One of the most significant results of the "Young Turks" revolution of 1908-1909 was the reform of the uniform in the Ottoman army, which stretched over several years.
During the previous hundred years, the Ottoman Empire often tried to modernize the military uniform of the army, as well as its organizational structure. So, during the Crimean War, there was a noticeable strong French influence, but by the end of the 19th century, the Turkish army was modernized, mainly in the German fashion.
The khaki uniform (in fact, its shades ranged from greenish to brownish) was introduced in 1909 to replace the old navy blue, although the full dress uniform of the officers remained in navy blue.

The red tarboush or "fezze" with its dark blue tassel, which had been the hallmark of the Turkish soldier for almost a century, was replaced by the kabalak. This unique military headgear consisted of a long strip of fabric that was wound around a woven base, and resembled a solar tropical helmet.
There is evidence that kabalak was developed by Enver Pasha himself and is often referred to as Enveriye.

Officers often wore a fur hat prescribed for cavalry - a sheepskin kalpak, however, already during the First World War, a simplified form of kabalak was introduced for officers. These kabalaks were of plain khaki fabric.

Captain of the engineering troops, 1913. By the start of hostilities in 1912, the Ottoman officers of the front-line units were wearing a new uniform of the M1909 pattern in gray-green. This captain of engineers is dressed in a standard officer's uniform with a blue tunic collar, which indicates that he belongs to the engineering corps. The blue color is repeated on the upper surface of his astrakhan wool headdress, with a cross-over gold braid running from the edge to the center to form the shape of a six-pointed star. Officers, as a rule, purchased uniforms themselves. This captain most likely bought a pair of leather leggings for his officer's boots and a pair of leather gloves.

Information: Jowett, Walsh "Armies of the Balkan Wars 1912-13"

Parts of the Ottoman army of Arab origin usually wore their traditional kufi.

Private Bicycle Unit, Arabia. At the start of World War I, most of the Ottoman armies in Syria and Iraq were recruited from the local Arab population. They fought with distinction at Gallipoli, but many later joined the Arab Revolt and fought as allies of the British. Others remained loyal to the Ottoman Empire until the end of the war. Most of them were dressed in Turkish uniforms and equipped in the same way as the Turkish infantryman, except that they wore an Arabic kufiya head scarf with a camel hair ring instead of the Turkish kabalak cap. But some of them wore white uniforms, like the cyclist shown in this picture.

Information: Nicolle, Ruggeri "The Ottoman Army 1914-18"

The quality of the uniforms of officers and other categories of servicemen in the Ottoman army varied more than in other armies. Many officers, especially senior officers, made their own uniforms and also acquired personal weapons in Germany.
The uniforms of some soldiers, which came from the allies of the Ottoman Empire, were also made in Central Europe, but the bulk of the uniforms were made in Turkey itself.
By the end of the First World War, the quality of such uniforms ranged from moderately good to downright terrible. The colors as well as the quality of the fabric varied considerably.
The same goes for boots and other leather goods.

During terrible weather in November 1915, Ottoman troops in Gallipoli received an assortment of warm clothing donated by the people of Istanbul, including inappropriate fashionable underwear and light footwear.
Shoes became an acute problem for the Ottoman army and by the summer of 1917, when even some officers did not receive proper boots...

The military branches of the Turkish army were assigned military colors, which were used in the color of collars for officers and collar tabs for other ranks, as well as in the border of kabalak headdresses.

Collars of officers of the ground forces of the Turkish army: 1 - generals; 2 - staff officers; 3 - infantry; 4 - fortress artillery; 5 - field artillery; 6 - machine gunners; 7 - cavalry; 8 - engineers; 9 - aeronautical units (balloons); 10 - firefighters; 11 - redifs (reserves); 12- railwaymen; 13 - veterinarians; 14 - pharmacists; 15 - doctors; 16 - transport workers; 17 - ordinary infantry; 18 - cadets; 19 - alternative; 20 - ordinary infantry; 21 - military clerks; 22 - officer Setre Yakası; 23 - General Setre Yakası; 24 - ordinary reserve (rediffs); 25 - firefighters; 26 - redifs; 27 - Subay Setre Yakası; 28-Cerrah, Baytar Setre Yakası; 29 - Ezcacı Setre Yakası; 30 - Tabip Setre Yakası; 31 - Sanayi Eri Makinist Yakası; 32 - Askeri Katip Setre Yakası; 33 - Askeri Öğrenci Setre Yakası; 34 - reserve officer; 35 - the location of the signs on the collar; 36 - alternative arrangement of signs on the collar; 37 - private infantry

The ranks of generals, officers and non-commissioned officers were worn on shoulder straps in the German manner. On the shoulder straps of non-commissioned officers, in addition, there was a piping of red (infantry) or blue (machine gunners) color ..

Shoulder straps of the Turkish army, 1914-1918: 1 - general (MÜŞIR); 2 - lieutenant general (BIRINCI FERIK); 3 - major general (FERIK); 4 - brigadier general (MIRLIVA); 5 - colonel (MIRALAY); 6 - lieutenant colonel (KAYMAKAM); 7 - major (BINBAŞI); 8 - staff captain (cancelled); 9 - captain (YUZBAŞI); 10 - lieutenant (MÜLAZIM-I EVVEL); 11 - junior lieutenant (MÜLAZIM-I SANI); 12 - junior officer-musician; 13 - sultan; 14 - medical service general: 15 - senior officer; 16 - senior medical officer; 17 - officer; 18 - medical officer; 19 - shoulder straps on the jacket of an infantry school cadet; 20 - epaulette of an infantry school cadet; 21 - cadet shoulder straps; 22 - officer shoulder straps of rifle units; 23 - officer shoulder straps of engineering units; 24 - general's epaulette; 25 - officer's epaulette; 26 - officer's epaulette; 27 - corporal (ER-ONBAŞİ): 28 - sergeant (CAVUŞ); 29 - sergeant major (BAŞÇAVUŞ MUAVINI); 30 - sergeant (BAŞÇAVUŞ).

Information: Orses, Ozcelik "1.Dunya savasinda. Turk askeri kiyafetleri (1914-1918)"

Generals and staff officers had wide double stripes on their trousers. and cavalry and artillery officers are wide singles.

The Ottoman army had a modern soldier's double-breasted overcoat, made of gray wool, with a large collar that was pulled tight around the neck with a cord, and equipped with a hood for additional protection.
Officers wore a grey-green double-breasted coat with a military-coloured collar, or a woolen robe or hooded cloak.

Information sources:
1. Nicolle, Ruggeri "The Ottoman Army 1914-18"
2. Thomas, Babac "Armies in the Balkans 1914-18"
3. Jowett, Walsh "Armies of the Balkan Wars 1912-13"
4. Haselgrove, Radovic “Helmets of the First World War. Germany, Britain & their allies"
5. Kannik "Uniform of the armies of the world 1880-1970"
6. Funken “Encyclopedia of weapons and military costume. World War I 1914-1918"
7. Nicolle, Hook "Ottoman infantryman 1914-18"
8. Orses, Ozcelik "1. Dunya savasinda. Turk askeri kiyafetleri (1914-1918)"

The armed forces of Turkey today are the totality of all military units of the state, which are designed to defend the independence, freedom and integrity of the country, as well as its inhabitants.

History of the Turkish Armed Forces

XIV century - the structure of the military forces of Turkey is being coordinated, which remains with minor changes until the XIX century.

The armed forces of Turkey at that time included:

• capicles(professional infantry);
• seratcules(militia for the duration of hostilities);
• toprakly(feudal cavalry).

The beginning of the 19th century - regular infantry and cavalry begin to emerge - the militia gradually ceases to be used due to its poor qualifications and low morale.

• 1839- A new system was introduced, according to which the SS was divided into a standing army, irregular troops, militia and auxiliary troops of vassals. In this form, it existed until the 1920s.
• 1923- The Republic of Turkey was proclaimed and the military forces of Turkey were created (according to European standards).

general description

Today, Turkey is a member of the NATO organization, and therefore its army fully complies with the standards and requirements of this military alliance.

It is also worth noting that the Turkish ground forces are second in strength in the NATO bloc after the United States. The armament of the Turkish army is carried out according to the latest technological standards.

All men aged 21 to 41 are liable for military service in Turkey. During the hostilities, in addition to men, women from 20 to 46 years old are also called up to the Turkish army.

The supreme body of the army leadership is the commanders-in-chief of the Turkish Armed Forces. The president of the country is appointed to them, and the subordinates are:

1. ground forces (SV);
2. air force (Air Force);
3. naval forces (Navy);
4. gendarmerie;
5. Coast security.

The principle of manning the Turkish army today

Conscription applies to all men from 20 to 41 years old, according to the laws of the country. The only exception is the population with medical restrictions.

Up to 300,000 people are drafted into the Armed Forces every year.

Military service lasts 12 months.

There is also an option to avoid the service. To do this, it is worth paying an amount of 17 thousand liras to the benefit of the state.

Ground troops

As in many other countries, the SVs are the largest branch of the military in Turkey and form the core of the armed forces. The number of soldiers in the Turkish army today exceeds 400 thousand fighters. Today, the weapons of the Turkish army are being tested in the Syrian theater of operations during clashes with the Kurds.

the number of soldiers in the Turkish army today

In addition to field formations, the Turkish army includes elite commando brigades among five units. They are designed for special operations, counter-terrorism, intelligence, counterintelligence and so on.

In addition, four regiments of army aviation, six artillery regiments and numerous military equipment of Turkey are subordinate to the commander of the SV.

SV specialists are trained in the following institutions:

• Training center of tank troops, which is based in the city of Etimesgut;
• Artillery training brigade in the city of Erzincan;
• Training arable brigades: 1st, 3rd, 5th and 15th.

Officers are recruited from young men who have voluntarily completed training in military schools. After they are sent to higher and secondary schools of the armed forces, as well as to Turkish military academies, where they receive appropriate training and qualifications.

term of study in higher UVS

The term of study in the higher UVS is usually 4 years, after which graduates receive the rank of lieutenant. To obtain the highest position, you must enter the military academy and study for 2 years.

The main tactical formation of SV Turkey is a brigade. Their current numbers are:

• 11 infantry;
• 16 mechanized;
• 9 tank.

armored forces

Turkey's ground forces are armed with both their own developments and weapons and equipment from foreign countries. For example, one of the most powerful tanks in the world, which is in service with the Turkish army, is the German Leopard.

Military equipment of Turkey, photo of the German Leopard tank on the march

In addition to the tanks "Leopard 1" (400 units) and "Leopard 2" (325 units), the tank troops also have:

• American medium tanks M60 in the amount of almost 1 thousand units;
• American medium tanks M48A5 in the amount of less than 2.9 thousand units.

The armored forces also include armored fighting vehicles, including:

• American armored personnel carriers M113 - less than 3 thousand units;
• American infantry fighting vehicles AIFV - 650 units;
• Turkish armored vehicles ARSV Cobra (more than 70 units), KIRP (more than 300 units).

Artillery and rocket armament of Turkey

Turkey boasts serious artillery. Among all the numerous samples in service, it is worth noting Turkish military equipment, including:

• Turkish multiple launch rocket systems TR-300 (more than 50 units);
• American self-propelled mortars M30 (more than 1200 units);
• American self-propelled guns M108T (more than 20 units), M52T (365 units), M44T1 (about 220 units);
• Turkish self-propelled guns T-155 Firtina (about 300 units);
• American M115 howitzers (more than 160 units) and others.

Air Force

The Turkish Air Force was created back in 1911 after the First World War ceased to exist. Then they began to recover and at the moment about 60 thousand fighters serve in their ranks.

In total, combat aviation consists of 21 squadrons, including:

• 2 - reconnaissance;
• 4 - combat training;
• 7 - fighter air defense;
• 8 - fighter-bomber.

In addition, there is also an auxiliary aviation in the amount of 11 squadrons - of which:

• 1 - transport and filling station;
• 5 - transport;
• 5 - training.

The Turkish Air Force uses aircraft from foreign countries.

Including American F-16s and McDonnell Douglas F-4Es, Canadian Canadair NF. The situation is the same with transport aircraft. They are either purchased from abroad or Turkey has received a license to manufacture these foreign designs.

The Air Force should also include air defense systems - air defense missiles ("Rapier", MIM-14, MIM-23 Hawk), American and British production and unmanned vehicles, manufactured by the USA and Israel.

At the moment, the development of its own fighter is also underway. The project is called TF-X and is scheduled for completion in 2023.

Naval Forces

Historically, the Turks have always paid great attention to their fleet. Even under the Ottoman Empire, he participated in many wars, including:

• Russian-Turkish (1828-1829, 1877-1878, 1918 and others);
• Greek-Turkish (1897);
• World War I (1914-1918);
• Korean War (1950-1953);
• invasion of Cyprus (1974), etc.

Navy includes:

• Navy;
• marines;
• special forces;
• naval aviation.

The combat composition of the fleet:

• submarines (type "Atylay", "Gyur" and "Preveze");
• frigates (such as "Yavuz", "G" and "Barbaros");
• corvettes (type "MILGEM" and "B").

The main base (headquarters) of the Navy is located in the capital of the country - the city of Ankara. The main naval bases of the modern Turkish army are located in the following cities and districts:

• Foca.
• Mersin.
• Samsun.
• Erdek.
• Geldzhuk.

Turkish military strength

At the moment (according to official information on the website of the Turkish Ministry of Defense), the number of front-line troops reaches more than 410 thousand soldiers. In addition, the modern Turkish army today has an impressive reserve of 190 thousand fighters.

The Turkish government in 2014 decided to reduce the number of ground forces in favor of more modern equipment. That is why every year the total number of military personnel decreases by an average of 15 thousand people.

Turkish Armed Forces

Turkey is currently the only NATO member that is actually preparing for war with several neighboring countries at once, and Turkey's main potential adversary is another NATO member, Greece. Turkey retains the draft principle of manning the Armed Forces, which, in terms of the number of personnel and the number of weapons and equipment, rank second in NATO after the United States. At the same time, the personnel have experience in military operations (against the Kurds), the resistance to their own losses is much higher than that of any other NATO army.

The country has a powerful military-industrial complex capable of producing military equipment of almost all classes. At the same time, in the military-technical sphere, Ankara cooperates both with the main Western countries (primarily with the United States and Germany), as well as with China, Russia, the Republic of Korea, and Indonesia. The weakest point of the Turkish Armed Forces is a very high proportion of obsolete equipment. In addition, recently the high command of the Armed Forces has been subjected to massive repression by the political leadership of the country. This was manifested in the not very successful military operations against the Kurds in northern Syria in 2016-18.

Ground troops have four field armies (PA) and one command, as well as the 15th training infantry division.

1st PA (headquarters in Istanbul) is responsible for the defense of the European part of the country and the zone of the Black Sea straits. It has three army corps (AK) - 2nd, 3rd and 5th.

2nd AK(Gelibolu) includes the 4th, 8th, 18th motorized infantry brigades, 95th armored brigade, 5th commando brigade (SOF), 102nd artillery regiment.

3rd AK(Istanbul) is considered part of the NATO RRF. It includes the 52nd armored division, the 23rd motorized infantry division (6th, 23rd, 47th motorized infantry regiments), the 2nd armored and 66th motorized infantry brigades.

5th AK(Chorlu) includes the 1st and 3rd armored brigades, the 54th, 55th, 65th motorized infantry brigades, the 105th artillery regiment, and the engineering regiment.

2nd PA (Malatya) is responsible for the defense of the south-east of the country, the borders with Syria and Iraq. It is she who is fighting the Kurds. It has three AKs - 4th, 6th, 7th.

4th AK(Ankara) includes the 28th motorized infantry, 1st and 2nd commandos (SOF), 58th artillery brigades, regiment of the presidential guard.

6th AK(Adana) includes the 5th armored, 39th motorized infantry brigades, 106th artillery regiment.

7th AK(Diyarbakir) includes the 3rd infantry division, the 16th and 70th mechanized brigades, the 2nd, 6th motorized infantry brigades, the 20th and 172nd armored brigades, the 34th border brigade, the special forces mountain brigade, 3rd Commando Brigade, 107th Artillery Regiment.

3rd PA (Erzinjan) is responsible for the defense of the north-east of the country, the borders with Georgia and Armenia. It includes two AKs - the 8th and 9th.

8th AK(Elazig) includes the 1st, 12th, 51st motorized infantry brigades, the 4th, 10th, 49th commando brigades, the 17th motorized infantry regiment, and the 108th artillery regiment.

9th AK(Erzurum) includes the 4th armored brigade, 9th, 14th, 25th, 48th motorized infantry brigades, 109th artillery regiment.

4th Aegean PA (Izmir) responsible for the defense of the southwest of the country, i.e. coast of the Aegean Sea, as well as the northern part of Cyprus (recognized only by Turkey itself as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus). It has a transport division, 11th commando, 19th infantry, 1st and 3rd infantry training, 57th artillery training brigades, 2nd infantry regiment. The 11th AK is stationed in Cyprus. It includes the 28th and 39th infantry divisions, the 14th armored brigade, artillery, 41st and 49th special forces regiments.

Army Aviation Command has in its composition the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th regiments of army aviation.

In recent years, Turkey has become the second (after Bulgaria) NATO country armed with tactical missiles. These are 72 American ATACMS (launchers for them are MLRS MLRS) and at least 100 of their own J-600Ts copied from Chinese B-611s.

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, which has 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 stripe of galloon comes from the cut of the sleeve with two ends, in front it converges 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)

The Russian army in its modern sense began to be created by Emperor Peter I at the end of the 18th century. The system of military ranks of 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. company commander. By the way, in the civil fleet even now, the person in charge of the ship's crew is called the "captain", the person in charge of the 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"- "younger".

"Table of ranks of all ranks of military, civilian 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 of the regular army by 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 more understandable (wearing a banner, ensign), quickly replaced the obscure "fendrik", which meant "candidate for an officer's position. Over time, there was a process of separation of the concepts of "position" and "rank". After the beginning of the 19th century, these concepts were already separated quite clearly. With the development of 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 fairly large set of job titles. It was here that the concept of "rank" often began to obscure, divert the concept " position".

However, in the modern army, the position, so to speak, is more important than the rank. 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 the army artillery and engineering troops, the 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 responsibility of officers for soldiers (preservation of life and health, training, clothing, living conditions) forbade 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 for a long time, etc.). Ranks are introduced in the lower ranks 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 reign of Emperor 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 the October Revolution of 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 cavalry suite 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.

Among the Austrians and the British, shoulder straps had a purely functional role: they were sewn from the same material as the tunic so that the shoulder straps would 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 the 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 the appearance of the French army - this is how the stars "rolled down" from the French sky to the Russian one.

As for the British army, even during the Anglo-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. In the 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 made of 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 epaulets with the same zigzag were worn, except for the hussar regiments, was the 4th battalion (from 1910 a regiment) of the riflemen of the 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.
In general, the field uniform of the hussars was 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 Rosenshield-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), but 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 army of the 18th 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) From the moment the Table of Ranks was introduced until its abolition in 1917, the rank (rank) of lieutenant colonel belonged to the VII class of the Table of Ranks and gave the right to hereditary nobility until 1856. In 1884, after the abolition of the rank of major in the Russian army, all majors (with the exception of the dismissed or those who have stained themselves with unseemly misconduct) are 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 wartime.
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 rank of WRITTEN OFFICER, in this rank in wartime, when military units are mobilized with 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 the stanitsa atamans. They performed the functions of assistants to the marching chieftain, in the 16th-17th centuries, in his absence, they commanded the army, later they were executors of the orders of the marching chieftain. 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 of the executive authority 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 one, 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.