By the beginning of the Great Northern war there were 11 generals in the Russian army (excl. GFMs):
2 generals:
Repnin, Nikita
- Weide, Adam
1 General-Poruchik (GL):
- Cei, Andrew; in Smolenck, sick on a leave in summer of 1700 & didn't return on the service
8 General-Majors:
- Rigimon, Christopher; voevoda (governor) in Belgorod
- Rigimon, Karl; sent to Astrakhan, but died on a way there
— Gulits, Andrew; in Sevsk
- Mengden, Yuri; in Kiev
- Polman (Bolman), Martin; in Azov & Taganrog
- Buturlin, Ivan; in Preobrazenskiy Guards, POW of Narwa
- Korsak, Bogdan; with Smolensk schlachta
- Koltcov-Mossalski, Ivan; voevoda in Sevsk

In Dec of 1700 3 more men were promoted to GMs rank:
- Chambers, Ivan; distinguished at Narwa
- Bruce, Roman; distinguished at Narwa
- Sharff, Alexander; in 1700 was at Kazan, previously was one of the colonels of Semenovskiy Guards

In 1702 Nikolai von Werden was promoted to GM

In 1703 one GFM (Georg O "Gilvy), 2 GLs (Rosen, Georg & Schenbeck, Adam) & 1 GM (Patkul, Johann) were enlisted on Russian service.

In 1704 Willim von Schweiden & Karl Renne were promoted to GM. Patkul achieved GL in May 1704.

Christian Bour was promoted to GM in summer of 1705 after Kourland campaign. Renne became GL in autumn.

A new list of Russian generals was made in autumn of 1705, see details

Generals of the Russian army 1700-1705

Recently, a new Internet project "The Generals of the Russian Imperial Army and Navy" was launched (link). Unfortunately, the earliest published lists of generals and senior officers (that I know of) date back to 1762, so more early periods, especially Tue. floor. 17th century and the period of the Great Northern War, there are a lot of questions. According to my information (RGADA, funds 9, 19, 20, 79, 145 and 210), at the beginning of the EAR the situation with the generals was approximately as follows:

In the middle of 1700 the generals of the Russian army (excluding field marshals) consisted of 11 people:
2 full generals(both received the rank in June 1700):
- Repnin, Nikita Ivanovich
- Veide, Adam Adamovich
1 lieutenant general:
- Tsey, Andrey - in Smolensk, in the summer of 1700 he went to Moscow for treatment and never returned to his place of service
8 major generals:
- Rigimon, Christopher Andreevich - governor (!) in Belgorod
- Rigimon, Karl Andreevich - sent to serve in Astrakhan, fell ill on the way and died
- Gulits, Andrey Andreevich, - in Sevsk
- Megden, Yuri Andreevich - in Kyiv
- Polman (Bolman), Martyn Martynovich - in Troitsky, on Tagan Rog
- Buturlin, Ivan Ivanovich - at the Preobrazhensky Regiment
- Korsak, Bogdan Semenovich - under the Smolensk gentry
- Koltsov-Mosalsky, Ivan Mikhailovich - governor in Sevsk

In December, 1700 major generals received 3 more people:
- Bruce, Roman Vilimovich - for Narva
- Chambers, Ivan Ivanovich - for Narva, in the Preobrazhensky regiment
- Scharf, Alexander Vilimovich - according to the totality of merit; in 1700 he was a colonel in Kazan, but earlier he commanded the Semenovsky regiment in the 1690s, and after Narva Peter remembered him

In 1701, no one was promoted to general, but Andrei Tsei died this year

In 1702 Verden, Nikolai Grigorievich, was promoted to major general.

In 1703, one field marshal general (Ogilvy, Georg Benedict), 2 lieutenant generals (Rosen, Georgy-Gustav Fabianovich and Schenbek, Adam Andreevich) and one major general (Patkul, Johann Reingold) were accepted into the Russian service

In 1704, Schweiden, Vilim Ivanovich, was promoted to major general ( the exact date I did not find) and Karl Renne (for the victory over Schlippenbach near Revel, promotion to a new rank took place on June 29, 1704). Patkul in May 1704 received a lieutenant general and command of the Russian auxiliary corps in the Polish-Saxon service (see more details).

In 1705 Bour, Rodion Khristianovich, was promoted to major general for the Courland campaign of 1705. In the autumn of the same year, Renne and Chambers received a lieutenant general

In the autumn of 1705, a new timetable was drawn up for the main Russian army and its generals, which included many Saxon generals who had been taken into Russian service. I already mentioned this list earlier (). I'll post the details for later periods.

P.S. This information I posted it on Thursday afternoon in the relevant topic on the green forum, but the local moderators hurried to erase it. The motives for this act are not clear to me. Apparently my post was too much "dissonant" with the unhurried flood of local experts about the dates of the liquidation of general ranks during the Civil War.

P.P.S. By the way, the date of the appearance of general ranks in the Russian army is not 1655 ((c) "green forum experts"), but autumn 1654. Between September and December 1654, Senior Colonel Avraam Ilyich Leslie (Alexander Leslie of Okhintul) was promoted to "generals" . The ranks of major general and lieutenant general in the Russian army appeared in September 1656, when English royalists Thomas Daliel (lieutenant general) and Vilim Drommond ("major general") were accepted into the Russian service.

P.P.P.S. Within an hour after posting this post, my yesterday's message appeared on the green forum as if "it stood there all the time" ... I personally find it difficult to understand the motives for the behavior of the "moderators" there ...

Continuing the theme Why erect monuments to White generals ? ", let's turn to that part of the generals of the Russian Imperial Army who stood up to defend the socialist Fatherland from foreign interventionists and their allies - the "whites".
* * *
Unfortunately, in Soviet times, the topic of a huge, invaluable contribution to the construction of the Red Army and Navy, to the victory in the Civil War senior officers pre-revolutionary Russian army bypassed. And very in vain - what wonderful illustration that the Revolution was accepted by all strata Russian society, with the exception of those who in fact were his enemy, regardless of their position in society until 1917!

During the Civil War, 75,000 soldiers served in the Red Army. former officers, while in Belaya there are about 35 thousand people. from the 150,000th officer corps Russian Empire. About 40 thousand former officers and generals did not take part in the Civil War. Other figures are given by historians. The ratio at the beginning of the Civil War is 40% of the officers of the Russian army in the Red Army, 30% - in the White Army, 30% - did not fight. By the end of the war, the ratio changed significantly in favor of the "Reds".

Among the highest commanding cadres of the Red Army there were many generals and regular officers of the Imperial Army with the rank not lower than colonel. Many are hereditary nobles. And this is understandable - the young republic was surrounded by enemies, there was no time left to study.

Let's look at the most striking examples.
1917 Russia is at war with Germany and her allies. On October 25, according to the old style of 1917, the Bolsheviks came to power. (Supported the Bolshevik coup in October, as you know, the Baltic Fleet, but the fact that it was commanded by the tsarist rear admiral A.A. Razvozov, usually hushed up) Already on November 19, 1917, they appointed the chief of staff of the Supreme Commander ... a hereditary nobleman, His Excellency lieutenant general Imperial Army Mikhail Dmitrievich Bonch-Bruevich.

M.D. Bonch-Bruevich A.A. Delivery

It was he who would lead the armed forces of the Republic in the most difficult period for the country, from November 1917 to August 1918, and from the scattered units of the former Imperial Army and Red Guard detachments, by February 1918, he would form the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army. March to August M.D. Bonch-Bruevich will hold the post of military leader of the Supreme Military Council of the Republic, and in 1919 - chief of the Field Staff of the RVSR.
* * *
For reference . The organization of the Red Army during the Civil War had a number of significant differences from the usual army structures. From 1918 to 1921, the administration of the Red Army was as follows. The highest body of the military-political leadership in the RSFSR was Rev. Military The Council of the Republic (RVSR, or RVS), whose task was to coordinate and organize the efforts of all military and civilian departments of the country to fight the interventionists and the White Guards. It was a collective military dictator whose orders were subject to unconditional execution by any Soviet department or institution, regardless of administrative subordination. There were two headquarters in the Red Army, both were subordinate to the Revolutionary Military Council. The field headquarters developed strategic operations The Red Army, carried out direct leadership of the fronts and armies. The All-Russian Main Headquarters (Vseroglavshtab) was in charge of armaments, supply of units of the Red Army, mobilization and training of troops, replenishment and repair of materiel. In 1921, both of these headquarters were merged into the Headquarters of the Red Army, which still exists today under the name of the General Staff.
Since the RVS was a collective body, exercising both military and political and legislative functions, it was recognized as necessary to concentrate military power in the hands of one person so that he would be subordinate only to the RVS. Therefore, at the end of 1918, the post of Commander-in-Chief of all the Armed Forces was established. Soviet Republic. The Field Headquarters was transferred to his subordination.
* * *
Let's get back to our heroes.
commander in chief of all armed forces Soviet Republic Sergei Sergeevich Kamenev. Regular officer, graduated from the Academy of the General Staff in 1907, colonel Imperial Army. From the beginning of 1918 to July 1919, Kamenev made a lightning career from the commander of an infantry division to the commander of the Eastern Front, and, finally, from July 1919 until the end of the Civil War, he held the post that Stalin would occupy during the Great Patriotic War. It makes no sense to list combat operations S.S. Kamenev, since July 1919, not a single operation of land and naval forces The Soviet Republic could not do without his direct participation. The result of these operations is known: Denikin writes his memoirs in France, Wrangel collects the remnants of the White Guards in Yugoslavia, but Kornilov, Kolchak, Alekseev were less fortunate.

Sergei Sergeevich was greatly assisted by his direct subordinate, His Excellency, the Chief of the Field Headquarters of the Red Army. Pavel Pavlovich Lebedev- hereditary nobleman major general Imperial Army. As chief of the Field Staff, he replaced Bonch-Bruevich and from 1919 to 1921 headed it, and from 1921 he was appointed chief of staff of the Red Army. Pavel Pavlovich participated in the development and implementation critical operations of the Red Army to defeat the troops of Kolchak, Denikin, Yudenich, Wrangel, was awarded the Order of the Red Banner and the Red Banner of Labor (at that time top honors Republic).
Lebedev's colleague, Chief of the All-Russian General Staff, His Excellency Alexander Alexandrovich Samoilo. Alexander Alexandrovich is also a hereditary nobleman and major general Imperial Army. This tsarist servant advanced during the years of the Civil War, headed the military district, the army, the Northern and Eastern fronts, worked as a deputy for Lebedev, then headed the All-Glavshtab.

A.A. Samoilo

Boss Intelligence Directorate General Staff of the Russian Imperial Army Lieutenant General Nikolai Mikhailovich Potapov collaborated with the Bolsheviks from July 1917, "Russian and Soviet military leader, lieutenant general, brigade commander of the red army.
Colonel I.I.Vatsetisbecame Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Soviets, colonel General Staff B.M. Shaposhnikov- chief operational management Field headquarters of the Red Army (since 1937 - chief of the General Staff of the Red Army, in 1941-45 - Stalin's deputy in the NK Defense). Lieutenant General N.D. Parsky commanded the northern front, major generalN.N. Petin- Western, Southern and Southwestern fronts. This list goes on.

Workers 'and Peasants' Red Fleet. Here is a list of his commanders during the Civil War: rear admirals Imperial NavyVasily Mikhailovich Altvater, Evgeny Andreevich Berens, Alexander Vasilievich Nemits, all hereditary nobles. Why are there commanders, in the Soviet encyclopedia "Civil War and military intervention in the USSR” (M., 1983) states that The Naval General Staff of the Russian Navy, almost in full force, went over to the side of Soviet power, and remained in charge of the fleet throughout the Civil War.

The desire of the officers of the tsarist army to serve in the Red Army is understandable - they considered the new government as the personification of Russia, and Russia was threatened by the enemy. Who, if not they, will protect the Fatherland from the adversary?

For example, here is what he wrote Altvater in his application for admission to the Red Army: " Until now, I have served only because I considered it necessary to be useful to Russia where I can, and in the way I can. But I did not know and did not believe you. Even now I still don’t understand much, but I am convinced ... that you love Russia more than many of ours. And now I've come to tell you that I'm yours". The same words could be repeated by the baron Alexander Alexandrovich von Taube, Chief of the General Staff of the Red Army Command in Siberia (former lieutenant general Imperial Army). Taube's troops were defeated with the help of the White Czechs in the summer of 1918, he himself was captured and soon died in Kolchak prison on death row.

And a year later, another "red baron" - Vladimir Alexandrovich Olderogge (major general of the Imperial Army, a hereditary nobleman), from August 1919 to January 1920, commander of the Eastern Front of the Reds, finished off the White Guards in the Urals and eventually liquidated Kolchakism.
At the same time, from July to October 1919, another important front of the Reds - the Southern - was headed by His Excellency the former lieutenant general Imperial Army Vladimir Nikolaevich Egoriev. The troops under the command of Yegoriev stopped Denikin's offensive, inflicted a number of defeats on him and held out until the reserves approached from the Eastern Front, which ultimately predetermined the final defeat of the Whites in the South of Russia. During these difficult months of fierce fighting on the Southern Front, Egoriev's closest assistant was his deputy and at the same time the commander of a separate military group. Vladimir Ivanovich Selivachev(hereditary nobleman, lieutenant general Imperial Army).

When, by mid-October 1919, the Kolchak front was already hopeless, there was a turning point in favor of the Reds in the South. At that moment, the Whites made an unexpected blow from the northwest. Yudenich rushed to Petrograd. The blow was so unexpected and powerful that already in October the Whites found themselves in the suburbs of Petrograd. The question arose about the surrender of the city. Lenin, despite the well-known panic in the ranks of his comrades, Peter decided not to surrender. And now the 7th Red Army under the command of his high nobility (a former colonel of the Imperial Army) is advancing towards Yudenich Sergei Dmitrievich Kharlamov, and White enters the flank separate group of the same army under the command of his excellency (Major General of the Imperial Army) Sergei Ivanovich Odintsov. Both commanders from hereditary nobles. Iosif Vissarionovich was the Petrograd commissar (i.e., responsible for the political leadership of hostilities) Stalin- young, but already promising statesman. The outcome of the actions of these gentlemen-comrades is known. In mid-October, Yudenich was still looking at Red Petrograd through binoculars, and on November 28 he was unpacking his suitcases in Reval and his soldiers handed over their weapons to the Estonian border guards.

This is the situation with the nobles and generals in the service of the Reds almost everywhere. Let's take, for example, northern front . From the autumn of 1918 to the spring of 1919, this was an important sector of the struggle against the Anglo-American-French invaders. So who is leading the Bolsheviks into battle? First His Excellency (former lieutenant general) Dmitry Pavlovich Parsky, then His Excellency (former lieutenant general) Dmitry Nikolaevich Nadezhny, both hereditary nobles. It should be noted that it was Parsky who led the Red Army detachments in the famous February battles of 1918 near Narva, so it is largely thanks to him that we celebrate February 23rd. His Excellency, Comrade Nadezhny, after the end of the fighting in the North, will be appointed commander of the Western Front.
When the fate of Soviet Russia was being decided in 1919, the most important Eastern front(against Kolchak). Here are his commanders in chronological order: Kamenev, Samoilo, Lebedev, Frunze (26 days!) , Olderogge. One proletarian and four noblemen, I emphasize - in a vital area!
"Their Excellencies" and "nobility" shed their blood for Soviet power no worse than the proletarians. Baron Taube has already been mentioned, but this is not the only example. Many laid down their lives on the altar of the victory of the Russian Revolution.
In the spring of 1919, in the battles near Yamburg, the White Guards captured and executed the brigade commander of the 19th rifle division of the former major general Imperial Army A.P. Nikolaev. The same fate befell in 1919 the commander of the 55th rifle division (former major general) A.V. Stankevich, in 1920 the commander of the 13th rifle division (former major general) A.V. Sobolev. Remarkably, before his death, all the generals were offered to go over to the side of the whites, and everyone refused. In March 1920, counter-revolutionaries attempted to assassinate an infantry inspector of the Turkestan Military District A.P. Vostrosablina(hereditary nobleman, former lieutenant general Imperial Army). Vostrosablin died from his wounds.

Undoubtedly, these people made a conscious choice, fought for the idea, that is, they were red by conviction.

Continued next. material - "

Generality:
General chase and:

-Field Marshal General* - crossed wands.
-general of infantry, cavalry, etc.(the so-called "full general") - without asterisks,
- lieutenant general- 3 stars
- major general- 2 stars

Headquarters officers:
Two gaps and:


-colonel- without asterisks.
- lieutenant colonel(since 1884, the Cossacks have a military foreman) - 3 stars
-major** (until 1884 the Cossacks had a military foreman) - 2 stars

Ober-officers:
One light and:


-captain(captain, captain) - without stars.
- staff captain(headquarters captain, podesaul) - 4 stars
-lieutenant(sotnik) - 3 stars
- second lieutenant(cornet, cornet) - 2 stars
- Ensign*** - 1 star

Lower ranks


-zauryad-ensign- 1 galloon stripe along the length of the shoulder strap with the 1st star on the stripe
- Ensign- 1 galloon stripe in the length of the epaulette
- sergeant major(wahmistr) - 1 wide transverse stripe
-st. non-commissioned officer(st. fireworks, st. constable) - 3 narrow cross stripes
- ml. non-commissioned officer(ml. fireworks, ml. sergeant) - 2 narrow cross stripes
- corporal(bombardier, orderly) - 1 narrow transverse stripe
-private(gunner, cossack) - without stripes

*In 1912, the last Field Marshal Dmitry Aleksevich Milyutin, who held the post of Minister of War from 1861 to 1881, dies. This rank was not awarded to anyone else, but nominally this rank was preserved.
** The rank of major was abolished in 1884 and was no longer restored.
*** From 1884, the rank of warrant officer was left only for wartime (it is only assigned during the war, and with its end, all warrant officers are subject to either dismissal or they should be assigned the rank of second lieutenant).
P.S. Ciphers and monograms on shoulder straps are not conditionally placed.
Very often one hears the question "why does the junior rank in the category of staff officers and generals begin with two stars, and not with one like the chief officers?" When, in 1827, stars on epaulettes appeared in the Russian army as insignia, the major general received two stars on the epaulette at once.
There is a version that one star was supposed to be a foreman - this rank had not been assigned since the time of Paul I, but by 1827 they still existed
retired brigadiers who had the right to wear uniforms. True, epaulettes were not supposed to be retired military men. And it is unlikely that many of them survived until 1827 (passed
for about 30 years since the abolition of the brigadier rank). Most likely, the two general's stars were simply copied from the epaulette of a French brigadier general. There is nothing strange in this, because the epaulettes themselves came to Russia from France. Most likely, there was never a single general's star in the Russian imperial army. This version seems more plausible.

As for the major, he received two stars by analogy with the two stars of the Russian major general of that time.

The only exception was the insignia in the hussar regiments in the front and ordinary (everyday) form, in which shoulder cords were worn instead of shoulder straps.
Shoulder cords.
Instead of an epaulette of a cavalry type, the hussars on dolmans and mentics have
hussar shoulder cords. For all officers, the same from a gold or silver double soutache cord of the same color as the cords on the dolman for the lower ranks, shoulder cords from a double soutache cord in color -
orange for regiments having the color of the instrument metal - gold or white for regiments having the color of the instrument metal - silver.
These shoulder cords form a ring at the sleeve, and a loop at the collar, fastened with a uniform button sewn half an inch from the collar seam.
To distinguish the ranks, gombochki are put on the cords (a ring from the same cold cord covering the shoulder cord):
-y corporal- one, of the same color with a cord;
-y non-commissioned officers tricolor gombochkas (white with St. George's thread), in number, like stripes on shoulder straps;
-y sergeant major- gold or silver (as for officers) on an orange or white cord (as for lower ranks);
-y ensign- a shoulder cord of a smooth officer with a gombochka of a sergeant-major;
officers on officer cords have gombos with stars (metal, as on shoulder straps) - in accordance with the rank.

Volunteers wear twisted cords of Romanov colors (white-black-yellow) around the cords.

The shoulder cords of the ober and headquarters officers do not differ in any way.
Headquarters officers and generals have the following differences in uniform: on the collar of a dolman, generals have a wide or gold galloon up to 1 1/8 inches wide, and staff officers have a gold or silver galloon 5/8 inches wide, having the full length "
hussar zigzags", and for chief officers, the collar is sheathed with only one cord or filigree.
In the 2nd and 5th regiments of the chief officers along the upper edge of the collar, there is also galloon, but 5/16 inches wide.
In addition, on the cuffs of the generals there is galloon, the same as the one on the collar. The galloon stripe comes from the cut of the sleeve with two ends, converges in front over the toe.
For staff officers, the galloon is also the same as the one on the collar. The length of the entire patch is up to 5 inches.
And the chief officers are not supposed to galloon.

Below are pictures of the shoulder cords

1. Officers and generals

2. Lower officials

The shoulder cords of the chief, staff officers and generals did not differ in any way from each other. For example, it was possible to distinguish a cornet from a major general only by the appearance and width of the braid on the cuffs and, in some regiments, on the collar.
Twisted cords relied only on adjutants and aide-de-camp!

Shoulder cords of the adjutant wing (left) and adjutant (right)

Officer's epaulettes: lieutenant colonel of the air squadron of the 19th army corps and staff captain of the 3rd field air squadron. In the center are shoulder boards of the cadets of the Nikolaev Engineering School. On the right is the epaulette of a captain (most likely a dragoon or lancer regiment)

Russian army in modern understanding began to be created by Emperor Peter I in late XVIII century.System military ranks The Russian army took shape partly under the influence of European systems, partly under the influence of the historically established purely Russian system of ranks. However, at that time there were no military ranks in the sense in which we are accustomed to understand. There were specific military units, there were also quite specific positions and, accordingly, their names. For example, there was no title "captain", there was a position "captain", i. company commander. By the way, in the civil fleet even now, the person in charge of the crew of the vessel is called the "captain", the person in charge seaport, is called the "port captain". In the 18th century, many words existed in a slightly different sense than they do now.
So "General" meant - "chief", and not just "highest military leader";
"Major"- "senior" (senior among regimental officers);
"Lieutenant"- "assistant"
"Outbuilding"- "Jr".

"Table of ranks of all ranks of military, civil and courtiers, in which class the ranks are acquired" was put into effect by the Decree of Emperor Peter I on January 24, 1722 and lasted until December 16, 1917. The word "officer" came into Russian from German. But in German, as in English, the word has a much broader meaning. In relation to the army, this term means all military leaders in general. In a narrower translation, it means - "employee", "clerk", "employee". Therefore, it is quite natural - "non-commissioned officers" - junior commanders, "chief officers" - senior commanders, "headquarters officers" - staff members, "generals" - the main ones. Non-commissioned officer ranks also in those days were not ranks, but were positions. Ordinary soldiers were then named according to their military specialties - musketeer, pikeman, dragoon, etc. There was no name "private", and "soldier", as Peter I wrote, means all military personnel ".. from the highest general to the last musketeer, cavalry or on foot ..." Therefore, soldier and non-commissioned officer ranks were not included in the Table. The well-known names "second lieutenant", "lieutenant" existed in the list of ranks of the Russian army long before the formation regular army Peter I to designate military personnel who are assistants to the captain, that is, the company commander; and continued to be used within the framework of the Table as Russian-language synonyms for the positions "non-commissioned lieutenant" and "lieutenant", that is, "assistant" and "assistant". Well, or if you want - "assistant officer for assignments" and "officer for assignments." The name "ensign" as a more understandable one (wearing a banner, ensign), quickly replaced the obscure "fendrik", which meant "candidate for an officer position. Over time, the process of separating the concepts of "position" and "rank" was going on. After early XIX centuries, these concepts have already been separated quite clearly. With the development of the means of warfare, the advent of technology, when the army became large enough and when it was necessary to compare the official position of a rather large set of job titles. It was here that the concept of "rank" often began to obscure, divert the concept of "position" into the background.

However, in modern army the position, so to speak, is more important than the title. According to the charter, seniority is determined by position, and only with equal positions is the one with a higher rank considered older.

According to the "Table of Ranks", the following ranks were introduced: civil, military infantry and cavalry, military artillery and engineering troops, military guards, military fleets.

In the period from 1722-1731, in relation to the army, the system of military ranks looked like this (the corresponding position in brackets)

Lower ranks (ordinary)

By specialty (grenadier. Fuseler ...)

non-commissioned officers

Corporal(part-commander)

Fourier(deputy platoon commander)

Captainarmus

Ensign(foreman of a company, battalion)

Sergeant

Feldwebel

Ensign(Fendrik), junker bayonet (art) (platoon leader)

Second Lieutenant

lieutenant(deputy company commander)

lieutenant captain(company commander)

Captain

Major(deputy battalion commander)

Lieutenant colonel(battalion commander)

Colonel(commander of the regiment)

Brigadier(brigade leader)

Generals

Major General(division commander)

lieutenant general(corps commander)

General-anshef (General Feldzekhmeister)- (commander of the army)

Field Marshal General(commander-in-chief, honorary title)

In the Life Guards, the ranks were two classes higher than in the army. in army artillery and engineering troops ranks are one class higher than in the infantry and cavalry. During the period 1731-1765 the concepts of "rank" and "position" are beginning to separate. So in the state of the field infantry regiment of 1732, when indicating the staff ranks, it is already written not just the rank of "quartermaster", but the position indicating the rank: "quartermaster (of the lieutenant rank)". With regard to officers of the company level, the separation of the concepts of "position" and "rank" is not yet observed. In the army "fendrick" is replaced by " ensign", in the cavalry - "cornet". Ranks are being introduced "Second Major" and "Prime Major" During the reign of Empress Catherine II (1765-1798) ranks are introduced in the army infantry and cavalry junior and senior sergeant, sergeant major disappears. Since 1796 in the Cossack units, the names of the ranks are the same as the ranks of the army cavalry and are equated to them, although the Cossack units continue to be listed as irregular cavalry (not part of the army). There is no rank of second lieutenant in the cavalry, and captain corresponds to the captain. During the reign of Emperor Paul I (1796-1801) the concepts of "rank" and "position" in this period are already separated quite clearly. The ranks in the infantry and artillery are compared. Paul I did a lot of useful things to strengthen the army and discipline in it. He forbade the registration of minor noble children in the regiments. All recorded in the regiments were required to serve really. He introduced disciplinary and criminal liability of officers for soldiers (preservation of life and health, training, clothing, living conditions) banned the use of soldiers as labor force on the estates of officers and generals; introduced the awarding of soldiers with insignia of the orders of St. Anne and the Maltese Cross; introduced an advantage in promotion in the ranks of officers who graduated from military educational institutions; ordered to be promoted in ranks only on business qualities and ability to command; introduced holidays for soldiers; limited the duration of officers' vacations to one month a year; dismissed from the army a large number of generals who did not meet the requirements of military service (old age, illiteracy, disability, absence from service long time etc.). In the lower ranks, ranks are introduced ordinary junior and senior salary. In the cavalry sergeant major(company foreman) For Emperor Alexander I (1801-1825) since 1802, all non-commissioned officers of the nobility are called "junker". Since 1811, the rank of "major" was abolished in the artillery and engineering troops and the rank of "ensign" was returned. During the reign of Emperors Nicholas I (1825-1855) , who did a lot to streamline the army, Alexander II (1855-1881) and the beginning of the emperor's reign Alexander III (1881-1894) Since 1828, army Cossacks have been given ranks other than army cavalry (In the Life Guards Cossack and Life Guards Ataman regiments, the ranks are like those of the entire guards cavalry). The Cossack units themselves are transferred from the category of irregular cavalry to the army. The concepts of "rank" and "position" in this period are already completely separated. Under Nicholas I, the discord in the naming of non-commissioned officers disappears. Since 1884, the rank of warrant officer has been left only for wartime (assigned only during the war, and with its end, all warrant officers are subject to either dismissal or they should be assigned the rank of second lieutenant). The rank of cornet in the cavalry is retained as the first officer rank. He is a class below the infantry lieutenant, but in the cavalry there is no rank of second lieutenant. This equalizes the ranks of infantry and cavalry. In the Cossack units, the classes of officers are equated with the cavalry, but have their own names. In this regard, the rank of military foreman, previously equal to major, now becomes equal to lieutenant colonel

"In 1912, the last General Field Marshal Milyutin Dmitry Alekseevich, who served as Minister of War from 1861 to 1881, dies. This rank was not assigned to anyone else, but nominally this rank was preserved"

In 1910, the rank of Russian Field Marshal was awarded to the King of Montenegro, Nicholas I, and in 1912, to the King of Romania, Carol I.

P.S. After October revolution 1917 By the Decree of the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars (Bolshevik government) of December 16, 1917, all military ranks were abolished ...

The officer epaulettes of the tsarist army were arranged completely differently than modern ones. First of all, the gaps were not part of the galloon, as we have been doing since 1943. In the engineering troops, two harness galloons or one harness and two headquarters officer galloons were simply sewn onto the shoulder strap. For each type of troops, the type of galloon was determined specifically. For example, in the hussar regiments on officer shoulder straps, a galloon of the "hussar zig-zag" type was used. On the shoulder straps of military officials, a "civilian" galloon was used. Thus, the gaps of officer epaulettes were always the same color as the field of soldier epaulettes. If shoulder straps in this part did not have a colored edging (edging), as, say, it was in the engineering troops, then the edgings had the same color as the gaps. But if in part the epaulettes had a colored edging, then it was visible around the officer's epaulette. A silver-colored epaulette button without sides with an extruded double-headed eagle sitting on crossed axes. and letters, or silver monograms (to whom it is necessary). At the same time, it was widespread to wear gilded forged metal stars, which were supposed to be worn only on epaulettes.

The placement of the stars was not rigidly fixed and was determined by the size of the encryption. Two stars were supposed to be placed around the encryption, and if it filled the entire width of the shoulder strap, then above it. The third asterisk had to be placed so as to form an equilateral triangle with the two lower ones, and the fourth asterisk was slightly higher. If there is one asterisk on the chase (for the ensign), then it was placed where the third asterisk is usually attached. Special signs were also gilded metal patches, although it was not uncommon to find them embroidered with gold thread. The exception was the special signs of aviation, which were oxidized and had the color of silver with a patina.

1. Epaulette staff captain 20 engineer battalion

2. Epaulette for lower ranks Lancers 2nd Leib Ulansky Courland Regiment 1910

3. Epaulet full general from the retinue cavalry His Imperial Majesty Nicholas II. The silver device of the epaulette testifies to the high military rank of the owner (only the marshal was higher)

About the stars on uniform

For the first time, forged five-pointed stars appeared on the epaulettes of Russian officers and generals in January 1827 (during the time of Pushkin). Ensigns and cornets began to wear one golden star, two - lieutenants and major generals, three - lieutenants and lieutenant generals. four - staff captains and staff captains.

A with April 1854 Russian officers began to wear embroidered stars on the newly established shoulder straps. For the same purpose, diamonds were used in the German army, knots in the British, and six-pointed stars in the Austrian.

Although the designation of a military rank on shoulder straps is a characteristic feature of the Russian army and the German one.

The Austrians and the British had shoulder straps purely functional role: they were sewn from the same material as the tunic so that the shoulder straps did not slip. And the rank was indicated on the sleeve. The five-pointed star, the pentagram is a universal symbol of protection, security, one of the oldest. In ancient Greece, it could be found on coins, on the doors of houses, stables and even on cradles. Among the Druids of Gaul, Britain, Ireland, the five-pointed star (druidic cross) was a symbol of protection from external evil forces. And until now it can be seen on the window panes of medieval Gothic buildings. The French Revolution revived five pointed stars as a symbol of the ancient god of war Mars. They denoted the rank of the commanders of the French army - on hats, epaulettes, scarves, on the tails of the uniform.

The military reforms of Nicholas I copied appearance French army - so the stars "rolled down" from the French sky to the Russian one.

As for british army, then back in the days Boer War stars began to migrate to shoulder straps. This is about officers. For the lower ranks and warrant officers, the insignia remained on the sleeves.
In the Russian, German, Danish, Greek, Romanian, Bulgarian, American, Swedish and Turkish armies, shoulder straps were insignia. In the Russian army, shoulder straps were for both lower ranks and officers. Also in the Bulgarian and Romanian armies, as well as in the Swedish. In the French, Spanish and Italian armies, insignia were placed on the sleeves. In the Greek army, the officers on shoulder straps, on the sleeves of the lower ranks. In the Austro-Hungarian army, the insignia of officers and lower ranks were on the collar, those were lapel. AT German army only officers had insignia on shoulder straps, while the lower ranks differed from each other by the galloon on the cuffs and collar, as well as the uniform button on the collar. The exception was the so-called Kolonial truppe, where as additional (and in a number of colonies the main) insignia of the lower ranks were chevrons from a silver galloon sewn on the left sleeve of a-la gefreiters of 30-45 years.

It is interesting to note that with service and field uniforms in peacetime, that is, with a tunic of the 1907 model, officers of the hussar regiments wore epaulettes that also differed somewhat from the epaulettes of the rest of the Russian army. For hussar shoulder straps, galloon with the so-called "hussar zigzag" was used
The only unit where they wore shoulder straps with the same zigzag, except for the hussar regiments, was the 4th battalion (from 1910 regiment) of shooters Imperial Family. Here is a sample: the epaulette of the captain of the 9th Kyiv Hussars.

Unlike the German hussars, who wore uniforms of the same tailoring, differing only in the color of the fabric. With the introduction of khaki shoulder straps, the zigzags also disappeared, the encryption on the shoulder straps indicated belonging to the hussars. For example, "6 G", that is, the 6th Hussar.
But in general field uniform the hussars were of the dragoon type, those combined arms. The only difference indicating belonging to the hussars was indicated by boots with a rosette in front. However, the hussar regiments were allowed to wear chakchirs with field uniforms, but not all regiments, but only the 5th and 11th. The wearing of chakchira by the rest of the regiments was a kind of "non-statutory". But during the war, this happened, as well as the wearing by some officers of a saber, instead of the standard Dracoon saber, which was supposed to be with field equipment.

The photograph shows the captain of the 11th Izyum Hussar Regiment K.K. von Rosenshild-Paulin (sitting) and Junker of the Nikolaev Cavalry School K.N. von Rosenshild-Paulin (also later an officer of the Izyum regiment). Captain in summer full dress or dress uniform, i.e. in a tunic of the 1907 model, with galloon epaulettes and the number 11 (note that on the officer epaulettes of the peacetime cavalry regiments, there are only numbers, without the letters "G", "D" or "U"), and blue chakchirs worn by officers of this regiment in all forms of clothing.
Regarding "non-statutory", during the years of the World War, apparently, the wearing of galloon epaulettes of peacetime by hussar officers was also encountered.

on the galloon officer shoulder straps of the cavalry regiments, only numbers were affixed, and there were no letters. which is confirmed by photographs.

Zauryad Ensign- from 1907 to 1917 in the Russian army, the highest military rank for non-commissioned officers. The insignia for ordinary ensigns were ensign shoulder straps with a large (larger than officer's) asterisk in the upper third of the shoulder strap on the line of symmetry. The rank was assigned to the most experienced non-commissioned officers, with the outbreak of the First World War, it began to be assigned to ensigns as an encouragement, often immediately before the first senior officer rank (ensign or cornet) was awarded.

From Brockhaus and Efron:
Zauryad Ensign, military During mobilization, with a lack of persons who meet the conditions for promotion to an officer's rank, some. non-commissioned officers are awarded the rank of Z. Ensign; correcting the duties of a junior. officers, Z. great. limited in the rights of movement in the service.

Interesting history of ensign. In the period 1880-1903. this rank was assigned to graduates of cadet schools (not to be confused with military schools). In the cavalry, he corresponded to the rank of standard junker, in the Cossack troops - to the cadet. Those. it turned out that it was a kind of intermediate rank between the lower ranks and officers. Ensigns who graduated from the Junkers School in the 1st category were promoted to officers not earlier than September of the graduation year, but outside the vacancies. Those who graduated from the 2nd category were promoted to officers not earlier than the beginning of the next year, but only for vacancies, and it turned out that some were waiting for production for several years. According to the order of the BB No. 197 for 1901, with the production in 1903 of the last ensigns, standard junkers and cadets, these ranks were canceled. This was due to the beginning of the transformation of cadet schools into military ones.
Since 1906, the rank of ensign in the infantry and cavalry and cadet in the Cossack troops began to be assigned to overtime non-commissioned officers who graduated from a special school. Thus, this title became the maximum for the lower ranks.

Ensign, standard junker and cadet, 1886:

The epaulette of the staff captain of the Cavalry Guards Regiment and the epaulettes of the staff captain of the Life Guards of the Moscow Regiment.

The first shoulder strap is declared as the shoulder strap of an officer (captain) of the 17th Nizhny Novgorod dragoon regiment. But Nizhny Novgorod residents should have a dark green piping along the edge of the shoulder strap, and the monogram should be of an applied color. And the second shoulder strap is presented as the shoulder strap of a second lieutenant of the guards artillery (with such a monogram in the guards artillery there were shoulder straps of officers of only two batteries: the 1st battery of the Life Guards of the 2nd Artillery Brigade and the 2nd battery of the Guards Horse Artillery), however, the shoulder strap button should not whether to have in this case an eagle with cannons.

Major(Spanish mayor - more, stronger, more significant) - the first rank of senior officers.
The title originated in the 16th century. The major was responsible for guarding and feeding the regiment. When the regiments were divided into battalions, the battalion commander, as a rule, became a major.
In the Russian army, the rank of major was introduced by Peter I in 1698, and abolished in 1884.
Prime Major - a staff officer rank in the Russian Imperial armies XVIII century. He belonged to the VIII class of the "Table of Ranks".
According to the charter of 1716, the majors were divided into prime majors and second majors.
The Prime Major was in charge of the combat and inspector units in the regiment. He commanded the 1st battalion, and in the absence of the regimental commander - the regiment.
The division into prime and second majors was abolished in 1797."

"It appeared in Russia as a rank and position (deputy regiment commander) in the streltsy army at the end of the 15th - early 16th centuries. In the streltsy regiments, as a rule, lieutenant colonels (often of "mean" origin) performed all administrative functions for the head of the streltsy, appointed from among the nobles or boyars In the XVII century and the beginning of the XVIII century, the rank (rank) and position was referred to as a lieutenant colonel due to the fact that the lieutenant colonel usually, in addition to his other duties, commanded the second “half” of the regiment - the back rows in formation and the reserve (before the introduction of the battalion formation of regular soldier regiments) Since the introduction of the Table of Ranks and until its abolition in 1917, the rank (rank) of lieutenant colonel belonged to the VII class of the Table of Ranks and until 1856 gave the right to hereditary nobility. In 1884, after the abolition of the rank of major in the Russian army, all majors (with the exception of those who were dismissed or stained with unseemly misconduct) were promoted to lieutenant colonels.

INSIGNIA OF CIVIL OFFICERS OF THE MILITARY MINISTRY (here are military topographers)

Ranks of the Imperial Military Medical Academy

Chevrons of combatant lower ranks of extra-long service according to "Regulations on the lower ranks of the non-commissioned officer rank, remaining voluntarily in extra-long active service" dated 1890.

From left to right: Up to 2 years, Over 2 to 4 years, Over 4 to 6 years, Over 6 years

To be precise, the article from which these drawings are borrowed says the following: "... the awarding of chevrons to super-enlisted lower ranks holding the positions of sergeant majors (wahmisters) and platoon non-commissioned officers (fireworks) of combatant companies, squadrons, batteries was carried out:
- Upon admission to long-term service - a silver narrow chevron
- At the end of the second year of long-term service - a silver wide chevron
- At the end of the fourth year of long-term service - a gold narrow chevron
- At the end of the sixth year of long-term service - a gold wide chevron"

In army infantry regiments to designate the ranks of corporal, ml. and senior non-commissioned officers, an army white braid was used.

1. The rank of WRITTEN, since 1991, exists in the army only in war time.
With the beginning of the Great War, ensigns graduate from military schools and ensign schools.
2. The rank of WARNING OFFICER of the reserve, in peacetime, on the shoulder straps of an ensign, wears a galloon patch against the device at the lower rib.
3. The title of ZURYAD-WRITTEN OFFICER, in this rank in wartime during mobilization military units in case of a shortage of junior officers, the lower ranks are renamed from non-commissioned officers with an educational qualification, or from sergeants without
educational qualification. From 1891 to 1907, warrant officers on the shoulder straps of an ensign also wear rank stripes, from which they were renamed.
4. Title ZAURYAD-WRITTEN OFFICER (since 1907). Shoulder straps of a lieutenant with an officer's star and a transverse stripe according to the position. Chevron sleeve 5/8 inches, angle up. Shoulder straps of an officer's standard were retained only by those who were renamed Z-Pr. during the Russo-Japanese War and remained in the army, for example, as a sergeant major.
5. The title of WRITTEN OFFICER-ZURYAD of the State Militia Squad. Non-commissioned officers of the reserve were renamed into this rank, or, in the presence of an educational qualification, who served for at least 2 months as a non-commissioned officer of the State Militia Squad and was appointed junior officer of the squad. Ensigns-zauryad wore epaulettes of an active duty ensign with a galloon stripe of instrument color sewn into the lower part of the epaulettes.

Cossack ranks and titles

On the lowest rung of the service ladder stood an ordinary Cossack, corresponding to an ordinary infantry. This was followed by an orderly, who had one badge and corresponded to a corporal in the infantry. The next rung of the career ladder is the junior officer and the senior officer, corresponding to the junior non-commissioned officer, non-commissioned officer and senior non-commissioned officer and with the number of badges characteristic of modern sergeants. This was followed by the rank of sergeant major, who was not only in the Cossacks, but also in the non-commissioned officers of the cavalry and horse artillery.

In the Russian army and gendarmerie, the sergeant-major was the closest assistant to the commander of a hundred, squadron, battery for drill, internal order and economic affairs. The rank of sergeant major corresponded to the rank of sergeant major in the infantry. According to the regulation of 1884, introduced by Alexander III, the next rank in the Cossack troops, but only for wartime, was the cadet, an intermediate rank between a lieutenant and ensign in the infantry, which was also introduced in wartime. In peacetime, in addition to the Cossack troops, these ranks existed only for reserve officers. The next degree in the chief officer ranks is cornet, corresponding to a second lieutenant in the infantry and a cornet in the regular cavalry.

According to his official position, he corresponded to a junior lieutenant in the modern army, but wore shoulder straps with a blue gap on a silver field (the applied color of the Don Cossacks) with two stars. In the old army, compared to the Soviet one, the number of stars was one more. Next came the centurion - the chief officer rank in the Cossack troops, corresponding to a lieutenant in the regular army. The centurion wore epaulettes of the same design, but with three stars, corresponding in his position to a modern lieutenant. A higher step - podesaul.

This rank was introduced in 1884. In the regular troops, it corresponded to the rank of staff captain and staff captain.

The podesaul was an assistant or deputy to the Yesaul and in his absence he commanded a Cossack hundred.
Shoulder straps of the same design, but with four stars.
According to his official position, he corresponds to a modern senior lieutenant. And the highest rank of chief officer rank is Yesaul. It is worth talking about this rank especially, since in a purely historical sense, the people who wore it held positions in both civil and military departments. In various Cossack troops, this position included various official prerogatives.

The word comes from the Turkic "yasaul" - chief.
In the Cossack troops it was first mentioned in 1576 and was used in the Ukrainian Cossack army.

Yesauls were general, military, regimental, hundreds, stanitsa, marching and artillery. General Yesaul (two per Army) - the highest rank after the hetman. In peacetime, general captains performed inspection functions, in war they commanded several regiments, and in the absence of a hetman, the entire Army. But this is typical only for Ukrainian Cossacks. Troop captains were chosen on the Military Circle (in the Don and most others, two per Army, in the Volga and Orenburg - one each). Dealt with administrative matters. Since 1835, they were appointed as adjutants to the military ataman. Regimental captains (originally two per regiment) performed the duties of staff officers, were the closest assistants to the regiment commander.

Hundreds of Yesauls (one per hundred) commanded hundreds. This link did not take root in the Don Cossacks after the first centuries of the existence of the Cossacks.

The stanitsa Yesauls were typical only for the Don Cossacks. They were selected at stanitsa gatherings and were assistants to stanitsa atamans. They performed the functions of assistants to the marching ataman, in XVI-XVII centuries in his absence, they commanded the army, later they were executors of the orders of the marching ataman. The artillery captain (one per Army) was subordinate to the chief of artillery and carried out his instructions.

Only the military captain was preserved under the military ataman of the Don Cossack army. In 1798 - 1800. the rank of captain was equated to the rank of captain in the cavalry. Yesaul, as a rule, commanded a Cossack hundred. Corresponded to the official position of the modern captain. He wore epaulettes with a blue gap on a silver field without stars. Next come the headquarters officer ranks. In fact, after the reform of Alexander III in 1884, the rank of Yesaul entered this rank, in connection with which the major link was removed from the headquarters officer ranks, as a result of which the soldier from the captains immediately became a lieutenant colonel. The name of this rank comes from the ancient name executive body the power of the Cossacks. In the second half of the 18th century, this name, in a modified form, spread to persons who commanded certain branches of the Cossack army. Since 1754, the military foreman was equated with a major, and with the abolition of this rank in 1884, with a lieutenant colonel. He wore shoulder straps with two blue gaps on a silver field and three large stars.

Well, then comes the colonel, shoulder straps are the same as those of the military foreman, but without stars. Starting from this rank, the service ladder is unified with the general army, since the purely Cossack names of the ranks disappear. The official position of a Cossack general fully corresponds to the general ranks of the Russian Army.

"Soldier's children" - generals of the imperial Russian army

At the beginning of the XX century. the highest command staff of the imperial army remained predominantly of noble origin. Despite the fact that the military reforms of D.A. Milyutin opened access to officers to all segments of the population, it was rarely possible to see in the general's shoulder straps a native of peasants, soldiers or workers.

A certain social "loneliness" of common people's commanders resulted in a lack of patronage for them - they had to make a career only at the expense of personal merits. It was relatively easier to advance in the service of the so-called "soldier's children" - the sons of non-commissioned officers and privates - a close acquaintance from a young age with military service contributed to their better adaptation in the officer corps.

The most effective way to reach the highest positions in the army for officers from the unprivileged classes has always been military distinction. The First World War provided them with great opportunities to prove themselves and advance in the service. Before the overthrow of the monarchy, there were only three generals in the highest command of the army, who came from the children of the lower ranks. It is worth dwelling in more detail on their biographies.

One of the first to prove himself was Major General Mikhail Ivanovich Shishkin. He was born in 1863 in the family of a sergeant major, graduated from the Simbirsk Military Gymnasium and the 2nd Konstantinovsky Military School, and served in Turkestan for more than 20 years. As a young lieutenant, he received the Order of St. Anna, 4th degree, for distinction during the occupation of the Merv oasis in 1885. During the Russo-Japanese War, Colonel Shishkin commanded the 287th Tarusa Infantry Regiment and earned, among other awards, a golden weapon with the inscription "For

Courage". Promoted to major general on October 6, 1910, he received command of the 2nd brigade of the 24th infantry division, which he brought to the front of the world war.

In heavy fighting near Warsaw and Lodz, the units of General Shishkin, being part of the 1st Army Corps, showed amazing stamina. In the midst of the battle of Lodz, on November 9, 1914, when the corps, engulfed from the flanks and shot through, covered the approaches to the city, the head of the 22nd Infantry Division was out of action. The corps commander instructed General Shishkin to immediately take command of the division covering the most dangerous direction. In the end, all enemy attacks were repulsed, and the operation ended with the victory of our troops. For distinction in command of the brigade, Mikhail Ivanovich Shishkin was awarded the Order of St. George, 4th degree (March 11, 1915). He was approved as division commander on December 11, 1914. In the summer of 1915, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general.

General Shishkin commanded the 22nd division until the autumn of 1916, passing with it and Big retreat 1915, and bloody battles on the lake. Naroch and r. Stokhod in the spring and summer of 1916. After a short stay in the reserve of ranks at the headquarters of the Kyiv (October 29 - November 22, 1916) and Petrograd (November 22, 1916 - January 22, 1917) military districts, he received the 14th Siberian rifle division on the northern front. The "Guchkov purges" did not affect the general's career, but after the Kornilov speech, when the last military leaders loyal to their duty were removed from the army, Mikhail Ivanovich Shishkin was forced to leave his post (September 10, 1917). The day before the October coup, he was dismissed.

The last days of January 1915 brought glory to Vasily Nikolaevich Bratanov. He was born in 1862 in the family of a retired non-commissioned officer, he was educated at the 3rd St. Petersburg Military Gymnasium, the 2nd Konstantinovsky Military School and the Nikolaev Academy of the General Staff. Until the outbreak of the First World War, his career proceeded smoothly, but without much brilliance. For more than five years, Bratanov commanded the 178th Venden Infantry Regiment, after which on July 14, 1910 he was promoted to major general and appointed chief of staff of the III Siberian Army Corps.

At the end of August 1914, the corps arrived at the front and from the very first battle proved to be the most in the best way, thanks to the high quality of the troops, well-chosen command staff and well-coordinated work headquarters. Great was the merit in this and Vasily Nikolaevich Bratanov. He especially distinguished himself during the August battle of the 10th Army in late January - early February 1915. For several days, the general's detachment, pulled from different parts, held back the onslaught of one and a half German corps. Having beaten everything

Enemy attacks, skillfully avoiding attempts to bypass, General Bratanov saved the army from complete encirclement and death. After the end of the battle, he took command of the 7th Siberian Rifle Division (April 25, 1915).

For military distinctions in the position of chief of staff of the corps, Vasily Nikolaevich Bratanov was awarded the Order of St. George, 4th degree (May 21, 1915) and promoted to lieutenant general. Once again, Bratanov showed stamina and courage in August-September 1915, when the stubborn defense of his units as part of the III Siberian Corps largely contributed to the successful elimination of the Sventsyansky breakthrough. On March 31, 1916, General Bratanov was awarded the St. George weapon.

The February Revolution crushed the career of an outstanding military leader. On April 6, 1917, Lieutenant General Bratanov "due to the circumstances of the current time" was enrolled in the reserve ranks at the headquarters of the Minsk Military District, where he stayed until the end of the year. He did not return to active military service, having retired on leave "until his retirement."

Undoubtedly, one of the most prominent Russian military leaders in the First World War was Konstantin Lukich Gilchevsky. A native of the Erivan province, the son of a simple non-commissioned officer, he spent his entire service until 1914 in the Caucasus. At the age of 15, Gilchevsky entered the Caucasian Field Engineering Park as a volunteer. After six years of service as a private, during Russian-Turkish war 1877-1878 for distinction in the capture of Kars, he received the first officer rank of ensign. At the end of the war, Konstantin Gilchevsky passed the officer's exam at the Tiflis Infantry Junker School, after which he "pulled the strap" in the ranks for another nine years. In 1890, he successfully graduated from the Nikolaev Academy of the General Staff in the 1st category. In 1893-1900. Gilchevsky served in the headquarters of the Caucasian Military District, in 1905-1908. already in the rank of colonel, he commanded the 16th Mingrelian Grenadier Regiment. On September 3, 1908, he was promoted to major general.

By the summer of 1914, Konstantin Lukich Gilchevsky was the commander of the 1st brigade of the Caucasian Grenadier Division. With the outbreak of the First World War, he was given the post of commander of the 83rd Infantry Division, deployed during mobilization. In the new field, the general had to first of all show his organizational skills - from the "raw" part, lacking everything, from officers to machine guns, in a short time Gilchevsky managed to create a good combat division. Already in the first battles at the end of August 1914 in Galicia, the 83rd division showed stamina and perseverance, pushing back the Austro-Hungarian units after a five-day battle.

The most striking deed of General Gilchevsky in the campaign of 1914 was the crossing of the Vistula. A.A. Svechin, who at that time served at the headquarters

Supreme Commander-in-Chief, recalled: “The 83rd division was entrusted with a desperate task - to make a demonstrative crossing across the Vistula in order to facilitate its serious forcing to the north in the Ivangorod region ... I remember how they were surprised at Headquarters when they received a telegram stating that 83- I, a division without pontoons, without heavy artillery, crossed the Vistula, shot down the Austrians and held out on the opposite bank. Unfortunately, at that time the issue of expelling Gilchevsky to the reserve of ranks had already been resolved. Operating in Galicia, his division participated in the pogrom of Ulanuv and completely burned the city, which was the reason for the removal of the general from his post.

For about six months (November 9, 1914 - March 25, 1915) Gilchevsky was in the reserve of ranks at the headquarters of the Kyiv military district, after which he was appointed head of the 1st militia division operating on Southwestern Front as part of the XXXII Army Corps. The division had just been formed from militia squads, the combat effectiveness of which was very doubtful, and the discipline left much to be desired. And with these parts, Gilchevsky soon began to work miracles. Here is what the commander of the corps, Lieutenant General I.I., wrote about his next victory. Fedotov: "May 28 - June 5 [Gilchevsky], personally directing the actions of his division under heavy fire, first successfully led it out of a dangerous situation ... and then, in a timely manner, without waiting for orders, went on the offensive, threw back the superior enemy forces that had advanced significantly ... behind our state border". For military distinctions in the 1915 campaign, Konstantin Lukich Gilchevsky was awarded the St. George weapon (May 15, 1916) and promoted to the rank of lieutenant general (July 12, 1916).

General Gilchevsky's leadership talent was most clearly revealed during the famous Brusilov offensive. From May 22 to July 15, 1916, his 101st Infantry Division fought nine battles, broke through enemy positions seven times, four of them with a preliminary forcing of swampy rivers, moving forward in total more than 40 kilometers. Its trophies were more than 22 thousand prisoners with 16 guns. The award to the head of the "miracle division" was the Order of St. George, 4th degree (October 21, 1916), the presentation to the Order of St. George, 3rd degree, and the nomination of a candidate for the position of corps commander. After February Revolution, April 6, 1917, Lieutenant General Gilchevsky was appointed commander of the XI Army Corps, at the head of which he was until the end of the war.

Acquaintance with the above service biographies of military leaders allows us to understand what path a native of soldier or non-commissioned officer children had to go through in the second half of the 19th - early 20th centuries in order to reach the highest positions in the army.

The first obstacle he had to overcome was getting his first officer rank. It was possible, having entered the service of volunteers, to earn it in the war, but in this case, in order to continue an officer's career, it was necessary to pass an exam at the cadet school (K.L. Gilchevsky). It was possible to go through the system of military schools. During Milyutin's reforms, in 1874, the 3rd St. Petersburg and Simbirsk military gymnasiums were opened, which could be attended by people from any class (training in them took place externally and was paid). It was they who graduated from V.N. Bratanov and M.I. Shishkin. After the military gymnasium, access to military school, whose graduate received the rank of second lieutenant.

However, as you know, most officers ended their service with the rank of lieutenant colonel or colonel. To have a successful career, it was necessary to graduate military academy(V.N. Bratanov, K.L. Gilchevsky), or distinguish themselves in the war (M.I. Shishkin). But this, as a rule, was not enough. The only opportunity to reach the highest command posts for an officer - a native of the common people, was provided by the coveted Order of St. George.

In conditions when the majority of the generals were hereditary nobles by origin, people from lower classes had to show outstanding feats to take their place at the top of the military hierarchy. The biographies of Vasily Nikolaevich Bratanov, Konstantin Lukich Gilchevsky and Mikhail Ivanovich Shishkin can serve as an example.