Ranks of the Soviet armed forces 1943–1955

In the period from 1943 to 1955 there were a number of changes in the armed forces of the USSR. This concerned, among other ranks , rank insignia and uniforms .

Changes

With the increase in the numbers of the armed forces of the USSR , new large units were formed in the armed forces of artillery, air forces, air defense and armored forces, but also in the field of operational support forces . This went hand in hand with demands for qualified management personnel with a corresponding alignment of the hierarchy. The Soviet state and party leadership took the circumstances into account by introducing new top ranks and returning to the traditional insignia of the Russian armed forces. Similar to the general ranks of the armed forces of the German armed forces and the tsarist army, various prominent ranks were created under the collective name of marshal or chief marshal with the addition of the type of service . In this context, there was no alternative to the introduction of new distinctive badges in the form of shoulder pieces.

In January 1943, the ranks of Marshal of Aviators, Marshal of Artillery and Marshal of Armored Forces were created. In October of the same year, the corresponding main marshal ranks followed with the expansion for the intelligence and engineer troops.

See

→ Main articles : Marshal of the branch of service  and Chief Marshal of the branch of service

Generalissimo of the Soviet Union

The rank of Generalissimo of the Soviet Union ( Russian Генерали́ссимус Сове́тского Сою́за ) was created in accordance with the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of June 26, 1945 for the then head of state and party Stalin as the holder of the armed forces and command of all Soviet forces. The award of the rank was limited to wartime. A corresponding written order was issued to all commanders on the front on June 27, 1945.

Ranks and distinction badges for the Army and Air Force

The introduction of new distinctive badges for members of the Red Army took place in accordance with the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of January 6, 1943.

Two different designs of shoulder pieces or epaulets were specified . A distinction was made here between everyday use and field use (width 6 cm, length 14 to 16 cm, depending on the clothing size). On January 15th the introduction of new uniforms was ordered.

Gun colors

The specific weapon colors defined in 1935 with the military ranks and badges of distinction were largely retained, but there were also changes here.

The backing of the newly introduced epaulettes consisted of wool in basic colors specific to the army with piping on the edges . Commanders wore silver or gold-colored badges of the type of service and stars.

Weapon colors soldiers and NCOs OR1 to OR8

The underlay of the epaulettes was a basic color, and the piping on the edge was also colored.

• Infantry in general (motorized riflemen), underlay raspberry-colored, piping black
• Luftwaffe / Aviation - sky blue
• Cavalry - deep blue , black
• Artillery & Armored Forces - Black, Red
• Medical service, veterinary service - dark green , red
• Technical troops of all kinds - black / black

Weapon colors officers OF1 to OF5

• Army in general, infantry, motorized riflemen and logistics - raspberry colors
• Artillery, armored forces, medical forces and veterinary service - red
• Aviation / Air Force - sky blue
• Cavalry - blue
• Technical troops of all kinds - black

Weapon colors officers OF6 to OF9

• Army in general, infantry, motorized riflemen and logistics - deep red (general red)
• Aviation / Air Force - sky blue
• all other uses - raspberry colors

Other markings

The regiment number was applied like a template on the shoulder flaps (OR1 to OR6). The middle showed the emblem of the branch of service or special force. The emblem was gold for soldiers and commanders of the combat units and silver for all other military personnel.

With the change of the rank designation - for example from Red Army soldier to soldier - the changeover to the new distinction badges took place at the same time.

Everyday use shoulder boards

With the introduction of the shoulder pieces, the hitherto rigorous departure from Russian traditions was abandoned.

Soldiers and NCOs

Soldiers and NCOs
Epaulets for the basic form of the service uniform
Rank designation	Soldier (Ryadovoi)	Private (Jefreitor)	NCO (Mladschi serschant)	Sergeant (serschant)	Sergeant Major (Starschi serschant)	Staff Sergeant (Starschina)
emblem
Gun color	Infantry motorized riflemen	air force	cavalry	Armored troops	Medical service, veterinary service	Technical troops

Officers to Army General

designation	Officers & Commanders							Senior Commanders & Commanders
Shoulder piece for the basic service uniform
Rank designation	Sub-lieutenant (Mladschi chief)	Lieutenant (Leitenant)	First lieutenant (Starschi chief)	Captain (captain)	Major (major)	Lieutenant Colonel (Podpolkownik)	Colonel (Polkownik)	Major general		Lieutenant General (General Manager)	Colonel General (General-polkownik)	Army General (General armii)
emblem
Gun color	artillery	Intendant service	air force	Armored troops	cavalry	Technical troops	Infantry motorized riflemen	Army (general)	air force		Army (general)

Marshal to Generalissimo

designation	Marshal ... & Chief Marshal ... to Marshal of the Soviet Union
Shoulder piece for the basic service uniform
Rank designation	Marshal of the Artillery	Marshal the Aviator	Marshal of the armored forces	Marshal of the Intelligence Force	Marshal of the pioneer troops	Main Marshal of the branch of service	Marshal of the Soviet Union , Generalissimo of the Soviet Union
emblem

Officers

Everyday use shoulder boards

designation	Officers & Commanders
Shoulder piece for the basic service uniform
Rank designation	Sub-lieutenant (Mladschi chief)		Lieutenant (Leitenant)	First lieutenant (Starschi chief)	Captain (captain)	Major (major)	Lieutenant Colonel (Podpolkownik)	Colonel (Polkownik)
Gun color	Technical troops	air force	Armored troops	artillery	Infantry motorized riflemen	Technical troops	air force	Infantry motorized riflemen

Shoulder boards field use

Sergeant Major Epaulet

The epaulets for field service uniforms of all branches were made of wool. The base was covered in khaki color and the piping was in the weapon color of the military branch. 

Edge piping colors

• Infantry, motorized rifleman - raspberry color
• Aviation / Air Force - sky blue
• Cavalry - blue
• Artillery and armored forces - red
• Medical troops, veterinary service - dark green
• Technical troops of all kinds - black

The shoulder boards were used in both the Red Army from 1943 to 1946 and the Soviet Army from 1946 to 1955. Only then were the shape and appearance changed.

Soldiers and NCOs (1943–1946)

Epaulets for field uniform	Soldiers and NCOs
infantry
cavalry
air force
Artillery, armored troops, motor vehicle troops
Medical and veterinary services
Technical troops
Rank designation	Soldier (Ryadovoi)	Private (Jefreitor)	NCO (Mladschi serschant)	Sergeant (serschant)	Sergeant Major (Starschi serschant)	Staff Sergeant ( Hauptfeldwebel ) (Starschina)

Officers to Army General (1943–1946)

designation	Officers & Commanders							Senior Commanders & Commanders
Shoulder piece for field uniform (infantry)
Rank designation	Sub-lieutenant (Mladschi chief)	Lt. (leitenant)	First lieutenant (Starschi chief)	Captain (captain)	Major (major)	Lieutenant Colonel (Podpolkownik)	Colonel (Polkownik)	Major general	Lieutenant General (General Manager)	Colonel General (General-polkownik)	Army General (General armii)

Marshal to Generalissimo (1943–1946)

designation	Marshal of ... (branch of service)					Chief Marshal of ... (branch of service)					Marshal, Generalissimo of the Soviet Union
Shoulder piece for the field uniform
Rank designation	Marshal of the Artillery	... the plane	... the armored forces	... the news , troops	... the pioneer troops	... the artillery	Chief Marshal of the Aviators	... the armored forces	... the news , troops	... the pioneer troops	Marshal of the Soviet Union , Generalissimo of the Soviet Union

Ranks and marks of distinction in the Kriegsmarine

With the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on February 15, 1943 on the “Distinction Badge of the Naval War Fleet”, the introduction of shoulder pieces was ordered.

Officers and flag officers

designation	Officers & Commanders							Flag officers & commanders
Shoulder piece for the basic service uniform
Shoulder piece for the service uniform basic form (pioneer)
Sleeve badge to the uniform skirt
Rank designation	Sub-lieutenant (Mladschi chief)	Lieutenant (Leitenant)	First lieutenant (Starschi chief)	Captainleutnant (captain-chief)	Corvette Captain (Kapitan 3-go ranga)	Frigate Captain (Kapitan 2-go ranga)	Captain of the Sea (Kapitan 1-go ranga)	Konteradmiral (Contr Admiral)	Vice admiral (wize admiral)	Admiral (admiral)	Fleet Admiral (Admiral flota, 1943–1945)	Fleet Admiral (Admiral flota, 1945–1953)

See also

• Ranks of the Russian armed forces until 1917
• Ranks of the Soviet armed forces 1918–1935
• Ranks of the Soviet armed forces 1935–1940
• Ranks of the Soviet armed forces 1940–1943
• Ranks of the Soviet Armed Forces 1955–1992
• Ranks of the Russian Armed Forces

Individual evidence

1. ^ Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of January 6, 1943 on new "Distinction Badges of the Red Army" in the form of shoulder pieces.
2. ↑ Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of January 16, 1943 on the introduction of the rank of Marshal of the Airmen, - the Artillery and - the Armored Forces .
3. ↑ Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of October 9, 1943 ... on the introduction of the ranks "Marshal of the Engineer Forces and - the Telecommunication Troops" ... as well as the introduction of the rank of "Chief Marshal of the Armed Forces".
4. ↑ Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of June 26, 1945 ... on the introduction of the top rank “Generalissimo of the Soviet Union”.
5. ^ Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on ... the introduction of new distinctive badges for members of the Red Army from January 6, 1943.
6. ^ Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on ... the introduction of new uniforms for members of the Red Army from January 15, 1943.
7. ↑ The abbreviation "OR" stands for "other ranks"
8. ↑ The abbreviation "OF" stand for "officer"
9. ↑ Sorokin A .: Shoulder boards everyday use by Red Army officers in 1943 = Повседневные погоны офицеров Красной армии образца 1943 г. In: Петербургский коллекционер. - No. 1 (63). - pp. 84-95. January 1, 2011, Retrieved February 25, 2019 (Russian). 
10. ^ Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of February 15, 1943 on new "Distinction Badges of the Naval War Fleet" in the form of shoulder pieces.