Ranks and insignia of the Soviet Armed Forces 1943–1955

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Ranks and rank insignia of the Soviet Armed Forces in the period 1943–1955 were characterised by a number of changes in the armed forces of the Soviet Union, 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]

Generalissimus of the Soviet Union[]

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 state 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[]

Corps colours, agreed and created in 1935, remained in use, but minor changes took place. 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.

Corps colours—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.

• Infantry (generic motorised rifles or motorised infantry) – padding   raspberry, piping   black
• Cavalry –   сobalt blue with   black piping
• Aviation troops and air force –   sky blue
• Artillery & armoured corps – black   with red piping  
• Medical troops, veterinarian service – dark green   with red   piping
• Technical troops – black   with black   piping

Corps colours—officers up to colonel

• Cavalry – сobalt blue  
• Army generic infantry, motorised rifles and logistics – raspberry  
• Artillery, armoured corps, medical troops and veterinarian service – red  
• Aviation troops and air force – sky blue  
• Technical troops – black  

Corps colours—officers above colonel

• Army generic infantry, motorised rifles and logistics – deep red ("general's red")
• Aviation troops and air force – sky blue
• All other uses – raspberry

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[]

Shoulder straps to service uniform basic	Enlisted men and non-commissioned officers
Infantry
Cavalry
Air Force
Artillery
Armoured Troops
Motor-Car Units
Medical Corps
Veterinary Corps
Engineer Troops
Signal Troops
Road Troops
Railway Troops, Military Communications (VOSO)
Pontoon Corps
Sapper Troops
Survey Troops
Chemical Troops
Electrical Troops
Rank designation	Private	Corporal	Junior sergeant	Sergeant	Senior sergeant	Starshina
	(Рядовой)	(Ефрейтор)	(Младший сержант)	(Сержант)	(Старш��й сержант)	(Старшина)
NATO-equivalent	OR-1	OR-4	OR-5	OR-6	OR-7	OR-8

Officer up to сommander-in-chief[]

Shoulder straps to service uniform basic	Officers & commanding staff							Generals & commanders in chief
Infantry
Cavalry
Air Force
Air Force Engineers
Artillery
Artillery Engineers
Armoured Troops
Armoured Troops Engineers
Motor-Car Units
Motor-Car Units Engineers
Medical Corps
Veterinary Corps
Legal Service
Quartermaster Corps
Engineer Troops
Engineer Troops Engineers
Signal Troops
Signal Troops Engineers
Road Troops
Road Troops Engineers
Railway Troops Military Communications (VOSO)
Railway Troops Engineers VOSO Engineers
Pontoon Corps
Pontoon Corps Engineers
Sapper Troops
Sapper Troops Engineers
Survey Troops
Survey Troops Engineers
Chemical Troops
Chemical Troops Engineers
Electrical Troops
Electrical Troops Engineers
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)
NATO-equivalent	OF-1			OF-2	OF-3	OF-4	OF-5	OF-6	OF-7	OF-8

General of the army to generalissimus[]

Designation	Commander-in-chief	Marshal of the branch					Chief marshal of the branch					Marshal, Generalissimus of the Soviet Union
Shoulder strap to service uniform basic
Rank designation	General of The Army	Marshal of Artillery	Marshal of Aviation	Marshal of Armoured Troops	Marshal of Signal Troops	Marshal of Engineer Troops	Chief marshal of Artillery	Chief marshal of Aviation	Chief marshal of Armoured Troops	Chief marshal of Signal Troops	Chief marshal of Engineer Troops	Marshal, Generalissimus of the Soviet Union
Emblem
NATO-equivalent	OF-9	OF-9					OF-9					OF-10

Shoulder straps field uniform[]

Shoulder straps to field uniforms, standardized to all service ranches, were made of khaki wool cloth. The piping indicated the service branch, matching the corps colour.

Colours of the rank piping (on shoulder strap)

• Infantry, motorized rifles – raspberry coloured
• Aviation troops and air force – sky blue
• Cavalry – blue
• Artillery and armoured corps – red
• Medical troops, veterinarian service – dark green
• Technical services – black

This specific shoulder strap design was used in the Red Army 1943 until 1946, as well as in the Soviet Army from 1946 to 1955.

Enlisted men and non-commissioned officers (1943–1946)[]

Shoulder straps to field uniform	Private – and non-commissioned officers ranks
Infantry
Cavalry
Air Force
Artillery, Armoured Troops, Motor-Car Units
Medical Corps and Veterinary Corps
Technical Troops
Rank designation	Private	Corporal	Junior sergeant	Sergeant	Senior sergeant	Warrant officer
NATO-equivalent	OR-1	OR-4	OR-5	OR-6	OR-7	OR-8

Officers up to higher commanders & commander-in-chief (1943–1946)[]

Shoulder straps to field uniform	Officers and commanders							Higher commanders & commander-in-chief
Infantry
Cavalry
Armoured Troops   Motor-Car Units
Air Force   Air Force Engineers
Artillery
Medical Corps
Veterinary Corps
Legal Service
Quartermaster Corps
Technical Troops Engineer Troops Signal Troops Road Troops Railway Troops, Military Communications (VOSO) Pontoon Corps Sapper Troops Survey Troops Сhemical troops Electrical Troops.
Rank designation	Junior lieutenant (Младший лейтенант)	Lieutenant (Лейтенант)	Senior lieutenant (Старший лейтенант)	Captain (Капитан)	Major (Майор)	Lieutenant colonel (Подполковник)	Colonel (П��лковник)	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)
NATO-equivalent	OF-1			OF-2	OF-3	OF-4	OF-5	OF-6	OF-7	OF-8

General of the army to generalissimus[]

Designation	Commander-in-chief	Marshal of the branch					Chief marshal of the branch					Marshal, Generalissimus of the Soviet Union
Shoulder strap to field uniform
Rank designation	General of the army	Marshal of artillery	Marshal of aviation	Marshal of the armoured troops	Marshal of the signal troops	Marshal of the engineer troops	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	Marshal, Generalissimus of the Soviet Union
NATO-equivalent	OF-9	OF-9					OF-9					OF-10

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.^[7][8] 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[]

Designation	Officers & commanders							Flag officers & commander-in-chief
Shoulder strap to service uniform (Sea Duty)
Shoulder strap to service uniform (Sea Duty Engineers)
Sleeve insignia on uniform jacket
Rank designation	Junior lieutenant	Lieutenant	Senior lieutenant	Captain lieutenant	Captain 3rd rank	Captain 2nd rank	Captain 1st rank	Rear Admiral	Vice Admiral	Admiral	Admiral of the Fleet (1943-1945)	Admiral of the Fleet (1945-1953)
NATO-equivalent	OF-1			OF-2	OF-3	OF-4	OF-5	OF-6	OF-7	OF-8	OF-9	OF-10

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
NATO-equivalent	OR-1	OR-4	OR-5	OR-6	OR-7	OR-8

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)
NATO-equivalent	OF-1			OF-2	OF-3	OF-4	OF-5	OF-6	OF-7	OF-8

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
NATO-equivalent	OR-1	OR-4	OR-5	OR-6	OR-7	OR-8

See also[]

• History of Russian military ranks
• Ranks and insignia of the Russian armed forces until 1917
• Ranks and insignia of the Red Army and Navy 1918–1935, 1935–1940, and 1940–1943
• Ranks and insignia of the Soviet Armed Forces 1955–1991
• Ranks and insignia of the Russian Federation's armed forces 1994–2010

References[]