Ranks in the USSR army after 1943. What military ranks were there in the USSR army, what shoulder straps did the soldiers wear?

Insignia of ranks of the Russian Army. XX century

Part 3.
Senior command and management personnel
(generals).

In February 1946, the name "Red Army" (RKKA) will be changed to the name "Soviet Army".

The year 1943 was marked by a radical change in the uniform and insignia of the Red Army. The insignia of military ranks on buttonholes will forever go down in history.

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of January 6, 1943, new insignia of ranks in the Red Army were introduced - shoulder straps. By order of NGO No. 25 of January 15, a new uniform was introduced.

The decree clearly stipulates that shoulder straps serve to determine the military rank and affiliation of a serviceman to a specific branch of the military (service).

Before describing the new insignia, it should be noted that on January 8, 1943 (NKO Order No. 10 of January 8, 1943, which announced the State Defense Committee Resolution of January 2) 1943, ranks in the medical, veterinary services, and military justice were replaced. They are given ranks that are the same as command personnel, but with the addition of an indication of the type of service. For example, “Lieutenant General of the Medical Service”, “Major General of the Veterinary Service”, “Colonel General of Justice”. Changes in the rank system for the rest of the senior command staff were made back in 1942.

Thus, the title of brigade commander finally went down in history. Let me remind you that the rank of brigade commander and the rank of brigintendant disappeared in 1940 with the introduction of general ranks for command and quartermaster personnel. The rank of brigade commissar disappeared in October 1942 with the abolition of the rank scale for political workers. The rank of brigade engineer also disappeared in 1942 with the transition of the military-technical personnel to ranks close to command. And finally, in January 1943 the titles of brigdoctor, brigvetvrach and brigvoenurist disappeared.

The shoulder straps of generals (for ease of presentation, we will call the highest command and command personnel) are divided into two types:
1. Field ones, which are worn on the field uniform in war and peacetime.
2. Everyday ones, which are worn on all types of uniforms, except field ones.

Generals' shoulder straps hexagonal in shape and have dimensions - length 14-16 cm, width 6.5 cm (5 mm wider than officers' shoulder straps). But the shoulder straps of the generals of the medical, veterinary and legal services are narrower. They have a shoulder strap width of 4-4.5 cm.
The stars on the shoulder straps are embroidered with silver thread and have a diameter of 22 m (for comparison, the stars of senior officers are only 20 mm). Star of Marshal of the Soviet Union with a diameter of 50mm.
But the stars on the shoulder straps of the generals of the medical, veterinary and legal services have a diameter of 20 mm and are embroidered with gold thread. In addition, in addition to stars, they wear gold medical and justice emblems on their shoulder straps, and silver veterinary ones.

Field shoulder straps made of khaki silk basson with a pattern of general's galloon.
Field of everyday shoulder straps made of gold general's galloon

The edgings on the shoulder straps of generals of combined arms, tank troops and artillery are red.
The edgings on the shoulder straps of aviation generals are blue,
The edgings on the shoulder straps of the generals of the technical troops and the quartermaster service are crimson.
The edgings on the shoulder straps of the generals of the medical, veterinary and legal services are red.

In the picture on the right are everyday shoulder straps (from left to right):
*Major General of Veterinary Service.
*Major General of Medical Service,
*Lieutenant General of Justice.

Note: In the issued order of NKO No. 25, the issue of insignia of generals of the engineering and technical personnel of the military branches was omitted. It turned out that the generals of the command staff and the engineering and technical staff did not have any difference in their insignia.

In the picture on the left, top row (field shoulder straps):

1-Major General (combined arms, tank forces or artillery).
2-Lieutenant General (technical troops) or Lieutenant General of the Quartermaster Service.
3-Colonel General (combined arms, tank troops or artillery).
4-Army General.

Bottom row (everyday shoulder straps):
1-Major General (combined arms, tank forces or artillery).
2nd Lieutenant General of Aviation
3-Colonel General (technical troops) or Colonel General of the quartermaster service.
4-Army General.
5th Marshal of the Soviet Union.

The highest rank in all branches of the military and services in January 1943 was the rank of colonel general. The ranks of General of the Army and Marshal of the Soviet Union stood outside the branches of the military and were combined arms.
However, by this time both tank and air armies already existed in the Red Army. In addition, the authority of aviation, tank troops and artillery was already so great that the highest commanders of these types of troops were awarded the rank of army general, i.e. combined arms turned out to be not entirely convenient. Obviously, therefore, on February 4, 1943, for the command staff of aviation, artillery, and armored forces, the ranks of “marshal of aviation,” “marshal of artillery,” and “marshal of armored forces” were introduced, equivalent to the rank of “general of the army.”
Accordingly, it was necessary to introduce insignia for marshals of military branches.
By order of NKO No. 51 of February 4, 1943, the insignia for the Marshal of the Soviet Union and
insignia are introduced for marshals of military branches.

Marshals of the military branches are given shoulder straps with the insignia of the Marshal of the Soviet Union, but with the addition of the emblem of the military branch embroidered with silver thread above the star. However, the diameter of the star for marshals of military branches is not 50, but 40 mm.
On the shoulder straps of the Marshal of the Soviet Union, above the star, the coat of arms of the USSR is embroidered with colored silk threads.

In the picture on the left:
1. Marshal of Artillery,
2. Air Marshal.
3. Marshal of armored forces.
4. Marshal of the Soviet Union.

The marshals were also assigned field shoulder straps, on which the field was made of khaki-colored basson with a pattern of general's braid, and the stars and emblems were the same color as on everyday ones.

Additional insignia, or more precisely, the difference between generals and officers, were new-style buttonholes, who now did not have the function of determining the ranks of generals.
The buttonholes on general's overcoats were identical in shape to those of soldiers and officers, but instead of a colored edging they had a golden edging along the edge. Instead of a star, the coat of arms of the USSR was embossed on the golden button.
On the field uniform the field of the buttonhole is khaki, on the everyday uniform the color of the branch of the army is:
*combined arms generals and marshals of the Soviet Union - red,
*generals and marshals of armored forces, artillery - black,
*aviation generals - blue,
*generals of technical troops, marshals of engineering troops and communications troops, generals of the quartermaster service - raspberry.

The ceremonial uniforms have gold embroidery instead of buttonholes. The Marshals of the Soviet Union are in the form of oak leaves, and all the others are in the form of laurel branches.

And on the cuffs of their ceremonial uniforms, the marshals of the Soviet Union have the same sewing as on the collar, and the generals and marshals of the military branches each have three so-called. "coils".

From the author. It is known from secondary sources that the production of field shoulder straps for marshals was not organized. The war was coming to a victorious conclusion and there was no need for our senior military leaders to disguise themselves. If officers strove, whenever possible, to wear gold rather than field shoulder straps, then God himself ordered the generals and marshals to show off in gold shoulder straps.
It was the Wehrmacht generals who quickly began to fade after the Battle of Kursk. Soldier's field caps, scanty uniforms of the 1944 model, soldiers' greatcoats, trousers without stripes, leg wraps instead of smart chrome boots. It became quite common for them to hide general's shoulder straps under camouflage muffs.
My father said that in the winter of 1945 in East Prussia, he saw a lonely Red Army soldier walking along the highway, escorting a German general. To the question he answered: “Well, the company captured what looked like a general, but he was too unsightly and shabby. The guys doubted it. The foreman ordered to be taken to the regiment commander.”

By order of NKO No. 61 of February 8, 1943, artillery generals (but only artillery!) introduced artillery emblems on their shoulder straps

From the author. This privilege for artillery generals was achieved from Stalin by Marshal of Artillery N.N. Voronov, who, after the defeat of the Germans at Stalingrad, was held in high esteem by the leader, since he played a very significant role in the defeat of the encircled army of Paulus.

On February 14, 1943, by order of NKO No. 79, a defect in the insignia of generals was corrected. The highest engineering and technical personnel (generals of the technical service) in all branches of the military, to distinguish them from the senior command personnel, have crimson edgings on their shoulder straps (like the generals of the technical troops and generals of the quartermaster service).

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of October 9, 1843. (announced by NKO order No. 305 of October 27, 1943) additional ranks of senior command personnel are introduced:
*Chief Marshal of Artillery.
*Chief Marshal of the Armored Forces.
*Air Chief Marshal.
*Marshal of the Engineering Troops.
*Chief Marshal of the Engineering Troops.
*Marshal of Signal Corps.
*Chief Marshal of the Signal Corps.

In accordance with the Decree of the PVS by order of NKO No. 307 dated October 26, 1943. insignia for new ranks are being introduced. Grand Marshals receive a thin laurel wreath around the star. Marshals and chief marshals of the Engineering Troops and Signal Corps have emblems embroidered on their shoulder straps, respectively, of the Engineering Troops and Signal Corps.

The picture on the left shows (from left to right):
*Field shoulder strap of the chief marshal of artillery.
*Everyday shoulder strap of an air chief marshal,
*Everyday shoulder strap of an artillery marshal.
*Field shoulder strap of a Marshal of the Engineering Troops.

From the author. During the entire existence of these ranks, not a single case of conferring the rank of chief marshal of the engineering troops and chief marshal of the communications troops has been recorded. In two branches of the military these ranks remained nominal.
The ranks of marshal of the engineering troops were received at different times by M.P. Vorobyov, A.I. Proshlyakov, V.A. Kharchenko, S.Kh. Aganov and two people who had absolutely nothing to do with the engineering troops. This is A.V. Gelovani and N.F. Shestopalov. Both are military builders. Apparently this is how they were rewarded for their “outstanding leadership of the troops” in the construction of government mansions and pleasure country “hunting lodges.”
Marshals of the Signal Corps at different times were N.N. Alekseev, A.I. Belov, A.I. Leonov and I.T. Peresypkin. Of the four, Alekseev had nothing to do with the Signal Corps.
The artillery had three chief marshals and ten marshals.
The air force had seven chief marshals and twenty-five marshals.
The armored forces had two chief marshals and six marshals.

In June 1945, the title of “Generalissimo of the Soviet Union” was introduced, which was awarded to I.V. Stalin. However, no insignia was introduced for this rank. General Khrulev A.V. The Chief of Logistics of the Red Army writes in his memoirs that Stalin was presented several times with options for the uniform and insignia of the Generalissimo, but he rejected everything. Soon after the end of the war, Stalin returned to wearing his pre-war clothes and the issue of insignia disappeared.

1947

By order of the Minister of the Armed Forces (as the military department was called during this period) No. 4 of January 31, 1947, generals transferred to the reserve or retired with the right to wear a military uniform were ordered to wear special 28 mm wide stripes on their shoulder straps. made of galloon in the same color as the stars. Those. on a gold shoulder strap there is a silver stripe, on a silver shoulder strap there is a gold stripe.
For generals in reserve, the pattern of the braid of the patch is simple, and for those who are retired, the braid with a zig-zag is of the opposite color.

From the author. The author was never able to find a single photograph of the general with such shoulder straps. Obviously, the distinguished military generals considered themselves even more offended and insulted than the officers.
As soon as such shoulder straps were introduced for retirees and reservists, the Military Councils of the districts began to report to the General Staff about the sharply negative attitude of the officers to this innovation. Through special departments of the MGB and territorial bodies of the MGB, messages were received to the top in which it was noted that officers and generals regard this as an attempt to belittle the authority of the command staff, that this leads to a decrease in military discipline, that soldiers and sergeants, seeing the stripes on their shoulder straps, do not give up Such generals are honored, insulted, and called “sergeant general.”
These insignia are absent from the Ministry of Defense order on the new uniform of 1955, but obviously, one way or another, officially or privately, they were silent.

There were no further significant changes in the insignia of generals until 1955.

Sources and literature

1. Decree of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated January 6, 1943.
2.Order of the USSR NGO No. 25 dated January 15, 1943.
3.Order of the USSR NGO No. 51 of February 4, 1943.
4.Order of the USSR NGO No. 61 of February 8, 1943.
5.Order of the USSR NGO No. 79 of February 14, 1943.
6. Decree of the PVS of the USSR of October 9, 1943.
7.Order of the USSR NGO No. 305 dated October 27, 1943.
8. Decree of the PVS of the USSR of October 26, 1943.
9.Order of the USSR NGO No. 307 dated October 26, 1943.
10.Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR No. 4 dated January 31, 1947.
11.O.V. Kharitonov. Illustrated description of uniforms and insignia of the Red and Soviet Army (1918-1958). Artillery Historical Museum of the Main Artillery Directorate of the USSR Ministry of Defense. 1962
12. M.M. Khrenov and others. Military clothing of the Armed Forces of the USSR and Russia (1917-1990s). Military publishing house. Moscow. 1999
13. N.N. Voronov. In military service. Military publishing house. Moscow. 1963

In January 1943, at the height of the war, reform took place in the Red Army. Soviet soldiers and officers put on shoulder straps and changed ranks. Officers appeared in the army again. Like in the tsarist army.
1
Strange decree

On January 10, 1943, by order of NKO No. 24, it was announced that the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of 01/06/1943 “On the introduction of shoulder straps for the personnel of the Red Army” was adopted.
This document, and this decision itself - to undertake serious military reform in the midst of war - have, of course, their own history. This is what we want to tell you. Why did Stalin return the shoulder straps that served as a symbol of the White Army to the Red Army? How was this decree received? For what purpose was the military reform carried out?
2
Propaganda reaction

It’s interesting how fascist propaganda greeted the return of shoulder straps. German greyhound writers immediately began to see in this step the weakness of Stalin, who made concessions out of fear. The Germans wrote that there are rumors that Stalin will change the name of the army to Russian.
They thus treated this as a forced and hasty decision, although the reality was completely different. The introduction of shoulder straps was part of the planned reform program of the Soviet Union.
3
How it happened

Let me just say: the idea has been brewing for a long time. Back in 1935, the rank of “Marshal of the Soviet Union” was introduced in the Red Army, and in 1940 the ranks of general and admiral were introduced. This can be considered an important milestone on the path to shoulder straps.
By 1941, samples of the new uniform and shoulder straps were ready. In May 1942, the decree was approved by the Main Political Directorate of the Red Army. Temporary technical specifications (TTU) of the TC SIU KA No. 0725, which contained a description of the emblems and insignia (stars) on the shoulder straps, were published on December 10, 1942.
The Red Army needed a bright turning point victory. Stalingrad became such a victory. When it became clear that Paulus’s 6th Army would not have much time left, the project was approved by the Politburo of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) on October 23, 1942.
According to the order, it was necessary to switch to shoulder straps within half a month - from February 1 to 15, 1943, however, even on the Kursk Bulge in July of this year, some pilots and tank crews, as can be seen in the photographs, wore not shoulder straps, but old buttonholes.
4
How the shoulder straps were changed

The introduction of shoulder straps was met with mixed reactions. It is known that, for example, Georgy Zhukov did not like shoulder straps. Many Soviet military leaders went through the Civil War - and their memory remembered the “golden chasers”.
It must be said that, of course, Stalin’s shoulder straps were not a copy of the tsarist ones. Here there was a different system for designating ranks, as well as the ranks themselves. Instead of a second lieutenant, there was now a lieutenant, a staff captain became a captain, and instead of a captain, a major. On the shoulder straps of the army of the Russian Empire, ranks were indicated only by small stars. Stalin was the first to introduce big stars for senior officers. Field marshals in the tsarist army wore shoulder straps with two crossed batons on a zigzag braid. After the introduction of shoulder straps in 1943, the rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union began to be symbolized by a large star and the coat of arms of the USSR.
4
Officers

Order No. 1 of March 1, 1917 “On the democratization of the former army and navy” equalized the rights of soldiers and officers. Soon the very word “officer” began to be perceived as counter-revolutionary.
Only in the May Day order of the People's Commissar of Defense in 1942 did it appear again. At the beginning of 1943, with the introduction of shoulder straps in the Red Army, the word officer officially fell out of favor. The commanders from the platoon commander to the brigade commander began to be called differently.
5
Why?

It is not entirely correct to consider the introduction of shoulder straps to be the personal initiative of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. Shoulder straps were introduced by decision of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. The Chairman of the Presidium was Mikhail Ivanovich Kalinin. This was a planned reform, preparation for it took almost ten years.
There is a version that Stalin introduced shoulder straps almost out of nostalgia. In March 1918, Stalin acted as extraordinary commissar for the shipment of grain in Tsaritsyn and there he met the strange “red general” Andrei Evgenievich Snesarev, who refused on principle to remove the general’s shoulder straps and aiguillettes of the General Staff. Stalin remembered the proud officer.
But this can hardly be called a historically based version. Most likely, the introduction of shoulder straps was caused by objective reasons:
1) Ideological (epaulettes have been an element of the uniform of the Russian army since the time of Peter the Great, and appealing to the names of the great Russian commanders was one of the methods of instilling patriotism)
2) Nominative. The war will end sooner or later. It was short-sighted to come to Berlin as “commanders” and “brigade commanders” - an approximate unification with the ranks of the allied countries was needed.
3) The victory in the Battle of Stalingrad turned the tide of the war. Changes in uniforms helped to invigorate the army.
When the decree was adopted, articles about it immediately appeared in the newspapers. And they emphasize the symbolism of introducing shoulder straps precisely from the position of the inextricable connection of Russian victories.

Follow us

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

Strange decree

On January 10, 1943, by order of NKO No. 24, it was announced that the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of 01/06/1943 “On the introduction of shoulder straps for the personnel of the Red Army” was adopted.

This document, and this decision itself - to undertake serious military reform in the midst of war - have, of course, their own history. This is what we want to tell you. Why did Stalin return the shoulder straps that served as a symbol of the White Army to the Red Army? How was this decree received? For what purpose was the military reform carried out?

Propaganda reaction

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

How it happened

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

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

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

According to the order, it was necessary to switch to shoulder straps within half a month - from February 1 to 15, 1943, however, even on the Kursk Bulge in July of this year, some pilots and tank crews, as can be seen in the photographs, wore not shoulder straps, but old buttonholes.

How the shoulder straps were changed

The introduction of shoulder straps was met with mixed reactions. It is known that, for example, Georgy Zhukov did not like shoulder straps. Many Soviet military leaders went through the Civil War - and their memory remembered the “golden chasers”.

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

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

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

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

There is a version that Stalin introduced shoulder straps almost out of nostalgia. In March 1918, Stalin acted as extraordinary commissar for the shipment of grain in Tsaritsyn and there he met the strange “red general” Andrei Evgenievich Snesarev, who refused on principle to remove the general’s shoulder straps and aiguillettes of the General Staff. Stalin remembered the proud officer.

But this can hardly be called a historically based version. Most likely, the introduction of shoulder straps was caused by objective reasons:

1) Ideological (epaulettes have been an element of the uniform of the Russian army since the time of Peter the Great, and appealing to the names of the great Russian commanders was one of the methods of instilling patriotism)

2) Nominative. The war will end sooner or later. It was short-sighted to come to Berlin as “commanders” and “brigade commanders” - an approximate unification with the ranks of the allied countries was needed.

3) The victory in the Battle of Stalingrad turned the tide of the war. Changes in uniforms helped to invigorate the army.

When the decree was adopted, articles about it immediately appeared in the newspapers. And they emphasize the symbolism of introducing shoulder straps precisely from the position of the inextricable connection of Russian victories.

70 years ago, shoulder straps were introduced in the Soviet Union for the personnel of the Soviet Army. Shoulder straps and stripes in the navy were abolished in Soviet Russia after the October Revolution of 1917 by decree of the Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR (they were considered a symbol of inequality).

Shoulder straps appeared in the Russian army at the end of the 17th century. Initially they had a practical meaning. They were first introduced by Tsar Peter Alekseevich in 1696, then they served as a strap that kept the gun belt or cartridge pouch from slipping off the shoulder. Therefore, shoulder straps were an attribute of uniform only for lower ranks, since officers were not armed with guns. In 1762, an attempt was made to use shoulder straps as a means of distinguishing military personnel from different regiments and distinguishing soldiers and officers. To solve this problem, each regiment was given shoulder straps of different weaving from a harness cord, and to separate soldiers and officers, the weaving of shoulder straps in the same regiment was different. However, since there was no single standard, the shoulder straps performed the task of the insignia poorly.

Under Emperor Pavel Petrovich, only soldiers began to wear shoulder straps again, and again only for a practical purpose: to keep the ammunition on their shoulders. Tsar Alexander I returned the function of rank insignia to shoulder straps. However, they were not introduced in all branches of the military; in infantry regiments, shoulder straps were introduced on both shoulders, in cavalry regiments - only on the left. In addition, back then, shoulder straps did not indicate rank, but membership in a particular regiment. The number on the shoulder strap indicated the number of the regiment in the Russian Imperial Army, and the color of the shoulder strap showed the number of the regiment in the division: red indicated the first regiment, blue the second, white the third, and dark green the fourth. Yellow color indicated the army (non-guards) grenadier units, as well as the Akhtyrsky, Mitavsky Hussars and the Finnish, Primorsky, Arkhangelsk, Astrakhan and Kinburn Dragoon regiments. To distinguish lower ranks from officers, officers' shoulder straps were first lined with gold or silver braid, and a few years later epaulettes were introduced for officers.

Since 1827, officers and generals began to be designated by the number of stars on their epaulettes: warrant officers had one star each; for second lieutenants, majors and major generals - two; for lieutenants, lieutenant colonels and lieutenant generals - three; staff captains have four. Captains, colonels and full generals did not have stars on their epaulettes. In 1843, insignia were also established on the shoulder straps of lower ranks. So, the corporals got one stripe; for non-commissioned officers - two; senior non-commissioned officer - three. Sergeant majors received a transverse stripe 2.5 centimeters wide on their shoulder straps, and ensigns received exactly the same stripe, but located longitudinally.

Since 1854, instead of epaulettes, shoulder straps were introduced for officers; epaulettes were reserved only for ceremonial uniforms. Since November 1855, shoulder straps for officers became hexagonal, and for soldiers - pentagonal. Officer's shoulder straps were made by hand: pieces of gold and silver (less often) braid were sewn onto a colored base, from under which the field of the shoulder strap was visible. Stars were sewn on, gold stars on the silver shoulder strap, silver stars on the gold shoulder strap, the same size (11 mm in diameter) for all officers and generals. The field of shoulder straps showed the number of the regiment in the division or the branch of service: the first and second regiments in the division are red, the third and fourth are blue, the grenadier formations are yellow, the rifle units are crimson, etc. After this, there were no revolutionary changes until October 1917 of the year. Only in 1914, in addition to gold and silver shoulder straps, field shoulder straps were first established for the active army. The field shoulder straps were khaki (protective color), the stars on them were oxidized metal, the gaps were indicated by dark brown or yellow stripes. However, this innovation was not popular among officers who considered such shoulder straps unsightly.

It should also be noted that officials of some civil departments, in particular engineers, railway workers and the police, had shoulder straps. After the February Revolution of 1917, in the summer of 1917, black shoulder straps with white gaps appeared in shock formations.

On November 23, 1917, at a meeting of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, the Decree on the abolition of estates and civil ranks was approved, and shoulder straps were also abolished along with them. True, they remained in the white armies until 1920. Therefore, in Soviet propaganda, shoulder straps became a symbol of counter-revolutionary, white officers for a long period of time. The word “golden chasers” has actually become a dirty word. In the Red Army, military personnel were initially allocated only by position. For insignia, stripes were established on the sleeves in the form of geometric shapes (triangles, squares and rhombuses), as well as on the sides of the overcoat; they indicated rank and affiliation with the branch of the military. After the Civil War and until 1943, insignia in the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army remained in the form of collar buttonholes and sleeve chevrons.

In 1935, personal military ranks were established in the Red Army. Some of them corresponded to the royal ones - colonel, lieutenant colonel, captain. Others were taken from the ranks of the former Russian Imperial Navy - lieutenant and senior lieutenant. The ranks that corresponded to the previous generals were retained from the previous service categories - brigade commander (brigade commander), division commander (divisional commander), corps commander, army commander of the 2nd and 1st ranks. The rank of major, which had been abolished under Emperor Alexander III, was restored. The insignia has remained virtually unchanged in appearance compared to the 1924 models. In addition, the title of Marshal of the Soviet Union was established; it was no longer marked with diamonds, but with one large star on the collar flap. On August 5, 1937, the rank of junior lieutenant appeared in the army (he was distinguished by one kubar). On September 1, 1939, the rank of lieutenant colonel was introduced; now three sleepers corresponded to a lieutenant colonel, not a colonel. The colonel now received four sleepers.

On May 7, 1940, the ranks of general were established. The major general, as in the times of the Russian Empire, had two stars, but they were located not on the shoulder straps, but on the collar flaps. The lieutenant general was given three stars. This is where the similarity with the royal ranks ended - instead of a full general, the lieutenant general was followed by the rank of colonel general (was taken from the German army), he had four stars. Next to the colonel general, the general of the army (borrowing from the French armed forces), had five stars.

On January 6, 1943, by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, shoulder straps were introduced in the Red Army. By order of the NKO of the USSR No. 25 of January 15, 1943, the decree was announced in the army. In the Navy, shoulder straps were introduced by order of the People's Commissariat of the Navy No. 51 of February 15, 1943. On February 8, 1943, shoulder straps were established in the People's Commissariats of Internal Affairs and State Security. On May 28, 1943, shoulder straps were introduced at the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs. On September 4, 1943, shoulder straps were established in the People's Commissariat of Railways, and on October 8, 1943, in the USSR Prosecutor's Office. Soviet shoulder straps were similar to the tsarist ones, but there were some differences. Thus, army officer's shoulder straps were pentagonal, not hexagonal; the colors of the gaps showed the type of troops, and not the number of the regiment in the division; the clearance was a single whole with the shoulder strap field; color edgings were introduced according to the type of troops; the stars on the shoulder straps were metal, silver and gold, they differed in size for senior and junior ranks; ranks were designated by a different number of stars than in the imperial army; shoulder straps without stars were not restored. Soviet officer shoulder straps were 5 mm wider than the tsarist ones and did not have encryption. Junior lieutenant, major and major general received one star each; lieutenant, lieutenant colonel and lieutenant general - two each; senior lieutenant, colonel and colonel general - three each; captain and general of the army - four each. For junior officers, the shoulder straps had one gap and from one to four silver-plated stars (13 mm in diameter), for senior officers, the shoulder straps had two gaps and from one to three stars (20 mm). Military doctors and lawyers had stars with a diameter of 18 mm.

Badges for junior commanders were also restored. The corporal received one stripe, the junior sergeant - two, the sergeant - three. Senior sergeants received the former wide sergeant major's badge, and senior sergeants received the so-called shoulder straps. "hammer".

Field and everyday shoulder straps were introduced for the Red Army. According to the assigned military rank, belonging to any branch of the military (service), insignia and emblems were placed on the shoulder straps. For senior officers, the stars were initially attached not to the gaps, but to a field of braid nearby. Field shoulder straps were distinguished by a khaki-colored field with one or two gaps sewn to it. On three sides, the shoulder straps had piping according to the color of the branch of service. Clearances were introduced: for aviation - blue, for doctors, lawyers and quartermasters - brown, for everyone else - red. For everyday shoulder straps, the field was made of galloon or golden silk. Silver braid was approved for everyday shoulder straps of engineering, quartermaster, medical, legal and veterinary services.

There was a rule according to which gilded stars were worn on silver shoulder straps, and silver stars were worn on gilded shoulder straps. Only veterinarians were an exception - they wore silver stars on silver shoulder straps. The width of the shoulder straps was 6 cm, and for officers of military justice, veterinary and medical services - 4 cm. The color of the shoulder strap edging depended on the type of troops (service): in the infantry - crimson, in aviation - blue, in the cavalry - dark blue, in technical for the troops - black, for doctors - green. On all shoulder straps, one uniform gilded button with a star, with a sickle and hammer in the center was introduced; in the Navy - a silver button with an anchor.

The shoulder straps of the generals, unlike those of officers and soldiers, were hexagonal. General's shoulder straps were gold with silver stars. The only exceptions were shoulder straps for generals of justice, medical and veterinary services. They received narrow silver shoulder straps with gold stars. Unlike the army, naval officer's shoulder straps, like the general's, were hexagonal. Otherwise, naval officer's shoulder straps were similar to army ones. However, the color of the piping was determined: for officers of the naval, engineering (ship and coastal) services - black; for naval aviation and aviation engineering services - blue; quartermaster - raspberry; for everyone else, including justice officers - red. The command and ship personnel did not have emblems on their shoulder straps.

Application. Order of the People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR
January 15, 1943 No. 25
“On the introduction of new insignia
and about changes in the uniform of the Red Army"

In accordance with the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of January 6, 1943 “On the introduction of new insignia for the personnel of the Red Army,” -

I ORDER:

1. Establish the wearing of shoulder straps:

Field - military personnel in the Active Army and personnel of units preparing to be sent to the front,

Everyday - by military personnel of other units and institutions of the Red Army, as well as when wearing full dress uniform.

2. All members of the Red Army should switch to new insignia - shoulder straps in the period from February 1 to February 15, 1943.

3. Make changes to the uniform of the Red Army personnel, according to the description.

4. Put into effect the “Rules for wearing uniforms by personnel of the Red Army.”

5. Allow the wearing of the existing uniform with new insignia until the next issue of uniforms, in accordance with the current deadlines and supply standards.

6. Unit commanders and garrison commanders must strictly monitor compliance with the uniform and correct wearing of the new insignia.

People's Commissar of Defense

I. Stalin.

Why did they change the uniforms of the Red Army soldiers in 1943? February 25th, 2018

In January 1943, at the height of the war, reform took place in the Red Army. Soviet soldiers and officers took off their buttonholes and put on shoulder straps, changed ranks and changed uniforms. I can imagine how much work had to be done, sewing uniforms, to change all this in the shortest possible time in an army with a huge number of mobilized people, in an army that is waging a stubborn war.

Why at this time? Why not after the end of the war in a calm environment?

In February 1943, the appearance of Soviet military personnel changed radically. In the trenches on the front line and on the streets of rear cities, commanders appeared with shoulder straps strikingly similar to those worn by tsarist officers. The usual "lapel" insignia disappeared. The form itself has been updated. In a short time, the logistics services produced several million new sets, which quickly replaced the old “democratic” tunics. According to the order, it was necessary to switch to shoulder straps within half a month - from February 1 to 15, 1943, however, even on the Kursk Bulge in July of this year, some pilots and tank crews, as can be seen in the photographs, wore not shoulder straps, but old buttonholes.

The Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, which changed the very system of insignia in the Red Army and other power structures of the Soviet Union, was signed on January 6, 1943. However, the fundamental decision was made, naturally, by Joseph Stalin earlier, back in 1942.

Stalin was well aware that some high-ranking commanders might react coolly to his idea - many of them had fought during the Civil War, the “golden chasers” were perceived as enemies, and for decades they could not forget about the White Terror and their dead loved ones. What was it anyway? After all, it’s clearly not a simple whim!

In the memoirs of the head of the Main Quartermaster Directorate of the Red Army, General Andrei Khrulev, one can find references to how in 1942 he went through various versions of the uniform, took it to Stalin for approval, and the Supreme Commander, in turn, jokingly told Kalinin that Khrulev “offers the old mode". Kalinin, responding to the leader’s jokes, noted that young people no longer remember the old regime, and a uniform that appeals to young people can be useful in the fight against fascism...

Here, by the way, is the propaganda reaction:

Of course, one of the “smiths of victory” Andrei Khrulev can be trusted. And since he described the procedure for taking a new form in exactly this way, then this is most likely what happened. But wasn't Stalin playing for the audience? How could Kalinin know that young people would “like” the new uniform? Why didn’t they come up with something fundamentally new “for young people”, but returned in the main points to historical patterns? Why did you go to such serious expense?

The reason that lies on the surface is Stalin’s recreation of the “red version” of the officer “class” on the basis of the corps of commanders. The expediency of this step was dictated by considerations of the effectiveness of troop control. Shortly before this, unity of command was introduced in the army, the institution of military commissars was eliminated, and political instructors were integrated into a unified system of command and control, as a result of which they lost equal status with unit commanders. The presence of stars on shoulder straps has become a kind of symbol of officer power. By the way, the word “officer” itself was also returned to official circulation from the end of 1942 - in particular, during holiday congratulations (although it would only be recorded in the main regulatory documents only after the war). But hypothetically, if we were guided only by the principles of strengthening unity of command, it was still possible to come up with something completely new for commanders. This means that Stalin deliberately recreated the old.

In 1935-1940, the USSR authorities introduced marshal and general ranks into the army. And the idea of ​​replacing the uniform has been discussed since 1941. And the fundamental decision on its “concept” was made back in 1942.

The rank system developed in 1942 and introduced in 1943 resembled the tsarist one, but did not duplicate it 100%. The second lieutenant was replaced by a lieutenant (the rank was used in the navy before the Revolution). The staff captain disappeared from the new Soviet “table of ranks” in principle; he was replaced by “just” a captain, who “moved” from senior officers to junior ones. And the senior officers themselves received special “enlarged” stars.

In general, two types of shoulder straps were introduced: field and everyday. Field ones - khaki and with cloth piping in the color corresponding to the type of military service. As for everyday ones, for junior and senior officers (middle and senior commanders) they were made of golden silk or gold braid (engineers, quartermasters and doctors received silver ones). On the shoulder straps of the average command staff there was one gap, and the stars were ordinary. On the shoulder straps of the eldest, there were already two gaps, and the stars, as mentioned above, became larger.

Private and junior military personnel wore everyday shoulder straps made entirely of cloth, the color corresponding to the branch of service.

This was a planned reform, preparation for it took almost ten years. Shoulder straps have been an element of the uniform of the Russian army since the time of Peter the Great, and appealing to the names of the great Russian commanders was one of the methods of instilling patriotism. The victory in the Battle of Stalingrad turned the tide of the war. Changes in uniforms helped to invigorate the army. In addition, it was clear that the war would end sooner or later. It was short-sighted to come to Berlin as “commanders” and “brigade commanders” - an approximate unification with the ranks of the allied countries was needed.

Also, in 1943, the requirements for the behavior and appearance of soldiers and officers were tightened. Manifestations of external laxity and indiscipline are being punished even more harshly than before. Military personnel “in uniform” were prohibited from walking around populated areas with sacks and bales, visiting markets, riding on the steps of public transport, walking unshaven, wearing wrinkled clothes and unclean shoes.

The military became a model of behavior in society, which naturally led to an increase in the authority of the army. People in uniform not only defeated the Nazis on all fronts, but also set the standard for the entire country in matters of everyday life.

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

sources