Soviet Insignia of Rank - 1935 Ranks
Military rank in the Red (Soviet Army) is part of the history of the reform of the Armed Forces of the USSR. With the approaching war, it was clear that the country was not yet ready. The Red army was recruited on the basis of the principle of territorial mobilization. To keep such an army was much cheaper. But it was, of course, inferior to many other armies of the states neighboring the Soviet Union. For example, its main strategic adversary in the west of Russia in the first half of the 1930s was considered to be Poland. With the advent of Hitler to power, it was Germany, but for a time, relations with Germany went well. Eventually it became clear that Hitler's Wehrmacht was revived and beginning to gain power. The Fuhrer introduced compulsory military duty.
Although Stalin was not asleep, and took steps to strengthen the power of the security forces, the need for military reform was understood. One of the components of this reorganization was the re-introduction of military ranks in the Soviet Union. A lot of interesting information about this part of the reforms can be found in the monograph of Vladimir Suhodeeva - "Stalin era: people and events. Encyclopedia "(Moscow, 2004. Circulation 3000 copies).
In 1935, at the suggestion of Tukhachevsky, supported by Stalin, the new personal military ranks were introduced. Between 1935 and 1941 new uniform regulatons authorised the insignia and ranks that were to be worn by the Red Army. This also included the reintroduction into the army of the ranks of General and Lt. Colonel in 1940. The rank of Yefreitor (Corporal) was also reintroduced in the same year. This was preceded by a long and intense discussion. In the end, the rank of "Major" was created between captain and lieutenant colonel. The debate unfolded on the introduction of "colonel" rank and especially "general". Someone jokingly remarked, "so we reach up to the marshals." Stalin once said: "Why would we not be marshals!". Then he turned to Voroshilov, and gave Clement Efremovich, the highest military rank - Marshal.
The position of the military ranks in the Red Army was consolidated by legislative decree of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR and the People's Commissars of the USSR Council on 22 September 1935. In accordance with the established military ranks higher salaries pay and certain benefits introduced for the Red commanders officers. However, the word "officer" did not exist in everyday life. It still bore a negative connotation.
1940 Ranks
The beginning of the World War II in September 1939 raised the question about the need to return to the generals and the admiral's rank that existed in Russia since the seventeenth century up to 1917. At a 14-17 April 1940 meeting of the Central Committee of the CPSU (b) on the lessons learned of the Soviet-Finnish war, Stalin asked the opinion of the highest commanders of the Red Army on the desirability of changing the higher ranks: - whether it is necessary to restore the rank of general? Speakers supported entering the title of the generals to maintain the credibility of the Red Army and the country.
On May 7, 1940 by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR established military ranks in the Red Army: Major General, Lieutenant General, Colonel-General and General of the Army. Former military ranks brigade commander, division commander, corps commander and army commander have been canceled.
In May and July 1940, the 1935 rank insignia sequence was modified to include the rank of General to replace the functional ranks of Combrig, Comdiv Comcor and Comandarm and also the reintroduction of the rank of Lt. Colonel respectively. Also authorised to be worn on the 1940 NCO's pattern pitlitsi and greatcoat gorget patch, was a small brass triangular device on the upper corner and on the NCO's pitlitsi and gorget patch a narrow red cloth stripe. The stripe denoted the reintroduced rank of Yefreitor and the subsequent NCO's enamelled rank insignia were worn overlaying the red stripe.
The Air Force introduced the title: Air Force Major General, Lieutenant General Aviation and Colonel-General (except General of the Army). The rank of general was introduced for other branches of service: artillery, armored forces, signal troops, engineering troops, technical forces, Quartermaster Corps, Coast service, such as Major General of Artillery, Lieutenant-General of artillery, etc. The entire commanding staff passed certification.
The Navy established military ranks: Rear Admiral, Vice Admiral, Admiral, Admiral of the Fleet and Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union. Last - is equivalent to the rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union. In June 1940 we got a new title 1056 people, 982 of them became generals and 74 admirals. In 1940-1942 A. Gorbatov, Konstantin Galitsky, Peter L., Rokossovsky - a total of 50 senior officers of the parties came back into operation.
From July 10, 1941, Stalin led the officials of the Supreme Command, then the Supreme Headquarters, on July 19, became the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the USSR. Zhukov recalled that after Stalin's appointment to these positions, there was immediately felt its steady hand (A. Wasilewski "The point of all life," Zhukov "Memories and Reflections"). In August 1942, Stalin proposed Zhukov to become Deputy Supreme Commander. But the interests of the cause he was above all. In 1943, the Supreme Commander was awarded the title of Marshal of the Soviet Union. But above all, he conferred the rank of generals, Zhukov and A. Vasilevsky, the first Marshals of the Great Patriotic War.
Some were lowered in rank and promotion. For example, Zhukov, "Corps Commander" - became a general of the army, and Stern - commander of the second rank - Colonel-General. Many brigade commanders became colonels, other - Major General.
For the first time Stalin called Red commanders officers in his speech at the legendary parade on Red Square on November 7, 1941. After this change, each soldier had to wear insignia. And subordinates were not treated in accordance with their position and personal rank. "Insignia" were introduced. Commanding staff, so that was divided into junior, middle, senior commanders and senior officers. Junior commanders - (senior soldier had one enamel "triangle" on the lapels). "Corporal" (the title of corporal entered November 2, 1940, before that it was called "flight commander"), from junior sergeant to sergeant there were "triangles" on the same buttonholes).
Middle command personnel from junior to senior lieutenant wore one to three enamel squares ( "bricks"), the senior command structure - from captain to colonel had from one to four enamel boxes ( "sleepers"). Subsequently, after the introduction of the shoulder straps, the captain was assigned to the middle of command. Then came the title of senior officers - "brigade commander", "Divisional Commander", "Corps Commander", "army commander" of the third, second and first grade - from one to four "diamond" on the lapels. "The commander of the first rank" wore four "rhombus", but with an asterisk on the same buttonholes. One wore a diamond brigade commander. Marshals were large five-pointed star - "Marshal". The first Marshals of the Soviet Union were Voroshilov, Budyonny, Tukhachevsky, Blucher, and Yegorov.
Incidentally, the personal ranks were also introduced and in NKVD. But they were different to a certain period. Thus, the NKVD-OGPU rank equivalent Marshal was the Commissioner-General of State Security. But a Marshal wore triangular buttonholes "Stars". During all the years of the existence of the USSR the title of Marshal of the Soviet Union was awarded to 41 men. The last Soviet Marshal - Dmitry Yazov - celebrated his 90th anniversary in 2014.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
