Ranks and rank insignia of the Red Army 1940–1943

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 flag officer ranks in the Soviet Navy was, by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, officially sanctioned.^[1]

In line with the decision of the Presdiuum the following ranks (OF6 to OR9) were introduced

^[2]

• To top level generic force commanding staff (infantry included): Major general, Lieutenant general, Colonel general, and General of the Army
• 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
• Communications troops commanders: Major general of the communications troops, Lieutenant general of the communications troops, and Colonel general of the communications 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
• Flag 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 of the coastal service, Lieutenant general of the coastal service, and Colonel general of the coastal service
• Flag officers on ship-engineer service (on top appointments) of the Soviet Navy: Counter admiral engineer, Vice admiral engineer, and Admiral engineer

On June 4, 1940, the first promotions to the new established ranks were made. First to be promoted to the Army general OF9-rank were Zukov, Meretskov and Tyulenev. The rank insignia that characterized it were 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

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 –  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
	Sleeve-chevron		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)
	Gorget insignia (Air Force)	(Request for creation/ upload of this picture!)				(Request for creation/ upload of this picture!)	(Request for creation/ upload of this picture!)
	Gorget insignia (Armoured corps)						(Request for creation/ upload of this picture!)
	Sleeve-chevron
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							Land forces (generic)
								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
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
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
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

• History of Russian military ranks
• Ranks and rank insignia of the Russian armed forces until 1917
• Ranks and rank insignia of the Red Army 1918–1935 and ... 1935–1940
• Ranks and rank insignia of the Soviet Army 1943–1955 and ... 1955–1991
• Army ranks and insignia of the Russian Federation

References

1. ↑ Decree of the "Presidium of the Supreme Soviet” of May 7 7, 1943 … on the introduction of general ranks of the Red Army and flag 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”.