Military ranks of the Soviet Union (1943–1955)

Between 1943 and 1955, the ranks and insignia of the Soviet Armed Forces were characterised by a number of changes, including the reintroduction of rank insignia badges and the adoption of a number of higher ranks.

Changes

In conjunction with the permanent increase of the manpower strength of the Soviet armed forces, the service branches and arms were formed by orders of the People' Commissariat of Defence, consisting of artillery, air force, air defence forces, signals corps, corps of engineers and the armoured corps. Major combat support units up to command level were established. This process was characterized by a need for well qualified command staff, in a suitable rank structure. The Soviet state – and party administration – responded to these challenges by the introduction of additional higher ranks, as well as by reintroducing the traditional Russian rank insignia.

A new rank group at OF-9 level (equivalent to the general of the branch in the Wehrmacht and the Imperial Russian Army) was introduced, named marshal of the branch or chief marshal of the branch.

In January 1943 the ranks of marshal of the air force, marshal of the artillery and marshal of the armoured corps came into existence.^[1] In October 1943 it was followed by the additional ranks marshal of the communication troops, and marshal of the engineer troops, and the equivalent chief marshal of the branch ranks were added.^[2]

Generalissimo of the Soviet Union

The highest rank of Generalissimo of the Soviet Union (Russian: Генерали́ссимус Сове́тского Сою́за) was created in October 1943, as an individual award to Stalin, the Head of Government and party chief, and functioned as supreme commander on all Soviet armed forces. Promotion to this rank was limited explicitly to wartime. The instruction was conveyed by an order to the front commanders-in-chief on 26 June 1945,^[3] however, Stalin refused to officially implement the rank.

Ranks and distinction insignia for the land forces and air force

The introduction of new distinction insignia to the officer corps of the Red Army came by order of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet on 6 January 1943.^[4][5] Selected were two versions of shoulder straps or epaulettes, one for everyday uniforms and the second for field use (breadth 6 cm, length 14 to 16 cm, depending on body size). On 15 January 1943 the introduction of new uniforms was decided.^[6]

Corps colours

The corps colours that were introduced in 1935, remained in use with minor changes. The padding of the newly introduced shoulder straps were made from wool cloth, designed in branch of service colours with piping. Command staff wore silver or gold stars and characteristic metallic branch badges.

Enlisted men and non-commissioned officers

The shoulder board padding indicated the appropriate corps colour of service branch, corps or special appointment, with coloured border piping.

Colour						Branch
Padding		Piping		Field piping
	Raspberry		Black		Raspberry	Infantry (generic motorised rifles or motorised infantry)
	Cobalt blue		Black		Cobalt blue	Cavalry
	Sky blue		Black		Sky blue	Aviation troops and air force
	Black		Red		Red	Artillery & armoured corps
	Dark green		Red		Dark green	Medical troops, veterinarian service
	Black		Black		Black	Technical troops

Junior and senior officers

Piping		Branch
	Cobalt blue	Cavalry
	Raspberry	Army generic infantry, motorised rifles and logistics
	Red	Artillery, armoured corps, medical troops and veterinarian service
	Sky blue	Aviation troops and air force
	Black	Technical troops

General officers

Piping		Branch
	Deep red ("general's red")	Army generic infantry, motorised rifles and logistics
	Sky blue	Aviation troops and air force
	Raspberry	All other uses

Any other insignia

Regimental numbers in gold lettering were placed on other ranks' shoulder straps along with the emblem of the armed service, branch, special troop, or appointment. For commanders of battle units or task forces the emblem was gold coloured, for others it was silver.

Enlisted men and non-commissioned officers

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Parade uniform
Army[7]
Air force
Field uniform
Army
Air force
							Старшина́ Starshyná		Ста́рший сержа́нт Stárshiy serzhánt		Сержа́нт Serzhánt						Мла́дший сержа́нт Mládshiy serzhánt						Ефре́йтор Efréĭtor				красноармеец (Before 1946)[8] Krasnoarmeyets Рядово́й (After 1946) Ryadovóy
Translation[7]							Sergeant major		Senior sergeant		Sergeant						Junior sergeant						Corporal				Red Army man Private

Variations

Field and service uniform as shown for Senior sergeant.

Insignia	Artillery	Armoured Troops	Cavalry	Chemical Troops	Electrical Troops
Rank
Insignia	Engineer Troops	Medical Corps	Motor-Car Units	Pontoon Corps	Railway Troops, Military Communications
Rank
Insignia	Road Troops	Sapper Troops	Signal Troops	Survey Troops	Veterinary Corps
Rank

Officers

Marshals of the branch

The rank of Army general was only awarded to officers of the army from the infantry branch directly, all other branches and services were promoted to the ranks of marshal and chief marshal of the branch.

Rank	Chief marshal of the branch
Service uniform
Field uniform
Rank designation	Главный маршал артиллерии Glavnyy marshal artillerii	Главный маршал авиации Glavnyy marshal aviatsii	Главный маршал бронетанковых войск Glavnyy marshal bronetankovykh voysk	Главный маршал войск связи Glavnyy marshal voysk svyazi	Главный маршал инженерных войск Glavnyy marshal inzhenernykh voysk
Translation	Chief marshal of artillery	Chief marshal of aviation	Chief marshal of the armoured troops	Chief marshal of the signal troops	Chief marshal of the engineer troops
Rank	Marshal of the branch
Service uniform
Field uniform
Rank designation	Маршал артиллерии Marshal artillerii	Маршал авиации Marshal aviatsii	Маршал бронетанковых войск Marshal bronetankovykh voysk	Маршал войск связи Marshal voysk svyazi	Маршал инженерных войск Marshal inzhenernykh voysk
Translation	Marshal of artillery	Marshal of aviation	Marshal of the armoured troops	Marshal of the signal troops	Marshal of the engineer troops

Commissioned officers

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Parade uniform
Infantry
Air force			See above
Field uniform
Infantry
Air force			See below
	Маршал советского союза Marshal sovetskogo soyuza		Генерал армии General armii		Генера́л-полко́вник Generál-polkóvnik		Генера́л-лейтена́нт Generál-leytenánt		Генера́л-майо́р Generál-mayór		Полко́вник Polkóvnik		Подполко́вник Podpolkóvnik		Майо́р Majór		Kапита́н Kapitán		Старший лейтена́нт Stárshiy leytenánt		Лейтенант Leytenant		Mла́дший лейтена́нт Mládshiy leytenánt
Translation[7]	Marshal of the Soviet Union		General of the army		Colonel general		Lieutenant general		Major general		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		Senior lieutenant		Lieutenant		Junior lieutenant

Variations

Field, service and engineering uniform for various officers.

Insignia	Armoured Troops	Artillery	Cavalry	Chemical Troops	Electrical Troops
Rank
Insignia	Engineer Troops	Legal Service	Medical Corps	Motor-Car Units	Pontoon Corps
Rank
Insignia	Quartermaster Corps	Railway Troops, Military Communications	Road Troops	Sapper Troops	Signal Troops
Rank
Insignia	Survey Troops	Veterinary Corps
Rank

Student officers

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Parade uniform
Army[9]
Air force
							Курсант старшина́ Kursánt starshyná		Курсант ста́рший сержа́нт Kursánt stárshiy serzhánt		Курсант сержа́нт Kursánt serzhánt						Курсант мла́дший сержа́нт Kursánt mládshiy serzhánt						Курсант ефре́йтор Kursánt efréĭtor				Курсант Kursánt
Translation							Cadet sergeant major		Cadet senior sergeant		Cadet sergeant						Cadet junior sergeant						Cadet first class				Cadet

Ranks and rank insignia of the Soviet Navy

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet on 15 February 1943 on "distinction insignia to the Soviet Navy" the introduction of shoulder straps and epaulettes took effect, marking the début of Imperial Russian Navy-style insignia to the Soviet Navy.^[10][11] As the navy also had coastal services, ground ranks similar to the Red Army and Air Force were introduced with their respective insignia to be used by the coastal service personnel. These ranks were also used by the navy's medical corps and technical services. Shoulder rank insignia were in dark blue shoulder boards (gold on the dress uniform only for officers).

Naval officers and flag officers

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Shoulder insignia
Regular[12][13]			(1945–1955)[14]	(1943–1945)
Engineers
Sleeve insignia
All[12][13]
			Адмирал флота Admirál flota		Адмирал Admirál		Вице-адмирал Vitse-admirál		Контр-адмирал Contre-admirál		Капитан 1-го ранга Kapitan 1-go ránga		Капитан 2-го ранга Kapitan 2-go ránga		Капитан 3-го ранга Kapitan 3-go ránga		Капитан-лейтенант Kapitan-leytenánt		Старший лейтенант Starshey leytenánt		Лейтенант Leytenánt		Младший лейтенант Mladshiy leytenánt
Translation[13]			Admiral of the fleet		Admiral		Vice admiral		Rear admiral		Captain 1st rank		Captain 2nd rank		Captain 3rd rank		Captain lieutenant		Senior lieutenant		Lieutenant		Junior lieutenant

Naval ratings (naval service)

Rank group	Senior ratings				Junior ratings
Shoulder board to service uniform
Shoulder strap to service uniform
	Мичман Mičman	Главный старшина Glavny starshina	Старшина 1 статьи Starshina 1 statie	Старшина 2 статьи Starshina 2 statie	Старший краснофлотец Starshina krasnoflotets	Краснофлотец Krasnoflotets

Ranks and insignia of naval ground and technical services

Officers

Designation	Officers & commanders							General officers
Shoulder strap to service uniform (Coastal Services, incl. Naval Infantry and Coastal Defense Artillery)
Shoulder strap to service uniform (Coastal Engineers)
Shoulder strap to service uniform (Naval Aviation)
Shoulder strap to service uniform (Naval Aviation engineers and technical staff)
Rank designation	Junior lieutenant (Младший лейтенант)	Lieutenant (Лейтенант)	Senior lieutenant (Старший лейтенант)	Captain (Капитан)	Major (Майор)	Lieutenant colonel (Подполковник)	Colonel (Полковник)	Major general (Генерал-майор)	Lieutenant general (Генерал-лейтенант)	Colonel general (Генерал-полковник)
Engineers rank designation	Junior Technician Lieutenant (Младший техник-лейтенант)	Technician Lieutenant (Техник-лейтенант)	Senior Technician Lieutenant (Старший техник-лейтенант)	Engineer Captain (Инженер-капитан)	Engineer Major (Инженер-Майор)	Engineer-Lieutenant colonel (Инженер-Подполковник)	Engineer-Colonel (Инженер-Полковник)

Other ranks

Shoulder straps to service uniform basic	Enlisted men and non-commissioned officers of ground services (Coastal Services and Naval Aviation)
Shoulder board to service uniform (Personnel of coastal services)
Shoulder board to service uniform (Personnel of naval aviation)
Shoulder strap to service uniform (Personnel of coastal services)
Shoulder strap to service uniform (Personnel of naval aviation)
Rank designation	Seaman	Senior seaman	Junior Sergeant	Sergeant	Staff Sergeant	Starshina

See also

• History of Russian military ranks
• Ranks and insignia of the Imperial Russian Armed Forces
• Military ranks of the Soviet Union (1918–1935)
• Military ranks of the Soviet Union (1935–1940)
• Military ranks of the Soviet Union (1940–1943)
• Military ranks of the Soviet Union (1955–1991)
• Ranks and insignia of the Russian Federation's armed forces 1994–2010

References

Citations

1. Decree of the "Presidium of the Supreme Soviet" of 16 January 1943
2. Decree of the "Presidium of the Supreme Soviet" of 9 October 1943
3. Decree of the "Presidium of the Supreme Soviet" of 26 June 1945
4. "Ukaz Prezidiuma Verkhovnogo Soveta SSSR «O vvedenii novykh znakov razlichiya dlya lichnogo sostava Krasnoy Armii» ot 6 yanvarya 1942 goda" Указ Президиума Верховного Совета СССР «О введении новых знаков различия для личного состава Красной Армии» от 6 января 1942 года [Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR "On the introduction of new insignia for the personnel of the Red Army" dated 6 January 1942] (PDF). Vedomosti of the Supreme Council of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (in Russian). Vol. 2, no. 208. pp. 1–2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
5. Decreel of the "Presidium of the Supreme Soviet" of 6 January 1943
6. Decree of the "Presidium of the Supreme Soviet" of 15 January 1943
7. Rosignoli 1972, Plates 58–62.
8. Устав внутренней службы Вооружённых сил СССР, 1946 г.
9. Kharitonov 1993, Plate 101.
10. "Указ Президиума Верховного Совета СССР "О введении новых знаков различия для личного состава Военно-Морского флота СССР"" [Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR "On the introduction of new insignia for the personnel of the Navy of the USSR"] (PDF). Statements of the Supreme Council Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (in Russian). Vol. 7, no. 213. 19 February 1943. pp. 1–2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
11. Decree of the "Presidium of the Supreme Soviet" of 15 February 1943
12. Mollo 1981, p. 177.
13. Rosignoli 1983, Plates 12–13.
14. Vedomosti 1945.

References

• Barker, A. J. (1976). Soviet Army Uniforms & Insignia 1945-1975. London: Arms & Armour. ISBN 0-85368-390-5.
• Kharitonov, O. V. (1993) [1960]. Soviet Military Uniform and Insignia: 1918–1958. Translated by Suslov, Sergei V. St. Petersburg: Alga-Fund. ISBN 5-87290-017-1.
• Mollo, Andrew (1981). The Armed Forces of World War II: Uniforms, insignia, and organization. New York, N.Y.: Crown Publishers. ISBN 0-517-54478-4. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
• Rosignoli, Guido (1972). Army badges and insignia of World War 2: Book 1. MacMillan Colour Series. New York: Blandford Press Ltd. LCCN 72-85765.
• Rosignoli, Guido (1983). Badges and insignia of World War II: Air Force, Naval, Marine. Blandford Colour Series. New York: Blandford Press Ltd. ISBN 0-671-06008-2.
• "Указ Президиума ВС СССР от 25.05.1945 об изменении знаков различия – погонов для адмиралов флота" [Decree of the Presidium of the USSR Armed Forces of 25 May 1945 on changing the insignia – epaulettes for fleet admirals]. wikisource (in Russian). Vedomosti of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union. 1945. Retrieved 2 April 2022.