Introduction shoulder strap in the Red Army

On January 6, 1943, shoulder straps were introduced in the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army.

Shoulder straps in the Russian army have a long history. They were first introduced by Peter the Great in 1696, but in those days shoulder straps served only as a strap that kept the belt of a gun or cartridge pouch from slipping off the shoulder. Shoulder strap was only an attribute of the uniform of the lower ranks: the officers were not armed with guns, and therefore shoulder straps they didn't need it.

As insignia shoulder straps began to be used with the accession to the throne of Alexander I. However, they did not denote ranks, but belonging to one or another regiment. On the shoulder straps a figure was depicted indicating the number of the regiment in the Russian army, and the color of the shoulder strap indicated the number of the regiment in the division: the first regiment was indicated in red, the second in blue, the third in white, and the fourth in dark green. Since 1874, in accordance with the order of the military department No. 137 of 04.05. 1874, the shoulder straps of both the first and second regiments of the division became red, and the color of the buttonholes and bands of the caps of the second regiment became blue. The shoulder straps of the third and fourth regiments became blue, but the buttonholes and bands of the third regiment were white, and those of the fourth regiment were green.
Yellow is the same color shoulder strap had army (in the sense of non-guards) grenadiers. Also yellow were shoulder straps Akhtyrsky and Mitavsky hussar and Finnish, Primorsky, Arkhangelsk, Astrakhan and Kinburn dragoon regiments.

With the advent of rifle regiments, crimson epaulettes were assigned to the latter.

Private 3rd Dragoon Novorossiysk Regiment See also:

as a volunteer from the scout team - 6th Hussar Klyasititsky Regiment

65th Infantry Moscow E.I.V. regiment (The button with the crown existed until 08/29/1904)

Senior non-commissioned officer 4th Koporsky Infantry Regiment of General Count Konovnitsyn

To distinguish a soldier from an officer, officer shoulder straps first sheathed with galloon, and since 1807 shoulder straps the officers were replaced by epaulettes. Since 1827, officer and general ranks began to be denoted by the number of stars on epaulettes: y - 1, major and major general - 2; , and lieutenant general - 3; staff captain - 4; , and there were no full generals on epaulettes of stars. One asterisk was retained for retired brigadiers and retired second majors - these ranks no longer existed by 1827, but retirees with the right to wear uniforms who retired in these ranks remained. From April 8, 1843, insignia appeared on shoulder straps lower ranks: one badge got, two - , and three - to the senior non-commissioned officer. Feldwebel got on shoulder strap a transverse strip of 2.5 cm thickness, and - exactly the same, but located longitudinally.

In 1854 they introduced shoulder straps and for officers, leaving epaulettes only on dress uniforms, and until the very revolution in shoulder straps there were almost no changes, except that in 1884 the rank of major was abolished, and in 1907 the rank was introduced.

Shoulder straps had military officials and - engineers, railway workers, .

In 1935, they were introduced into the Red Army. Some of them corresponded to pre-revolutionary ones - colonel, lieutenant colonel, captain. Some were taken from the ranks of the former tsarist Navy - lieutenant and senior lieutenant. The ranks corresponding to the generals remained from the previous service categories - brigade commander, division commander, commander, army commander of the 2nd and 1st rank. The rank of major, abolished under Alexander III, was restored. The insignia, in comparison with the buttonholes of the 1924 model, almost did not change outwardly - only the four-cube combination disappeared. In addition, the rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union was introduced, which was no longer indicated by rhombuses, but by one large star on the collar flap. nevertheless, a special one was created for the state security agencies.

On August 5, 1937, the rank of junior lieutenant (one head over heels) was introduced, and on September 1, 1939, the rank of lieutenant colonel. At the same time, the three sleepers now corresponded not to , but to .
got four sleepers.

On May 7, 1940, general ranks were introduced. The major general, as before the revolution, had two stars, but they were not located on shoulder straps, but on the collar valves. The lieutenant general had three stars. This is where the similarities with pre-revolutionary generals ended - instead of a full general, a lieutenant general was followed by the rank of colonel general, skalked from the German general oberst. The colonel general had four stars, and the general of the army following him, whose rank was borrowed from the French army, had five stars.

In this form, the insignia remained until January 6, 1943, when shoulder straps.

Policemen and collaborationist formations created from Soviet prisoners of war also had shoulder straps. He was distinguished by special originality (of the Russian National People's Army)

From January 13 Soviet epaulettes of the 1943 model began to enter the army.

Soviet shoulder straps had much in common with pre-revolutionary ones, but there were also differences: officer shoulder straps The RKKA (but not the Navy) 1943 were pentagonal, not hexagonal; the colors of the gaps denoted the branch of service, not the regiment; the clearance was a single unit with the epaulette field; there were colored edges according to the type of troops; stars were metal, gold or silver, and differed in size between junior and senior officers; ranks were designated by a different number of stars than before 1917, and shoulder straps without asterisks were not restored.

Soviet officer shoulder straps were five millimeters wider than pre-revolutionary ones. There were no encryptions on them. Unlike pre-revolutionary times, shoulder strap color now corresponded not to the number of the regiment, but to the type of troops. The edging also mattered. So, rifle troops had a crimson epaulette background and black edging, cavalry - dark blue with black edging, aviation - blue shoulder strap with black edging, tankers and artillerymen - black with red edging, but sappers and other technical troops - black but with black edging. The border troops and the medical service had green shoulder straps with a red edging, and the internal troops got a cherry shoulder strap with blue trim.

On the field shoulder straps the protective color of the type of troops was determined only by the edging. Its color was the same as the color of the epaulette field on the everyday uniform. Soviet officer shoulder straps were five millimeters wider than pre-revolutionary ones. Ciphers were placed on them very rarely, mostly cadets of military schools had them.

A junior lieutenant, a major and a major general received one star each. Two each - a lieutenant, and a lieutenant general, three each - a senior lieutenant, and a colonel general, and four went to the general of the army. shoulder straps junior officers had one clearance and from one to four metal silver-plated stars with a diameter of 13 mm, and shoulder straps senior officers - two gaps and from one to three stars with a diameter of 20 mm.

The badges for junior commanders were also restored. The corporal still had one stripe, the junior sergeant - two, the sergeant - three. The former wide sergeant's badge went to the senior sergeant, and the foreman received shoulder straps the so-called "hammer".

According to the assigned military rank, belonging to the branch of service (service), on the field shoulder strap placed insignia (asterisks and gaps) and emblems. For military lawyers and doctors, there were "medium" stars with a diameter of 18 mm. Initially, the stars of senior officers were attached not to the gaps, but to the galloon field next to them. field shoulder straps had a khaki-colored field with one or two gaps sewn to it. From three sides shoulder straps had edgings according to the color of the type of troops. The gaps were installed - blue - for aviation, brown - for doctors, quartermasters and lawyers, red - for everyone else. Field everyday officer epaulette made of golden silk or galloon. For everyday shoulder strap command staff, commissary, medical and veterinary services and lawyers, a silver galloon was approved. There was a rule according to which silver stars were worn on gilded shoulder straps, and vice versa, on silver shoulder straps gilded stars were worn, except for veterinarians - they wore silver stars on silver shoulder straps. Width shoulder strap- 6 cm, and for officers of the medical and veterinary services, military justice - 4 cm. It is known that such shoulder straps the troops called "oaks". The color of the edging depended on the type of troops and service - crimson in the infantry, blue in aviation, dark blue in the cavalry, a gilded button with a star, with a hammer and sickle in the center, in the navy - a silver button with an anchor. General's shoulder straps sample 1943, unlike the soldiers and officers, were hexagonal. They were gold with silver stars. The exception was shoulder straps generals of medical and veterinary services and justice. For them, narrow silver shoulder straps with golden stars. Naval Officers shoulder straps, unlike the army ones, were hexagonal. Otherwise, they were similar to the army ones, but the color of the piping shoulder strap was determined: for officers of the naval, ship-engineering and coastal engineering services - black, for aviation and aviation engineering services - blue, quartermasters - raspberry, for everyone else, including justice - red. On the shoulder straps the command and ship staff of the emblem were not worn. The color of the field, stars and edging shoulder strap generals and admirals, as well as their width, were also determined by the type of troops and service, the field shoulder strap senior officers were sewn from a galloon of special weaving. The buttons of the generals of the Red Army had the emblem of the USSR, and the admirals and generals of the Navy had the emblem of the USSR superimposed on two crossed anchors. On November 7, 1944, the arrangement of the stars was changed to shoulder straps colonels and lieutenant colonels of the Red Army. Up to this point, they were placed on the sides of the gaps, but now they have moved to the gaps themselves. October 9, 1946 the uniform was changed shoulder strap officers of the Soviet Army - they became hexagonal. In 1947 on shoulder straps officers transferred to the reserve and retired by order of the Minister of the Armed Forces of the USSR No. 4, golden is introduced (for those who wore silver shoulder straps) or a silver (for gilded epaulettes) patch that they are required to wear when they put on a military uniform (in 1949 this patch was canceled).

In the post-war period, insignificant changes took place in the shoulder insignia. So, in 1955, daily field bilateral shoulder straps for privates and sergeants.

In 1956 field shoulder straps for officers with stars and khaki emblems and gaps according to the type of troops. In 1958, narrow shoulder straps sample 1946 for physicians, veterinarians and lawyers. At the same time, the edging for everyday shoulder strap soldiers, sergeants and foremen. On gold shoulder straps silver stars are introduced, on silver - gold. The colors of the gaps are red (combined arms, airborne forces), crimson (engineer troops), black (tank troops, artillery, technical troops), blue (aviation), dark green (medics, veterinarians, lawyers); blue (the color of the cavalry) was abolished due to the liquidation of this type of troops. For generals of medical, veterinary services and justice, wide silver shoulder straps with gold stars, for others - gold shoulder straps with silver stars.

In 1962 appeared which, fortunately, was not implemented.

In 1963, there are blue gaps for officers of the Airborne Forces. Are abolished shoulder straps foremen of the 1943 model with a "foreman's hammer". Instead of this “hammer”, a wide longitudinal galloon is introduced, like in the pre-revolutionary one.

In 1969 at the gold shoulder straps gold stars are introduced, on silver - silver. The colors of the gaps are red (ground forces), crimson (medics, veterinarians, lawyers, administrative service) and blue (aviation, airborne forces). Silver generals are abolished shoulder straps. All generals shoulder straps became gold, with gold stars framed by edging according to the type of troops.

In 1972 introduced shoulder straps ensign. Unlike the pre-revolutionary warrant officer, whose rank corresponded to the Soviet junior lieutenant, the Soviet warrant officer corresponded in rank to the American warrant officer.

In 1973, ciphers SA (Soviet Army), VV (Internal Troops), PV (Border Troops), GB (KGB troops) were introduced on shoulder straps soldiers and sergeants and K - on shoulder straps cadets. I must say that these letters appeared back in 1969, but initially, according to Article 164 of the Order of the Minister of Defense of the USSR No. 191 of July 26, 1969, they were worn only on the dress uniform. Letters were made from anodized aluminum, but since 1981, for economic reasons, metal letters have been replaced with letters from PVC film.

In 1974, new shoulder straps army general instead shoulder strap model 1943. Instead of four stars, they had a marshal's star, above which was placed the emblem of motorized rifle troops.

In 1980, all silver shoulder straps with silver stars. The colors of the gaps are red (combined arms) and blue (aviation, airborne forces).

In 1981, introduced shoulder straps senior warrant officer, and in 1986 for the first time in the history of Russian officers shoulder strap introduced shoulder straps without gaps, differing only in the size of the stars (field uniform - "Afghan")

Currently shoulder straps remain , as well as some categories . In 1994, the traditional sergeant's badges were replaced with western-style squares. However, in 2011, the tabs were returned and now very reminiscent shoulder straps.

See also:

Previous days in Russian history:

On January 6, 1943, shoulder straps were introduced as insignia in the Red Army, and on February 15 in the Navy.

Shoulder straps - a quarter of a century considered by the Bolsheviks a symbol of evil.

Shoulder straps are an attribute of "bourgeois armies" protecting the "interests of landlords and capitalists" ...

Motivation

Bolshevism has evolved.

From nihilistic in relation to everything traditional, to everything national, to "everything that is beautiful and normal," 1 his ideology turned into an increasingly tolerant one.

It turned out that much more would have to be taken from the "cursed past" into socialism than it seemed in 1917.

Because, from the point of view of most people, it is "nice and normal"!

Because in Russia - in contrast to, say, Austria and Hungary - they are used to the fact that a military man should be in uniform.

And not only in Russia. “In general, when we entered Poland,” Yu.N. Novikov, who then commanded the battery, recalled about July 1944, “the attitude of the Poles was quite interesting: they saw a new army, an army in uniform (and not the one that went into these areas between the Western Bug and Vepshy at the end of September 1939. - Auth.) Officer units, they had some kind of feeling. And they "questioned all the time, asked us to sing the Anthem of the USSR. And when we sang this anthem, in which there were words that Russia rallied all the other parts, it was a majestic anthem, not "International", this also played a certain role in the mood of the Poles "2.

Of course! After all, shoulder straps, and "Great Russia rallied forever", and the dissolution in May 1943 of the "headquarters of the world revolution" - the Comintern - all indicated that the USSR from the embryo of the "world republic of Soviets" was becoming a normal, national state. A state that defends the interests of its peoples - and not the "world proletariat".

It is possible that it was precisely the desire to present the USSR as a civilized country that prompted Stalin to decide in the spring of 1942 to introduce "generally recognized insignia - shoulder straps." After all, N.N., who then commanded the artillery of the Red Army, Voronov testified that shoulder straps were also designed to help interaction with the allies 3 . And just in the spring of 1942, Stalin was strenuously seeking the opening of a "second front" ...

Inheritance

The war also forced us to remember the glorious past of Russia and its army more often.

It encouraged, aroused the desire "not to shame."

According to the head of the Logistics of the Red Army A.V. Khrulyov, developing the first samples of shoulder straps, the quartermasters copied something from other armies, "made something themselves."

But then Stalin ordered: "Show me the epaulettes that the tsar had" 4 .

As a result, according to the constructive type, the Soviet shoulder straps were repeated by the Russians.

Pentagonal or hexagonal. The soldiers - from colored cloth.

For sergeants - too, with transverse or longitudinal stripes.

For officers - from a metal galloon in two or three rows, with colored gaps between the rows and with stars.

The generals - from a wide galloon with a zigzag pattern.

Field epaulettes - made of khaki cloth.

Together with epaulettes, a new uniform was introduced - in cut and details reminiscent of the Russian of the 1910s.

Field blouses with a standing (instead of a turn-down) collar, officer's tunic, dress uniforms with a standing collar and galloon buttonholes on the cuffs. Overcoat buttonholes in the shape of a parallelogram (instead of diamond-shaped).

(True, the old uniform was allowed to be worn. Until the end of 1943, many wore shoulder straps on old tunics with a turn-down collar).

Correcting the editorial of the Red Star on January 6, 1943, Stalin emphasized: "It must be said that shoulder straps were not invented by us. We are the heirs of Russian military glory. We do not refuse it ..." 6

Discipline

Another aspect of the problem was revealed to Stalin, apparently, by those commanders of the fronts and armies who supported the idea of ​​introducing shoulder straps. They noted that "this is not only decoration, but also order and discipline" 7 .

The Decree of the Council of People's Commissars of December 15, 1917 explained the abolition of ranks and insignia by the fact that one cannot emphasize the superiority of one "citizen of the Russian Republic" over another.

But life quickly made me realize that there can be no equality in the army.

Because the army is not just bosses and subordinates. In the army, a subordinate, on the orders of his superior, must go to his death!

And he will not always be conscious enough for this. Many will have to suppress the instinct of self-preservation due to the habit of following orders.

To develop such a habit in the army, there must be iron discipline.

So, the subordinate cannot look at the boss as an equal! You can not obey an equal - who is he, they say, such?

This natural inequality should also be reminded by the appearance of the boss.

And already in 1919, the Red Army had to introduce insignia for positions. And in 1935 - according to military ranks.

But the insignia that existed by the 42nd - buttonholes - did not distinguish commanders as much as shoulder straps. Especially the field buttonholes introduced in August 1941 in the active army - khaki, with triangles painted in the same color, "cubes", "sleepers" and general stars. They simply merged with the collar of the tunic into one faded tone.

The military uniform looked like civilian "clothes".

Stalin's pause

It is difficult to say who came up with the idea to introduce shoulder straps - from Stalin or from those commissaries who, from the beginning of 1942, designed external distinctions for the guards units on his orders. But the idea was born no later than the spring of 1942: already in May, Stalin introduced it to the Main Political Directorate of the Red Army. And at the end of September or the beginning of October, he spoke about the introduction of epaulets as a matter decided 8 .

And this is understandable. What's the point of introducing shoulder straps in an army that is retreating? She will only think angrily: "Is there nothing else to do?"

In order for shoulder straps to give the desired effect, it was necessary that they be associated with a fracture, with a cleansing thunderstorm. With a new, victorious army!

And the end of September - the beginning of October of the 42nd - this is the time when no one knew whether it would be possible to keep Stalingrad ...

When the troops who tried to unblock Leningrad during the Sinyavino operation died in the encirclement ...

When the Germans in Operation "Michael" expanded the "Ramushevsky corridor", which led to their semi-encircled Demyansk grouping in the Novgorod region ...

And only on November 19 a cleansing thunderstorm struck - Operation Uranus. On the 23rd, the German army that stormed Stalingrad was surrounded.

This date - November 23, 1942 - was included in the draft decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on the introduction of shoulder straps. Having imposed a resolution "for", Stalin nevertheless waited still - but by January 6, 1943, it became clear that the enemy would not break out of the ring ...

Army reaction

The production of millions of pairs of shoulder straps was delayed. The transition to wearing them, which began on February 1, 1943, could not be completed either by February 15 or by March 15. Senior Lieutenant A.Z., who fought on the North Caucasian Front. Lebedintsev could not get epaulettes until June, and some pilots and tankers entered the Battle of Kursk without them on 9 ...

What was the reaction of the Red Army? Those who were torn away from the past by the propaganda of the 1920s and 1930s experienced a shock. Here are just a few responses recorded on the Don Front.

“Even before, I had an aversion to shoulder straps, but now the old one is returning, we will again wear shoulder straps” (junior military technician Rozhdestvensky).

“For 25 years under Soviet rule, we fought against the old order, and now shoulder straps are being introduced again. Probably, they will soon introduce elders, as they were before, and then landlords and capitalists ...” (senior sergeant Volkov).

"Again they want to make the old system and the fascist army, because the fascists wear shoulder straps" (political instructor Balakirev) 10 .

From now on, for this "anti-Soviet agitation" they were registered in a special department ...

There was also a reaction, which was recalled, for example, by N.I. Zhukov, then a lieutenant of the guard: "How strange it was for us with epaulettes, they laughed at each other that they looked like" white "officers" 11.

Those who, despite many years of propaganda, felt what “beautiful and normal” meant, rejoiced!

"[...] We proudly wore a new uniform with gold shoulder straps and enjoyed universal respect," recalled V.M. Ivanov, who studied in 1943 at the Artillery Academy 12 .

"[...] We, the boys with the rank of" cabin boy, were proud of shoulder straps, like orders, "- testified writer Valentin Pikul, who graduated from the 43rd school of the Navy cabin boy 13 .

And the scout of the 142nd Infantry Regiment A.A. Baranov, setting off on the night of July 3, 1943 on the Bryansk Front on a sortie to the enemy trenches, protested against the order to remove shoulder straps (as was supposed to go behind enemy lines):

"Why take off your shoulder straps? If you really have to die, then die as an officer" 14!

officers

The last quote is to die an officer! - extremely remarkable. After all, Baranov was only a senior sergeant!

Yes, and officers in the USSR by July 43rd were formally called "commanders and chiefs" (more precisely, middle and senior command and command staff). The word "officer" appeared only in the titles of the positions "liaison officer" and "general staff officer." True, in the order of the People's Commissar of Defense of May 1, 1942, Stalin called the Soviet command cadres "officers" - but this had no consequences.

Propaganda of the 1920s and 1930s kept repeating: officers are in the bourgeois armies. These are the servants of the landlords and capitalists, the executioners of the workers and peasants...

But in the USSR, shoulder straps were historically associated with officers ...

Not in vain, seeing in March 43rd in Syzran a man in uniform - pilot O.V. Lazarev, - several military men, who were still wearing buttonholes, "all, as one, turned their heads" in his direction and saluted 15 . In shoulder straps means the bosses! But Lazarev was an ordinary Red Army soldier ...

And - a rare case! - the authorities began to indulge the mass consciousness.

Without making changes to the charters yet, after January 6, 1943, she gave the go-ahead to calling middle and senior commanders also officers.

Just look at the article in Krasnaya Zvezda, the central organ of the People's Commissariat of Defense, dated January 31, 1943. The usual expression "commanders and fighters" is adjacent to the new one - "officers and fighters". Mention is made of "our officer corps", "the honor of the combat uniform of a Soviet officer" 16 ...

No wonder Sergeant Baranov wanted to feel like an officer. It's an honor to be them!

It is not surprising that A.A. Cherkashin later believed that their graduation "became the first officer graduation in the Soviet Army": "We were told that we would go to the graduation course in Moscow on Red Square as the first parade of the Soviet officer corps." (And they passed - "with golden epaulettes on their shoulders, holding carbines" on hand "in" boxes eight by eight "...) 17

And from July 24, 1943, middle and senior commanders and chiefs - from junior lieutenant to colonel inclusive - began to be formally called officers.

The decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR issued that day divided the servicemen not into private, junior command and command and command and command staff (as before), but into private, sergeant, officer and general.

Esprit de corps

After all, he has shoulder straps on.

A military uniform with shoulder straps can no longer be confused with civilian clothing! Such a uniform will immediately remind you that the work of the military is special: "for the common good" they "sacrifice their blood and life" 18 .

This form makes the concept of "honor of uniform" quite clear.

She cannot be shamed by indecent behavior.

It cannot be simplified - for example, dragging sacks or bundles in it along a city street ...

All this began now, from the 43rd, to inspire the Soviet military. “Yesterday I read a new memo for officers,” Captain O.D. Kazachkovsky wrote to the Guards on January 17, 1944. “Obviously, almost everything will be the same as before. Special attention is paid to the attitude towards women. An officer is a gallant, cultured cavalier in society” 19 ...

And here is the demobilized guard lieutenant I.G. Kobylyansky - yesterday's student - hires, having returned to Kyiv on December 30, 1945, a porter: it is not appropriate for an officer to carry unsightly boxes in front of passers-by. And faced with the distrust of the professor - he doubted that Kobylyansky graduated from the army for three semesters - "excitedly" asks: "Is the officer's word of honor not enough for you?" twenty

Immediately after personal military ranks were introduced in the Red Army on September 22, 1935, three workers met the company commander Klapin on Vitebsk Street. “Look,” one said, looking at the squares in Klapin’s buttonholes, “today he wears cubes, and in three days he will put on golden shoulder straps ... We hung lieutenants and captains in 1818 on poles, and now they are being brought in again” 5.

P.S. The January decree obliged the Red Army soldiers to wear new insignia. But no circular could make you fall in love with shoulder straps. And medical instructor Yulia Drunina and millions of her brothers-front-line soldiers fell in love with:

I am close to army laws,
Not without reason I brought from the war
Field wrinkled shoulder straps
With the letter "T" - honors foreman.

1. Apukhtin S. At the front after the revolution // Military story (Paris). 1968. July. N 92. S. 38.
2. Drabkin A.V. In war as in war. M., 2012. S. 571.
3. From the memoirs of the Chief Marshal of Artillery N.N. Voronova // Military History Journal. 1963. N 1. S. 114.
4. Ortenberg D.I. Forty third. Chronicle story. M., 1991. S. 16.
5. RGVA. F. 9. Op. 39. D. 8. L. 396.
6. Ortenberg D.I. Decree op. S. 17.
7. Ibid. S. 16; According to the memoirs of Army General A.V. Khrulev, former head of the Main Logistics Directorate of the Red Army // Military History Journal. 1963. N 1. S. 115.
8. Ortenberg D.I. Decree. op. S. 15; From the memoirs of Marshal of the Soviet Union A.M. Vasilevsky // Military History Journal. 1963. N 1. S. 114.
9. Lebedintsev A.Z., Mukhin Yu.I. Fathers are commanders. M., 2004. S. 150; Lipatov P.B. Uniform of the Red Army and the Wehrmacht. Insignia, uniforms, equipment of the ground forces of the Red Army and the armed forces of Germany. M., 1995. S. 21.
10. Stalingrad epic. Materials of the NKVD of the USSR and military censorship from the Central Archive of the FSB of the Russian Federation. M., 2000. S. 391.
11. Zhukov N.I. Baptism of fire on the Kirov land // On the Western Front: between Moscow and Smolensk. Kirovsky district of the Kaluga region during the Great Patriotic War of 1941 - 1945. (Memoirs, documents, articles). Kaluga, 2005, p. 148.
12. Ivanov V.M. War through the eyes of a lieutenant. 1941 - 1945 years. SPb., 2001. S. 181.
13. Valentin Pikul: "I love a strong personality" // Truth. 1987. May 17. No. 137 (25124). C. 3.
14. "Fiery arc". Battle of Kursk through the eyes of the Lubyanka. M., 2003. S. 45.
15. Lazarev O.V. "Flying Tank" 100 sorties on IL-2. M., 2013. S. 85.
16. Transition to new insignia - shoulder straps // Red Star. 1943. January 31. No. 25 (5396). C. 1.
17. Cherkashin A. For the Russian land! For Pushkin!.. // Muscovite. 1991. May. Issue. 6. P. 7.
18. Brief history of the cavalry guards and the cavalry guard regiment. SPb., 1880. S. 1.
19. Kazachkovsky O.D. Physicist at war-2. M., 2001. S. 132.
20. Kobylyansky I.G. Direct fire on the enemy. M., 2005. S. 278, 285.

The introduction of shoulder straps in the Red Army

On January 6, 1943, shoulder straps were introduced in the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army.

Shoulder straps in the Russian army have a long history. They were first introduced by Peter the Great back in 1696, but in those days shoulder straps served only as a strap that kept a gun belt or cartridge pouch from slipping off the shoulder. The shoulder strap was only an attribute of the uniform of the lower ranks: the officers were not armed with guns, and therefore they did not need shoulder straps.

Shoulder straps began to be used as insignia with the accession to the throne of Alexander I. However, they did not denote ranks, but belonging to one or another regiment. On shoulder straps a figure was depicted indicating the number of the regiment in the Russian army, and the color of the shoulder strap indicated the number of the regiment in the division: the first regiment was indicated in red, the second in blue, the third in white, and the fourth in dark green. Army (in the sense of non-guards) grenadiers had yellow shoulder straps. The shoulder straps of the Akhtyrsky and Mitavsky hussars and Finland, Primorsky, Arkhangelsk, Astrakhan and Kinburn dragoon regiments were also yellow.

Shoulder straps of the Russian Imperial Army	Shoulder straps of the Russian Imperial Navy
Insignia of the Red Army 1935-40	Shoulder straps of the Red Army (since 01/06/1943)

To distinguish a soldier from an officer, officer shoulder straps were first sheathed with galloon, and since 1807 officers' shoulder straps were replaced with epaulettes. Since 1827, officer and general ranks began to be denoted by the number of stars on epaulettes: ensigns– 1,second lieutenant, major and major general - 2; lieutenant,lieutenant colonel and lieutenant general - 3; staff captain - 4; at captains,colonels and there were no full generals on the epaulettes of stars. One asterisk was retained for retired brigadiers and retired second majors - these ranks no longer existed by 1827, but retirees with the right to wear uniforms who retired in these ranks remained. From April 8, 1843, insignia appeared on the shoulder straps of the lower ranks: one badge went tocorporal ,two to the junior non-commissioned officer, and three to the senior non-commissioned officer. The sergeant-major received a transverse ribbon of 2.5 cm thickness on the shoulder strap, andensign- exactly the same, but located longitudinally.

In 1854, shoulder straps were also introduced for officers, leaving epaulettes only on dress uniforms, and until the revolution itself, there were almost no changes in shoulder straps, except that in 1884 the rank of major was abolished, and in 1907 the rank ensign .

Shoulder straps had officials of some civil departments - engineers, railway workers, police .

However, after the October Revolution epaulettes have been abolished together with military and civil ranks (about this).

The first insignia in the Red Army appeared on January 16, 1919. They were triangles, cubes and rhombuses sewn onto sleeves (See:). In 1922, these triangles, cubes and rhombuses were transferred to sleeve valves (Cm.:). At the same time, a certain color of the valve corresponded to one or another type of troops. But these valves did not last long in the Red Army - already in 1924, rhombuses, cubes and triangles moved to buttonholes. In addition, in addition to these geometric figures, another one appeared - a sleeper, intended for those service categories that corresponded to pre-revolutionary staff officers (See for more details).

In 1935, the Red Army introduced personal military ranks . Some of them corresponded to pre-revolutionary ones - colonel, lieutenant colonel, captain. Some were taken from the ranks of the former tsarist Navy - lieutenant and senior lieutenant. The ranks that corresponded to the generals remained from the previous service categories - brigade commander, division commander, commander, army commander of the 2nd and 1st ranks. The rank of major, abolished under Alexander III, was restored. The insignia, in comparison with the buttonholes of the 1924 model, almost did not change outwardly - only the four-cube combination disappeared. In addition, the rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union was introduced, which was no longer indicated by rhombuses, but by one large star on the collar flap.

On August 5, 1937, the rank of junior lieutenant (one head over heels) was introduced, and on September 1, 1939, the rank of lieutenant colonel. At the same time, three sleepers now corresponded not to a ladle, but to a lieutenant colonel. The colonel received four sleepers.

On May 7, 1940, general ranks were introduced. The major general, as before the revolution, had two stars, but they were located not on shoulder straps, but on collar valves. The lieutenant general had three stars. This is where the similarities with pre-revolutionary generals ended - instead of a full general, a lieutenant general was followed by the rank of colonel general, skalked from the German general oberst. The colonel general had four stars, and the general of the army following him, whose rank was borrowed from the French army, had five stars.

In this form, the insignia remained until January 6, 1943, when shoulder straps were introduced into the Red Army. From January 13, they began to enter the troops.

Soviet shoulder straps had much in common with pre-revolutionary ones, but there were also differences: the officer shoulder straps of the Red Army (but not the Navy) of 1943 were pentagonal, not hexagonal; the colors of the gaps denoted the branch of service, not the regiment; the clearance was a single unit with the epaulette field; there were colored edges according to the type of troops; stars were metal, gold or silver, and differed in size between junior and senior officers; ranks were designated by a different number of stars than before 1917, and epaulettes without stars were not restored.

A junior lieutenant, a major and a major general received one star each. Two each - lieutenant, lieutenant colonel and lieutenant general, three each - senior lieutenant, colonel and colonel general, and four went to the captain and general of the army. The shoulder straps of junior officers had one gap and from one to four silver-plated metal stars with a diameter of 13 mm, and the shoulder straps of senior officers had two gaps and from one to three stars with a diameter of 20 mm.

The badges for junior commanders were also restored. The corporal still had one stripe, the junior sergeant - two, the sergeant - three. The former wide sergeant-major badge went to the senior sergeant, and the foreman received the so-called "hammer" on shoulder straps.

Soviet officer shoulder straps were five millimeters wider than pre-revolutionary ones. There were no encryptions on them. For the Red Army, field and everyday shoulder straps were installed. According to the assigned military rank, belonging to the branch of service (service), insignia (asterisks and gaps) and emblems were placed on the field of shoulder straps. For military lawyers and doctors, there were "medium" stars with a diameter of 18 mm. Initially, the stars of senior officers were attached not to the gaps, but to the galloon field next to them. Field epaulettes had a field of khaki color (cloth color khaki) with one or two gaps sewn to it. On three sides, shoulder straps had edgings according to the color of the type of troops. The gaps were installed - blue - for aviation, brown - for doctors, quartermasters and lawyers, red - for everyone else. The field of everyday shoulder strap was made of golden silk or galloon. For everyday shoulder straps of the engineering command staff, quartermaster, medical and veterinary services and lawyers, a silver galloon was approved. There was a rule according to which silver stars were worn on gilded shoulder straps, and vice versa, gilt stars were worn on silver shoulder straps, except for veterinarians - they wore silver stars on silver shoulder straps. The width of shoulder straps is 6 cm, and for officers of the medical and veterinary services, military justice - 4 cm. It is known that such shoulder straps were called "oaks" in the troops. The color of the edging depended on the type of troops and service - crimson in the infantry, blue in aviation, dark blue in the cavalry, a gilded button with a star, with a hammer and sickle in the center, in the navy - a silver button with an anchor. The general's epaulettes of the 1943 model, in contrast to the soldiers' and officers', were hexagonal. They were gold with silver stars. The exception was the shoulder straps of the generals of the medical and veterinary services and justice. Narrow silver epaulettes with gold stars were introduced for them. Naval officer shoulder straps, unlike army ones, were hexagonal. In all other respects, they were similar to those of the army, but the color of the shoulder straps was determined: for the officers of the ship, ship-engineering and coastal engineering services - black, for aviation and the aviation engineering service - blue, quartermasters - raspberry, for everyone else, including the number of justice is red. Emblems were not worn on the shoulder straps of the command and ship staff. The color of the field, stars and edging of the shoulder straps of generals and admirals, as well as their width, were also determined by the type of troops and service, the field of shoulder straps of senior officers was sewn from a special weaving galloon. The buttons of the generals of the Red Army had the emblem of the USSR, and the admirals and generals of the Navy had the emblem of the USSR superimposed on two crossed anchors. On November 7, 1944, the location of the stars on the shoulder straps of colonels and lieutenant colonels of the Red Army was changed. Up to this point, they were placed on the sides of the gaps, but now they have moved to the gaps themselves. On October 9, 1946, the shape of the shoulder straps of the officers of the Soviet Army was changed - they became hexagonal. In 1947, on the shoulder straps of officers retired and retired by order of the Minister of the Armed Forces of the USSR No. 4, a golden (for those who wore silver shoulder straps) or silver (for golden shoulder straps) patch was introduced, which they are required to wear when they put on a military uniform (in 1949 this stripe canceled).

In the post-war period, insignificant changes took place in the shoulder insignia. So, in 1955, everyday field bilateral shoulder straps for privates and sergeants were introduced.

In 1956, field epaulettes were introduced for officers with khaki stars and emblems and gaps according to the type of troops. In 1958, the narrow shoulder straps of the 1946 model for doctors, veterinarians and lawyers were abolished. Silver stars are introduced on golden shoulder straps, and gold stars on silver ones. The colors of the gaps are red (combined arms, airborne forces), crimson (engineer troops), black (tank troops, artillery, technical troops), blue (aviation), dark green (medics, veterinarians, lawyers); blue (the color of the cavalry) was abolished due to the liquidation of this type of troops. For the generals of the medical, veterinary services and justice, wide silver shoulder straps with gold stars were introduced, for others - gold shoulder straps with silver stars.

In 1963, there are blue gaps for officers of the Airborne Forces. The shoulder straps of the foreman of the 1943 model with the "foreman's hammer" are abolished. Instead of this “hammer”, a wide longitudinal braid is introduced, like in the pre-revolutionary ensign.

In 1969, gold stars were introduced on gold shoulder straps, and silver stars on silver ones. The colors of the gaps are red (ground forces), crimson (medics, veterinarians, lawyers, administrative service) and blue (aviation, airborne forces). Silver generals' epaulettes are abolished. All generals' epaulettes became gold, with gold stars framed by a piping according to the type of troops.

In 1972, ensign shoulder straps were introduced. Unlike the pre-revolutionary warrant officer, whose rank corresponded to the Soviet junior lieutenant, the Soviet warrant officer corresponded in rank to the American warrant officer.

In 1973, ciphers SA (Soviet Army), VV (Internal Troops), PV (Border Troops), GB (KGB troops) were introduced on the shoulder straps of soldiers and sergeants, and K - on the shoulder straps of cadets.

In 1974, new shoulder straps of the general of the army were introduced to replace the shoulder straps of the 1943 model. Instead of four stars, they had a marshal's star, above which was placed the emblem of motorized rifle troops.

In 1980, all silver shoulder straps with silver stars were abolished. The colors of the gaps are red (combined arms) and blue (aviation, airborne forces).

In 1981, the shoulder straps of a senior warrant officer were introduced, and in 1986, for the first time in the history of Russian officer shoulder straps, shoulder straps without gaps were introduced, differing only in the size of the stars (field uniform - "Afghan")

Currently shoulder straps remain insignia of the Russian army , as well as some categories Russian civil officials .

			Insignia of the Red Army 1924-35

The insignia of the ranks of the Red Army were buttonholes sewn on the collars of gymnasts, tunics and overcoats. The rank was recognized by the shape of the geometric figures attached to the buttonholes, and the specific rank by their number. There were also additional insignia in the form of galloon coal chevrons sewn onto the sleeves between the elbow and the cuff.

Rhombuses (by the beginning of the war, replaced by 5-pointed stars) acted as insignia for senior officers, for senior officers - rectangles or, as they also called "sleepers", and for junior officers - squares or cubes (colloquially, lieutenants were called "kubars") . For non-commissioned officers - triangles.

And so, now specifically about the titles.

MILITARY RANKS OF THE HIGHEST COMMAND STRUCTURE:

Marshal of the Soviet Union - 1 big star between laurel branches
Army General - 5 small stars
Colonel General - 4 stars
Lieutenant General - 3 stars
Major General - 2 stars

The two stars of the major general are apparently somehow connected with the canceled position-the title of "brigade commander", who wore one rhombus on his buttonhole.

SENIOR COMMAND AND COMMANDING STRUCTURES:

Colonel - 4 sleepers
Lieutenant colonel - 3 sleepers
Major - 2 sleepers
Captain - 1 sleeper

MIDDLE COMMAND AND COMMANDING STRUCTURES:

Senior lieutenant - 3 dice
Lieutenant - 2 dice
Junior lieutenant - 1 die

JUNIOR COMMAND AND COMMANDING STRUCTURE:

For all ranks (except for the Red Army) there was a narrow strip along the buttonhole and a golden triangle was attached in the upper corner of the buttonhole. In addition, the petty officer's buttonhole was sheathed with a golden edging.

Petty Officer - 1 stripe and 4 triangles
Staff Sergeant - 1 stripe and 3 triangles
Sergeant - 1 stripe and 2 triangles
Junior Sergeant - 1 stripe and 1 triangle

RED ARMYS:

Corporal - 1 lane
The Red Army man is an empty buttonhole.

In addition to lavalier insignia, as mentioned earlier, there were also sleeve galloon patches indicating a specific rank, and in some cases a rank.

So the chevron on the sleeves of the ranks from major general to colonel general inclusive was the same. the chevron for major and lieutenant colonel was also the same, since the rank of lieutenant colonel did not exist in the Red Army until 1940. These patches were present only for combatant ranks, and they were absent from quartermasters, military technicians, doctors and military lawyers. All political officers, regardless of rank, had a red star sewn on their sleeves with a crossed hammer and sickle embroidered on it with gold thread.

In 1943, there was a change in the insignia of the Red Army. Lapel pins are replaced with epaulettes.

ON THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW SIGNS OF DIFFERENCE FOR THE PERSONNEL OF THE RED ARMY
1. Satisfy the petition of the People's Commissariat of Defense and introduce, instead of the existing ones, new insignia - shoulder straps for the personnel of the Red Army.

2. Approve the samples and description of the new insignia of the personnel of the Red Army. *

3. The People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR to set the deadlines for the transition to new insignia and make the necessary changes to the uniform of the personnel of the Red Army. **

Moscow Kremlin. January 6, 1943

ORDER ON THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW SIGNS OF DIFFERENCE AND ON CHANGES IN THE FORM OF CLOTHES
RED ARMY
No. 25 of January 15, 1943

In accordance with the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of January 6, 1943 “On the introduction of new insignia for the personnel of the Red Army”
I order:

1. Set the wearing of shoulder straps:
field - servicemen in the army and the personnel of units being prepared for dispatch to the front;
everyday - by servicemen of other units and institutions of the Red Army, as well as when wearing full dress uniforms.

2. The entire composition of the Red Army to switch to new insignia - shoulder straps in the period from February 1 to February 15, 1943.

3. Make changes to the uniform of the personnel of the Red Army, according to the description in appendices Nos. 1, 2 and 3.

4. To put into effect the “Rules for wearing uniforms by personnel of the Red Army” (Appendix No. 4).

5. Allow the wearing of the existing uniform with new insignia until the next issue of uniforms, in accordance with the current terms and supply standards.

6. Commanders of units and chiefs of garrisons strictly monitor the observance of uniforms and the correct wearing of new insignia.

People's Commissar of Defense I. STALIN

The field of epaulettes is made of galloon of special weaving: for field epaulettes - from khaki-colored silk, for everyday ones - from gold drag.

And so, the insignia are as follows:

Shoulder straps and insignia of marshals of the Soviet Union and generals.

The size of the stars on the shoulder straps of generals is 22 mm, on the shoulder straps of generals of the medical and veterinary services - 20 mm.

Number of stars by military rank:

Marshal of the Soviet Union - one big star;
Army General - four stars;
Colonel General - three stars;
Lieutenant General - two stars;
Major General - one star;

On February 4, 1943, by order of the NPO of the USSR No. 51 in in addition to the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of January 6, 1943 "On the introduction of new insignia for the personnel of the Red Army", changes were made to the shoulder straps of the Marshals of the Soviet Union and shoulder straps were introduced for marshals of aviation, artillery and armored forces.

October 27, 1943 by order of the NPO of the USSR No. 305 on the basis of the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of October 9, 1943. additionally established military ranks for senior officers:

ORDER OF THE DEPUTY PEOPLE'S COMMISSIONER OF DEFENSE
WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE DECREE OF THE PRESIDIUM OF THE SUPREME SOVIET OF THE USSR
“ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ADDITIONAL MILITARY RANKS FOR THE HIGHEST COMMAND STRUCTURE OF THE RED ARMY”

I announce for the leadership the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of October 9, 1943 "On the establishment of additional military ranks for the senior command staff of the Red Army."

Deputy People's Commissar of Defense
Marshal of the Soviet Union VASILEVSKY

DECREE OF THE PRESIDIUM OF THE SUPREME SOVIET OF THE USSR
ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ADDITIONAL MILITARY RANKS
FOR THE HIGHEST COMMAND STRUCTURE OF THE RED ARMY

In addition to the decrees of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of May 7, 1940 and January 16, 1943, establish the following military ranks for the top command staff of the Red Army:

Chief Marshal of Artillery,
Air Chief Marshal,
Chief Marshal of the Armored Forces,
Marshal of the Signal Corps,
Chief Marshal of the Signal Corps,
marshal of engineering troops,
chief marshal of the engineering troops.

Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR M. KALININ
Secretary of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR A. GORKIN
Moscow Kremlin. October 9, 1943

As a result of the changes at the end of 1943, the following happened:
Marshal of the Soviet Soza - 1 big star and the state emblem over not
Chief Marshal (arms) - 1 large star in a wreath and the emblem of the arms above it
Marshal (arms) - 1 big star

There were no changes in the insignia of the generals.

Shoulder straps and insignia of senior and middle command staff.

On the shoulder straps of the middle command staff - one clearance and silver-plated stars;
on the shoulder straps of the senior command staff - two gaps and silver-plated stars of a large size.
Asterisks on shoulder straps - metal. From junior lieutenant to captain inclusive, the size of the stars from corner to corner is 13 mm, from major to colonel - 20 mm.

The number of stars on the pursuit - by military rank:

colonel - three stars,
lieutenant colonel - two stars,
major - one star,
captain - four stars,
senior lieutenant - three stars,
lieutenant - two stars,
junior lieutenant - one asterisk.

Shoulder straps and insignia of junior command and rank and file

field - from khaki cloth,
everyday - from colored cloth according to the type of troops.

Stripes on field shoulder straps for junior command and command staff:

narrow - 1 cm wide,
wide - 3 cm wide,
longitudinal stripe on the shoulder straps of the foreman - 1.5 cm wide.

Shoulder straps of junior officers have stripes according to military rank:

foreman - narrow longitudinal and wide transverse stripes,
senior sergeant - wide transverse patch,
sergeant - three narrow cross stripes,
junior sergeant - two narrow cross stripes,
corporal - a narrow transverse stripe.

With the coming to power of the Bolsheviks, all military ranks and insignia were abolished. However, soon the experience of the civil war showed the need for some kind of way to allocate command personnel. Until the winter of 1919, the process of introducing insignia was not regulated by anyone. There were insignia in the form of red armbands with the inscription of the position, a different number of red stripes around the sleeve, a different number of stars on the sleeve, headdress, chest, etc. These insignia were introduced by the commanders of brigades, divisions, regiments. On January 16, 1919, by order of the RVSR No. 116, insignia of military branches in the form of colored buttonholes on collars and insignia of commanders in the form of stripes on the left sleeve above the cuff (cuff) were introduced. By this order, insignia were introduced only for combat commanders and their deputies. Political commissars, staff servicemen, servicemen of auxiliary services did not have any insignia according to this order. The insignia were stripes of red fabric in the form of triangles, squares and rhombuses placed above the cuff of an overcoat, tunic, service jacket, jacket, tunic or other outerwear. Above these signs was placed a red star cut from the same fabric with a diameter of 11 cm. for commanders from squad to regiment; diameter 14.5cm. from the brigade commander and above.

Junior officers wore triangles:

One is the squad leader
Two - deputy platoon commander
Three - foreman of a company (division)

The middle and senior command staff wore squares:

One is a platoon leader
Two - company commander
Three - battalion commander
Four - regimental commander

The highest command staff wore rhombuses:

One is the brigade commander
Two - division commander
Three - Army Commander
Four - Front Commander

Very quickly, other military personnel began to wear these insignia. Most often, the deputies of the corresponding commander wore one badge less than that of the commander. Based on the approximate correspondence of their positions to the legal status of commanders, other military personnel began to sew on signs.

By order of the RVSR No. 1406 of August 22, 1919, distinctive signs were introduced on the left sleeve above the elbow in the form of rhombuses 11x8 cm in size for military servicemen. and a red armband for military commandants of railway stations, piers with the image of the same sign on it.

Until September 1935, the insignia corresponded only to the position held. With the introduction in 1919 of a single headdress - budenovka - the color of the sewn star began to indicate the type of troops

infantry...........crimson
cavalry ...... blue
artillery.....orange
aviation.........blue
sappers...........black
border guards..green

At the ends of the collar of an overcoat or shirt, buttonholes were sewn in the color of a star. In the infantry, it was prescribed to apply the number of the regiment on the buttonholes with black paint.

In April 1920, sleeve insignia of military branches were introduced. These signs are made of cloth and embroidered with colored silk. The signs are placed on the left sleeve of the shirt, caftan in the middle between the shoulder and elbow.

Let's also remember the VChK-GPU-OGPU

On June 13, 1918, the Internal Troops of the GPU-OGPU were created as a corps of the Cheka troops.
05/25/1919, together with other auxiliary troops, the Internal Troops became part of the Internal Guard Troops of the Republic (VOHR)
09/01/1920 VOKhR, reinforced by a number of contingents, formed the Internal Service Troops (VNUS)
01/19/1921 Independent Troops of the Cheka were again separated from the VNUS
02/06/1922 The troops of the Cheka were reorganized into the Internal Troops of the GPU-OGPU.

The protection of places of detention and escort was carried out by the Escort Guard of the Republic. Until 1923, it was part of the structure of the People's Commissariat of Justice, but was operationally subordinate to the GPU.

In June 1934, all institutions of the OGPU were included in the All-Union People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs (NKVD), where the Main Directorate of State Security was formed. The internal troops were renamed the Internal Guard of the NKVD. For the first time, the uniform for the organs of the GPU and internal troops was introduced on June 27, 1922. The items of clothing and equipment adopted by the organs and troops of the GPU at first differed from the Red Army only in color and some details.

Uniforms and insignia underwent significant changes in 1934.

The system of official ranks of the OGPU in 1922

GPU officer

Rank 3 Agent...................1 Triangle
Rank 2 Agent...................2 Triangles
1st rank agent...................3 triangles

Special Assignment Officer.1 square
Beginning operational point ..... 2 squares
Beginning inspection department ......... 3 squares
Beginning investigative part ....... 4 squares

Military instructor of the inspection ............... 1 rhombus
Beginning GPU departments .............. 2 rhombuses
Deputy Beginning Department of the GPU .............. 3 rhombuses
Head of the GPU Department .................... 4 rhombuses

The highest military rank of Generalissimo of the Soviet Union was established on June 26, 1945 and awarded to I.V. Stalin. On the dress uniform, instead of shoulder straps, epaulettes with the Coat of Arms and a star were used.

After being awarded the rank of marshal in 1943, Stalin was given a special suit. It was a closed light gray tunic with a turn-down collar and four pockets of the same cut that Soviet generals wore before the introduction of shoulder straps. The tunic had the shoulder straps of the Marshal of the Soviet Union and the general's overcoat buttonholes - red with gold piping and buttons. The collar and cuffs were trimmed with red piping. The loose trousers with red stripes were made of the same fabric as the tunic. No one else wore such a suit. In it, I.V. Stalin was depicted on official portraits and posters. He became the only uniform of the Generalissimo of the Soviet Union.

Buttonholes were the insignia of the NKVD workers. In general, like all paramilitary units in the prewar period. However, in addition to buttonholes, insignia were also located on the sleeves of gymnasts and jackets. In addition, the rank could also be determined by the appearance of the departmental patch on the sleeve. The insignia of the NKVD workers differed from those adopted in the Armed Forces. This applied not only to the operational staff, but also to the troops of the NKVD and border guards. For the first time in Soviet history, asterisks appear on insignia. In addition, all employees of the NKVD were assigned special ranks, different from the military.

Two sleeve truncated triangles of red color - sergeant of state security;
- three sleeve truncated triangles of red color - junior lieutenant of state security;
- one sleeve star embroidered with silver - lieutenant of state security;
- two sleeve stars embroidered with silver - senior lieutenant of state security;
- three sleeve stars embroidered with silver - the captain of state security;
- one sleeve star embroidered with gold - major of state security;
- two sleeves embroidered with gold stars - senior major of state security;
- three sleeve stars embroidered with gold - commissioner of state security of the 3rd rank;
- four sleeve stars embroidered with gold, one of them at the bottom is the commissioner of state security of the 2nd rank;
- four sleeve stars embroidered with gold, one of them at the top is the commissioner of state security of the 1st rank;
- one big star on the cuff of the sleeve - the General Commissioner of State Security.

Actually, the same thing was about on the buttonholes. Persons of the commanding staff of the GUGB wore a longitudinal tourniquet on their buttonholes, namely:

silver tourniquet - sergeant, junior lieutenant, lieutenant, senior lieutenant and captain;
golden tourniquet - major, senior major, commissioner of state security of the 3rd, 2nd and 1st rank. Well, the General Commissioner of State Security, respectively.

In addition, a departmental emblem was sewn onto the left sleeve, also indicating the rank of the owner:

From the sergeant of the GB to the captain of the GB - the oval and the sword are silver, the hilt of the sword and the hammer and sickle are gold,
From the major of the State Security Service to the commissioner of the State Security Service of the 1st rank - the oval of the shield is golden, all other details are silver.

In January 1943, at the height of the war, a reform took place in the Red Army. Soviet soldiers and officers put on shoulder straps and changed ranks. There are officers in the army again. As in the royal army.

strange decree

On January 10, 1943, by order of NPO No. 24, the adoption of the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of 01/06/1943 "On the introduction of epaulettes for the personnel of the Red Army" was announced.

This document, and this decision itself - to start a serious military reform in the midst of the war, of course, have their own history. We want to tell her. Why did Stalin return to the Red Army the shoulder straps that served as the symbol of the White Army? How was this order received? What was the purpose of the military reform?

Propaganda reaction

It is interesting how fascist propaganda met the return of shoulder straps. The German scribes immediately began to see in this step the weakness of Stalin, who made concessions out of fear. The Germans wrote that there were rumors that Stalin would also change the name of the army - to Russian.
They thus treated it as a forced and hasty decision, although the reality was quite different. The introduction of shoulder straps was part of the planned reform program of the Soviet Union.

How it happened

Let's say: the idea has matured for a long time. Back in 1935, the rank of "Marshal of the Soviet Union" was introduced in the Red Army, and in 1940, general and admiral ranks were introduced. This can be considered an important milestone on the way to shoulder straps.

By 1941, samples of the new uniform and shoulder straps were also ready. In May 1942, the decree was approved by the Main Political Directorate of the Red Army. Temporary specifications (VTU) TK GIU KA No. 0725, in which there was a description of emblems and insignia (asterisks) on shoulder straps, were published on December 10, 1942.

The Red Army needed a bright turning point victory. Such a victory was Stalingrad. When it became clear that the 6th Army of Paulus did not last long, the project was approved by the Politburo of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks - October 23, 1942.

According to the order, it was necessary to switch to shoulder straps in half a month - from February 1 to February 15, 1943, however, even on the Kursk Bulge in July of this year, some pilots and tankers, as can be seen in the photographs, did not wear shoulder straps, but old buttonholes.

How to change shoulder straps

The introduction of shoulder straps was met with mixed reactions. It is known that, for example, Georgy Zhukov disliked shoulder straps. Many Soviet military leaders went through the Civil War - and their memory remembered the "gold chasers".

It must be said that, of course, Stalin's shoulder straps were not a copy of the royal ones. There was a different system for designating titles, like the titles themselves. Instead of a second lieutenant, there was now a lieutenant, the staff captain became a captain, instead of a captain, a major. On the shoulder straps of the army of the Russian Empire, the ranks were indicated only by small asterisks. Large stars for senior officers were introduced first by Stalin. Field marshals in the tsarist army wore epaulettes with two crossed batons on a galloon zigzag. After the introduction of shoulder straps in 1943, the ranks of Marshal of the Soviet Union began to symbolize the big star and emblem of the USSR.

Order N 1 of March 1, 1917 "On the democratization of the former army and navy" equalized the rights of soldiers and officers. Soon, the very word "officer" began to be perceived as counter-revolutionary.

Only in the May Day order of the People's Commissar of Defense in 1942 did it reappear. At the beginning of 1943, with the introduction of shoulder straps in the Red Army, the word officer officially fell out of favor. The commanders from the platoon commander to the brigade commander began to be called differently.

It is not entirely correct to consider the introduction of shoulder straps as a personal initiative of the supreme commander. Shoulder straps were introduced by the decision of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. The Chairman of the Presidium was Mikhail Ivanovich Kalinin. It was a planned reform, preparations for it took almost ten years.

There is a version that Stalin introduced shoulder straps almost out of nostalgia. In March 1918, Stalin acted as Extraordinary Commissar for the shipment of grain in Tsaritsyn, and there he met the strange "red general" Andrei Evgenievich Snesarev, who on principle refused to take off the general's shoulder straps and aiguillettes of the General Staff. Stalin remembered the proud officer.

But it can hardly be called a historically based version. Most likely, the introduction of shoulder straps was caused by objective reasons:

1) Ideological (epaulettes have been an element of the form of the Russian army since Peter the Great, and appealing to the names of the great Russian generals was one of the methods of educating patriotism)

2) Nominative. The war will end sooner or later. Coming to Berlin as "commanders" and "brigade commanders" was short-sighted - an approximate unification with the ranks of the allied countries was needed.

3) The victory in the Battle of Stalingrad turned the tide of the war. Changes in the form allowed to inspire the army.

When the decree was passed, articles about it immediately appeared in the newspapers. And they emphasize the symbolism of the introduction of shoulder straps precisely from the position of the inseparable connection of Russian victories.

Alexey Rudevich

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