70 years ago in the Soviet Union, shoulder straps were introduced for the personnel of the Soviet Army. Shoulder straps and stripes in the navy were abolished in Soviet Russia after the October Revolution of 1917 by a decree of the Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR (they were considered a symbol of inequality).

Shoulder straps appeared in the Russian army at the end of the 17th century. Initially, they had a practical meaning. They were first introduced by Tsar Peter Alekseevich in 1696, then they served as a strap that kept a gun belt or cartridge pouch from slipping off the shoulder. Therefore, the epaulette was an attribute of the uniform of only the lower ranks, since the officers were not armed with guns. In 1762, an attempt was made to use epaulettes as a means of isolating the military personnel of different regiments and isolating soldiers and officers. To solve this problem, each regiment was given shoulder straps of different weaving from a garus cord, and to separate the soldiers and officers, the weaving of shoulder straps in the same regiment was different. However, since there was no single pattern, the shoulder straps performed the task of insignia poorly.

Under Tsar Pavel Petrovich, only soldiers began to wear shoulder straps again, and again only for a practical purpose: to keep ammunition on their shoulders. Sovereign Alexander I returned the function of insignia to shoulder straps. However, they were not introduced in all branches of the military, in the infantry regiments they introduced shoulder straps on both shoulders, in the cavalry - only on the left. In addition, then shoulder straps did not denote ranks, but belonging to one or another regiment. The number on the shoulder strap indicated the number of the regiment in the Russian imperial army, and the color of the shoulder strap showed the number of the regiment in the division: red denoted the first regiment, blue - the second, white - the third, and dark green - the fourth. Army (non-guards) grenadier units, as well as the Akhtyrsky, Mitavsky hussar and Finnish, Primorsky, Arkhangelsk, Astrakhan and Kinburn dragoon regiments were designated in yellow. To distinguish the lower ranks from the officers, the shoulder straps of officers were first sheathed with gold or silver galloon, and a few years later epaulettes were introduced for officers.

Since 1827, officers and generals began to be designated by the number of stars on epaulettes: ensigns had one star each; second lieutenants, majors and major generals have two; for lieutenants, lieutenant colonels and lieutenant generals - three; staff captains have four. On the epaulettes of captains, colonels and full generals there were no stars. In 1843, insignia were also established on the shoulder straps of the lower ranks. So, the corporals got one badge; for non-commissioned officers - two; senior non-commissioned officer - three. The sergeant-major received a transverse stripe 2.5 cm wide for shoulder straps, and ensigns received exactly the same stripe, but located longitudinally.

Since 1854, instead of epaulettes, shoulder straps were also introduced for officers, epaulettes were left only for ceremonial uniforms. Since November 1855, shoulder straps for officers have become hexagonal, and for soldiers - pentagonal. Officers' shoulder straps were made by hand: pieces of gold and silver (rarely) galloon were sewn onto a colored base, from under which the field of shoulder straps shone through. Asterisks were sewn on, gold stars on a silver shoulder strap, silver stars on a golden shoulder strap, of the same size (11 mm in diameter) for all officers and generals. The epaulette field showed the number of the regiment in the division or the type of troops: the first and second regiments in the division were red, the third and fourth were blue, the grenadier formations were yellow, the rifle formations were crimson, etc. After this, there were no revolutionary changes until October 1917 of the year. Only in 1914, in addition to gold and silver shoulder straps, were first established field shoulder straps for the army. Field shoulder straps were khaki (khaki), the stars on them were oxidized metal, the gaps were indicated by dark brown or yellow stripes. However, this innovation was not popular among officers, who considered such epaulettes ugly.

It should also be noted that officials of some civilian departments, in particular, engineers, railway workers and the police, had shoulder straps. After the February Revolution of 1917, in the summer of 1917, black shoulder straps with white gaps appeared in shock formations.

On November 23, 1917, at a meeting of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, the Decree on the destruction of estates and civil ranks was approved, along with them, shoulder straps were also canceled. True, in the white armies they remained until 1920. Therefore, in Soviet propaganda, shoulder straps for a long period of time became a symbol of counter-revolutionary, white officers. The word "gold chasers" has actually become a dirty word. In the Red Army, military personnel were initially allocated only by position. For insignia, stripes were established on the sleeves in the form of geometric shapes (triangles, squares and rhombuses), as well as on the sides of the overcoat, they denoted the rank and belonging to the military branch. After the Civil War and until 1943, the insignia in the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army remained in the form of buttonholes on the collar and sleeve chevrons.

In 1935, personal military ranks were established in the Red Army. Some of them corresponded to the royal - colonel, lieutenant colonel, captain. Others were taken from the ranks of the former Russian Imperial Navy - lieutenant and senior lieutenant. The ranks that corresponded to the former generals were retained from the former service categories - brigade commander (brigade commander), division commander (division commander), commander, army commander of the 2nd and 1st ranks. The rank of major was restored, which had been abolished under Emperor Alexander III. Outwardly, the insignia remained practically unchanged compared to the samples of 1924. In addition, the title of Marshal of the Soviet Union was established, it was already marked not with rhombuses, but with one large star on the collar flap. On August 5, 1937, the rank of junior lieutenant appeared in the army (he was distinguished by one head over heels). On September 1, 1939, the rank of lieutenant colonel was introduced, now three sleepers corresponded to a lieutenant colonel, not a colonel. The colonel now received four sleepers.

On May 7, 1940, general ranks were established. The major general, as in the days of the Russian Empire, had two stars, but they were located not on shoulder straps, but on collar valves. The lieutenant general was given three stars. This is where the similarity with the royal ranks ended - instead of a full general, the lieutenant general was followed by the rank of colonel general (he was taken from the German army), he had four stars. Following the colonel general, the general of the army (borrowed from the French armed forces), had five stars.

On January 6, 1943, by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, shoulder straps were introduced in the Red Army. By order of the NPO of the USSR No. 25 of January 15, 1943, the decree was announced in the army. In the Navy, shoulder straps were introduced by order of the People's Commissariat of the Navy No. 51 dated February 15, 1943. On February 8, 1943, shoulder straps were established in the People's Commissariats of Internal Affairs and State Security. On May 28, 1943, shoulder straps were introduced at the People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs. On September 4, 1943, shoulder straps were established in the People's Commissariat of Railways, and on October 8, 1943, in the USSR Prosecutor's Office. Soviet shoulder straps were similar to the royal ones, but there were some differences. So, officer army shoulder straps were pentagonal, not hexagonal; the colors of the gaps showed the type of troops, and not the number of the regiment in the division; the clearance was a single unit with the epaulette field; color piping was introduced according to the type of troops; stars on shoulder straps were metal, silver and gold, they differed in size for senior and junior ranks; ranks were designated by a different number of stars than in the imperial army; shoulder straps without stars were not restored. Soviet officer epaulettes were 5 mm wider than the royal ones and did not have ciphers. Junior lieutenant, major and major general received one star each; lieutenant, lieutenant colonel and lieutenant general - two each; senior lieutenant, colonel and colonel general - three each; captain and general of the army - four each. For junior officers, shoulder straps had one gap and from one to four silver-plated stars (13 mm in diameter), for senior officers, shoulder straps had two gaps and from one to three stars (20 mm). For military doctors and lawyers, the stars were 18 mm in diameter.

Badges for junior commanders were also restored. The corporal received one badge, the junior sergeant - two, the sergeant - three. The senior sergeants received the former broad sergeant-major's badge, and the foremen received the so-called. "a hammer".

For the Red Army, field and everyday shoulder straps were introduced. According to the assigned military rank, belonging to any kind of troops (service), insignia and emblems were placed on the field of shoulder straps. For senior officers, the stars were originally attached not to the gaps, but to the galloon field nearby. Field epaulettes were distinguished by a field of khaki color with one or two gaps sewn to it. On three sides, shoulder straps had edgings in the color of the type of troops. Gaps were introduced: for aviation - blue, for doctors, lawyers and commissaries - brown, for everyone else - red. For everyday shoulder straps, the field was made of galloon or golden silk. The silver galloon was approved for everyday shoulder straps of the engineering, quartermaster, medical, legal and veterinary services.

There was a rule according to which gilded stars were worn on silver shoulder straps, and silver stars were worn on golden shoulder straps. Only veterinarians were an exception - they wore silver stars on silver shoulder straps. The width of shoulder straps was 6 cm, and for officers of military justice, veterinary and medical services - 4 cm. troops - black, doctors - green. On all shoulder straps, one uniform gilded button with a star was introduced, with a hammer and sickle in the center, in the Navy - a silver button with an anchor.

The epaulettes of the generals, unlike those of officers and soldiers, were hexagonal. The general's epaulettes were gold with silver stars. The only exceptions were shoulder straps for the generals of justice, medical and veterinary services. They received narrow silver epaulettes with gold stars. Unlike the army, the naval officer's shoulder straps, like the general's, were hexagonal. The rest of the naval officer shoulder straps were similar to those of the army. However, the color of the piping was determined: for officers of the ship, engineering (ship and coastal) services - black; for naval aviation and aviation engineering service - blue; quartermaster - raspberry; for everyone else, including justice officers, red. The command and ship staff did not have emblems on shoulder straps.

Appendix. Order of the People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR
January 15, 1943 No. 25
"On the introduction of new insignia
and about changes in the form of the Red Army"

In accordance with the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of January 6, 1943 "On the introduction of new insignia for the personnel of the Red Army", -

I ORDER:

1. Set the wearing of shoulder straps:

Field - by military personnel in the active army and personnel of units being prepared for dispatch to the front,

Everyday - by servicemen of other units and institutions of the Red Army, as well as when wearing full dress uniforms.

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

3. Make changes to the uniform of the Red Army personnel, according to the description.

4. Enact the "Rules for wearing uniforms by personnel of the Red Army."

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

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

People's Commissar of Defense

I. Stalin.

At the beginning of the forty-second year, Stalin called Khrulev and said that it was necessary to somehow allocate the guard units with a special uniform. The quartermasters quickly prepared several samples and delivered them to the Kremlin. They looked there and came to the conclusion that if only the guardsmen begin to wear this uniform, then what will the rest look like? We decided to abandon the special uniform for the guards, but to introduce shoulder straps for the entire army.

However, Stalin soon lost interest in them. The case dragged on and there was no end in sight. When Khrulev once again reminded Stalin of them, he began to reproach him: “Why are you pestering with these shoulder straps?” Then he told them to bring their samples to him. Artists and craftsmen immediately set to work. They offered several options: they borrowed something from the army uniforms of different countries, they made something themselves. Brought to Stalin. He looked and quite unexpectedly asked A. M. Vasilevsky, who was standing next to him:

Comrade Vasilevsky, show me what kind of shoulder straps you wore in the old days?

Alexander Mikhailovich was embarrassed. He was a staff captain, but where can he get epaulettes now, and even not of such a high rank? In a word, Stalin instructed the quartermasters:

Show the shoulder straps that the king had.

We got shoulder straps somewhere in museums, found veterans who served in the old army. Stalin looked and called Kalinin, asked him to come in, and a curious conversation took place between them, which Andrei Vasilyevich then retold:

“Here, Comrade Kalinin, Khrulev proposes that we restore the old regime.

Kalinin, slowly, looked at the samples and said:

You see, we remember the old regime, but the youth does not remember it. And if this form appeals to young people and can be useful in the war against fascism, then this form should be adopted.

Stalin quickly reacted by exclaiming:

And you, comrade Kalinin, are for the old regime?”

Kalinin repeated again that he was not for the old regime, but for the benefit that the new form could bring in the fight against the enemy. Probably, Andrei Vasilyevich concluded, our perseverance and support for Kalinin had this time its effect, and the decision to introduce shoulder straps was made. The decree will be published tomorrow...

Soon, materials were received through TASS for publication in tomorrow's issue of the newspaper. They were located on two lanes. On the first - the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Council on the introduction of new insignia in the army, a description of shoulder straps and their photographs; on the first page - marshals and generals, on the second - officers and enlisted personnel. And when they brought the prints of the strips for the signature, Khrulev called me again and said that Stalin wanted to see how the materials about shoulder straps would look in the newspaper and that he had to go to the Kremlin.

Having seized the still wet lanes, Andrei Vasilyevich and I set off for the Kremlin. We were immediately invited to Stalin's office. I laid out the stripes of the "Red Star" on the table, Stalin began to look at photographs of shoulder straps, re-read the Decree. Then I looked at the second line. Finally began to read the front.

Shoulder straps are not only decoration, but also order and discipline. Tell me about it.

Thinking that there would be more comments, and not relying on my memory, I reached into my pocket for a pencil. Unfortunately, I didn't take it with me.

It wasn't on the table either. Stalin was holding a long sharp red pencil in his hands, and I don’t know how it happened, I pulled it out of his hands and began to write down comments. Molotov and Beria sat at the table opposite. Vyacheslav Mikhailovich smiled dryly, while Beria cast an angry, condemning look at me. I took it calmly, did I know what kind of ghoul was in front of me? And Stalin continued:

I must say that shoulder straps are not invented by us. We are the heirs of Russian military glory. We don't give up on it...

I also wrote down this sentence. While Stalin was examining the newspaper, the pages of Pravda and Izvestiya were brought. In these newspapers, all materials about shoulder straps, including photographs, were placed on the inside pages. I thought that this was a great event for the army and the country, and it was necessary to start the material from the front page. Said about it. Stalin agreed and immediately instructed me to hand it over to TASS so that other central newspapers could follow the example of Krasnaya Zvezda. I willingly did this, and besides, I did not deny myself the pleasure of calling the editors of Pravda and Izvestia:

You, friends, will have to break the bands...

Returning the stripes to me, Stalin threw a remark:

Tomorrow there will be conversations! ..

Apparently, he himself caught fire in this matter ...

I have corrected the editorial. And our historians also found for the leading article the remarkable words of M.V. Frunze about the appearance and discipline in the Red Army: " ... we often have an attitude towards military bearing, discipline of the system, external order, as something harmful, non-revolutionary and unnecessary. This is absolute nonsense. Internal conscious discipline must necessarily manifest itself in the external order. . We managed to publish the three-column article "On Uniform and Epaulettes" prepared by us in advance.

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The introduction of shoulder straps in the Armed Forces of the USSR

ORDER. Shoulder patch on uniform,
braid or strap over the shoulder.
Fasmer M. Etymological Dictionary
Russian language. - M., 2009.T. 3. S. 295.

At the end of the 1930s, the course towards an impartial comprehension of the history of Russia prevailed in the leadership of the USSR. Gradually, the names of famous historical figures of the past, great military leaders and Orthodox saints returned to society. History faculties were restored in higher educational institutions. New history textbooks appeared, emphasizing the inseparability of Russia's historical process. Such historians as M.N. Pokrovsky and others, who, from the standpoint of militant Marxism, denied the positive role of the statesmen of pre-revolutionary Russia and its undoubted achievements. The masters of literature and art of that time created a number of remarkable works on historical themes: the novels of Alexei Tolstoy "Peter the Great" and Sergei Borodin "Dmitry Donskoy", the films of Sergei Eisenstein "Alexander Nevsky" and Vsevolod Pudovkin's "Suvorov" and many other works.

Pride in one's country and its great history began to play an important role in the patriotic education of the country's population on the eve of the war. The war accelerated this process in every possible way. Mention by the leader of the country I.V. Stalin of the names of the great Russian commanders during the November parade on Red Square in 1941 inspired the Soviet people.

One of the manifestations of the process of restoring historical continuity and returning to Russian historical traditions was innovations in insignia and distinction in the Red Army and Navy. Already in 1935, the highest military rank of "Marshal of the Soviet Union" was introduced in the Red Army, and five years later, general and admiral ranks were introduced in the army and navy. However, these ranks were marked with insignia in the lavalier version. For the first time, they thought about the return of epaulettes during the formation of guard units.

In the Russian army, for the first time, shoulder straps on one shoulder were introduced in 1763, they were worn on the left shoulder of the caftan

In 1801-1809. shoulder straps of a certain color were gradually introduced on both shoulders

Even before the start of the war, the country's leadership considered the issue of reviving the guard in the image and likeness of the Russian. With the advent of guards units and formations in the Red Army, the issue of creating insignia for them and, in particular, replacing buttonholes with shoulder straps was considered. Trial samples of a new uniform and shoulder straps were made. But in the most difficult conditions of 1941, they decided to limit themselves to the establishment of a special breastplate and an increase in the material content (for officers in one and a half, for privates and sergeants in double size).

However, work on the introduction of shoulder straps and a new uniform did not stop. After the Battle of Stalingrad, which ended in a great victory for Soviet weapons, the People's Commissar of Defense petitioned the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR to introduce new insignia for the personnel of the Red Army - shoulder straps. According to the plan of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, the shoulder straps of the generals, officers and rank and file should have differed in shape, method and material of manufacture, but most importantly, they should have symbolized the continuity of the military traditions of the Russian army.

In the samples proposed by the Main Quartermaster Directorate, the size and pattern of the galloon on the shoulder straps of the generals completely repeated the samples of the shoulder straps of the generals of the Russian Imperial Army. Moreover, test pieces of epaulettes were made from the surviving old stocks of galloon. After viewing many options, I.V. Stalin proposed to adopt the simplest and most understandable models of shoulder straps. This decision was approved by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of January 6, 1943, and on January 15, by Order of the People's Commissar of Defense No. 25, new insignia were introduced for the active army.

According to this order, shoulder straps, like the entire uniform, began to be divided into front, everyday and field. As before in the imperial army, epaulettes according to the types of troops and services differed in the colors of edges, gaps and fields. For example, the epaulette field for generals had khaki silk weaving, and the front one was made of gold or silver wire. For officers - from khaki-colored cloth and golden or silver galloon or silk. And on the golden shoulder straps the stars were silver and vice versa. But compared to the uniform of the Russian army, where each regiment had its own distinctive sewing and color combination, the Soviet uniform was more unified. Also with awards - orders, medals and signs. Having deep historical roots, the new form and awards had their own unique identity and met the prevailing conditions.

The color scheme of the general's shoulder straps was also present on the shoulder straps of senior officers. The arrangement of the stars copied pre-revolutionary patterns. Much later, on the shoulder straps of senior officers, the stars began to be placed in the gaps.

Everyday and field epaulettes for the junior command staff of the army differed not only in color, but also in the fact that they were marked with the unit number, as on pre-revolutionary samples.

Simultaneously with the introduction of epaulettes, the cut of uniforms was changed, and a dress uniform was introduced for all personnel of the Red Army.

The new uniform, new ranks, shoulder straps, new awards and insignia - all this was aimed at further strengthening discipline, increasing the role and authority of the command - one of the most important factors in the high combat readiness of the army.

After the war, in the people's democracies of Eastern Europe, then in the countries of the Far East and Southeast Asia, and much later in some countries of Africa and Latin America, Soviet experience was taken into account when reforming the armed forces. In particular, shoulder straps and awards (in most cases) were completely identical to the Soviet ones in countries such as Albania, Angola, Bulgaria, Hungary, Vietnam, East Germany, China, North Korea, Cuba, Laos, Mongolia, Mozambique, Romania and others.

Even in the USA, after the introduction of shoulder straps for the Marshals of the Soviet Union, the shoulder straps of the army general were also changed. So, in the United States of America there are five general ranks: brigadier general (one star), major general (two stars), lieutenant general (three stars), general (four stars) and general of the army (five stars). With the introduction of the shoulder strap of the Marshal of the Soviet Union, the pattern of the shoulder strap of the army general changed: instead of five stars in a row, a large star of five small stars was lined up in the lower part of the shoulder strap, and an eagle symbol was placed in the upper part of the shoulder strap. The result was an exact copy of the Soviet marshal epaulette with American specifics.

The Soviet Union, having won the Great Victory, for many decades became a role model in all spheres of life, including such specific ones as military uniforms, orders, medals, signs and other regalia and military paraphernalia.

Boris Hayrapetyan, researcher
Research Institute (military history)
Military Academy of the General Staff
Armed Forces of the Russian Federation

The introduction of shoulder straps in the Red Army

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

			Insignia of the Red Army 1924-35

On January 6, 1943, the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR "On the introduction of new insignia for the personnel of the Red Army" was published. This document ordered to replace the existing ones with new insignia - shoulder straps for the personnel of the Red Army, as well as to approve the samples and description of the new insignia.
A quarter of a century after the revolution, the country's Armed Forces returned to their historical dress code.

The editorial material of the newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda dated January 7, 1943 emphasized that “today the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on the introduction of new insignia - shoulder straps for the personnel of the Red Army is being published. This event is an important event in the life of the army, because it is designed to further strengthen military discipline and military spirit.

The central organ of the People's Commissariat of Defense of the USSR recalled that "epaulettes with clear and distinct insignia distinguish the Soviet commander and Red Army soldier, emphasize ranks, military specialty and make it possible to further strengthen military discipline and smartness."
The main military newspaper of the country wrote on that day:
“We have first-class military equipment, and every day there will be more and more of it. The country sent its sons to the fronts - faithful warriors, and the mighty power of the Soviet soldier became famous throughout the world.
The people have brought forward from their midst cadres of commanders, cadres of the military intelligentsia - bearers of everything heroic and noble that is in itself. Our fighters and commanders in fierce battles with the enemy raised the honor of Russian weapons highly. The importance of the commander in the army is great. He has a paramount role in combat, in all military life.
We must emphasize and strengthen in every possible way the role of an all-powerful commander. This, in particular, will be facilitated by shoulder straps with their clear designations of seniority.
“Red Star” reminded that “epaulettes were a traditional decoration of the valiant Russian army. We, the legitimate heirs of Russian military glory, take from the arsenal of our fathers and grandfathers all the best that contributed to raising military spirit and strengthening discipline. The introduction of shoulder straps once again confirms the glorious continuity of military traditions, which is so valuable for an army that loves its fatherland and cherishes its native history. Shoulder straps are not only a piece of clothing. This is a sign of military dignity and military honor.
The editorial material of the newspaper emphasized that “the content of the military uniform is determined by the fighting spirit of the troops, their glory, their moral strength, their traditions. Putting on shoulder straps - new insignia and military honor - we will feel even more clearly the duty that lies with the army, defending its homeland from Nazi bands. The people will give these badges of honor to the army, while demanding that the honor of the army be maintained on the battlefields.
The article also reminded: “The people granted our officers great rights, but at the same time imposed great duties on them. Fight selflessly for the motherland, always feel like an educator of the Red Army masses in everything, always and in everything instill in the minds of their subordinates a feeling of love for the motherland, a correct understanding of their military duty - such is the duty of a Soviet officer.
Shoulder strap should constantly remind the commander of this duty. The wearing of epaulettes should inspire every soldier with a sense of pride that he has the honor of belonging to the valiant Red Army, a sense of pride both for himself and for our entire army.
“Red Star” especially emphasized on this day: “We put on shoulder straps in the great and difficult time of the Patriotic War. Let us immortalize these signs of military distinction and military honor with new feats for the glory of our fatherland and our heroic army!

Everyone in uniform

Particularly interesting is the use of the words "officer" and "officer" in the editorial material of the "Red Star". For the first time after 1917, the word "officer" appeared in the May Day order of the People's Commissar of Defense in 1942. This document noted that "the Red Army has become more organized and stronger, its officer cadres have been tempered in battles, and its generals have become more experienced and more perspicacious."
However, the word "officer" was officially legalized in the second half of 1943.
Work on a new form of clothing and insignia was carried out even before the war. According to some reports, the first uniforms and shoulder straps were developed as early as 1941.
The study “Uniforms of the Red Army and the Wehrmacht” by Pavel Lipatov states that “new insignia and uniforms began to be developed as early as mid-1942, based on the galloon and field shoulder straps of the Russian imperial army. They searched for old masters who once wove golden patterned ribbons, revived a half-forgotten technology. Trial samples were cut - lush and archaic double-breasted full dress coats with gold embroidery and thick epaulettes.
Temporary specifications, which included a description of emblems and insignia on shoulder straps, were published on December 10, 1942.
According to Pavel Lipatov, the new uniform was originally supposed to be introduced only in the guards, but the Supreme Commander-in-Chief Comrade Stalin decided to put on shoulder straps for everyone.
The decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR emphasized that the insignia - epaulettes - serve to determine the military rank and belonging of military personnel to one or another type of troops (service). According to the assigned military rank, belonging to the branch of service (service), insignia (asterisks, gaps, stripes) and emblems are placed on the field of shoulder straps, and stencils indicating the name of the military unit are also placed on everyday shoulder straps of junior commanders, privates and cadets of military schools (connections).
As researchers of the domestic military uniform note, in their form the shoulder straps of the Red Army were similar to the shoulder straps adopted in the Russian army until 1917. They were a strip with parallel long sides, the lower end of the shoulder strap is rectangular, and the upper end is cut at an obtuse angle. The epaulets of marshals and generals have the top of an obtuse angle cut parallel to the bottom edge.
For the first time in Russia, shoulder straps appeared under Peter the Great in 1696. But in those days they were not insignia and were intended to hold on the shoulder of an ordinary soldier the strap of a cartridge or grenade bag.
Then the infantrymen wore, respectively, only one epaulette on the left shoulder, the lower edge of which was sewn on, and the upper one was fastened to the caftan and later to the uniform. In that era, epaulettes were absent from officers, cavalrymen and artillerymen. In other words, they were not in those types of troops in which there was no need for them.
Since 1762, shoulder straps have become insignia and determine the serviceman's belonging to one or another regiment. Under Paul I, shoulder straps again perform only one function - holding the belt of a cartridge bag, but in the reign of Alexander I they again become insignia.
In the armed forces of Soviet Russia, shoulder straps were abolished on December 16, 1917.