Insignia of border troops in 1938-1940. Insignia and military ranks in the Red Army during the war

Workers' and Peasants' Red Army abbreviated as (RKKA), the term Soviet Army (SA) appeared later, the beginning of the Second World War, oddly enough, was met in military uniform model 1925

The People's Commissariat of Defense, by its order dated December 3, 1935, introduced new uniforms and insignia for all personnel of the Red Army. The old official ranks were partially retained for military-political, military-technical. military legal, military medical and junior command and control personnel.

This article is about the military ranks of private and junior commanding personnel of the Red Army; we will touch a little on the changes in the middle, senior and senior commanding personnel.

The lapel insignia, used since 1924, existed virtually unchanged until 1943, when shoulder straps were introduced.

Lapel insignia since 1924, existed without changes until 1943

Over the 19 years of existence of lapel insignia, changes in Insignia and buttonholes of the Red Army small contributions were made.

The appearance of the emblems of the military branches and services changed, the colors of the edgings and buttonholes, the number of badges in the buttonholes, and the technology for producing badges underwent changes.

IN various years As an additional element to the buttonholes, sleeve patches were introduced and abolished.

But by and large, the insignia of the military uniform of the Red Army, the entire pre-war period and the first year and a half of the beginning of the Great Patriotic War remained practically unchanged. With the exception of changes in production technologies towards cheaper products, cheaper materials were used. But the degradation of the quality of the materials used was not as catastrophic as in the Wehrmacht troops, which, as is known, steadily reduced the quality of the materials used for the production of military uniforms.

The branches of the military differed in the colors of their buttonholes, the colors of their caps, the piping on their uniforms and their emblems. Here everything is described in more detail about the samples of uniforms of the Red Army of 1940-43.

The width of the buttonholes for tunics and tunics was 32.5 mm including piping, the length of the buttonholes was about 10 cm. Diamond-shaped overcoat buttonholes diagonally measured 11 x 9 centimeters, for Marshall Soviet Union bigger size 13.5 x 9.

The buttonholes of senior military personnel were edged with gold embroidery; for the rest, cloth edging was used, depending on the type of troops.

Brass was used to make emblems; the emblems were silvered and covered with gold, but mainly with red enamel.

Interestingly, by order, the emblems on the buttonholes of the rank and file were supposed to be painted using a stencil, but this was rare; metal emblems were used on the tabs or screws.

Rank and file: 0. Red Army soldier.

Junior command staff:

1. junior sergeant,
2. sergeant,
3. senior sergeant,
4. foreman.

Many people get confused about military ranks; it’s all about changes in 391 orders.

Buttonholes and sleeve insignia for sergeant major up to 40 years and after

For example, before the age of 40, the foreman had three triangles in his buttonhole and three stripes on his sleeve, and from the age of 40, four.

Squares and rectangles defining military rank were colloquially called “kubari” or “cubes”, respectively, rectangles “sleepers”.

Diamonds and triangles had no slang names, with the exception of the foreman, whose four triangles were called “saw.”

Emblems and sleeve patches of the Red Army

• (A) Sleeve chevron. Junior lieutenant, model 1935
• (B) Sleeve chevron of deputy politov
• (C) Air Force Airman Sleeve Pattern, Khaki, Field Uniform
• (D) Air Force Airman sleeve insignia "casual" dress uniform
• (E) Traffic Controller's Patch
• (F) Artillery sleeve chevron

Artillerymen and armored troops used black buttonholes, but tank commanders had velvet buttonholes. The emblem of artillerymen and motorists was introduced in the First World War, crossed cannons and winged wheels with a steering wheel for drivers. Both are still used today with minimal changes. The tankers have emblems in the form of miniature BT tanks. The chemists had two cylinders and a gas mask on their emblem. In March 1943 they were changed to hammer and wrench.

private and junior commanding officers of the Red Army

The corporal received a red cloth stripe regardless of the branch of service. And the corporal began to look like a student of a sergeant's school, which also caused some confusion. With further assignments of ranks, the triangles were applied to the fabric strip.

• 1st Red Army soldier, autobat
• 2nd corporal, artilleryman
• 3 ml. Sergeant, technical service
• 4th Sergeant, Air Force
• 5th senior sergeant, armored forces
• 6th sergeant, sapper

The petty officer's buttonholes were different from the rest of the junior command staff. Between the edging and the field of the buttonhole, along the edge there is a golden braid, the same as that of senior officers.

The pilots' emblem has also remained virtually unchanged to this day, the same winged propeller, on blue buttonholes with black edging.

A golden or silver bowl with a snake (exactly the same as today) for military doctors and veterinary services.

The year 1937 marked the creation of military schools. Metal letters were applied to the buttonholes according to the color of the troops. The letters MPU, for example, corresponded to the Moscow Border School.

Metal letters were applied to the buttonholes according to the color of the troops.

For Academy students, the letter A had enamel triangles attached in front of it, indicating military rank.

Ranks and insignia of the Red Army in the middle, senior and highest command personnel, 1936

At the end of 1935, the armed forces were almost entirely built on the personnel principle. On September 22, 1935, the Supreme Council of the USSR approved personal military ranks, for compliance with which certification for the command staff of the Red Army was completed in just two months.
And December 3, 1935 Nar. The Commissioner of Defense signed an order introducing new uniforms and insignia for all Red Army personnel. New insignia and military uniforms, based on their distinctive details, made it possible to determine to which branch of the military or service a soldier belonged.

Ranks and insignia of the Red Army in the middle, senior and senior command personnel, 1940.

Four years later, another change in military uniforms and ranks occurs.

Order of the NKO of the USSR No. 226 dated July 26, 1940 introduces new and changes old insignia for the command and political personnel of the Red Army.

Regarding military ranks "of the 1935 model" The rank of “lieutenant colonel” is introduced for command personnel, and “senior battalion commissar” for military-political personnel.

Lapel insignia and sleeve patches of the Red Army

The colonel and regimental commissar now wear four sleepers instead of three on their buttonholes, which went to the lieutenant colonel and senior battalion commissar.
The order completely revised the system of sleeve insignia for senior and middle command personnel. Red cloth chevrons gave way to sleeve insignia using golden braid.

According to the rules for wearing uniforms from 1936, political workers could not wear emblems of military branches on their buttonholes. Although they were given equal rights to unit commanders, by order of May 10, 1937, the same as in 1925.

Drawing on the experience of the Finnish company of 1939, to strengthen unity of command in July - August 1940, all commissars were transferred to the positions of deputy commanders for political affairs. By obliging them to wear the lapel emblems of their branch of the military, and to master the military specialty of the branch of the military.

sleeve patches using golden braid

Examples of buttonholes of various clans and ranks.

A. Major. One sleeper. Armored troops. Dress uniform 1935
B. Officer's ceremonial buttonhole 1943
C. Overcoat buttonhole, ml. Sergeant '40
D. Marshal of the Soviet Union. 1940
E. Border Troops senior lieutenant 1935
F. General's buttonhole 1943

Insignia and uniform of the Marshal of the Soviet Union and generals of the Red Army since May 1940.

The Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of May 7, 1940 introduced the ranks of general. On July 13, the corresponding insignia was approved. The general's uniform turned out to be similar to the general's uniform of the tsarist generals, the same closed jacket, trousers with stripes, a hat and a trimmed overcoat with "coat of arms" buttons. The ceremonial single-breasted uniform is the same as in the German army. The general's cap had a round gilded cockade. To top it all off, the general was given a white cotton jacket.

General in summer uniform, Major General in dress uniform, Marshal in everyday uniform.

On the buttonholes of the Army General there were five gilded stars, a colonel general had four, a lieutenant general had three stars, a major general was supposed to wear two in his buttonholes. Komkor G.K. Zhukov was the first to receive the rank of army general.

Designer Major General V.G. Grabin and Army General Zhukov.G.K in ceremonial general uniforms 1940

The title of Marshal of the Soviet Union was established on September 22, 1935 by a resolution of the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR. The marshal was dressed in a general's uniform, the differences were red buttonholes, a gold embroidered star, laurel branches and at their crosshairs a hammer and sickle, sleeve squares with laurel branches embroidered in gold and large sleeve stars. Until the fortieth year, there was no ornament of laurel branches with a hammer and sickle on the marshal’s buttonholes.

The difference between the Marshal's buttonholes is clearly visible on Budyonny's uniforms. S.M on the left is the uniform of the 1936 model, and K.E. Voroshilov in a 1940 uniform

The first to be awarded the title of Marshal of the Soviet Union were Tukhachevsky, Voroshilov, Egorov, Budyonny and Blyukher.

Ranks and insignia of the Red Army in middle, senior and senior command personnel. Two months after the start of the war, due to differences in the military uniform of senior and senior command personnel from the rest of the military uniform. On August 1, 1941, an order was sent by telegraph obliging to abolish the wearing of sleeve insignia for all command personnel participating in hostilities, and to establish for all branches of the military the wearing of khaki buttonholes with protective insignia. The generals will be given khaki tunics and trousers without stripes.

Typically, the most difficult period of the beginning of the war seemed to be complete confusion, but by the end of August 1941, protective buttonholes and insignia were sent to the fronts.

Personal belongings, mobilization, leave and award documents, the black arrow indicates the “white ticket”

As evidence of a serviceman’s membership in the Red Army in April 1918 year, a single one was adopted for Red Army soldiers, cadets and commanders Chest sign in the form of a wreath of laurel and oak branches, inside of which there was a red star with a plow and a hammer. In the summer of the same year, a cockade badge for hats was introduced. It was a five-pointed star covered in red enamel with a plow and a hammer in the center.

As one might expect, the need for additional insignia for commanders of units and units was revealed already in the first battles of the civil war. Therefore in January 1919 The Revolutionary Military Council was forced to introduce insignia, although this contradicted previously adopted decrees on equal rights for all military personnel. These signs included a five-pointed star, triangles, squares and diamonds, made of scarlet cloth. They were sewn onto the left sleeve of the shirt and over the cuff of the overcoat.

When developing adopted in 1924 new uniforms for Red Army personnel, it was considered more appropriate to place insignia official position on the buttonholes of tunics and overcoats. At the same time, a list of official ranks was developed, according to which command and combat positions were divided into four groups: junior, middle, senior and senior command personnel. For junior command personnel, insignia were introduced in the form of triangles, for middle command personnel - squares, for senior command personnel - rectangles, informally called “sleepers”, and for senior command personnel - in the form of rhombuses.

The sleeve insignia, which were periodically introduced and then abolished again, had an auxiliary significance for the Red Army servicemen; they were the main ones only for the personnel of the USSR Navy.
By the time the Great Patriotic War began, instead of official ranks such as “platoon commander”, “regiment commander”, etc., personal military ranks were introduced.

All military personnel were divided into command, commanding, junior commanding and junior commanding, private compositions. The command staff included military personnel with a command military rank, and the commanding staff included military-political, military-technical, military-economic and administrative, military-medical, military-veterinary and military-legal personnel.

The system of military ranks established for military personnel of the Red Army and the Navy generally corresponded to the level of development of the Armed Forces of the USSR achieved by the beginning of the war.

The above system of military ranks was in effect throughout the entire period of the Great Patriotic War. The most important changes in it were the introduction of guards ranks for the personnel of guards units and formations (May 1942), the establishment of military ranks for the military-political personnel of all branches of the armed forces, the same as the ranks of command personnel (October 1942), and the establishment of new ones ( unified) military ranks for commanding personnel. In January and October 1943, the ranks of marshals and chief marshals of the military branches were introduced, and in June 1945. The highest military rank of Generalissimo of the Soviet Union was established.

In operational NKVD troops the same system of military ranks was used as in the Red Army. At the same time, the special ranks of the commanding staff of the Main Directorate, established in 1935 by resolutions of the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR state security(GUGB) NKVD, with the same number of positions (eleven), differed sharply from the ranks of the Red Army command staff. Due to the fact that the rank of “sergeant” was adopted as the primary rank of command staff of the GUGB, the ranks of lieutenant, senior lieutenant, captain and state security major were assigned a significantly higher rank than in the Red Army. For example, the rank of state security captain corresponded to the rank of colonel of the Red Army.

Insignia corresponding to military ranks were placed on the buttonholes. The buttonholes for tunics and jackets were made in the form of strips of fabric 100 mm long and about 32.5 mm wide, including edging. The width of the buttonhole edging did not exceed 3-4 mm. The overcoat buttonholes were diamond-shaped with a larger diagonal length of 110 mm and a smaller diagonal of 90 mm. The upper edged sides of the overcoat buttonhole had a concave shape, their length was 65 mm.

In addition to the color of the buttonholes, military affiliation was indicated by the colors of the bands and piping on the uniform, as well as the emblems of the military branches and services placed on the buttonholes. Sheet brass was used to make the emblems, sometimes they were coated in gold or silver. The stars on the emblems were usually covered with red enamel. For fastening to the buttonholes, the emblems were equipped with screws or claws. It was assumed that the emblems on the buttonholes of the rank and file would be made with stencil paint, but most often the soldiers used metal emblems.

The insignia established for wearing in buttonholes were basically similar to the insignia established back in 1924: triangles (junior command personnel), squares (middle command personnel), rectangles (senior command personnel) and stars instead of the previous diamonds for senior command personnel.

In contrast to the buttonholes of the middle and senior command personnel, the tunic buttonholes of the junior command (commanding) personnel had a red longitudinal gap 5 mm wide, and on the overcoat buttonholes in the middle there was a transverse red gap 10 mm wide. On the petty officers' buttonholes, a gold braid 3 mm wide was located parallel to the edging. A yellow metal triangle was attached to the upper corner of the buttonholes.

The generals' buttonholes had diamond shape. The length of the larger diagonal of the uniform buttonhole when sewn was 110 mm, and the smaller diagonal - 75 mm, the length of the edged side - 61 mm, the width of the edge of the buttonholes with gimp - 2.5 mm. The same buttonholes were used to wear on a tunic and tunic. Overcoat buttonholes measuring 115 x 85 mm had a length of the edged side of 65 mm, the width of the edge was also 2.5 mm.

Insignia of junior, middle and senior commanding officers Insignia of junior, middle and senior commanding officers were stamped from sheet metal. On the outside they were covered with red enamel.
The stars for the generals' buttonholes were made of gilded brass. They had a diameter of 20 mm, a regular pointed shape, and a ribbed surface. The star on the overcoat buttonholes of the Marshal of the Soviet Union had a diameter of 50 mm, on the buttonholes of the uniform and jacket - 44 mm. The star of a regular pointed shape was embroidered with gold threads, the embroidery is continuous, convex, all the outer edges are bordered by perpendicular embroidery with thin threads.

In addition to insignia in buttonholes for the command staff of the Red Army in July 1940 sleeve insignia in the form of gold galloon squares (chevrons) were introduced. In addition to chevrons, the sleeve insignia provided for senior command personnel also included an embroidered gold star with a border located above the chevron. Commanding officers were not given sleeve insignia. An exception was made only for the political staff - political workers wore red stars with a hammer and sickle on their sleeves.

The Marshal of the Soviet Union chevron had the appearance of double reliefs embroidered in gold satin stitch on scarlet cloth. In the middle of them were placed two crossed laurel branches, embroidered with sequins. This sign had the following finished dimensions: the width of the top and bottom edging was 3 mm, the gold embroidery after the edges was 15 mm wide, the middle part, on which laurel branches were embroidered, was 22 mm wide.

The diameter of the sleeve star of the Marshal of the Soviet Union and Army General, together with the edging, was 54 mm. The sleeve star of the Marshal of the Soviet Union and combined arms generals had a border of red cloth 2 mm wide, the sleeve star for other generals had a border in the color of the branch of service (crimson, blue or red), 2 mm wide. The diameter of the sleeve star together with the edging was 44 mm.

The army general's chevron consisted of one square of gold galloon 32 mm wide, and in the upper part - of red cloth 10 mm wide.

Generals of the military branches were entitled to one square made of gold braid 32 mm wide, with a 3 mm wide edging at the bottom according to the branch of service.

The commanding staff's chevrons, which looked very impressive, were abolished shortly before the start of the Great Patriotic War, and with its beginning, in the active army and marching units, insignia were replaced by field insignia: all branches of the military were required to wear khaki-colored buttonholes with khaki-colored insignia. The wearing of commissar stars on the sleeves of political workers was also abolished.

It is "military ranks", the term " military ranks" will be used first along with the term '35 from about 1940, and then completely replace the old term.

The same Decree introduced insignia by military rank. From that moment on, wearing insignia according to service categories was prohibited. At the same time, the process of transition to personal ranks lasted until the fall of 1936. In addition, the People's Commissar of Defense issued an order establishing a new uniform and insignia by rank only on December 3, 1935. This gave rise to the general but erroneous opinion of historians that the titles in Red Army were introduced in December 1935.

On tunics, along the collar there is an edging of the same color as the field of the buttonholes (except for Red Army soldiers and junior command and command personnel). The same edging runs along the side of the overcoat of the highest command and command personnel, starting with the brigade commander and his equals.

Sometimes in sources you can find mention of the rank of “pompolitruk (deputy political instructor).” However, this is not

title, but a position achieved by the then head of the Main Political Directorate Red Army Mehlis L.Z. He considered that personnel are covered by political leadership only starting from the company level. And the platoon does not have a full-time political instructor. By order of NKO No. 19 of January 25, 1938. The position of assistant (deputy) political instructor was introduced in each platoon. Pompolitruks had to wear four triangles, just like foreman, but have commissar’s stars on the sleeves. However, they were unable to spread this practice everywhere in the army. First of all, due to the fact that among the junior command staff there were almost no members of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) or Komsomol members, and there was no one to fill these positions.

Military school cadets wore buttonholes rank and file, but they had a code on them indicating the school. For example, "LVIU" - Leningrad Military Engineering School. Colors of buttonholes according to the branch of the school's troops, coded yellow oil paint according to the stencil. There are encryptions embroidered with yellow silk thread.

In the photo on the right: in a casual jacket.

Combined arms generals (including infantry and cavalry) receive buttonholes red, generals of tank troops and artillery - black velvet, aviation generals - blue, all other generals are crimson. The emblems of the military branches are placed on the buttonholes of the generals of the military branches. Army generals and all combined arms generals (including infantry and cavalry) do not have emblems in their buttonholes.

The ranks of generals differ in the number of stars (golden metal with a diameter of 2 cm) in the buttonholes:
2 stars - ,
3 stars - lieutenant general ,
4 stars - Colonel General ,
5 stars - army General ,
1 large star in a wreath - marshal Soviet Union (the diameter of the star on uniform buttonholes is 4.4 cm, on overcoat buttonholes 5 cm).

Sleeves chevrons 9 cm wide. Made of galun 32 mm wide. At the bottom of the chevron there is a colored edging according to the branch of service, 3mm wide. Above the chevron is a gold embroidered star. Chevrons the army general and the marshal had some differences - the diameter of the star was larger.

1- tank troops, 2- lieutenant general of aviation, 3- colonel general of the quartermaster service, 4- army General , 5- marshal Soviet Union.

2On July 6, 1940, by order of NKO No. 226, additional ranks were introduced:
for senior command staff - lieutenant colonel ,
for military-political personnel - senior battalion commissar.

Change accordingly insignia . Lieutenant colonel and the senior battalion commissar each received three rectangles in their buttonhole, and Colonel and the regimental commissar, four rectangles each.

Four "sleepers" are worn only Colonel and regimental commissar.

The same order changes the appearance of the sleeve chevrons of middle and senior command personnel. Now chevrons gold ones of various widths, sewn onto a red flap, cut in the form of a chevron.

1st junior lieutenant ,
2nd Lieutenant,
3-senior lieutenant ,
4-captain,
5th major and lieutenant colonel ,
6th Colonel.

In the photo on the right: lieutenant colonel with insignia arr. 1940 The sleeves are clearly visible chevrons. You can also see three “sleepers” in the buttonholes. However, the emblems in the buttonholes are not visible. For that time, although wearing emblems for those who were supposed to was considered mandatory, their absence from buttonholes can be seen in many photographs. Moreover, more often among senior and senior command and control personnel. Apparently, this habit has been preserved from those times when emblems were generally optional.

Changes in ranks and insignia in 1940 culminated in a change in the names of the ranks of junior command and command personnel and the introduction of the rank corporal in the category of ordinary personnel. (NKO order No. 391 of November 2, 1940). Accordingly, the insignia ranks of private and junior command and command personnel.

Changes in ranks and insignia of private and junior command personnel.
A ribbed triangle of yellow metal was ordered to be attached to the corners of the buttonholes of Red Army soldiers and sergeants. This triangle did not carry any semantic load and served a purely decorative role. It should be noted that before the start of the war, these decorations were issued to the troops of the Moscow district, and partially in the Kiev, Leningrad and Western districts.

Rank insignia corporal made red fabric strips in red for all births

troops. On the tunic buttonhole the stripe was 5mm wide. and passed along the center buttonholes. On the overcoat buttonhole its width was 10mm and it went horizontally from corner to corner. When assigning sergeant ranks, this strip was not removed from the buttonholes. Obviously, with the introduction of new insignia, it became impossible to distinguish a corporal from a cadet of the regimental sergeant school. Red the triangle was hidden under golden metal, and the stripes were the same.

1st Red Army soldier (automotive units),
2nd corporal (artillery),
3rd junior sergeant(technical service in artillery, automobile or tank units),
4th sergeant (aviation),
5th senior sergeant(tank forces),
6th sergeant major (sapper units).

The sergeant major's buttonhole stood out among the buttonholes of the rest of the sergeants. Between the edge and the field buttonholes additionally there was a golden braid 3-4 mm wide. (the same as on the buttonholes of officers), but note that here this braid is sewn not instead of the piping, but after it. This seemed to emphasize the special status of the foreman.

Note about the logo technical service from the sergeants. These emblems were worn by sergeants of repair units that were part of mechanized units. They were also worn by tank driver mechanics, since in those days the standard ranks of tank driver mechanic and radio operator gunner were staff Sergeant technical service. Let us recall that the commander of the medium tank was ml. lieutenant, heavy tank lieutenant. The gunner, or as this position was called “turret commander,” had the rank of sergeant major. And only the position of loader was a Red Army position.

These were last changes in insignia before the Great Patriotic War.

Sources
1. Resolution of the Central Executive Committee and Council of People's Commissars of September 22, 1935. "On the introduction of personal military ranks of the commanding staff of the Red Army." Publishing department of NGOs of the USSR. Moscow. 1935
2. Order of NGOs of the USSR. No. 176 of December 3, 1935
3. Order of NGOs of the USSR. No. 19 of January 25, 1938
4. Order of NGOs of the USSR. No. 163 of August 20, 1937
5. Order of NGOs of the USSR. No. 87 dated April 5, 1940
6.Order of the USSR NGO No. 112 of May 8, 1940.
7. Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the SSR of May 7, 1940. "On the establishment of military ranks of the highest command personnel of the Red Army."
8. Order of the NPO of the USSR No. 212 of July 13, 1940.
9. Order of the NPO of the USSR No. 226 of July 26, 1940
10. Order of NGOs of the USSR No. 391 of November 2, 1940

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The clothing of military personnel is established by decrees, orders, rules or special regulations. Wearing a naval uniform is mandatory for military personnel of the armed forces of the state and other formations where required military service. In the Russian armed forces there is whole line accessories that were in the naval uniform of the times of the Russian Empire. These include shoulder straps, boots, long overcoats with buttonholes

In 1985, by Order of the Minister of Defense of the USSR 145-84, a new field uniform was introduced, the same for all categories of military personnel, which received the common name Afghan, the first to be received were units and units located on the territory of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. In 1988 In 1988, Order of the USSR Ministry of Defense 250 dated March 4, 1988 introduced the wearing of a dress uniform by soldiers, sergeants and cadets without a jacket in a green shirt. From left to right

MAIN QUARTERMAN DIRECTORATE OF THE RED ARMY INSTRUCTIONS FOR LAYING, FIT, ASSEMBLY AND WEARING MARKING EQUIPMENT OF THE RED ARMY INFANTRY FIGHTER MILITARY PUBLISHING DATE NPO USSR - 1941 CONTENTS I. General provisions II. Types of equipment and composition of the kit III. Equipment fit IV. Stowing equipment V. Making an overcoat roll VI. Assembling equipment VII. Procedure for donning equipment VIII. Instructions for operating equipment IX.

Continuity and innovation in modern military heraldry The first official military heraldic sign is the emblem of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation established on January 27, 1997 by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation in the form of a golden double-headed eagle with outstretched wings holding a sword in its paws, as the most common symbol of the armed defense of the Fatherland, and a wreath is a symbol of the special importance, significance and honor of military labor. This emblem was established to indicate ownership

Considering all stages of the creation of the Russian armed forces, it is necessary to dive deeply into history, and although in the times of the principalities we are not talking about Russian Empire and even more so about the regular army, the emergence of such a concept as defense capability begins precisely from this era. In the 13th century, Rus' was represented separate principalities. Although their military squads were armed with swords, axes, spears, sabers and bows, they could not serve as reliable protection against outside attacks.

United Army

The emblem of the Airborne Forces - in the form of a parachute surrounded by two aircraft - is known to everyone. It became the basis for the subsequent development of all symbols of airborne units and formations. This sign is not only an expression of the serviceman’s belonging to the winged infantry, but also a kind of symbol of the spiritual unity of all paratroopers. But few people know the name of the author of the emblem. And this was the work of Zinaida Ivanovna Bocharova, a beautiful, intelligent, hardworking girl who worked as a leading draftsman at the headquarters of the Airborne Forces

Until the end of the 70s, the field uniform of the KGB PV was not much different from that of the Soviet Ground Army. Unless it’s green shoulder straps and buttonholes, and the more frequent and widespread use of KLMK camouflage summer camouflage suit. At the end of the 70s, in terms of the development and implementation of special field uniforms, some changes occurred, which resulted in the appearance of summer and winter field suits of a hitherto unusual cut. 1.

Summer uniform of the Red Army for the period 1940-1943.

SUMMER GYMNASTER FOR COMMAND AND MANAGEMENT STAFF OF THE RED ARMY Introduced by order of the People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR 005 of February 1, 1941.

The summer tunic is made of khaki cotton fabric with a turn-down collar fastened with one hook. At the ends of the collar, khaki-colored buttonholes with insignia are sewn.

The gymnast has a chest plate with a clasp

Order on the Naval Forces Workers-Cross. Red Army 52 of April 16, 1934 Specialists of private and junior command personnel, in addition to sleeve insignia, also wear specialty insignia embroidered on black cloth. The diameter of round signs is 10.5 cm. The circumference of signs according to specialties for long-term servicemen is embroidered with gold thread or yellow silk, for conscripts with red thread. The design of the sign is embroidered with red thread.

June 3, 1946 in accordance with the resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, signed by I.V. Stalin, the Airborne Troops were withdrawn from the Air Force and subordinated directly to the Ministry of the Armed Forces of the USSR. Paratroopers at the November 1951 parade in Moscow. The sleeve insignia on the right sleeve of those walking in the first rank is visible. The resolution ordered the Chief of Logistics of the USSR Armed Forces, together with the Commander of the Airborne Forces, to prepare proposals

By order of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic 572 of April 3, 1920, sleeve insignia of the Red Army were introduced. Detailed analysis history of patches and chevrons of the Red Army of all periods in the Voenpro material. Introduction of sleeve insignia of the Red Army stages, features, symbolism Distinctive sleeve insignia are used to identify military personnel of certain branches of the military. To better understand the specifics of the sleeve insignia of the Red Army and the chevrons of the Red Army, we recommend

Soviet mountain riflemen in an ambush. Caucasus. 1943 Based on the significant combat experience gained during the Great Patriotic War, the Main Directorate of Combat Training of the GUBP Ground Forces of the Red Army took up a radical solution to the issues of providing the latest weapons and equipment to the Soviet infantry. In the summer of 1945, a meeting was held in Moscow to discuss all the problems facing combined arms commanders.

At this meeting, presentations were made by In the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army of the Red Army in summer time

From buttonholes to shoulder straps P. Lipatov Uniforms and insignia of the ground forces of the Red Army, internal troops of the NKVD and border troops during the Great Patriotic War The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army of the Red Army entered the Second World War in a uniform of the 1935 model. Around the same time, they acquired their usual We see the appearance of Wehrmacht soldiers. In 1935, by order of the People's Commissariat of Defense of December 3, new uniforms and insignia were introduced for all personnel of the Red Army

They do not emit a warlike roar, they do not sparkle with a polished surface, they are not decorated with embossed coats of arms and plumes, and quite often they are generally hidden under jackets. However, today, without this armor, unsightly in appearance, it is simply unthinkable to send soldiers into battle or ensure the safety of VIPs. Body armor is clothing that prevents bullets from penetrating the body and, therefore, protects a person from shots. It is made from materials that dissipate

Various types of small arms and bladed weapons that were in service with the partisans. Captured weapons of the partisans. Various independent modifications of Soviet and captured weapons. Actions of the partisans behind enemy lines; damage to power lines, posting propaganda leaflets, reconnaissance, destruction of traitors.

Ambushes behind enemy lines, destruction of enemy columns and manpower, Explosions of bridges and railway tracks, methods PERSONAL MILITARY RANKS OF MILITARY SERVANTS 1935-1945 PERSONAL MILITARY RANKS OF MILITARY SERVANTS OF THE GROUND AND NAVAL FORCES OF THE RKKA 1935-1940 Introduced by resolutions of the Council of People's Commissars 2590 for the ground and air forces of the Red Army and 2591 for naval forces

Red Army dated September 22, 1935. Announced by order of the People's Commissar of Defense 144 of September 26, 1935. Rank and command personnel Political composition

Uniforms of the Red Army Headdresses of the Red Army Sleeve insignia Sleeve insignia Sleeve insignia Sleeve insignia Sleeve insignia Sleeve insignia Sleeve insignia Sleeve insignia Sleeve insignia Sleeve insignia Sleeve insignia Sleeve insignia

We will have to start the story about the introduction of insignia in the Soviet army with some general issues. In addition, it will be useful small excursion into history Russian state, so as not to formulate empty references to the past. The shoulder straps themselves represent a kind of product that is worn on the shoulders to indicate a position or rank, as well as the type of military service and service affiliation. This is done in several ways: attaching strips, sprockets, making gaps, chevrons.

On January 6, 1943, shoulder straps were introduced in the USSR for personnel of the Soviet Army. Initially, shoulder straps had a practical meaning. With their help, the belt of the cartridge bag was held on. Therefore, at first there was only one shoulder strap, on the left shoulder, since the cartridge bag was worn on the right side. In most of the world's navies, shoulder straps were not used, and rank was indicated by stripes on the sleeve; sailors did not wear a cartridge bag. In Russia shoulder straps

Military ranks first appeared in mid-16th century centuries in the Streltsy army(1):
- Sagittarius;
- foreman;
- Pentecostal;
- centurion;
- half-head (five hundred head, later half-colonel and lieutenant colonel);
- head of the order (later regiment commander, colonel);
- voivode (chief of the streltsy detachment);
- Streltsy head (chief of all Streltsy parts of a city or county).

Ranks were retained only during service in the Streltsy army. In other troops, before the formation of regiments of the new system, military ranks coincided with ranks civil service(Duma clerk, clerk, steward, etc.).

II. Period XVII-XVIII centuries.

In the regiments of the new system, the command staff had military ranks of the Western European type (1):
- ensign;
- lieutenant;
- captain (or captain in cavalry);
- major;
- lieutenant colonel;
- colonel;
- brigadier general;
- Major General;
- lieutenant general;
- general.

At the end of the XVII - early XVIII centuries Peter I introduced a unified system of military ranks (ranks) of the Western European type, which were finally formalized by the Table of Ranks of January 24, 1722.

III. Period 1722-1917

Military ranks according to the "Table of Ranks", introduced by Peter I on January 24, 1722, are shown in table 1:

IV. Period 1917-1924

After the Great October Revolution Socialist revolution By decree of the Council of People's Commissars of December 16, 1917, the old ranks, ranks and titles were abolished (1).

In the early years Soviet power commanders in the army and navy differed only in their positions: in the army - commander of a platoon, company, battalion, regiment, chief of a division, etc., in the navy - commander of a ship, detachment, brigade of ships, etc. (2).

V. Period 1924-1935

By order of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR No. 989 of July 30, 1924, a single rank was introduced - commander of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army (hereinafter referred to as the Red Army). Order of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR No. 1068 of August 10, 1924 established a common rank for all military personnel - red warrior of the Red Army, abbreviated as Red Army soldier (Red Navy).

Persons who held combat positions up to the flight commander and corresponding to them were called “ordinary Red Army soldiers.”

Starting from the position of flight commander and above, military personnel belonged to the command staff, which was divided into 4 categories: junior, middle, senior and senior. Political, administrative medical and veterinary personnel were equated to the main command positions, according to which they performed official duties. According to Order of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR No. 1244 of October 2, 1924, military personnel began to be divided into ordinary and commanding personnel, consisting of four groups and 14 categories: junior - 1-2 categories, middle - 3-6 categories, senior - 7-9 categories, highest - 10-14 categories.

Until 1935, military ranks had the same feature. as in 1917-1924, and differed only in positions held. The list of these ranks according to Order of the Revolutionary Military Council No. 1244 of October 2, 1924 is given in Table 2.

VI. Period 1935-1940

By the Decree of the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR of September 22, 1935, announced by Order of the NKO of the USSR No. 144 of September 26, 1935, personal military ranks were introduced for army and navy personnel. The military personnel who were in leadership positions in the Red Army began to be divided into command and control personnel:

1. The command staff included commanders of units, units, formations, as well as persons who held positions in units and institutions of the Red Army, the performance of which required mandatory command experience and appropriate military training.

2. The commanding staff included military-political, military-technical, military-economic, military-administrative, military-medical, military-veterinary, military-legal personnel.

The same Resolution introduced the title of Marshal of the Soviet Union.

The list of personal military ranks is given in Table 3. The list of insignia introduced by Order of the NCO of the USSR No. 176 of December 3, 1935 is given in Table 4. The list of emblems on the buttonholes of uniforms, introduced by Order of the USSR NKO No. 33 of March 10, 1936, is given in table 5.

VII. Period 1940-43

By the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of May 7, 1940, general and admiral ranks were introduced for senior command personnel (see Table 6), which replaced the ranks of brigade commanders, division commanders, corps commanders, army commanders and their corresponding ranks with general ranks. In connection with the abolition of the rank of brigade commander in the ground forces, the ranks of major, lieutenant colonel, and colonel began to correspond in the navy to the ranks of captains of ranks 3, 2, 1 (1, 2, 4).

The insignia of senior command personnel, established by NKO Order No. 176 of December 3, 1935, was abolished. However, as of June 22, 1941, 1 corps commander, 11 division commanders and 78 brigade commanders remained in command positions in the old ranks of the Red Army (3).

For privates and junior command personnel, by Order of the NKO of the USSR No. 391 of November 2, 1940 and the Resolution of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR of November 30, 1940, new military ranks were introduced (see Table 7). The remaining military ranks remained unchanged.

The correspondence of command military ranks depending on the type of troops, service, composition, and People's Commissariat is given in Table 8.

List of insignia of middle and senior command and political personnel, introduced by Order of the NKO of the USSR No. 226 of July 26, 1940, as well as junior commanding personnel, introduced by Order of the NKO of the USSR No. 391 of November 2, 1940 and Resolution of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR of November 30, 1940 g., is given in table 9.

With these insignia of command personnel, our country began the Great Patriotic War.

May 21, 1942 By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, guards ranks were introduced. Military personnel who received such ranks began to be called: guard Red Army soldier, guard sergeant, guard major, etc. Military personnel of guards units and formations are equipped with a "Guard" badge to be worn on the right side of the chest (2).

On July 14, 1942, distinctive signs were introduced for military personnel wounded on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War. The distinctive sign for wounds was a rectangular patch 43 mm long, 5-6 mm wide, made of silk braid: for a light wound - dark red, for a severe one - golden. Worn on the right side of the chest (2).

By the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of October 9, 1942, military ranks and insignia common to all commanders of the Red Army were established for all deputy commanders for political affairs and all other political workers. in connection with which the military ranks of the military-political personnel established by the Decree of the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR dated September 22, 1935, became invalid (5).

The ranks of “Red Armyman” and “Red Navy” were abolished in July 1946 and were replaced by the ranks of “private” and “sailor”, respectively.

VIII. Period 1943-1945

In 1942-43 The unification of personal military ranks of military-political, military-technical, military-economic, military-administrative, military-medical, military-veterinary, military-legal personnel was carried out. The list of unified military ranks of military specialists is given in table 10. The ranks of the military-political personnel were equal to the combined arms ranks.

On January 6, 1943, by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, new insignia were introduced - shoulder straps, announced in the troops by Order of the NKO No. 25 of January 15, 1943. The list of insignia on shoulder straps is given in table 11. The colors of shoulder straps depending on the type of troops and the type of wearing shoulder straps are given in tables 12 and 13. The rights of command authorities to assign military ranks are given in table 14.

On June 26, 1945, by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the title of Generalissimo was introduced, which on June 27, 1945 was awarded to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the USSR I.V. Stalin.

The rights of command authorities to assign military ranks in the period 1941-45. (5)

Before the Great Patriotic War, military ranks from junior lieutenant to colonel inclusive and their corresponding command staff were assigned by Orders of the People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR and the People's Commissar of the Navy.

The war required greater efficiency in resolving issues of assigning military ranks in the Army and Navy. In order to quickly assign military ranks to commanding officers and Red Army soldiers who distinguished themselves in battles for their Motherland, the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated August 18, 1941, granted the right to assign military ranks:

Military Councils of the fronts - up to and including major, battalion commissar and their equals;

Military Councils of armies - up to and including senior lieutenant, political instructor and their equals.

The right was also granted to the Military Councils of fleets and flotillas to assign by their orders military ranks up to and including senior lieutenant.

Additionally, by Order of the People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR No. 0356 of September 20, 1941, the right was granted to the heads of the main departments and directorates of the People's Commissariat of Defense to assign by their orders military ranks up to and including major. The same right was granted to the Military Councils of the districts. Deputy People's Commissars of Defense had the right to confer the rank of lieutenant colonel. The rank of colonel was still awarded by the Order of the People's Commissar of Defense, and the rank of general - by Government Decree.

In connection with the introduction in 1942-43. unified unified military ranks for political, engineering, technical, quartermaster, medical, veterinary and administrative personnel were established for the period of re-certification of commanding officers, the rights of command authorities to assign new military ranks, indicated in table 14.

Recertification of commanding personnel for new military ranks was carried out without certification commissions, but with the mandatory conclusion of the Military Councils. When recertifying, service experience, military and special education, participation in combat operations and length of service in the old rank were taken into account. During the recertification period, a reduction in rank was allowed, but no more than one step compared to the existing rank of the person being certified, if he did not meet the requirements specified above.

The Military Councils of fronts, fleets, districts, armies, flotillas were given the right in individual cases, in the presence of outstanding successes or special merits, to assign extraordinary military ranks within the limits of the rights granted to them.

On July 24, 1943, a Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR was issued, which for the first time in the army and navy established a clear division of military personnel into privates, sergeants, officers and generals. This Decree for the first time established the title “officer” in the Red Army and the Red Navy, and all military ranks began to be called officer ranks.

The decree defined a new procedure for assigning military ranks. If earlier the primary officer rank could be awarded to all those enlisted in the army from among the rank and file and junior commanding officers, now only military personnel who received the appropriate military education were promoted to officer, and only in exceptional cases was it possible to assign the primary officer rank to military personnel without military education for their actions They have a special ability to command in battle.

The right to assign regular military ranks was removed from the commanders of the military districts; they were allowed by their orders to assign only primary officer ranks to persons who graduated from the district courses for junior lieutenants.

The decree established that the primary military rank in the Red Army is the rank of junior lieutenant, which is awarded to:

For non-commissioned officers and privates, for demonstrated ability to command in battle - by orders of front commanders and, in exceptional cases, by orders of army commanders;

Persons who have completed short-term courses for junior lieutenants - by orders of commanders of fronts, armies and military districts;

For cadets who graduated from military schools: infantry, machine gun and rifle-mortar. - by orders of the head of the Main Personnel Directorate of the Red Army, and special and military-political orders - by orders of the corresponding commanders (chiefs) of the military branches, the head of the Main Political Directorate and the chief of logistics of the Red Army.

The right to assign all subsequent officer ranks The decree provided:

Army commanders - up to and including senior lieutenant;

Front commanders - up to and including major;

Commanders of military branches, heads of the Main Personnel Directorate, the Main Political Directorate and the Chief of Logistics of the Red Army - up to and including lieutenant colonel. The rank of colonel was still assigned by the Order of the People's Commissar of Defense, the ranks of general and admiral - by Government Decree, the ranks of Marshal of the Soviet Union and Marshals of the Armed Forces - by Decrees of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.

Thus, in connection with the establishment of a new procedure for conferring military ranks, the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of August 18, 1941 became invalid.

Duration of service in military ranks of command and control personnel of the army and navy in the Great Patriotic War are given in table 15.

Statistics on the assignment of military ranks during the Great Patriotic War are given in tables 16 and .

Sources of information:

1. "Soviet Military Encyclopedia", vol. 3, M.: Voenizdat, 1978.

2. “Illustrated description of uniforms and insignia of the Red and Soviet Army (1918-1945)”, compiled by O.V. Kharitonov, L.: publication of the Artillery Historical Museum of the State Autonomous Institution of the USSR Ministry of Defense, 1960.

3. Kalashnikov K.A., Feskov V.I., Chmykhalo A.Yu., Golikov V.I. "The Red Army in June 1941 (statistical collection)", Tomsk: TSU Publishing House, 2001.

4. "Toolkit on reference work in TsAMO RF", Podolsk: TsAMO Publishing House, 1995.

5. “Military personnel of the Soviet state in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. Reference and statistical materials,” according to the general editorship of A.P. Beloborodov, M.: Voenizdat, 1963.

After the introduction of personal military ranks in the Red Army on September 22, 1935, the question arose of replacing the system of service categories existing in the NKVD of the USSR since February 1934 with similar special ranks. The initial project provided for the adoption of a rank system completely identical to the ranks of army command personnel with the addition of the words “state security” (from a separate GB commander to a 1st rank GB commander). However, commander ranks did not reflect the functions of the command staff of the state security agencies. Ultimately, this project was not accepted.

By Decree of the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR No. 20/2256 of October 7, 1935 “On special ranks for commanding personnel of the GUGB NKVD of the USSR” (announced by NKVD Order No. 319 of October 10, 1935), the following categories and special ranks of commanding personnel were introduced:

Senior command staff:

1st Rank State Security Commissioner;

GB Commissioner 2nd rank;

GB Commissioner 3rd rank;

Senior Major GB;

Major GB;

Senior command staff:

Captain GB;

Senior Lieutenant GB;

Lieutenant GB;

Average command staff:

Junior Lieutenant GB;

GB Sergeant;

Candidate for a special title.

The ranks from sergeant to GB major, despite the consonance with the ranks of command personnel, were actually two levels higher: for example, a GB sergeant corresponded to the rank of lieutenant, a GB captain corresponded to a colonel, a GB major corresponded to a brigade commander, etc. Senior GB majors were equated to division commanders, GB commissars of the 3rd rank - to corps commanders, GB commissars of the 2nd and 1st ranks - to army commanders of the 2nd and 1st ranks, respectively.

By the resolution of the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars of October 16, 1935, the “Regulations on the service of the commanding staff of the Main Directorate of State Security of the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs of the USSR” were approved. (announced by NKVD order No. 335 of October 23, 1935). It determined the order of assignment next ranks, procedure for appointing and dismissing employees, insignia (see below)

By the Decree of the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR dated November 26, 1935, the highest special rank of “Commissar General of the GB” was additionally introduced, corresponding to the military rank of “Marshal of the Soviet Union”.

This system existed until February 9, 1943, when by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR “On the ranks of commanding personnel of the NKVD and police bodies” new special ranks similar to combined arms were introduced.

Assignment of titles:

The first highest special ranks were awarded by Decree of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR No. 2542 of November 26, 1935 (See list)

By NKVD Order No. 792 of November 29, 1935, 18 security officers were awarded the rank of 3rd rank GB commissar (See list)

By NKVD Order No. 794 of November 29, 1935, 42 security officers were awarded the rank of senior GB major (See list)

During December 1935, by separate orders, the rank of senior GB major was awarded to another 5 NKVD employees (See list)

On December 11, 1935, the title of GB commissar of the 3rd rank was awarded to Nikolai Mikhailovich BYSTRYKH, the Chief Inspector of Border and Internal Troops and Police under the People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the USSR;

Also in December 1935, the first rank of GB major was awarded. The assignment of senior and middle management ranks was delayed until next year. Below is data on the further assignment of ranks from GB Commissioner of 2nd rank and higher.

On July 5, 1936, the title of 1st rank GB commissar was awarded to Georgy Ivanovich BLAGONRAVOV, head of the GUSHOSDOR NKVD of the USSR;

On January 28, 1937, the title of General Commissar of the GB was awarded to Nikolai Ivanovich EZHOV, People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the USSR;

On September 11, 1938, the title of GB commissar of the 1st rank was awarded to Lavrentiy Pavlovich BERIA, 1st Deputy People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the USSR - head of the 1st Directorate of the NKVD of the USSR;

On February 2, 1939, the extraordinary rank of GB commissar of the 2nd rank was awarded to senior GB major PAVLOV Karp Aleksandrovich, head of the Main Directorate for Construction of the Far North (Dalstroi) of the NKVD of the USSR;

On January 30, 1941, the title of GB Commissar General was awarded to 1st Rank GB Commissar BERIA Lavrentiy Pavlovich, People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the USSR;

On February 4, 1943, the extraordinary rank of 1st rank GB commissar was awarded to 3rd rank GB commissar Vsevolod Nikolaevich MERKULOV, 1st Deputy People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the USSR and head of the 1st department (security) of the NKVD of the USSR. The rank of 2nd rank GB commissar was awarded to:

To GB Commissioner 3rd Rank ABAKUMOV Viktor Semenovich, Deputy People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the USSR and Head of the Department Special departments NKVD of the USSR;

GB Commissioner 3rd Rank KOBULOV Bogdan Zakharovich, Deputy People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the USSR;

GB Commissioner 3rd Rank Sergei Nikiforovich KRUGLOV, Deputy People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the USSR;

GB Commissioner 3rd Rank Ivan Aleksandrovich SEROV, Deputy People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the USSR;

Rank insignia:

Initially, only sleeve insignia were accepted for the command staff of the GUGB NKVD. They were described in the “Regulations on service...”, finally approved by the decision of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks No. P38/148 “On insignia for the General Commissar and the commanding staff of state security” dated December 13, 1935 and the Resolution of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR No. 2658 of December 14, 1935 and declared by NKVD order No. 396 of December 27, 1935. The following insignia were established:

For the GB Commissioner General - a large five-pointed star correct form and a braided plait under it;

For other senior officials - red stars edged with golden embroidery (the number is in accordance with the rank);

For senior officers - red stars edged with silver embroidery (the number is in accordance with the rank);

For middle-ranking personnel - red truncated triangles (number - in accordance with rank);

Rank insignia was sewn on both sleeves above the cuffs of the uniform.

Sleeve insignia of GUGB personnel since 1935.

Also, buttonholes and sleeve emblems of the GUGB NKVD were introduced, which determine the employee’s belonging to a specific category of command personnel. The buttonholes were made of maroon cloth and had the shape of a parallelogram 10 cm long (sewn on - 9 cm) and 3.3 cm wide. The buttonholes differed in the color of the longitudinal strip (golden for the highest command personnel, silver for the senior and middle). The color of the strip corresponded to the color of the edging of the collar and cuffs of the uniform.

The sleeve emblem had an oval shape, was made of maroon cloth, with embroidery depicting a stylized shield with a hammer and sickle superimposed on a sword. The embroidery was done using gold and silver thread using a cardboard stencil. The emblem was sewn on the left sleeve of the uniform above the elbow.

Candidates for special rank wore buttonholes with a silver stripe without collar and cuff edging and the GUGB emblem.

GUGB sleeve emblems and buttonholes

This system turned out to be unsuccessful: the sleeve insignia was difficult to distinguish. In this regard, on April 4, 1936, the People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the USSR G.G. Yagoda sent a note to I.V. Stalin and V.M. Molotov, in which he proposed to additionally introduce personal insignia on buttonholes. This proposal was accepted. The new buttonholes were approved by decision of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the CPSU (b) No. P39/32 dated April 24, 1936 and Resolution of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR No. 722 “On additional insignia for the commanding staff of the NKVD” dated April 28, 1936 and introduced by NKVD order No. 152 dated April 30, 1936. Insignia similar to the sleeve ones were added to the buttonholes (gilded and silver-plated metal or embroidered stars, red enamel truncated triangles), but slightly different from them in location.

Buttonholes for GUGB personnel since 1936.

The question of insignia in the Special Departments remained open for some time due to agreements between the People's Commissariat of Defense and the NKVD. The joint order of the NKO/NKVD No. 91/183 of May 23, 1936 announced the “Regulations on the special bodies of the GUGB NKVD of the USSR”, according to which for the employees of the Special Departments of the NKVD who worked in the army, for the purpose of secrecy, uniforms and insignia of military-political personnel were established corresponding rank.

By NKVD Order No. 278 of July 15, 1937, the system of insignia was changed. The sleeve insignia was abolished, and the type of buttonholes was changed. Buttonholes were installed in two types: for a tunic or jacket and for an overcoat. The tunic buttonholes retained the same shape and size. The overcoats had a diamond shape with rounded concave upper sides. The height of the buttonhole is 11 cm, width - 8.5 cm. The color of the buttonholes remained the same: maroon with crimson edging. Instead of stars and squares, insignia similar to those adopted in the Red Army were installed: diamonds for the highest command personnel, rectangles (“sleepers”) for the senior and squares (“cubes”) for the middle:

• General Commissioner of State Security - 1 large star;
• GB Commissioner of the 1st rank - a small golden star and 4 diamonds;
• GB Commissioner 2nd rank - 4 diamonds;
• GB Commissioner 3rd rank - 3 diamonds;
• Senior Major GB - 2 diamonds;
• Major GB - 1 diamond;
• Captain GB - 3 rectangles;
• Senior Lieutenant GB - 2 rectangles;
• Lieutenant GB - 1 rectangle;

• Junior lieutenant GB - 3 squares;
• GB Sergeant - 2 squares;

By Order of the NKVD No. 126 of February 18, 1943, in accordance with the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR “On the introduction of new insignia for personnel of the NKVD bodies and troops” of February 9, 1943, instead of the existing buttonholes, new insignia were introduced - shoulder straps, and the rules for wearing uniforms by personnel of the NKVD CCCP bodies and troops were also approved.

Sources: V. Voronov, A. Shishkin, NKVD of the USSR: Structure, management team, uniform, insignia"