21, 1937, it was abolished as unnecessary.

In the picture on the left: insignia of a candidate for the title.

From the author. In general, any rank should be correlated with a specific position or a group of approximately equal positions. And it is normal practice when a serviceman with a certain rank is promoted, and then, after making sure that he is able to perform new duties for himself, he is assigned the next rank. And the rank of candidate for rank (which in itself is a tautology) means that the person is no longer a sergeant major, but not yet an officer (let me express myself in a modern concept for ease of presentation). And what to do if they decide that the candidate is not worthy of being awarded the officer rank. With the sergeant-major it’s simple - they returned him to the sergeant-major’s position and that’s it. What about the candidate? His rank is higher than petty officer, but he cannot be an officer.
Obviously, this duality of the position prompted the authorities to refuse this title.

*Middle command and command staff wore metallic red enamel so-called. "truncated
triangles" with silvered sides.

1st Lieutenant,
2nd lieutenant,
3rd political commissar (political commissar star on sleeve),
4-technician-quartermaster 2nd rank,
5-technician-quartermaster 1st rank,
6-military technician 2nd rank,
7-military technician 1st rank,
8-military veterinary paramedic 2nd rank,
9-military paramedic 1st rank.

It should be noted that if doctors wore their emblems, which were determined by them back in 1922 and had not changed by 1935, then the emblems of veterinarians and technicians are shown here from the 1936 model. It is not completely clear which emblems the commanding staff wore in their buttonholes of the 1935 model, or if they wore them at all. It should also be noted that until July 1940, the military-political personnel did not wear any emblems in their buttonholes at all. Both in the NKVD and in the Red Army they distinguished themselves with commissar stars on their sleeves.

*Senior command and command personnel wore silver gaps and silver metal stars with a diameter of 13 mm in their buttonholes.

1st Colonel,
2nd major,
3-captain,
4th Regimental Commissar,
5-battalion commissar,
6th senior political instructor,
7th quartermaster 1st rank,
8-quartermaster 2nd rank,
9th quartermaster 3rd rank,
10 - military engineer 1st rank,
11-military engineer 2nd rank,
12-military engineer 2nd rank,
13-military doctor 1st rank,
14-military veterinarian 2nd rank,
15-military doctor 3rd rank.

Note. Persons who have a higher education and enter military service in the Red Army or the internal troops of the NKVD in the positions of commanding (but only commanding!) personnel immediately receive the rank of senior commanding personnel, bypassing all lower ranks. That is, a young man who graduates from a medical institute immediately receives the title of military doctor of the 3rd rank, a young man who graduates from a technical university receives the title of military engineer of the 3rd rank. Graduate of the Institute of National Economy - quartermaster 3rd rank.

*Senior command and command personnel wore golden gaps and metal golden stars with a diameter of 13 mm in their buttonholes.

The highest rank in the internal troops of the NKVD was “commander of the 2nd rank”. However, it was never assigned to anyone and remained purely nominal. The picture on the right shows the insignia of a 2nd rank army commander.

1st corps commander,
2nd division commander,
3rd brigade commander,
4-corps commissar,
5th division commissar,
6th brigade commissar,
7-divintendant,
8-Brigintendant,
9-diengineer,
10th Brigengineer,
11th doctor
12-brigvetdoctor.

I repeat that these insignia existed in the Internal Guard for a very short time - from October 1935 to July 1937. Many VV servicemen did not even have time to put them on, since they did not switch to new insignia at once, but as they were assigned ranks. And this was not a mechanical process. The issue of assigning a particular rank to each serviceman was decided individually in the certification procedure. And the junior command staff generally switched to new insignia only in March 1936.

At the same time, I considered it necessary to describe in detail these insignia and shape so that the reader would not be confused by seeing a photograph with strange, very rarely found buttonholes. For the same purpose, and also so that the reader can discern the differences in the insignia, in the appendices I give insignia for the personnel of the NKVD and the GULAG NKVD

Sources and literature

1. Magazine "Tseykhgauz" No. 1 - 1991
2. Materials of the Central Museum of Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR
3. M.I.Scherbak. "Your military uniform." Main Political Directorate of the VV. Moscow. 1986
4. J. Rutkiewicz, W. N. Kulikow. Wojska NKWD 1917-1945, Barwa i Broh, Lampart, Warszawa 1998.
5. V. Voronov, A. Shishkin "NKVD of the USSR: structure, leadership, uniform, insignia 1934-1937." - Moscow. LLC Publishing House "Russian Intelligence". 2005
6. L. Tokar. History of the Russian uniform suit. Soviet police 1918-1991. Exclusive. Saint Petersburg. 1995

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

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

Over the years, sleeve bands have been introduced and abolished as an additional element to buttonholes. stripes .

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

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

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

Diamonds and triangles had no slang names, with the exception of foreman, its four triangles were called "saw".

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Insignia

The question of insignia in the Special Departments remained open for some time due to agreements between the People's Commissariat of Defense and the NKVD. The joint order of the NKO/NKVD No. 91/183 of May 23, 1936 announced the “Regulations on the special bodies of the GUGB NKVD of the USSR”, according to which for the employees of the Special Departments of the NKVD who worked in the troops, for the purpose of secrecy, uniforms and insignia of the military-political composition of the corresponding ranks.

By NKVD Order No. 278 of July 15, 1937, the system of insignia was changed. The sleeve insignia was abolished, and the type of buttonholes was changed. Buttonholes were installed in two types: for a tunic or jacket and for an overcoat. The tunic buttonholes retained the same shape and size. The overcoats had a diamond shape with rounded concave upper sides. The height of the buttonhole is 11 cm, width - 8.5 cm. The color of the buttonholes remained the same: maroon with crimson edging. Instead of stars and squares, insignia similar to those adopted in the Red Army were installed: diamonds for the highest command personnel, rectangles for the senior and squares for the middle.

By Order of the NKVD No. 126 of February 18, 1943, in accordance with the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR “On the introduction of new insignia for personnel of the NKVD bodies and troops” of February 9, 1943, instead of the existing buttonholes, new insignia were introduced - shoulder straps, as well as the rules for wearing uniforms by personnel of the NKVD CCCP bodies and troops were approved.

RA A F7ComDiv 1940.png

Rank insignia of a senior major in overcoat buttonholes

RA A F7aComDiv 1940 col.png

Rank insignia of a senior major in the buttonholes on his tunic and tunic

List of senior state security majors

By NKVD Order No. 794 of November 29, 1935, 42 security officers were awarded the rank of senior major of state security. In December 1935, by separate orders, the rank of senior GB major was awarded to another 5 NKVD employees.

11/29/1935 - Abugov, Osher Osipovich (1899-1938), head of the NKVD of the Kirov Territory
11/29/1935 - Aleksandrovsky, Mikhail Konstantinovich (1898-1937), head of the special department of the UGB NKVD of the Ukrainian SSR
11/29/1935 - Alekseev, Nikolai Nikolaevich (1893-1937), assistant chief of the GULAG NKVD of the USSR
11/29/1935 - Andreev, Mikhail Lvovich (1903-1988), deputy head of the NKVD of the Voronezh region
11/29/1935 - Austrin, Rudolf Ivanovich (1891-1937), head of the NKVD of the Northern Territory
11/29/1935 - Berman, Boris Davydovich (1901-1939), 1st deputy head of the foreign department of the GUGB NKVD of the USSR
11/29/1935 - Blat, Joseph Mikhailovich (1894-1937), head of the NKVD Western Region
11/29/1935 - Bulanov, Pavel Petrovich (1895-1938), secretary of the NKVD of the USSR
11/29/1935 - Weinstock, Yakov Markovich (1899-1939), head of the personnel department of the NKVD of the USSR
11/29/1935 - Volovich, Zakhar Ilyich (1900-1937), deputy head of the operational department of the GUGB NKVD of the USSR
11/29/1935 - Garin, Vladimir Nikolaevich (1896-1940), head of the NKVD of the Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic
11/29/1935 - Genkin, Yakov Mikhailovich (1888-1970), head of the accounting and statistical department of the GUGB NKVD of the USSR
11/29/1935 - Gorb, Moisei Savelyevich (1894-1937), deputy head of the special department of the GUGB NKVD of the USSR
11/29/1935 - City dweller, Valery Mikhailovich (1889-1938), deputy head of the foreign department of the GUGB NKVD of the USSR
11/29/1935 - Gulko, Boris Yakovlevich (1897-1939), deputy head of the operational department of the GUGB NKVD of the USSR
11/29/1935 - Dmitriev, Dmitry Matveevich (1901-1939), deputy head of the economic department of the GUGB NKVD of the USSR
11/29/1935 - Dobroditsky, Nikolai Ivanovich (1899-1939), deputy head of the special department of the GUGB NKVD of the USSR
11/29/1935 - Dombrovsky, Vyacheslav Romualdovich (1895-1937), head of the NKVD of the Kursk region
11/29/1935 - Dukelsky, Semyon Semyonovich (1892-1960), head of the NKVD of the Voronezh region
11/29/1935 - Zagvozdin, Nikolai Andreevich (1898-1940), People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the Uzbek SSR
11/29/1935 - Zalpeter, Ans Karlovich (1899-1939), deputy head of the NKVD of the West Siberian Territory
11/29/1935 - Ivanov, Vasily Timofeevich (1894-1938), head of the NKVD of the Donetsk region
11/29/1935 - Kursky, Vladimir Mikhailovich (1897-1937), deputy head of the NKVD of the North Caucasus Territory
11/29/1935 - Leonyuk, Foma Akimovich (1892-1967), head of the NKVD of the Kuibyshev region
11/29/1935 - Lordkipanidze, Tite Illarionovich (1896-1937), head of the NKVD of the Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic
11/29/1935 - Minaev-Tsikanovsky, Alexander Matveevich (1888-1939), head of the NKVD of the Chelyabinsk region
11/29/1935 - Mironov, Sergei Naumovich (1894-1940), head of the NKVD of the Dnepropetrovsk region
11/29/1935 - Ostrovsky, Joseph Markovich (1895-1937), head of the Administrative and Economic Directorate of the NKVD of the USSR
11/29/1935 - Pavlov, Karp Alexandrovich] (1895-1957), head of the NKVD of the Krasnoyarsk Territory
11/29/1935 - Popashenko, Ivan Petrovich (1898-1940), deputy head of the NKVD of the Azov-Black Sea Territory
11/29/1935 - Radzivilovsky, Alexander Pavlovich (1904-1940), deputy head of the NKVD of the Moscow region
11/29/1935 - Raisky, Naum Markovich (1895-1937), head of the NKVD of the Orenburg region
11/29/1935 - Rozanov, Alexander Borisovich (1896-1937), head of the NKVD of the Odessa region
11/29/1935 - Rutkovsky, Anatoly Fedorovich (1894-1943), in the active reserve of the personnel department of the NKVD of the SSR
11/29/1935 - Salyn, Eduard Petrovich (1894-1938), head of the NKVD of the Omsk region
11/29/1935 - Serebryansky, Yakov Isaakovich (1892-1956), head of the foreign department group of the GUGB NKVD of the USSR
11/29/1935 - Stepanov, Mikhail Arkhipovich (1900-1940), deputy head of the NKVD of the Georgian SSR
11/29/1935 - Timofeev, Mikhail Mikhailovich (1896-1977), head of the NKVD of the Chernigov region
11/29/1935 - Uspensky, Alexander Ivanovich (1902-1940), deputy commandant of the Moscow Kremlin for internal security
11/29/1935 - Feldman, Vladimir Dmitrievich (1893-1938), special representative of the NKVD of the USSR
11/29/1935 - Firin, Semyon Grigorievich (1898-1937), deputy head of the GULAG, head of the Dmitrovsky ITL NKVD of the USSR
11/29/1935 - Sharov, Nikolai Davydovich (1897-1939), head of the NKVD of the Kyiv region
12/04/1935 - Zverev, Yulian Lvovich (1895-1938), People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the Turkmen SSR
12/04/1935 - Kogan, Lazar Iosifovich (1889-1939), head of construction of the Moscow - Volga canal
12/04/1935 - Nodev, Oswald Yanovich (1896-1938), deputy head of the NKVD of the Azerbaijan SSR
12/26/1935 - Arnoldov, Arnold Arkadyevich (1893-1938), assistant to the head of the NKVD of the Moscow region
12/30/1935 - Barminsky, Sergei Arsentievich (1900-1938), deputy head of the NKVD of the Far Eastern Territory
01/13/1936 - Rapava, Avksentiy Narikievich (1899-1955), head of the transport department of the UGB NKVD ZSFSR
07/19/1936 - Apeter, Ivan Andreevich (1890-1938), head of the sanatorium and resort department of the Administrative and Economic Directorate of the NKVD of the USSR
07/19/1936 - Moroz, Yakov Moiseevich (1898-1940), head of the Ukhto-Izhemsky ITL NKVD of the USSR
10/07/1936 - Gendin, Semyon Grigorievich (1902-1939), head of the NKVD Western Region
12/20/1936 - Glinsky, Stanislav Martynovich (1894-1937), resident of the foreign department of the GUGB NKVD in Paris
12/20/1936 - Gordon, Boris Moiseevich (1896-1937), resident of the foreign department of the GUGB NKVD in Berlin
12/20/1936 - Krivets, Efim Fomich (1897-1940), head of the NKVD of the Chernigov region
12/20/1936 - Mugdusi, Khachik Khlgatovich (1898-1938), head of the NKVD of the Armenian SSR
12/20/1936 - Pryakhin, Alexander Andreevich (1899-1938), head of the NKVD of the Ussuri region
12/20/1936 - Sokolinsky, David Moiseevich (1902-1940), head of the NKVD of the Dnepropetrovsk region
12/22/1936 - Litvin, Mikhail Iosifovich (1892-1938), head of the personnel department of the NKVD of the USSR
01/19/1937 - Volkov, Mikhail Alexandrovich (1900-1939), assistant to the head of the NKVD of the Leningrad Region
01/19/1937 - Shapiro-Daikhovsky, Natan Evnovich (1901-1938), assistant chief of the NKVD Leningrad Region
01/20/1937 - Yemets, Nikolai Vasilyevich (1898-1939), head of the NKVD of the Kursk region
02/10/1937 - Zhukovsky, Semyon Borisovich (1896-1940), head of the Administration of the NKVD of the USSR
04/10/1937 - Lupekin, German Antonovich (1901-1940), head of the NKVD of the East Siberian Territory
04/10/1937 - Raev, Mikhail Grigorievich (1894-1939), head of the NKVD of the Stalingrad region
06/13/1937 - Tsesarsky, Vladimir Efimovich (1895-1940), head of the 8th department of the GUGB NKVD of the USSR
08/22/1937 - Gorbach, Grigory Fedorovich (1898-1939), head of the NKVD of the West Siberian Territory
09/26/1937 - Rogov, Fedor Vasilyevich (1900-1938), commandant of the Moscow Kremlin
09/29/1937 - Ryzhov, Mikhail Ivanovich (1889-1939), Deputy People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the USSR
11/05/1937 - Shapiro, Isaac Ilyich (1895-1940), head of the 9th special department of the GUGB and head of the secretariat of the NKVD of the USSR
01/09/1938 - Malyshev, Boris Aleksandrovich (1895-1941), deputy head of the 1st department of the GUGB NKVD of the USSR
03/22/1938 - Passov, Zalman Isaevich (1905-1940), deputy head of the 3rd department of the GUGB NKVD of the USSR
04/26/1938 - Vlasik, Nikolai Sidorovich (1896-1967), head of the 1st department of the GUGB NKVD of the USSR
09/11/1938 - Kobulov, Bogdan Zakharovich (1904-1953), Deputy People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the Georgian SSR
12/28/1938 - Sadzhaya, Alexey Nikolaevich (1898-1942), People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the Uzbek SSR
12/28/1938 - Tsanava, Lavrenty Fomich (1900-1955), People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the Byelorussian SSR
12/28/1938 - Shariya, Pyotr Afanasyevich (1902-1983), head of the secretariat of the NKVD of the USSR
12/29/1938 - Milshtein, Solomon Rafailovich (1899-1955), deputy head of the investigative unit of the NKVD of the USSR
01/03/1939 - Zhuravlev, Viktor Pavlovich (1902-1946), head of the NKVD of the Kuibyshev region
01/03/1939 - Mamulov, Stepan Solomonovich (1902-1976), 1st Deputy Head of the Secretariat of the NKVD of the USSR
01/28/1939 - Bochkov, Viktor Mikhailovich (1900-1981), head of the 4th department of the GUGB NKVD of the USSR
03/05/1939 - Egorov, Sergei Egorovich (1905-1959), deputy head of the GULAG NKVD of the USSR
03/25/1939 - Emelyanov, Stepan Fedorovich (1902-1988), People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the Azerbaijan SSR
03/27/1939 - Gvishiani, Mikhail Maksimovich (1905-1966), head of the NKVD of the Primorsky Territory
04/13/1939 - Rodovansky, Yakov Fedorovich (1894-1954), 1st Deputy Head of the Workers' and Peasants' Police Department of the NKVD of Moscow
04/30/1939 - Panyushkin, Alexander Semenovich (1905-1974), head of the 3rd special department of the NKVD of the USSR
04/30/1939 - Serov, Ivan Aleksandrovich (1905-1990), head of the Main Directorate of the Workers' and Peasants' Militia of the NKVD of the USSR
04/30/1939 - Tsereteli, Shalva Otarovich (1894-1955), 1st deputy head of the 3rd special department of the NKVD of the USSR
06/13/1939 - Kubatkin, Pyotr Nikolaevich (1907-1950), head of the NKVD of the Moscow region
11/02/1939 - Kuprin, Pavel Tikhonovich (1908-1942), head of the NKVD of the Khabarovsk Territory
03/14/1940 - Abakumov, Viktor Semenovich (1908-1954), head of the NKVD of the Rostov region
03/14/1940 - Andreev, Grigory Petrovich (1908-1981), deputy head of the Main Economic Directorate of the NKVD of the USSR
03/14/1940 - Borshchev, Timofey Mikhailovich (1901-1956), People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the Turkmen SSR
03/14/1940 - Burdakov, Semyon Nikolaevich (1901-1978), People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the Kazakh SSR
03/14/1940 - Gorlinsky, Nikolai Dmitrievich (1907-1965), 2nd Deputy People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the Ukrainian SSR
03/14/1940 - Gulst, Veniamin Naumovich (1900-1972), deputy head of the 1st department of the GUGB NKVD of the USSR
03/14/1940 - Zodelava, Andrei Semenovich (1905-1942), People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the North Ossetian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic
03/14/1940 - Kornienko, Trofim Nikolaevich (1906-1971), head of the 3rd department of the GUGB NKVD of the USSR
03/14/1940 - Lapshin, Evgeniy Petrovich (1900-1956), head of the 2nd special department of the NKVD of the USSR
03/14/1940 - Nasedkin, Viktor Grigorievich (1905-1950), deputy head of the Main Economic Directorate of the NKVD of the USSR
03/14/1940 - Sergienko, Vasily Timofeevich (1903-1982), Deputy People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the Ukrainian SSR
03/14/1940 - Sinegubov, Nikolai Ivanovich (1895-1971), head of the investigative unit and deputy head of the Main Transport Directorate of the NKVD of the USSR
03/14/1940 - Stefanov, Alexey Georgievich (1902-1967), special representative of the NKVD of the USSR
03/14/1940 - Fitin, Pavel Mikhailovich (1907-1971), head of the 5th department of the GUGB NKVD of the USSR
03/14/1940 - Shadrin, Dmitry Nikolaevich (1906-1994), head of the 3rd special department of the NKVD of the USSR
03/22/1940 - Rumyantsev, Vasily Ivanovich (1896-1960), head of the 1st department of the 1st department of the GUGB NKVD of the USSR
04/07/1940 - Lagunov, Nikolai Mikhailovich (1905-1978), deputy head of the NKVD of the Leningrad Region
04/07/1940 - Ogoltsov, Sergei Ivanovich (1900-1977), head of the NKVD of Leningrad
04/14/1940 - Egnatashvili, Alexander Yakovlevich (1887-1948), deputy head of the 1st department of the GUGB NKVD of the USSR for household affairs
04/14/1940 - Kapanadze, Andrei Pavlovich (1907-1983), deputy head of the 1st department of the GUGB NKVD of the USSR
04/22/1940 - Lepilov, Alexander Pavlovich (1895-1953), deputy head of the GULAG NKVD of the USSR
09/11/1940 - Zhuk, Sergei Yakovlevich (1892-1957) 1st Deputy Head of the Glavgidrostroy of the NKVD of the USSR
09/11/1940 - Rapoport, Yakov Davydovich (1898-1962), head of the Volzhsky ITL Department of the NKVD of the USSR
10/22/1940 - Babkin, Alexey Nikitich (1906-1950), People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the Kazakh SSR
01/02/1941 - Guzyavichyus, Alexander Augustovich (1908-1969), People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the Lithuanian SSR
01/02/1941 - Kumm, Boris Gansovich (1897-1958), People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the Estonian SSR
01/02/1941 - Novik, Alfons Andreevich (1908-1996), People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the Latvian SSR
02/15/1941 - Belyanov, Alexander Mikhailovich (1903-1994), head of the 3rd department of the NKVD of the USSR
03/01/1941 - Zhuravlev, Mikhail Ivanovich (1911-1976), head of the NKVD of the Moscow region
03/06/1941 - Gladkov, Pyotr Andreevich (1902-1984), People's Commissar of State Security of the Lithuanian SSR
03/06/1941 - Meshik, Pavel Yakovlevich (1910-1953), People's Commissar of State Security of the Ukrainian SSR
03/12/1941 - Kosolapov, Vasily Mikhailovich (1911-?), Deputy Head of the Special Department of the NKVD of the Black Sea Fleet
03/29/1941 - Matveev, Alexander Pavlovich (1905-1946), People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the Belarusian SSR
03/29/1941 - Murro, Andrei Andreevich (1903-1941), People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the Estonian SSR
03/29/1941 - Yakubov, Mir-Teymur Mir-Alekper ogly (1904-1970), People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the Azerbaijan SSR
07/09/1941 - Zavenyagin, Abrahamy Pavlovich (1901-1956), Deputy People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the USSR
07/09/1941 - Obruchnikov, Boris Pavlovich (1905-1988), Deputy People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the USSR for Personnel
07/09/1941 - Safrazyan, Leon Bogdanovich (1893-1954), Deputy People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the USSR
07/12/1941 - Bashtakov, Leonid Fokeevich (1900-1970), head of the 2nd department of the NKGB of the USSR
07/12/1941 - Vlodzimirsky, Lev Emelyanovich (1903-1953), head of the investigative unit of the NKGB of the USSR
07/12/1941 - Gribov, Mikhail Vasilyevich (1905-1992), Deputy People's Commissar of State Security of the USSR for Personnel
07/12/1941 - Davydov, Alexander Mikhailovich (1899-1980), head of the administrative, economic and financial department of the NKGB of the USSR
07/12/1941 - Raikhman, Leonid Fedorovich (1908-1990), deputy head of the 2nd department of the NKGB of the USSR
07/18/1941 - Kopyttsev, Alexey Ivanovich (1912-1987), head of the 5th department of the NKGB of the USSR
07/19/1941 - Bazilevich, Akim Vladimirovich (1904-1942), deputy head of the special department of the NKVD of the Southern Front
07/19/1941 - Begma, Pavel Georgievich (1902-1975), deputy head of the special department of the NKVD of the Western Front
07/19/1941 - Khannikov, Nikolai Grigorievich (1896-1948), deputy head of the special department of the NKVD of the North-Western Front
07/19/1941 - Yakunchikov, Nikolai Alekseevich (?-1941), deputy head of the special department of the NKVD of the Southwestern Front
07/28/1941 - Rusak, Ivan Timofeevich (1906-1987), head of the special department of the NKVD of the Moscow Military District
08/08/1941 - Sudoplatov, Pavel Anatolyevich (1907-1996), deputy head of the 1st department of the NKVD of the USSR
08/13/1941 - Eitingon, Naum Isaakovich (1899-1981), deputy head of the 1st department of the NKVD of the USSR
08/15/1941 - Leontyev, Alexander Mikhailovich (1902-1960), head of the 2nd department and deputy head of the 1st department of the Main Directorate of the NKVD of the USSR
09/06/1941 - Kobulov, Amayak Zakharovich (1906-1955), People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the Uzbek SSR
09/10/1941 - (1900-1959), Deputy Head of the Directorate of Special Departments of the NKVD of the USSR
09/20/1941 - Osetrov, Nikolai Alekseevich (1905-1992), deputy head of the Directorate of Special Departments of the NKVD of the USSR
09/22/1941 - Chesnokov, Alexander Nikolaevich (1900-1991), deputy head of the NKVD of the Khabarovsk Territory
09/30/1941 - Melnikov, Nikolai Dmitrievich (1905-1944), deputy head of the 1st department of the NKVD of the USSR
11/21/1941 - Selivanovsky, Nikolai Nikolaevich (1901-1997), head of the special department of the NKVD of the Southwestern Front
01/03/1942 - Korolev, Nikolai Andrianovich (1907-1986), head of the special department of the NKVD of the North-Western Front
01/08/1942 - Vadis, Alexander Anatolyevich (1906-1968), head of the special department of the NKVD of the Bryansk Front
01/10/1942 - Pavlov, Ilya Semenovich (1899-1964), head of the special department of the NKVD of the Karelian Front
02/16/1942 - Kravchenko, Valentin Aleksandrovich (1906-1956), head of the 4th special department of the NKVD of the USSR
02/23/1942 - Sidnev, Alexey Matveevich (1907-1958), deputy head of the special department of the NKVD of the Leningrad Front
04/10/1942 - Martirosov, Georgy Iosifovich (1906-?), People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the Armenian SSR
04/13/1942 - Rukhadze, Nikolai Maksimovich (1905-1955), head of the special department of the NKVD of the Transcaucasian Front
05/05/1942 - Gagua, Illarion Avksentievich (1900-1951), People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the Abkhaz Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic
05/11/1942 - Davlianidze, Sergei Semenovich (1904-1967), head of the transport department of the NKVD of the Transcaucasian Railway
05/26/1942 - Babich, Isai Yakovlevich (1902-1948), head of the special department of the North-Western Front
05/26/1942 - Zelenin, Pavel Vasilyevich (1902-1965), head of the special department of the NKVD of the Southern Front
05/26/1942 - Melnikov, Dmitry Ivanovich (1906-1956), head of the special department of the NKVD of the Leningrad Front
06/04/1942 - Klepov, Sergei Alekseevich (1900-1972), head of the NKVD of the Ordzhonikidze region
06/12/1942 - Markaryan, Ruben Ambartsumovich (1896-1956), Deputy People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the Azerbaijan SSR for operational work
06/25/1942 - Moskalenko, Ivan Ivanovich (1907-1982), head of the 1st department and assistant head of the Directorate of Special Departments of the NKVD of the USSR
07/02/1942 - Bystrov, Alexander Semenovich (1904-1964), head of the special department of the NKVD of the Leningrad Front
07/02/1942 - Voronin, Alexander Ivanovich (1908-1990), head of the NKVD of the Stalingrad region
07/14/1942 - Zheleznikov, Nikolai Ivanovich (1906-1974), head of the special department of the NKVD of the Central Asian Military District
08/05/1942 - Blinov, Afanasy Sergeevich (1904-1961), head of the NKVD of the Kuibyshev region
09/28/1942 - Vinogradov, Valentin Vasilyevich (1906-1980), head of the special department of the NKVD of the Pacific Fleet
09/28/1942 - Ermolaev, Nikolai Dmitrievich (1905-1958), head of the special department of the NKVD of the Black Sea Fleet
09/28/1942 - Lebedev, Alexey Pavlovich (1906-1968), head of the special department of the NKVD of the Baltic Fleet
11/15/1942 - Shevelev, Ivan Grigorievich (1904-1998), head of the 5th department of the NKVD of the USSR

Mention in cinema and television series

Television series "Born of the Revolution". Episode 6 - "Exam". The title of the boss of the main character of the series is Nikolai Kondratyev.
Feature film "Spy". The title of the head of the department is Alexey Oktyabrsky.
Television series "Red Mountains". The title of the hero of the film is Arkady Engelhardt (Sergei Rogov).
Television series "Kill Stalin". Prokhorov - Vasily Mishchenko.
TV series “Leningrad” - Senior Major Malinin (Vladimir Ilyin).
TV series “Heteras of Major Sokolov” - senior state security major Cherkasov (Dmitry Podnozov).

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Notes



Chiefs of the GUGB

Deputy heads of the GUGB

Heads of the counterintelligence department

Heads of the secret political department

Heads of the special department

Heads of the foreign department

Heads of the Investigative Unit

Special ranks

Excerpt characterizing Senior Major of State Security

- Guys, for the health of the Emperor, for victory over the enemies, hurrah! - he shouted in his brave, senile, hussar baritone.
The hussars crowded together and responded with a loud cry.
Late at night, when everyone had left, Denisov patted his favorite Rostov on the shoulder with his short hand.
“There’s no one to fall in love with on the hike, so he fell in love with me,” he said.
“Denisov, don’t joke about this,” Rostov shouted, “this is such a high, such a wonderful feeling, such...
- “We”, “we”, “d”, and “I share and approve” ...
- No, you don’t understand!
And Rostov got up and went to wander between the fires, dreaming about what happiness it would be to die without saving a life (he did not dare to dream about this), but simply to die in the eyes of the sovereign. He really was in love with the Tsar, and with the glory of Russian weapons, and with the hope of future triumph. And he was not the only one who experienced this feeling in those memorable days preceding the Battle of Austerlitz: nine-tenths of the people of the Russian army at that time were in love, although less enthusiastically, with their Tsar and with the glory of Russian weapons.

The next day the sovereign stopped in Wischau. Life physician Villiers was called to him several times. News spread in the main apartment and among the nearby troops that the sovereign was unwell. He did not eat anything and slept poorly that night, as those close to him said. The reason for this ill health was the strong impression made on the sensitive soul of the sovereign by the sight of the wounded and killed.
At dawn on the 17th, a French officer was escorted from the outposts to Wischau, who had arrived under a parliamentary flag, demanding a meeting with the Russian emperor. This officer was Savary. The Emperor had just fallen asleep, and therefore Savary had to wait. At noon he was admitted to the sovereign and an hour later he went with Prince Dolgorukov to the outposts of the French army.
As was heard, the purpose of sending Savary was to offer a meeting between Emperor Alexander and Napoleon. A personal meeting, to the joy and pride of the entire army, was denied, and instead of the sovereign, Prince Dolgorukov, the winner at Wischau, was sent along with Savary to negotiate with Napoleon, if these negotiations, contrary to expectations, were aimed at a real desire for peace.
In the evening Dolgorukov returned, went straight to the sovereign and spent a long time alone with him.
On November 18 and 19, the troops made two more marches forward, and the enemy outposts retreated after short skirmishes. In the highest spheres of the army, from midday on the 19th, a strong, fussily excited movement began, which continued until the morning of the next day, November 20, on which the so memorable Battle of Austerlitz was fought.
Until noon on the 19th, movement, lively conversations, running around, sending adjutants were limited to one main apartment of the emperors; in the afternoon of the same day, the movement was transmitted to Kutuzov’s main apartment and to the headquarters of the column commanders. In the evening, this movement spread through the adjutants to all ends and parts of the army, and on the night of the 19th to the 20th, the 80 thousandth mass of the allied army rose from their sleeping quarters, began to hum with conversation and swayed and began to move in a huge nine-verst canvas.
The concentrated movement that began in the morning in the main apartment of the emperors and gave impetus to all further movement was similar to the first movement of the middle wheel of a large tower clock. One wheel moved slowly, another turned, a third, and the wheels, blocks, and gears began to spin faster and faster, chimes began to play, figures jumped out, and the arrows began to move regularly, showing the result of the movement.
As in the mechanism of watches, so in the mechanism of military affairs, it is just as irresistible to last result once the movement is given, and just as indifferently motionless, the moment before the transfer of movement, parts of the mechanism that have not yet been reached. The wheels whistle on the axles, clinging with teeth, the rotating blocks hiss from the speed, and the neighboring wheel is just as calm and motionless, as if it is ready to stand for hundreds of years with this motionlessness; but the moment came - he hooked the lever, and, submitting to the movement, the wheel crackled, turning and merged into one action, the result and purpose of which was incomprehensible to him.
What is the result in a watch? complex movement Countless different wheels and blocks are only the slow and steady movement of the arrow indicating the time, and the result of all the complex human movements of these 1000 Russians and French - all the passions, desires, remorse, humiliation, suffering, impulses of pride, fear, delight of these people - was only the loss of the Battle of Austerlitz, the so-called battle of the three emperors, i.e. the slow movement of the world historical hand on the dial of human history.
Prince Andrei was on duty that day and constantly with the commander-in-chief.
At 6 o'clock in the evening, Kutuzov arrived at the main apartment of the emperors and, after staying with the sovereign for a short time, went to see Chief Marshal Count Tolstoy.
Bolkonsky took advantage of this time to go to Dolgorukov to find out about the details of the case. Prince Andrei felt that Kutuzov was upset and dissatisfied with something, and that they were dissatisfied with him in the main apartment, and that all the persons in the imperial main apartment had the tone of people with him who knew something that others did not know; and that’s why he wanted to talk to Dolgorukov.
“Well, hello, mon cher,” said Dolgorukov, who was sitting with Bilibin over tea. - Holiday for tomorrow. What's your old man? out of sorts?
“I won’t say that he was out of sorts, but he seemed to want to be listened to.”
- Yes, they listened to him at the military council and will listen to him when he speaks his mind; but it is impossible to hesitate and wait for something now, when Bonaparte fears more than anything else a general battle.
-Have you seen him? - said Prince Andrei. - Well, what about Bonaparte? What impression did he make on you?
“Yes, I saw it and was convinced that he was afraid of a general battle more than anything else in the world,” Dolgorukov repeated, apparently valuing this general conclusion he had drawn from his meeting with Napoleon. – If he were not afraid of battle, why would he demand this meeting, negotiate and, most importantly, retreat, while retreat is so contrary to his entire method of waging war? Believe me: he is afraid, afraid of a general battle, his time has come. This is what I'm telling you.
- But tell me how he is, what? – Prince Andrey asked again.
“He is a man in a gray frock coat, who really wanted me to say “Your Majesty” to him, but, to his chagrin, he did not receive any title from me. This is the kind of person he is, and nothing more,” answered Dolgorukov, looking back at Bilibin with a smile.
“Despite my complete respect for old Kutuzov,” he continued, “we would all be good if we waited for something and thereby gave him a chance to leave or deceive us, whereas now he is surely in our hands.” No, we must not forget Suvorov and his rules: do not put yourself in the position of being attacked, but attack yourself. Believe me, in war, the energy of young people often shows the path more accurately than all the experience of the old cunctators.
– But in what position do we attack him? “I was at the outposts today, and it’s impossible to decide where exactly he stands with the main forces,” said Prince Andrei.
He wanted to express to Dolgorukov his plan of attack that he had drawn up.
“Oh, it doesn’t matter at all,” Dolgorukov spoke quickly, standing up and revealing the card on the table. - All cases are foreseen: if he stands near Brunn...
And Prince Dolgorukov quickly and vaguely explained the plan for Weyrother’s flank movement.
Prince Andrey began to object and prove his plan, which could be equally good with Weyrother’s plan, but had the drawback that Weyrother’s plan had already been approved. As soon as Prince Andrei began to prove the disadvantages of him and the benefits of his own, Prince Dolgorukov stopped listening to him and absentmindedly looked not at the map, but at the face of Prince Andrei.
“However, Kutuzov will have a military council today: you can express all this there,” said Dolgorukov.
“That’s what I’ll do,” said Prince Andrei, moving away from the map.
- And what are you worried about, gentlemen? - said Bilibin, who had been listening to their conversation with a cheerful smile and now, apparently, was about to make a joke. – Whether there is victory or defeat tomorrow, the glory of Russian weapons is insured. Apart from your Kutuzov, there is not a single Russian commander of the columns. Chiefs: Herr general Wimpfen, le comte de Langeron, le prince de Lichtenstein, le prince de Hohenloe et enfin Prsch... prsch... et ainsi de suite, comme tous les noms polonais. [Wimpfen, Count Langeron, Prince of Liechtenstein, Hohenlohe and also Prishprshiprsh, like all Polish names.]
“Taisez vous, mauvaise langue,” said Dolgorukov. - It’s not true, now there are two Russians: Miloradovich and Dokhturov, and there would be a 3rd, Count Arakcheev, but his nerves are weak.
“However, Mikhail Ilarionovich, I think, came out,” said Prince Andrei. “I wish you happiness and success, gentlemen,” he added and left, shaking hands with Dolgorukov and Bibilin.
Returning home, Prince Andrei could not resist asking Kutuzov, who was silently sitting next to him, what he thought about tomorrow’s battle?
Kutuzov looked sternly at his adjutant and, after a pause, answered:
“I think that the battle will be lost, and I told Count Tolstoy so and asked him to convey this to the sovereign.” What do you think he answered me? Eh, mon cher general, je me mele de riz et des et cotelettes, melez vous des affaires de la guerre. [And, dear general! I’m busy with rice and cutlets, and you are busy with military affairs.] Yes... That’s what they answered me!

At 10 o'clock in the evening, Weyrother with his plans moved to Kutuzov's apartment, where a military council was appointed. All the commanders of the columns were requested to see the commander-in-chief, and, with the exception of Prince Bagration, who refused to come, everyone appeared at the appointed hour.
Weyrother, who was the overall manager of the proposed battle, presented with his liveliness and haste a sharp contrast with the dissatisfied and sleepy Kutuzov, who reluctantly played the role of chairman and leader of the military council. Weyrother obviously felt himself at the head of a movement that had become unstoppable. He was like a harnessed horse running away downhill with its cart. Whether he was driving or being driven, he did not know; but he rushed at all possible speed, no longer having time to discuss what this movement would lead to. Weyrother that evening was twice for personal inspection in the enemy chain and twice with the sovereigns, Russian and Austrian, for a report and explanations, and in his office, where he dictated the German disposition. He, exhausted, now came to Kutuzov.
He was apparently so busy that he forgot to even be respectful to the commander-in-chief: he interrupted him, spoke quickly, unclearly, without looking into the face of his interlocutor, without answering the questions asked of him, was stained with dirt and looked pitiful, exhausted, confused and at the same time arrogant and proud.
Kutuzov occupied a small noble castle near Ostralitsy. In the large living room, which became the office of the commander-in-chief, gathered: Kutuzov himself, Weyrother and members of the military council. They were drinking tea. They were only waiting for Prince Bagration to begin the military council. At 8 o'clock Bagration's orderly arrived with the news that the prince could not be there. Prince Andrei came to report this to the commander-in-chief and, taking advantage of the permission previously given to him by Kutuzov to be present at the council, remained in the room.
“Since Prince Bagration will not be there, we can begin,” said Weyrother, hastily getting up from his place and approaching the table on which a huge map of the surrounding area of Brünn was laid out.
Kutuzov, in an unbuttoned uniform, from which, as if freed, his fat neck floated out onto the collar, sat in a Voltaire chair, placing his plump old hands symmetrically on the armrests, and was almost asleep. At the sound of Weyrother's voice, he forced his only eye open.
“Yes, yes, please, otherwise it’s too late,” he said and, nodding his head, lowered it and closed his eyes again.
If at first the members of the council thought that Kutuzov was pretending to be asleep, then the sounds that he made with his nose during the subsequent reading proved that at that moment for the commander-in-chief it was about much more important than the desire to show his contempt for the disposition or for anything else. be that as it may: for him it was about the irrepressible satisfaction of a human need - sleep. He was really asleep. Weyrother, with the movement of a man too busy to waste even one minute of time, looked at Kutuzov and, making sure that he was sleeping, took the paper and in a loud, monotonous tone began to read the disposition of the future battle under the title, which he also read:
"Disposition to attack the enemy position behind Kobelnitsa and Sokolnitsa, November 20, 1805."
The disposition was very complex and difficult. The original disposition stated:
Da der Feind mit seinerien linken Fluegel an die mit Wald bedeckten Berge lehnt und sich mit seinerien rechten Fluegel laengs Kobeinitz und Sokolienitz hinter die dort befindIichen Teiche zieht, wir im Gegentheil mit unserem linken Fluegel seinen rechten sehr debordiren, so ist es vortheilhaft letzteren Fluegel des Feindes zu attakiren, besondere wenn wir die Doerfer Sokolienitz und Kobelienitz im Besitze haben, wodurch wir dem Feind zugleich in die Flanke fallen und ihn auf der Flaeche zwischen Schlapanitz und dem Thuerassa Walde verfolgen koennen, indem wir dem Defileen von Schlapanitz und Bellowitz ichen, welche die feindliche Front decken. Zu dieserien Endzwecke ist es noethig... Die erste Kolonne Marieschirt... die zweite Kolonne Marieschirt... die dritte Kolonne Marieschirt... [Since the enemy rests his left wing on the forest-covered mountains, and with his right wing he stretches along Kobelnitsa and Sokolnitsa behind the ponds located there, and we On the contrary, if our left wing surpasses his right wing, then it is advantageous for us to attack this last enemy wing, especially if we occupy the villages of Sokolnits and Kobelnits, being given the opportunity to attack the enemy’s flank and pursue him in the plain between Shlapanits and the Tyurassky forest, avoiding with those defiles between Shlapanitz and Belowitz, which covered the enemy front. For this purpose it is necessary... The first column marches... the second column marches... the third column marches...], etc., Weyrother read. The generals seemed reluctant to listen to the difficult disposition. The blond, tall General Buxhoeveden stood with his back against the wall, and, fixing his eyes on the burning candle, it seemed that he was not listening and did not even want to be thought that he was listening. Directly opposite Weyrother, fixing his shining open eyes on him, in a militant pose, resting his hands with his elbows outstretched on his knees, sat the ruddy Miloradovich with his mustache and shoulders raised. He remained stubbornly silent, looking into Weyrother’s face, and only took his eyes off him when the Austrian chief of staff fell silent. At this time, Miloradovich looked significantly back at the other generals. But from the meaning of this significant glance it was impossible to understand whether he agreed or disagreed, was pleased or dissatisfied with the disposition. Count Langeron sat closest to Weyrother and, with a subtle smile of a southern French face that did not leave him throughout the reading, looked at his thin fingers, quickly turning the corners of a golden snuffbox with a portrait. In the middle of one of the longest periods, he stopped the rotating movement of the snuffbox, raised his head and, with an unpleasant politeness at the very ends of his thin lips, interrupted Weyrother and wanted to say something; but the Austrian general, without interrupting his reading, frowned angrily and waved his elbows, as if saying: later, then you will tell me your thoughts, now if you please look at the map and listen. Langeron raised his eyes upward with an expression of bewilderment, looked back at Miloradovich, as if looking for an explanation, but, meeting Miloradovich’s significant, meaningless gaze, sadly lowered his eyes and again began to twirl the snuffbox.
“Une lecon de geographie, [A lesson from geography,"] he said as if to himself, but loud enough to be heard.
Przhebyshevsky, with respectful but dignified courtesy, bent his ear to Weyrother, looking like a man absorbed in attention. Small in stature Dokhturov sat directly opposite Weyrother with a diligent and modest look and, bending over the laid out map, conscientiously studied the dispositions and the terrain unknown to him. Several times he asked Weyrother to repeat the words he had heard poorly and the difficult names of the villages. Weyrother fulfilled his wish, and Dokhturov wrote it down.
When the reading, which lasted more than an hour, was over, Langeron, again stopping his snuff-box and without looking at Weyrother or anyone in particular, began to talk about how difficult it was to carry out such a disposition, where the position of the enemy is supposed to be known, whereas this position could be we do not know, since the enemy is on the move. Langeron's objections were well-founded, but it was obvious that the purpose of these objections was mainly the desire to make General Weyrother feel, as self-confidently as schoolchildren reading his disposition, that he was dealing not only with fools, but with people who could learn in military affairs. When the monotonous sound of Weyrother’s voice fell silent, Kutuzov opened the chapter, like a miller who wakes up during a break in the soporific sound of mill wheels, listened to what Langeron was saying, and, as if saying: “And you’re still talking about this nonsense!” hastily closed his eyes and lowered his head even lower.
Trying to insult Weyrother in his author's military pride as sarcastically as possible, Langeron argued that Bonaparte could easily attack, instead of being attacked, and as a result make this whole disposition completely useless. Weyrother responded to all objections with a firm, contemptuous smile, obviously prepared in advance for any objection, no matter what they said to him.
“If he could attack us, he would do it today,” he said.
“You therefore think that he is powerless,” said Langeron.
“A lot, if he has 40 thousand troops,” Weyrother answered with the smile of a doctor to whom a doctor wants to indicate a remedy.
“In this case, he is going to his death, waiting for our attack,” Langeron said with a thin ironic smile, looking back at the nearest Miloradovich for confirmation.
But Miloradovich, obviously, at that moment was thinking least of all about what the generals were arguing about.
“Ma foi, [By God,” he said, “tomorrow we will see everything on the battlefield.”
Weyrother grinned again with that smile that said that it was funny and strange for him to meet objections from the Russian generals and to prove what not only he himself was too sure of, but what the emperors were sure of.
“The enemy has put out the fires, and a continuous noise is heard in his camp,” he said. - What does it mean? “Either he moves away, which is the only thing we should be afraid of, or he changes his position (he grinned). But even if he took a position in Tyuras, he only saves us from a lot of trouble, and all the orders, down to the smallest detail, remain the same.
“How then?” said Prince Andrei, who had been waiting for a long time for an opportunity to express his doubts.
Kutuzov woke up, cleared his throat heavily and looked around at the generals.
“Gentlemen, the disposition for tomorrow, even today (because it’s already the first hour), cannot be changed,” he said. “You heard her, and we will all do our duty.” And before a battle, there is nothing more important... (he paused) than getting a good night's sleep.
He pretended to stand up. The generals took their leave and left. It was already past midnight. Prince Andrei left.

The military council, at which Prince Andrei was not able to express his opinion, as he had hoped, left a vague and alarming impression on him. He did not know who was right: Dolgorukov and Weyrother or Kutuzov and Langeron and others who did not approve of the attack plan. “But was it really impossible for Kutuzov to directly express his thoughts to the sovereign? Can't this really be done differently? Is it really necessary to risk tens of thousands and my, my life for the sake of court and personal considerations?” he thought.
“Yes, it’s very possible they’ll kill you tomorrow,” he thought. And suddenly, at this thought of death, a whole series of memories, the most distant and most intimate, arose in his imagination; he remembered the last farewell to his father and wife; he remembered the first times of his love for her! He remembered her pregnancy, and he felt sorry for both her and himself, and in a nervously softened and excited state he left the hut in which he had stood with Nesvitsky and began to walk in front of the house.
The night was foggy, and moonlight mysteriously broke through the fog. “Yes, tomorrow, tomorrow! - he thought. “Tomorrow, perhaps, everything will be over for me, all these memories will no longer exist, all these memories will no longer have any meaning for me.” Tomorrow, maybe, even probably tomorrow, I foresee it, for the first time I will finally have to show everything that I can do.” And he imagined the battle, its loss, the concentration of the battle on one point and the confusion of all the commanders. And now that happy moment, that Toulon, which he had been waiting for so long, finally appears to him. He firmly and clearly speaks his opinion to Kutuzov, Weyrother, and the emperors. Everyone is amazed at the correctness of his idea, but no one undertakes to carry it out, and so he takes a regiment, a division, pronounces the condition that no one will interfere with his orders, and leads his division to the decisive point and alone wins. What about death and suffering? says another voice. But Prince Andrei does not answer this voice and continues his successes. The disposition of the next battle is made by him alone. He holds the rank of army duty officer under Kutuzov, but he does everything alone. The next battle was won by him alone. Kutuzov is replaced, he is appointed... Well, and then? another voice speaks again, and then, if you are not wounded, killed or deceived ten times before; Well, then what? “Well, and then,” Prince Andrei answers himself, “I don’t know what will happen next, I don’t want and can’t know: but if I want this, I want fame, I want to be famous people, I want to be loved by them, it’s not my fault that I want this, that I want this alone, for this alone I live. Yes, for this alone! I will never tell this to anyone, but, my God! What should I do if I love nothing but glory, human love? Death, wounds, loss of family, nothing scares me. And no matter how dear or dear many people are to me - my father, sister, wife - the most dear people to me - but, no matter how scary and unnatural it seems, I will give them all now for a moment of glory, triumph over people, for love for to myself people whom I do not know and will not know, for the love of these people,” he thought, listening to the conversation in Kutuzov’s yard. In Kutuzov's yard the voices of orderlies were heard; one voice, probably the coachman, teasing the old Kutuzovsky cook, whom Prince Andrei knew, and whose name was Titus, said: “Titus, what about Titus?”