Military ranks of the Soviet Union (1943–1955)

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]

The highest rank of generalissimus 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.

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]

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

Officer up to сommander-in-chief

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
Parade uniform
Infantry
Air force			See below
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		Курсант Kursánt
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		Officer cadet

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

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

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.[9][10] 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								Officer cadet
Shoulder insignia
Regular[11][12]			(1945–1955)[13]	(1943–1945)
Engineers
Sleeve insignia
All[11][12]
			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		Курсант Kursánt
Translation[12]			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		Officer cadet

Naval ratings (naval service)

Designation	Junior ratings		Senior ratings
Shoulder board to service uniform
Shoulder strap to service uniform
Rank designation	Seaman	Senior seaman	Petty officer 2nd class	Petty Officer 1st class	Chief petty officer	Michman

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

• 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

Citations

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.

• Kharitonov, O. V. (1993). Soviet Military Uniforms and Insignia 1918-1958. Translated by Suslov, Sergei. Alga-fund. ISBN 978-5872900177.