Who among us now, without hesitation, can name the military ranks of the Russian Imperial Army and the armies of the White movement. Young people, I think they can’t name anything at all, can they? that "Admiral", like that, with a firm sign. The older generation will issue a set: lieutenant (everything is in memory " White sun desert and his glamor with a revolver), staff captain (there is no doubt "His Excellency's Adjutant" Staff Captain Koltsov), captain (Captain Ovechkin from counterintelligence "Elusive Avengers"), well, atamans, sergeants and captains from the Quiet Don "and" Shadows Disappear at Noon "and dozens and hundreds of films and performances in which officer epaulettes and ranks flicker passed and did not remain in memory. Most of us are piously confident that the shoulder straps and ranks in the Red Army, introduced in 1943, almost completely correspond to the uniform and shoulder straps tsarist army, only some names have changed, instead of, say, lieutenant, the lieutenant began to be called. Caught in one, then another fiction, and sometimes in a documentary work, officer ranks and their explanations are so different that you don’t know what to think. For example - the captain is who, what analogue of the military rank corresponds to. In the end, it became interesting what are the similarities and what are the differences. Introduction to this topic gave such a volume of material that at first it seemed that my whole life would not be enough to digest and realize all this. For example, for me, a purely civilian person, such a frequent change in the external attributes of uniforms and ranks was unexpected. Of course, I understood that with the change of one reigning person on the throne to another, some changes occur, monograms on shoulder straps or something else, but it turned out that the process of forming the appearance of a serviceman of the imperial army did not stop for a minute. Yuri Veremeev investigated this issue in great detail, in the smallest detail, and published it in his book Anatomy of the Army. In fact, his work is the foundation for subsequent research by other authors and just, like me, curious people. In general, to tell the truth, I got the impression that 
All sites devoted to military topics to some extent used the materials of the works of Yuri Veremeev. I, in fact, also did not stand aside and want to contribute a small fraction of my understanding of the issue.
As an introduction, I would like to quote the preamble from Nikolai Kornish's book "The Russian Army 1914-1918". It seems to me that I am not the only one who saw the similarities and parallels between the past and today in Russia and its Army in 1914 and the year 2012.
"The Russian army of the First World War period was subjected to numerous attacks for decades for various reasons: political, because of "secrecy" and ignorance. The memoirs of its surviving commanders are often written tendentiously or self-servingly. Russia's exit from the war was criticized by politicians various directions. The lack of ammunition, the lack of support from the Western allies, the betrayal in the highest echelons of power, the sacrifices of Russia in the interests of France in 1914 and Italy in 1916 - all these factors took place, but no one talks about the history as a whole. Many Western historians agreed with this or that aspect of the topic - until the publication in 1975 of the work of Professor Norman Stone " Eastern front 1914-1917". The latter showed that by the end of 1916 Russia was producing enough munitions, but its failure to adapt to wartime imperatives - such as supplying food to the urban population and developing a viable supply system - led Russia to destruction and revolution. At the beginning of the 20th century, the territory of the Russian Empire stretched over 8 million square kilometers, the population was about 170 million people, it was ruled by one person - Emperor Nicholas II of the Romanov dynasty, which in 1913 celebrated its 300th anniversary. The power of the tsar was absolute, but, as the revolution of 1905-1907 showed, it was based on the support of the army. Japan's victory in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 forced the reorganization of the Russian armed forces in the period preceding the First World War. In March 1909, General V.A. was appointed Minister of War. Sukhomlinov and the reform received priority status.
It became clear that the reform of the armed forces and industrialization had to take place simultaneously. domestic production small arms and field artillery was sufficient, as for heavy artillery, communications and other modern military equipment and equipment, all this did not meet the requirements of the moment. Imports were needed until Russian industry could establish own production. Period 1910-1914 showed unprecedented changes: during peacetime, salaries were increased to encourage the work of experienced specialists; hundreds of officers were dismissed due to their incompetence; the mobilization was organized in such a way as to form a considerable reserve; the military budget has been increased."
Generals. This is the head, the brain of any army. As the history of our country has shown, we have never had a shortage of generals, but there has always been an acute shortage of brains at headquarters and in the field during severe trials. Unfortunately, almost a hundred years after the start of the First World War, we remember only generals Brusilov and Alekseev , although there were certainly more of them, talented military leaders. Someone, having gone over to the side of Soviet power, dissolved in it, someone was "wiped out" of history for participating in the white movement, and someone, like General Krasnov, dishonored himself for centuries by betrayal.
In the Red Army and, accordingly, the Soviet Army, there was no concept of a staff officer. Instead, there was a concept in the classification of Soviet officers - senior officers. They differed from other officers in more expensive material on uniforms and the number of gaps on shoulder straps. Nevertheless, with external similarity, there are significant differences.
Despite such a loud name, in fact, the concept of chief officers includes the rest of the mass of middle and junior command personnel, which in fact is in the first chains of any war and dies mercilessly and en masse.
The huge number of ensigns in the First World War and junior lieutenants in the Great Patriotic War showed this perfectly.
A profoundly erroneous opinion prevails in Russian literature that shoulder straps as an element of military uniform supposedly originate from the mythical metal shoulder pads that protected the warrior's shoulders from saber blows. However, this is just a beautiful legend that does not have any serious justification. Epaulets, and one (!) Appeared on Russian military clothing only with the creation of a regular army by Tsar Peter I between 1683 and 1699 as a purely practical element of clothing. Its task was to prevent the grenadiers' heavy grenadi bag from slipping off the shoulder strap. This explains its appearance: a fabric valve with its lower end tightly sewn into the shoulder seam of the sleeve and having a slot in its upper part for attaching to a button. The button was sewn to the shoulder of the caftan closer to the collar. The shoulder strap was originally attached to the left shoulder. The merits of the shoulder strap were quickly appreciated, and it also appears on the clothes of the Fusiliers, Musketeers; in a word, everyone who had to carry bags of various kinds. The color of the shoulder strap for everyone was red. It is easy to see from the images of that time that there are no shoulder straps on the shoulders of all officers, cavalrymen, artillerymen, sappers. It is easy to notice from the images of that time that there are no shoulder straps on the shoulders of all officers, cavalrymen, artillerymen, and sappers. In the future, the epaulette, depending on the needs of a particular time, moved either to the right shoulder, or to the left, or disappeared altogether. Quite quickly, this very noticeable element of the form began to be used as a decorative element of clothing. The use of shoulder straps as a means of distinguishing the servicemen of one regiment from the servicemen of another regiment began in 1762, when shoulder straps of various weaving from a garus cord were installed for each regiment. At the same time, an attempt was made to make the shoulder strap a means of distinguishing between soldiers and officers, for which in the same regiment officers and soldiers had different weaving of shoulder straps. At the lower end of the shoulder strap there were ends hanging down, which made it somewhat similar to epaulet
. However, the design of the epaulette is completely different, this is exactly the shoulder strap.
There were so many types of shoulder strap weaving (each regiment commander himself determined the type of shoulder strap weaving) that it turned out to be impossible to remember the type of shoulder strap in the regiment and to distinguish an officer from a soldier.
Emperor Paul I returns to shoulder straps a purely practical purpose - to hold the strap of the bag on the shoulder. Again, the epaulette disappears from the officer and non-commissioned officer uniforms. However, officers and generals have an aiguillette on their right shoulder, the upper part of which is very reminiscent of a garus epaulette.
The second attempt to make epaulettes a means of distinguishing officers from soldiers was made by Emperor Alexander I, when in 1802, during the transition to a tailcoat cut uniform, pentagonal cloth shoulder straps were introduced. The soldiers received shoulder straps on both shoulders, non-commissioned officers on the right shoulder (since 1803 on both shoulders), officers on the left shoulder (the aiguillette remains on the right shoulder). The colors of the epaulets were originally established according to the seniority of the regiments in the inspection (district) in the following order: red, white, yellow, light crimson, turquoise, pink, light green, gray, purple, blue. Since 1807, the color of the epaulette was set according to the serial number of the regiment in the division: 1st regiment red shoulder straps, 2nd regiment white, 3rd regiment yellow, 4th regiment dark green with red edging, 5- 
th regiment light blue. Since 1809, all guards regiments were given scarlet epaulettes without encryption. Since 1807, on the shoulder straps of army regiments, the number of the division to which the regiment belongs (encryption) was laid out with a yellow or red cord on the shoulder strap. Soldiers and non-commissioned officers had exactly the same shoulder straps. The officer's epaulette had the same color as that of the soldiers of this regiment, but sheathed on all sides with gold galloon. However, in 1807, the officers' epaulets are first replaced by one epaulette
, and since 1809 officers have worn epaulettes on both shoulders. Shoulder straps disappeared from officer uniforms until 1854. They remain an accessory only to soldier and non-commissioned officer uniforms. Until 1843, shoulder straps will carry two functional loads. First, holding on the shoulders of the straps of the satchel; secondly, epaulettes will become a determinant of a soldier’s belonging to a certain division (by number on p
lights) and to a certain regiment (according to the color of the shoulder strap). Since 1814, all grenadier regiments in all divisions were given yellow shoulder straps, and the rest of the regiments of divisions: 1st regiment red shoulder straps, 2nd white, 3rd light blue, 4th dark green with red piping. Later, the colors and encryption of shoulder straps will change several times. In 1843, epaulettes for the first time receive the function of determining the ranks of non-commissioned officers. On them appear transverse stripes indicating the rank. Stripes from a white bason (braid) were given to infantry, chasseurs and naval regiments; white stripes with a red thread along the middle of the stripes in the grenadier and carabinieri regiments.
Non-commissioned officers of the nobility in all regiments had stripes of gold galloon. At the same time, the junkers, the junker belts receive an epaulette trimmed with gold galloon. However, ensigns and ensigns received the same epaulettes. The sergeants had a wide golden galloon. The colors of the shoulder straps indicate serial number regiment in the division, the numbers are the number of the division, the letters are the monogram of the highest chief of the regiment. Since about 1855, the division number has increasingly been replaced by the monogram of honorary regimental chiefs.
Shoulder straps, which have not been on the officer's uniform since 1807, are returned in 1854 in a new capacity. In 1854, epaulettes for the first time receive the function of a determinant of officer and general ranks. At this time, officers and generals receive a new marching overcoat and galloon epaulettes for it. The epaulette was of a soldier's type (assigned to the regiment in the color of the epaulette), on which for the chief officers two strips of galloon of a special pattern were sewn along so that there was a gap of 4-5 mm between the strips. One strip of wide and two strips of a narrower galloon, also with gaps between them, were sewn onto the shoulder straps of headquarters officers. The galloon could be silver or gold (according to the color of the instrument metal assigned to the regiment). A strip of wide gold galloon with a zigzag pattern was sewn onto the general's shoulder strap. The size of the stars for all officers and generals was the same.
The ranks of officers and generals differed as follows :
one lumen :
ensign - 1 star,
second lieutenant - 2 stars,
lieutenant - 3 stars,
staff captain - 4 stars,
captain - no stars.
two gaps :
major - 2 stars,
lieutenant colonel - 3 stars,
colonel - no stars.
General's epaulette :
major general - 2 stars,
lieutenant general - 3 stars,
general from infantry (the so-called "full general") - without asterisks,
field marshal general - crossed wands.
Since November 1855, wearing epaulets instead of epaulettes has been introduced on vice-uniforms. Later, epaulettes are replaced by officer epaulettes on marching uniforms. Since 1882, only shoulder straps have been worn on all types of officer uniforms, except for the front dress. In 1865, the insignia of the non-commissioned officers:
One wide patch is worn by sergeants. They are equated with clerks (divisional, regimental and battalion).
Three narrow patches are worn by detached non-commissioned officers. They are equated
senior musicians, regimental staff buglers, drummers, regimental and battalion captains, senior paramedics.
Two narrow patches are worn by non-commissioned officers. They are equated with company captains, junior musicians, company clerks, paramedics, volunteer non-commissioned officers.
One narrow stripe is worn by corporals and privates of senior salary.
In 1874, for volunteers (a person who voluntarily entered the military service as a soldier and has an education that gives the right to confer an officer rank), a three-color (white-black-yellow) edging on shoulder straps was introduced. In 1899, candidates for a class position (non-commissioned officers who have received education and knowledge that allow them to be appointed to the position of military officials) are given an angle-shaped patch on shoulder straps. In June 1907, the type of shoulder straps of a sub-ensign was changed, and shoulder straps for the new rank of "ensign" were introduced. Moreover, if an ordinary warrant officer is in the position of sergeant major, then he also has a sergeant patch on his shoulder straps.
In 1909, the type and color of ciphers on shoulder straps was determined:
Grenadier regiments - the yellow initial letter of the regiment's name under the monogram of the regiment chief;
Infantry regiments - yellow regiment number; 
Rifle regiments - crimson number with the addition of the letters of the area where the regiment was formed (V-S East Siberian, Kv Caucasian, etc.).
In 1907-1912, many changes took place in the appearance of officer and soldier shoulder straps. So the officers get an encryption (regiment number or monogram of the regiment chief) in the form of gold or silver embroidery, or from metal letters, emblems of the military branches and services for officers of artillery, engineering troops. The shoulder straps of hussar officers (hussar zigzag), military officials (medics, treasurers, clerical workers, etc.) receive a special look. metal.
In 1907, according to the experience of the Russo-Japanese war of 1904-05, shoulder straps of all ranks are divided into two types: everyday and field. Moreover, for the lower ranks and non-commissioned officers, shoulder straps become two-sided (on the one hand, field, on the other, everyday). In addition to the encryption of the regiment, emblems of the military branches and stripes of specialists are added. One dark red transverse stripe indicates that the soldier has a certain qualification (reconnaissance observer, observer, laboratory technician, pyrotechnician, miner, telephone operator, etc.), and a white longitudinal stripe indicates that he is a soldier or the non-commissioned officer is highly qualified (gunner, fencing teacher, riding teacher, radio operator, telegraph operator, scout, etc.). Soldiers and non-commissioned officers of long-term service had epaulettes trimmed with yellow lace (braid) following the pattern of junkers (the latter had epaulette trim made of gold galloon).
With the outbreak of the First World War in the summer of 1914, all military personnel active army, and from October 1914, all military personnel put on field shoulder straps. Although the full dress and other forms of clothing were not canceled, but following the example of Tsar Nicholas II, who at the beginning of the war put on a simple soldier's tunic with shoulder straps of an infantry colonel and did not take it off until his tragic death on July 17, 1918, wear gold shoulder straps of peacetime (including including in the rear) was considered bad form. At the end of 1914, the production of gold and silver galloon for shoulder straps was discontinued and has never been resumed. For overcoats, shoulder straps were sewn from khaki cloth, and for uniforms, tunics from green moleskin. The stripes of the lower ranks were dark orange.
The colors of the ciphers were set as follows:
Yellow - infantry.
Crimson - rifle units 
.
Blue - cavalry.
Red - artillery.
Brown - engineering troops.
Blue - Cossacks.
Light green - railway troops.
White - consignment note.
Orange - fortified parts.
Black - quartermasters.
The encryption was different from the peacetime encryption. The monograms of the highest chiefs from among foreigners were canceled. In addition to the regiment number, letters were added:
Zp - reserve regiment, Zk - Transcaspian rifle battalions, Z.-S. -West Siberian rifle battalions, V.S.S. - East Siberian rifle brigades, I-ndant teams, T - transport teams, Ob-transport teams and battalions, P.M. -pedestrian local units, M.L. -local infirmaries, etc. The Cossack regiments had their own encryption. The ciphers were intended to determine the part to which this or that soldier belongs, but very quickly the ciphers began to occupy the entire area of the shoulder strap, the number of numbers and letters on the shoulder began to reach 8-12. The creators of this system themselves could no longer understand this. As the war progressed, the formation of new units became more and more hasty, discipline fell. The officers were no longer so carefully following the implementation of numerous orders, and more and more often the soldiers wore epaulettes without ciphers, or abbreviated ciphers. At the same time, some soldiers on shoulder straps have metal emblems of the military branches of the officer's sample instead of painted ones. Usually it was fashionable for motorists, machine gunners, aviators.
With the fall of the empire in February-March 1917, order and discipline, the desire of soldiers to fight, fell rapidly. The Provisional Government, trying to raise the spirit of the army and in order to create combat-ready units, begin to form the so-called shock battalions with infantry divisions.
On the shoulder straps of such battalions, instead of ciphers and emblems, images of a skull and crossbones are applied with black paint as a symbol of readiness to die in battle "For the Faith, the Tsar and the Fatherland." St. George's battalions are being formed, consisting entirely of holders of the insignia of the Order of St. George, detachments of disabled volunteers, female shock battalion death, etc. All these units, along with other insignia, are also assigned special shoulder straps.
From about the summer of 1916, due to the deterioration of the clothing supply, officers were allowed to use non-standard clothing and shoes. The "American type" tunic comes into fashion. First, on them, and then on other types of uniforms, in violation of the rules for wearing a uniform, galloon gold and silver epaulets appear, which have been preserved by officers since peacetime.
On October 25 (November 7 n.s.), 1917, the Provisional Government fell, and after about three weeks the Bolsheviks really came to power, first in both capitals, then during December 1917-February 1918 and throughout the country. On December 16, 1917, the Decree of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars completely canceled all the symbols of the Russian state. Classes, titles, honorary titles, the Table of Ranks, orders, benefits, pensions, awards and distinctions, including shoulder straps, are cancelled. In the newly created Red Army, the uniform did not have shoulder straps, and indeed, initially there were no insignia in it. It seemed that epaulettes were disappearing forever from the shoulders of Russian servicemen. However, by March 1918, political opponents of the Bolsheviks organized in the country, although scattered, but very strong armed resistance, which gradually consolidated and took shape in the so-called "White Movement". The armed detachments of this heterogeneous movement, which has a variety of political colors (from monarchists to right SRs), constitute a fairly strong and organized force, which the Bolsheviks called the White Guard or White Guards. The largest armed formations of the anti-Bolshevik forces gathered in the southern part of the country in the Volunteer Army of General Kornilov (after his death, the movement would be headed by Denikin), later in the Armed Forces of the South of Russia. Counter-revolutionary armed formations began to appear on Far East, Transbaikalia, North, Northwest Russia. Regardless of the political coloring of the armed counter-revolutionary formations, as a rule (with some exceptions) they all retained the system of military ranks and insignia of the tsarist army, and, above all, epaulettes, with a rather diverse form of clothing. The number of stars on shoulder straps, the number and size of stripes were usually taken according to the model of the tsarist army, but due to independence, each commander developed and introduced his own colors of shoulder straps in his units and subdivisions.
Military rank in the Russian Imperial Army, which existed in the 18-19 centuries, below major general and above colonel. It was introduced by Peter I.
The rank of captain-commander corresponded to him in the fleet. in some armies today it corresponds to the rank of "brigadier".
Wahmister
This position was common in the cavalry, its non-commissioned officers, as well as in the artillery in the army of our country (Cossack troops, cavalry, and also the gendarme corps). It existed until 1917, when the military ranks of the tsarist army of Russia were in effect. Not everyone had an analogue to the titles in the USSR. Wahmister, for example, was not in. The duty of a person with this rank was to assist in the training of troops and the organization of internal order and economy to the squadron commander. The corresponding rank in the infantry is sergeant major. For non-commissioned officers, this rank would have been the highest until 1826.
lieutenant general
We continue to describe military ranks in tsarist Russia Let's move on to Lieutenant General. This rank and military rank was in the Ukrainian and Russian armies. It was used simultaneously (almost as a synonym) with the latter during Northern war, more precisely, in its second half, it replaced the rank of lieutenant general.
Field Marshal General
This is the highest in ground forces Austrian, German and Russian army military rank. It was introduced in our country by Peter I in 1699. This rank of the 1st class corresponded in the Navy to the rank of Admiral General, in civil service- Chancellor, as well as a Privy Councilor (also I class). Field Marshal's Baton served as a badge of distinction, since the 19th century in the buttonholes of field marshals they began to be depicted in a crossed form. Military ranks in tsarist Russia were distinguished by shoulder straps, where representatives of the rank we are describing also depicted wands. An example of a well-known Field Marshal in the history of our country is D. A. Milyutin.
Since 2009, this symbol has also been present on the emblem of the current one by all the Armed Forces of our country.
Generalissimo
In the Holy Roman Empire, this was the highest military rank, and later became such in the Russian Empire, as well as in the USSR and a number of other countries.
Historically, it was assigned to commanders of several, mostly allied, armies, commanders, and in some cases also to statesmen or persons belonging to the families of the reigning dynasties, as honorary title. This rank stood outside the system of other officer ranks.
A. V. Suvorov October 28, 1799 received this title in accordance with military charter, since he was the prince of the Sardinian kingdom, and at the same time the count of the Roman Empire, the prince of Russia, as well as the commander-in-chief of the Austrian, Sardinian and Russian troops. Currently, in our country it is not provided for by law.
Esaul
The next rank continues our list of "Military ranks in Tsarist Russia". Esaul is the rank of chief officer in the Cossack and Russian troops. This title means assistant, deputy commander. Yesauls are: military, general, hundreds, regimental, marching, stanitsa, artillery.
Captain Commander
This rank existed in 1707-1732, and also in 1751-1827 in the fleet of our country. He was introduced in 1707 and listed in the Table of Ranks in 1722, belonged to class V, was considered lower than rear admiral and higher than the rank of captain of a ship (captain of the first rank - from 1713). In the army, this rank corresponded to a brigadier, and in state (civilian) positions - a state adviser. Contacting a representative this rank- "Your highness." His duties included commanding detachments of ships (small), as well as replacing the rear admiral for a while.
Corporal
This is the military rank that the youngest had command staff, is the lowest sergeant (non-commissioned officer) rank. In our country, it appeared in 1647, introduced by Peter I "Military Regulations". Later, in the first half of the 19th century, it was replaced by the rank of non-commissioned officer. Today, in the modern Armed Forces, a corporal corresponds to such a rank as "junior sergeant".
Cornet
This is a military rank that was in the armies of some countries, mainly in the cavalry. Its name comes from the ancient position of a trumpeter, who was with the commander, who, on his orders, transmitted signals to the troops during the battle. The holders of this rank are listed in the same class as army lieutenants, therefore they wear the same shoulder straps. Note that the rank of second lieutenant does not exist in the cavalry.
Podsaul
We continue to describe military ranks in tsarist Russia, we present you the following. This position has existed since the 16th century, and then in Russia it was the chief officer rank in the Cossack troops of class X (in 1798-1884) and class IX in the aforementioned "Table of Ranks" list (1884-1917), in which there were military ranks in tsarist Russia and their salaries are indicated.
It was equated in 1798 in the cavalry with the rank of staff captain, in the infantry with the rank of staff captain, in the navy with a lieutenant, and also with the rank of titular adviser in the civil service.
Second Lieutenant
This chief officer rank, which existed in the Russian army, was introduced by Peter I in Russia in 1703.
After the rank of ensign for peacetime was abolished in 1884, he became the first officer for all troops, except for the Cossacks and cavalry, where he corresponded to the rank of cornet, cornet. In the navy of the Empire, the rank of midshipman was an analogue to him, and in the civil service - the provincial secretary. In the armed forces of the Russian Federation, the rank of second lieutenant corresponds to "lieutenant".
lieutenant
The military rank belonging to junior officers in the armies of pre-revolutionary Russia and Poland corresponded to the position of senior lieutenant. In the 18-19 centuries, there was also a "lieutenant" as an orthographic variant of this rank. Military ranks in tsarist Russia in 1812, for example, included this rank.
It was an officer for assignments, which corresponds to the rank of senior lieutenant in the USSR and Russia.
Ensign
We continue to describe the military ranks in the tsarist army. The ensign exists in the armed forces, as well as other power structures in a number of countries. By decree of Alexei Mikhailovich, in the Russian army in 1649, standard-bearers began to be called ensigns, who were appointed from among the most physically strong, courageous and battle-tested warriors. Creating a regular army, Peter I in 1712 introduced this rank as a junior (first) rank of officers in the cavalry and infantry. Until 1917, it was assigned to persons who graduated from ensign schools or military schools. crash course and passed exams according to a certain program. It was allowed to be assigned without an exam for military distinctions to non-commissioned officers who had an average or higher education. Ensigns were usually appointed to positions by platoon commanders. In the Red Army (in 1917-1946), as well as the Soviet (until 1972), there was no similar rank of ensign. On January 1, 1972, it was introduced (along with the rank of midshipman) in the Armed Forces of the USSR. In the modern army of our country, he corresponds to the position of junior lieutenant.
Captain
The captain completes our list of "Military ranks in the tsarist army". It was the senior officer rank in the cavalry (in the Russian Empire - chief officer). In 1730, in connection with the creation of heavy cavalry, new titles of ranks appeared, among which was the captain. Ulansky and in 1882 were transformed into dragoons, and to establish uniformity in ranks throughout the cavalry, dragoon captains began to be called captains. In 1917 given rank was abolished. In the 20th century it existed, for example, in Poland.
These are the main military ranks in the tsarist army of Russia.
After the October coup in Petrograd, the executive committee of the Krasnoyarsk Soviet announced that it had assumed full power in the province. The next day, the soldiers of the garrison established control over financial and credit institutions, the treasury, the telegraph office and printing houses.
The provincial commissar Krutovsky tried to intervene in the situation by appealing to the population not to recognize the power of the "Bolshevik" council, with the support of the opposition - the zemstvo council, Cossacks, cooperators, Mensheviks, Cadets and regionals - he created the provincial Committee of public organizations.
October 29 at Petrograd Soviet Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies sent a telegram from Krasnoyarsk announcing that power in the city had passed to the provincial Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies, about the organization of the provincial Revolutionary Committee and support for its actions from the garrison, trade unions and the Duma. The telegram was sent signed by the "Krasnoyarsk Revolutionary Committee of the Yenisei Governorate."
On November 2, the United Provincial Executive Committee of the Council of Workers', Soldiers' and Peasants' Deputies of the Yenisei Governorate transformed the Yenisei Provincial Administration into the Yenisei Provincial People's Commissariat. It included the Bolsheviks I. Belopolsky, V. Yakovlev, A. Perenson and the Left Social Revolutionary N. Mazurin. The provincial commissariat, by its order No. 4, ordered all bodies of public self-government, zemstvo councils to comply with its requirements and orders.
Similar processes took place in the districts of the province. So, in Minusinsk on November 1, the Minusinsk Provisional Executive Revolutionary Committee was approved, which included 3 representatives of the Council of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies, 3 people from the Council of Peasants' Deputies, 3 representatives of the garrison, 1 member of the parties of Social Democrats (Bolsheviks), Socialist Democrats (Mensheviks), Socialist-Revolutionaries (Internationalists), Socialist-Revolutionaries (Right), 6 more citizens from various organizations. AI Plotnikov became the chairman of the Minusinsk executive committee. On November 30, K. E. Tregubenkov headed the Revolutionary Committee and the Minsovdep. On November 9, Soviet power was established in Yeniseisk.
In December 1917, the soviets formalized new power structures in the Yenisei province. supreme power in the region was at the united provincial executive committee. It included the executive committees of the Krasnoyarsk Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies and the executive committee of the Yenisei Soviet of Peasants' Deputies. Gennady Weinbaum became the chairman of the provincial executive committee. Executive committees and revolutionary committees also acted locally. In some territories, the former authorities of the Provisional Government completely went over to the camp of the Bolsheviks. So, the Karatuz Committee public safety(Minusinsk district) renamed itself the Council of Peasants', Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies.
In the Kansk district, Soviet deputies at the II Peasant Congress on December 7 called what was happening in the country a civil war, sharply condemning the policy of the Bolsheviks.
In the meantime, the crisis was growing in the economy of the province. By the middle of 1918, most of the plants and factories in the region worked intermittently, and up to 1/3 of the urban population were unemployed. In the countryside, grain requisitions set the peasants against the Soviets, and the authority of the Socialist-Revolutionaries and other parties of the right flank grew.
Tables of ranks of the Russian Army
Russian army 1884-1917
The table shows the ranks of the ranks of the army from 1884 to 1917. These are the years of the reign of Alexander III (1881-1894), Nicholas II (1894-1917). During the period under review, the ranks in the guards were one class higher than in the army, i.e. "old" and "young" guards are equalized in ranks. In 1891, the Cossack ranks were established in the Life Guards Cossack and the Life Guards Ataman Regiment (until that time, these regiments had general cavalry ranks). In 1884, the rank of "major" was finally abolished, and all officer ranks from second lieutenant to captain in the Table of Ranks were increased by one class. The captain now has a headquarters officer class VIII, but is still listed in the chief officer ranks. 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 retirement 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 Field Marshal Milyutin died. Dmitry Alekseevich who served as Secretary of War from 1861 to 1881. More than this rank was not assigned to anyone, 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.).
After October revolution 1917 By the Decree of the Central Executive Committee and the SNK (Bolshevik government) of December 16, 1917, all military ranks were abolished. At this time, the Russian army was disintegrating. From individual servicemen, from the remnants of parts of the imperial army, the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army was created at the same time (Decree of the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars of January 15, 1918), the armed formations of the White Movement (they used the system of ranks presented here throughout the civil war), the national armies of Ukraine, Lithuania , Latvia, Estonia, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Poland, Finland (they created their own rank systems).
army infantry
| The code* | Category | Rank class | Name of rank |
| 1a | lower ranks | Private | |
| 2 | corporal | ||
| 3 | non-commissioned officers | Junior non-commissioned officer | |
| 4a | Senior non-commissioned officer | ||
| 4b | Feldwebel | ||
| 5a | Ensign | ||
| 5 B | Zauryad Ensign | ||
| 7 | Chief officers | XIV | Ensign |
| 8a | XI | Second Lieutenant | |
| 8b | X | lieutenant | |
| 9a | IX | Staff Captain | |
| 9b | VIII | Captain | |
| 11 | Headquarters officers | VII | Lieutenant colonel |
| 12 | VI | Colonel | |
| 14 | generals | IV | Major General |
| 15 | III | Lieutenant General | |
| 16 | II | General of Infantry | |
| 18 | I | Field Marshal General |
* Read more about rank encoding.
Army cavalry
| The code* | Category | Rank class | Name of rank |
| 1 | lower ranks | Private | |
| 2 | corporal | ||
| 3 | non-commissioned officers | non-commissioned officer | |
| 4a | Junior Wahmister | ||
| 4b | Senior wahmister | ||
| 7 | Chief officers | XII | Cornet |
| 8 | X | lieutenant | |
| 9a | IX | Headquarters Captain | |
| 9b | VIII | Captain | |
| 11 | Headquarters officers | VII | Lieutenant colonel |
| 12 | VI | Colonel | |
| 14 | generals | IV | Major General |
| 15 | III | Lieutenant General | |
| 16 | II | General of the cavalry |
Army Cossacks
| The code* | Category | Rank class | Name of rank |
| 1 | lower ranks | Cossack | |
| 2 | orderly | ||
| 3 | non-commissioned officers | junior officer | |
| 4a | senior constable | ||
| 4b | Wahmister | ||
| 5 | Podhorunzhiy | ||
| 7 | Chief officers | XII | cornet |
| 8 | X | centurion | |
| 9a | IX | Podsaul | |
| 9b | VIII | Esaul | |
| 11 | Headquarters officers | VII | Army foreman |
| 12 | VI | Colonel |
Army Artillery/Engineering Troops
| The code* | Category | Rank class | Name of rank |
| 1 | lower ranks | . | Gunner |
| 2 | Bombardier | ||
| 3 | non-commissioned officers | junior fireworker | |
| 4a | senior fireworker | ||
| 4b | Feldwebel | ||
| 5a | Ensign | ||
| 5 B | Zauryad Ensign | ||
| 7 | Chief officers | XIV | Ensign |
| 8a | XI | Second Lieutenant | |
| 8b | X | lieutenant | |
| 9a | IX | Staff Captain | |
| 9b | VIII | Captain | |
| 11 | Headquarters officers | VII | Lieutenant colonel |
| 12 | VI | Colonel | |
| 14 | generals | IV | Major General |
| 15 | III | Lieutenant General | |
| 16 | II | Feldzekhmeister General |
In the II class in the artillery and engineering troops there were three ranks: Artillery General, General Engineer (General of Engineers) and Feldzekhmeister General. The last rank was worn by the chief of artillery and engineering troops.
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 that have the color of the instrument metal - gold or white for regiments that have 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 Air Squadron 19 army corps and staff captain of the 3rd field air detachment. In the center - epaulettes of the cadets of Nikolaevsky engineering school. On the right is the epaulette of a captain (most likely a dragoon or lancer regiment)
Russian army in modern understanding began to be created by Emperor Peter I at the end of the 18th century. The system of military ranks of the Russian army took shape partly under the influence European systems, partly under the influence of the historically established purely Russian system of ranks. However, at that time there were no military ranks in the sense in which we are accustomed to understand. There were specific military units, there were also quite specific positions and, accordingly, their names. For example, there was no title "captain", there was a position "captain", i. company commander. By the way, in the civil fleet even now, the person in charge of the crew of the vessel is called the "captain", the person in charge seaport, is called the "port captain". In the 18th century, many words existed in a slightly different sense than they do now.
So "General" meant - "chief", and not just "highest military leader";
"Major"- "senior" (senior among regimental officers);
"Lieutenant"- "assistant"
"Outbuilding"- "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 a more understandable one (wearing a banner, ensign), quickly replaced the obscure "fendrik", which meant "candidate for an officer position. Over time, the process of separating the concepts of "position" and "rank" was going on. After early XIX centuries, these concepts have already been separated quite clearly. With the development of the means of warfare, the advent of technology, when the army became large enough and when it was necessary to compare the official position of a rather large set of job titles. It was here that the concept of "rank" often began to obscure, divert the concept of "position" into the background.
However, in 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. Epaulette 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 - salient feature namely the Russian army and the German one.
The Austrians and the British had shoulder straps purely functional role: they were sewn from the same material as the tunic so that the shoulder straps did not slip. And the rank was indicated on the sleeve. The five-pointed star, the pentagram is a universal symbol of protection, security, one of the oldest. AT 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. Great French revolution revived the five-pointed stars as a symbol of the ancient god of war Mars. They denoted the rank of commanders French army- on headdresses, epaulettes, scarves, on the folds of the uniform.
The military reforms of Nicholas I copied appearance French army - so the stars "rolled down" from the French sky to the Russian one.
As for 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 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.
But in general field uniform the hussars were of the dragoon type, those combined arms. The only difference indicating belonging to the hussars was indicated by boots with a rosette in front. However, the hussar regiments were allowed to wear chakchirs with field uniforms, but not all regiments, but only the 5th and 11th. The wearing of chakchira by the rest of the regiments was a kind of "non-statutory". But during the war, this happened, as well as the wearing by some officers of a saber, instead of the standard Dracoon saber, which was supposed to be with field equipment.
The photograph shows the captain of the 11th Izyum Hussar Regiment K.K. von Rosenshild-Paulin (sitting) and Junker of the Nikolaev Cavalry School K.N. von 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 lieutenant in the infantry and cavalry and cadet in the Cossack troops began to be assigned to overtime non-commissioned officers who graduated 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."
"Appeared in Russia as a rank and position (deputy regiment commander) in archery army at the end of XV - early XVI century. In archery regiments, as a rule, lieutenant colonels (often of "vile" origin) performed all administrative functions for the head of the archer, appointed from among the nobles or boyars. In the 17th century and the beginning of the 18th century, the rank (rank) and position were referred to as 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 VII class Tables and until 1856 gave the right to hereditary nobility. In 1884, after the abolition of the rank of major in the Russian army, all majors (with the exception of those who were dismissed or stained with unseemly misconduct) were promoted to lieutenant colonels.
INSIGNIA OF CIVIL OFFICERS OF THE MILITARY MINISTRY (here are military topographers)
Ranks of the Imperial Military Medical Academy
Chevrons of combatant lower ranks of extra-long service according to "Regulations on the lower ranks of the non-commissioned officer rank, remaining voluntarily in extra-long active service" dated 1890.
From left to right: Up to 2 years, Over 2 to 4 years, Over 4 to 6 years, Over 6 years
To be precise, the article, from which these drawings are borrowed, says the following: "... the awarding of chevrons to super-enlisted lower ranks holding the positions of sergeant majors (wahmisters) and platoon non-commissioned officers (fireworks) of combatant companies, squadrons, batteries was carried out:
- Upon admission to long-term service - a silver narrow chevron
- At the end of the second year of long-term service - a silver wide chevron
- At the end of the fourth year of long-term service - a gold narrow chevron
- At the end of the sixth year of long-term service - a gold wide chevron"
In army infantry regiments to designate the ranks of corporal, ml. and senior non-commissioned officers, an army white braid was used.
1. The rank of WRITTEN, since 1991, exists in the army only in 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 title of ZURYAD-WRITTEN OFFICER, in this rank in wartime during mobilization military units in case of a shortage of junior officers, the lower ranks are renamed from non-commissioned officers with an educational qualification, or from sergeants without
educational qualification. From 1891 to 1907, warrant officers on the shoulder straps of an ensign also wear rank stripes, from which they were renamed.
4. Title ZAURYAD-WRITTEN OFFICER (since 1907). Shoulder straps of a lieutenant with an officer's star and a transverse stripe according to the position. Chevron sleeve 5/8 inches, angle up. Shoulder straps of an officer's standard were retained only by those who were renamed Z-Pr. during the Russo-Japanese War and remained in the army, for example, as a sergeant major.
5. The title of WRITTEN OFFICER-ZURYAD of the State Militia Squad. Non-commissioned officers of the reserve were renamed into this rank, or, in the presence of an educational qualification, who served for at least 2 months as a non-commissioned officer of the State Militia Squad and was appointed junior officer of the squad. Ensigns-zauryad wore epaulettes of an active duty ensign with a galloon stripe of instrument color sewn into the lower part of the epaulettes.
Cossack ranks and titles
On the lowest rung of the service ladder stood an ordinary Cossack, corresponding to an ordinary infantry. This was followed by an orderly, who had one badge and corresponded to a corporal in the infantry. The next step in 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 the modern non-commissioned officers. 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. AT old army, compared with 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 captain (two per Army) - 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 esaul was preserved under the military ataman Donskoy 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, extended to those who commanded individual industries management of the Cossack army. Since 1754, the military foreman was equated with a major, and with the abolition of this rank in 1884, with a lieutenant colonel. He wore shoulder straps with two blue gaps on a silver field and three large stars.
Well, then comes the colonel, shoulder straps are the same as those of the military foreman, but without stars. Starting from this rank, the service ladder is unified with the general army, since the purely Cossack names of the ranks disappear. The official position of a Cossack general fully corresponds to the general ranks of the Russian Army.
