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File:Капитан ВВС РККА у СБ.jpg

Kapitan/ military pilot of the Red Army´s Air Force, uniform with distinction insignia ca. 1935/40.

Individual rank insignia to the (Army) ground forces and (Navy) naval forces (1935–1940) were disposed by orders 2590 and 2591, from September 22, 1935.[1]

This was mainly aimed to supreme commanders, commanding officers, and personnel in charge to exert command and control in the “Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, published by order of the number 176 of the “USSR People's Commissar of Defence, dated from December 03, 1935.[2]

Situation in 1935[]

In line to orders, mentioned above, the new distinction insignia of commanding personnel should provide indication as follow:

  • Adherence to the particular branch of service (e.g. Army, Air Force, or NAVY), or special troops
  • Qualification, professional responsibility, specific knowledge
  • rank insignia, operational/ tactical responsibility, e.g. level of military command, formation, unit, or subunit.

The top military ran Marshall of the Soviet Union was disposed by order of the “USSR Central Executive Committee” and the “Council of People's Commissars” from September 22, 1935

Military ranks[]

The military ranks as to the decision of the “USSR Central Executive Committee” and the “Council of People's Commissars” from November 21, 1935 are contained in the table below.

Land forces
Air Force
Naval forces equivalent in GUGB/NKWD
Enlisted men & junior leading staff
Krasnoareez OR1[3] Krasnoflotez
(from 1946: Matros)
OR1 no equivalent
Otdeljonnyi komandir OR6
Mladshij komandir OR7 No equivalent
Starshina OR8
Commanding staff
Lejtenant OF[4] Sergeant of the state security
Starshij lejtenant Mladshij lejtenent of the state security
Kapitan OF2 Kapitan-lejtenant OF2 Lejtenant of the state security
Major OF3 Kapitan 3rd rank OF3 Starshij lejtenant of the state security
Polkovnik OF5 Kapitan 2nd rank OF4 Kapitan of the state security
Kombrig OF6 Kapitan 1st rank OF5 Major of the state security
Komdiv OF7 Flagman 2nd rank OF6 Starshij major of the state security
Komkor OF8 Flagman Ist rank OF7 Commissar of the state security 3rd rank
Komandarm 2nd rank OF9 Flagman of the fleet 2nd rank OF8 Commissar of the state security 2nd rank
Komandarm 1st rank Flagman of the fleet 1st rank OF9 Commissar of the state security 1st rank
Marshall of the Soviet Union OF10 No equivalent Genera-commissar of the state security

Addition regulations[]

Additional regulations to Political commissars and military specialists are contained in the table below.

Military-political staff
all service branches
Military-technician staff Military-administration and support all service branches Military-medical service all service branches Military-veterinarian all service branches Military-legal service all service branches
Land forces &
Air Force
Naval forces
No rank established Mil-technician 2nd rank Technical-intendant 2nd rank Army-surgeon Veterinarian army-surgeon Junior military jurist
Politleader Mil-technician 1st rank Technical-intendant 1st rank Senior army-surgeon Senior veterinarian army-surgeon Military jurist
Seniorpolitleader Mil-engineer 3rd rank Intendant 3rd rank Military physician 3rd rank Military veterinarian 3rd rank Military jurist 3rd rank
Bataillon commissar Mil-engineer 2nd rank Intendant 2nd rank Mil-physician 2nd rank Mil-vet-physician 2nd rank Military jurist 2nd rank
Regiment commissar Mil-engineer 1st rankk Intendant 1st rank Mil-physician 1st rank Mil-vet-physician 1st rank Military jurist 1st rank
Brigade commissar Brig-engineer Engineer-flagman 3rd rank Brig-intendant Brig-physician Brig-vet-physician Brig-mil-jurist
Division commissar Div-engineer Engineer-flagman 2nd rank Div-intendant Div-physician Div-vet-pysician Div-mil-jurist
Corps commissar Cor-engineer Engineer-flagman 1st rank Cor-intendant Cor-physician Cor-vet-pysician Cor-military-jurist
Army commissar 2nd rank Arm-engineer Engineer-flagman of the fleet Arm-intendant Arm- physician Arm-veterinarian Arm-military-jurist
Army commissar 1st rank No rank established

1937[]

More regulations were established in 1937, in line to general instructions of the Red Army. In line to paragraph 10 of this instruction, the subdivision of personnel in uniform to rank groups and assignments (in the following rank groups) was granted.

  • Leading staff: this group contained military politicians, military administration and commissariat, medical service, veterinarian service, military legal service
  • Commanding staff: to this group counted personnel with the ranks commander in chief and commander
  • Junior commanding staff
  • Enlisted men

Paragraph 14 of this instruction contained the so-called individual ranks and rank designations in line to the order from September 22, 1935, and with the (as to August 5, 1937) additional established OF-1c ranks Mladshij lejtenant and Mladshij military technical) as to August 5, 1937.

1939[]

By decision of the extraordinary session of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR (end of August until early September 1939) the low on universal compulsory service was adopted, and the new OF4-ranks Podpolkovnik and Battalion commissar were disposed. A commensurate OF4-rank to the Soviet navy was not established.

Rank designations[]

Popov N A praded

Example Polkovnik armoured corps with rank insignia big (coat), small (battle jacket) 1940.

In line to the individual ranks the establishment of defined ran insignia were determined in December 1935 as well. From this time military staff, including political commissars, military administration/ commissariat, medical service, veterinarian service, military legal service of the Red Army wore rank insignia as follows.

  • Rank insignia chevron: on both sleeves (short above the cuff)
  • Rank insignia big: on both collar-edges of the uniform coat
  • Rank insignia small: on both collar-edges of the battle jacket, the so-called Gymnastjorka

However, naval military staff wore sleeve insignia (stripes and stars) on both sleeves of the uniform. The rank insignia were in line to rank group differently designed.

Commander in chief, higher commanding officers and top appointments OF10 to OF6
  • Rank insignia big (over coat): on a rhombic padding, gold coloured border, one to four rhombic red enameled badges, gold colourer Soviet star small/ big
  • Rank insignia small (Gymnastjorka): on rectangle padding, gold coloured border, one to four rhombic red enameled badges
  • Sleeve insignia (over coat): one to four gold colored chevrons, Soviet star small/ big, one red coloured extra chevron OF10
Commanding officers and unit leaders OF5, OF3 und OF2
  • Rank insignia big (over coat): on rhombic padding, gold coloured border, one to three red enameled rectangle badges
  • Rank insignia small (Gymnastjorka): on rectangle padding, gold coloured border, one to four red enameled rectangle badges
Subunit leader OF1
  • Rank insignia big (over coat): on rhombic padding, gold coloured border, one to four red enameled square badges
  • Rank insignia small (Gymnastjorka): on rectangle padding, gold coloured border, one to four red enameled square badges
Sub-subunit leader and enlisted men OR8 to OR1
  • Sub-subunit leader
    • Rank insignia big (over coat): on rhombic padding, gold coloured border, one to three red enameled trigonal badges
    • Rank insignia small (Gymnastjorka): on rectangle padding, gold coloured border, one to four red enameled trigonal badges
  • Enlisted men: simple rank insignia big (over coat)/ simple rank insignia small (Gymnastjorka)

Table rank insignia land forces 1935–1940[]

Generals[]

Designation Commander in chief, higher commanders and top appointments
Rank
insignia
Coat-collar RA A F10Marshal 1940 RA A F9aComArmy1 1940 RA A F9aComArmy2 1940 RA A F8aComCorps 1940 RA A F7aComDiv 1940 RA A F6aComBrig 1940
Gymnastjorka RA A F9ComArmy1 1940 col RA A F9ComArmy2 1940 col RA A F8ComCorps 1940 col RA A F7ComDiv 1940 col RA A F6ComBrig 1940 col
Coat-chevron None RA A F9ComArmy1 1940 chevr RA A F9ComArmy2 1940 chevr RA A F8ComCorps 1940 chevr RA A F7ComDiv 1940 chevr RA A F6ComBrig 1940 chevr
Rank designation Marshall of the Soviet Union Komandarm 1st rank Komandarm 2nd rank Komkor Komdiv Kombrig
(native designation) (Маршал Советского Союза) (Командарм 1-го ранга) (Командарм 2-го ранга) (Комкор) (Комдив) (Комбриг)
OF-equivalent OF10 OF9 OF8 OF7 OF6
Rank designation after 1940 No change Armeegeneral
(Chief marshal of the branch & Marshal of the branch)
Generaloberst Generalleutnant Generalmajor

Officers[]

Designation Commanding officers and unit leaders
Rank
insignia
Coat-collar On rhombic padding,
golden coloured border, 1–3 badges (rectangleas / squarwe) as depicted below
None
Gymnastjorka RA A F4LtCol 1943 RA A F3Maj 1943 RA A F2Capt 1943 RA A F1-1Lt 1943 RA A F1-2Lt 1943 RA A F1-3Lt 1943
Rank designation Polkovnik Major Kpitan Starshij lejtenant Lejtenant Mladshij lejtenant
(Native designation) (Полковник) (Майор) (Капитан) (Старшйи лейтенант) (Лейтенант) (Младшйи лейтенант)
OF-equivalent OF5 OF3 OF2 OF1

Sub-subunit leaders and enlisted men[]

Designation Sub-subunit leaders, specialists & enlisted men
Rank
insignia
Coat-collar On rhombic padding, 1 – 4 trigonal badges None
Gymastjorka RA A R8SergMaj col 1943 RA A R7SFC col 1943 RA A R6SGT col 1943 RA-A R4CPL col 1943 RA A R1RA-Sol col 1943
Rank
designation
Starshina Mladshij komandir svoda Otdeljonnyj komandir Zvenjovnyj Kasnoarmeez
(native designation) (Сташина) (Младший командир взвода) (Отделённый командир) (Звеньевый) (Красноармеец)
OR-equivalent OR8 OR7 OR6 OR4 OR1
Rank designation after 1940 Starshina Starshij sershant Sershant Mladshij sershant Rjadovoij
(native designation) (Старшина) (Старший сержант) (Cержа́нт) (Mла́дший сержа́нт) (Pядово́й)

Table of rank insignia navy 1935–1940[]

Flagg officers[]

Designation Commander in chief, higher commanders and top appointments
Sleeve insignia Red Fleet 04 (1935-1940) Red Fleet 03 (1935-1940) Red Fleet 02 (1935-1940) Red Fleet 01 (1935-1940)
Rank
designation
Flagman of the fleet
1st rank
Flagman of the fleet
2nd rank
Flagman
1st rank
Flagman
2nd rank
(native designation) (Флагман флота 1-го ранга) (Флагман флота 2-го ранга) (Флагман 1-го ранга) (Флагман 2-го ранга)
OF-equivalent OF9 OF8 OF7 OF6
Rank designation after 1940 Flottenadmiral Admiral Vizeadmiral Konteradmiral

Officers[]

Designation Commanding officers and unit leaders
Sleeve insignia RAF N F5CaptainNavy 1940 RAF N F4Commander 1940 RAF N F3LtCommander 1940 RAF N F2CaptainLt 1940 RAF N F1-1FirstLtNavy 1940 RAF N F1-2LtNavy 1940
Rank
designation
Kapitan 1st rank Kapitan 2nd rank Kapitan 3rd rank Kapitan-lejtenant starshij lejtenant Lejtenant
(native designation) (Капитана 1-го ранга) (Капитана 2-го ранга) (Капитана 3-го ранга) (Капитан-лейтенанта) (Стазший лейтенанта) (Лейтенанта)
OF-equivalent OF5 OF4 OF3 OF2 OF1

Sub-subunit leader and enlisted men[]

Designation Sub-subunit leaders, specialists & enlisted men
Sleeve insignia RAF N R8Starshina 1924-1940 None RAF N R1RedNavyMan 1918-1945
Rank
designation
Starshina Odeljonnyj komandir Krasnoflotez
(native designation) (Старшина) (Отделенный командир) (Краснофлоец)
OR-equivalent OR8 OR6 OR1

See also[]

References[]

  1. Rank insignia and sequence of ranks of the “Workers' and Peasants' Red Army” as to order number 2590 of the “USSR Central Executive Committee” and “Council of People's Commissars” from September 22, 1935. Other solutions to ground forces and navy of the “Workers' and Peasants' Red Army” were disposed by order 2591.
  2. Order number 176 of the „People's Commissar of defence of the USSR” from December 3, 1935 pertaining individual military ranks of the land forces and the Navy of the “Workers' and Peasants' Red Army”.
  3. The abbreviation "OR" stands for "Other Ranks / fr: sous-officiers et militaires du rang / ru:другие ранги, кроме офицероф"
  4. The abbreviation "OF" stands for de: "Offizier / en: officer / fr: officier / ru: офицер"
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