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Distinktion insignia Army general 1940-1943.

The period 1940 to 1943 was characterized by continuation of changes and reforms in the USSR armed forces, in line to permanent increase of the personnel strength of the Red Army and Soviet Navy. The tendency to put any bourgeois military thoughts under general suspicion remained further system immanent. The abolishment of to some extent self-willed rank designations, as for example OF9 Komandarm I (literal: komandir armij Ist rank/ commander army 1st rank), in line to the introduction of new ranks, and the reminiscence to traditional rank designations, as this was the case in Anglophone – and German speaking armies, remand without any alternative. However, present form and design of the rank insignia/ gorget patches (big – to over coat, small – to gymnastjorka) were kept up until 1943.

Change of military rank insignia[]

From May 1940 the introduction of general ranks in the Red Army and flagg officer ranks in the Soviet Navy was disposed by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet.[1]

In line to this disposal the following ranks (OF6 to OR9) were introduced[2]
  • To top level generic force commanding staff: Major general, Lieutenant general, Colonel general, and Army general
  • Artillery commanders: Major general of the artillery, Lieutenant general of the artillery, and Colonel general of the artillery
  • Air Force commanders (including Navy aviation): Major general of the Air Force, Lieutenant general of the Air Force, and Colonel general of the Air Force
  • Armored corps commanders: Major general of the armored corps, Lieutenant general of the armored corps, and Colonel general of the armored corps
  • Communication´s troops commanders: Major general of the communication´s troops, Lieutenant general of the communication´s troops, and Colonel general of the communication´s troops
  • Engineer troops commanders: Major general of the engineer troops, Lieutenant general of the engineer troops, and Colonel general of the engineer troops
  • Commanding staff of other troops (among others: chemical …, railway …, vehicle/ transport …, military topography): Major general of the technical troops, Lieutenant general of the technical troops, and Colonel general of the technical troops
  • Leading staff of the commissariat service: Major general of the commissariat service, Lieutenant general of the commissariat service, and Colonel general of the commissariat service
  • Flagg officers (commanders & commanding flag officers on board) of the Soviet Navy: Counter admiral, Vice admiral, Admiral, and Admiral of the fleet
  • Generals of the Soviet Navy on coastal service (appointments/ assignments): Major general on coastal service, Lieutenant general on coastal service, and Colonel general on coastal service
  • Flagg officers on ship-engineer service (on top appointments) of the Soviet Navy: Counter admiral engineer, Vice admiral engineer, and Admiral engineer

Already to June 4, 1940, first promotions to the new established ranks were adhered. First to the Army general OF9-rank promoted officers were Zukov, Meretskov and Tyulenev. The rank insignia characterized it as follows:

  • Gorget patch (rhombic): One big star (gold coloured embroidery), on the lower part two round laurel-twigs and the hammer & sickle emblem
  • Chevron: One big star (gold coloured embroidery) red piping, below a red coloured textile angle (with gold piping), rounded by two gold coloured laurel-twigs with red piping

The OF10-rank Marshall of the Soviet Union, established in September 1935, remained untouched.[3]

Ranks and rank insignia[]

The categorical thought, to neglect traditional rank insignia, i.e. to wear epaulets or shoulder boards, in line to Russian history and tradition, was continued. However, the big gorget patches have had modified. The rhombic patches, foreseen to the ranks OF6 to OF9, have had replaced by one fife-fleshing golden star. The new emblem, symbol of the particular branch of service, was added as well. The generals star (OF6 to OF9) was slightly smaller than the Marshall star OF10.

The small gorget patches, tucked on the gymnastjorka, remained unchanged. However, it was designed in corps colour and contained an emblem, in order to indicate the branch of service or special appointment. The so far used gold coloured rank-chevrons pertaining OF6 to OF10 maintained slightly modified.

Corps colours, emblems[]

Marshal of the USSR 1982 CPA

Gorged patches 1943

The in 1935, in line to the military ranks and rank insignia, disposed cops colours, were maintained, however slightly changed.

1. Colour Lampasses, padding gorget rank insignia and piping to general officers and Marshall of the Soviet Union:

  • Lampasses Marshall of the Soviet Union and generic force commanders/ commanding generals: –  deep red
  • Artillery- and armoured-generals: gorget rank insignia –  black (velvety), lampasses and piping peak deep red
  • Padding gorget rank insignia –  raspberry coloured
  • Air Force: –  sky blue
  • General ranks communication´s troops, engineer troops, technical troops, commissariat service: –  raspberry coloured

2. The general rank of the artillery, armoured corps, Air Force, communication’s troops, engineer troops, technical troops, and commissariat service wear on the gorget rank insignia the appropriate emblem of the branch of service, special force, or assignment.

3. Cops colour, typical to the branch of service:

  • Infantry: –  raspberry coloured
  • Artillery & vehicle transport troops: –  black
  • Air Force & Air defence: –  sky blue
  • Cavalry: –  deep blue,
  • Rear services (supply, maintenance, transport, medical, … etc.: –  dark green
  • Ministry of the interior & states security:
    • Border troops –  light green
    • States security –  light blue
    • All others –  chestnut-brown

Rank insignia land forces 1940–1943[]

Generals[]

Designation Commander in chief, higher commanders and top appointments
Rank
insignia
Gorget insignia en: Request for creation and upload of a picture! RA A F9GenArmy 1943 RA A F8ColGen 1943 RA A F7LtGen 1943 RA AF F7LtGen 1943 RA AF F6MajGen 1943 RA A-armor F6MajGen 1943 RA A F6MajGen 1943
Sleeve-chevron en: Request for creation and upload of a picture! fife-flashing small star (golden embroidery) with piping in corps colour, below a 32 mm textile angle (also gold coloured) with 3 mm edge to the lower border in corps colour as well
Corps colour Land forces (generic), infantry & motorized rifles Air Force Armored corps generic
Rank designation Marshall of the Soviet Union Army general Colonel general Lieutenant general
generic
Lieutenant general
of the Air Force
Major general
of the Air Force
Major general
of the armored corps
Major general
(generic)
(Native designation) (Маршал Советского Союза) (Генерал армии) (Генерал-полковник) (Генерал-лейтенант) (Генерал-лейтенант
авиации)
(Генерал-майор
авиации)
(Генерал-майор
танковых войск)
(Генерал-майор)
OF-equivalent OF10 OF9 OF8 OF7 OF6

Officers[]

Designation Higher commanders and unit commanders
Rank
insignia
Gorget insignia
(land forces)
RA A F5Col 1943 h 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
Gorget insignia
(Air Force)

(Request for creation/ upload
of this picture!)
en: Request for creation and upload of a picture! en: Request for creation and upload of a picture! RA AF F2Capt 1943h
(Request for creation/ upload
of this picture!)

(Request for creation/ upload
of this picture!)
en: Request for creation and upload of a picture!
Gorget insignia
(Armoured corps)
en: Request for creation and upload of a picture! en: Request for creation and upload of a picture! en: Request for creation and upload of a picture! en: Request for creation and upload of a picture! en: Request for creation and upload of a picture!
(Request for creation/ upload
of this picture!)
en: Request for creation and upload of a picture!
Sleeve-chevron en: Request for creation and upload of a picture! en: Request for creation and upload of a picture! en: Request for creation and upload of a picture! en: Request for creation and upload of a picture! en: Request for creation and upload of a picture! en: Request for creation and upload of a picture! en: Request for creation and upload of a picture!
Rank designation Polkovnik Podpolkovnik Major Kapitan Starshij lejtenant Lejtenant Mladshij lejtenent
(Native designation) (Полковник) (Подполковник) (Майор) (Капитан) (Старший лейтенант) (Лейтенант) (Младший лейтенант)
OF-equivalent OF5 OF4 OF3 OF2 OF1

Lower commanding staff and enlisted men[]

Designation Sub-subunit leaders and enlisted men
Rank insignia Gorget RA A R8SergMaj col 1943 RA A R7SFC col 1943 RA A R6SGT col 1943 RA-A R4CPL col 1943 RA A R2PVT col 1943 RA A R1RA-Sol col 1943 Land forces
(generic)
RA A-cav R1RA-Sol col 1943 Cavalry
Chevron No chevron
Rank designation Starshina Starshij sershant Sershant Mladshij sershant Jefrejtor Krasnoarmeets
(Native designation) (Старшина) (Starshi serschant) (Sershant) (Mladshij serschant) (Jefrejtor) (Красноapеец)
OR-equivalent OR8 OR7 OR6 OR4 OR2 OR1

Rank insignia Soviet Navy 1940–1943[]

Flagg officers[]

Designation Commander in chief, higher commanding flagg officers, and top appointments
Sleeve insignia RAF N F9AdmiralFleet 1943 RAF N F8Admiral 1943 RAF N F7ViceAdmiral 1943 RAF N F6RearAdmiral 1943
Rank designation Admiral flota Admiral Vize-admiral Kontr-admiral
(Native designation) (Адмирал флота) (Адмирал) (Вице-адмирал) (Контр-адмирал)
OF-equivalent OF9 OF8 OF7 OF6

Navy officers[]

Designation Commanding officers, commanders, and sub-unit commanders
Sleeve insignia Red Fleet Insignia 10 Red Fleet Insignia 9 Red Fleet Insignia 8 Red Fleet Insignia 7 Red Fleet Insignia 6 Red Fleet Insignia 5 Red Fleet Insignia 4
Rank designation Kapitan 1st rank Kapitan 2nd rank Kapitan 3rd rank Kapitan-lejtenant Starshij lejtenant Lejtenant Mladshij-lejtenant
(Native designation) (Капитан 1 ранга) (Капитан 2 ранга) (Капитан 3 ранга) (Капитан-лейтенант) (Старший лейтенант) (Лейтенант) (Младший лейтенант)
OF-equivalent OF5 OF4 OF3 OF2 OF1

Lower commanding staff and enlisted men[]

Designation Lower commanding staff, specialists Enlisted men
Sleeve insignia Red Fleet Insignia 2b Red Fleet Insignia 2a Red Fleet Insignia 1b Red Fleet Insignia 1a RAF N R2SeniorRedNavyMan 1940-1946 RAF N R1RedNavyMan 1918-1945
Rank designation Michman Glavnyj starshina Starshina
1st stage
Starshina
2nd stage
Starshij krasnoflotez
(1940–1945)
Krasnoflotez
(1918–1945)
(Native designation) (Мичман) (Главный старшина) (Старшина 1-й статьи) (Старшина 2-й статьи) (Старший краснофлотец) (Краснофлотец)
OR-equivalent OR8 OR7 OR6 OR4 OR2 OR1

See also[]

References[]

  1. Decree of the "Presidium of the Supreme Soviet” from Mai 7, 1943 … on the introduction of general ranks of the Red Army and flagg officer ranks of the Soviet Navy.
  2. The abbreviation "OF" stands for de: "Offizier / en: officer / fr: officier / ru: офицер"
  3. Disposal by the central executive committee of the Council of People's Commissars, of September 22, 1935 … on the introduction of the OF10-rank “Marshall of the Soviet Union”.
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