Ranks and rank insignia of the Red Army 1940–1943



The period 1940 to 1943 was characterized by continuation of changes and reforms in the USSR armed forces, in line to permanent increase of the personnel strength of the Red Army and Soviet Navy. The tendency to put any bourgeois military thoughts under general suspicion remained further system immanent. The abolishment of to some extent self-willed rank designations, as for example OF9 Komandarm I (literal: komandir armij Ist rank/ commander army 1st rank), in line to the introduction of new ranks, and the reminiscence to traditional rank designations, as this was the case in Anglophone – and German speaking armies, remand without any alternative. However, present form and design of the rank insignia/ gorget patches (big – to over coat, small – to gymnastjorka) were kept up until 1943.

Change of military rank insignia
From May 1940 the introduction of general ranks in the Red Army and flagg officer ranks in the Soviet Navy was disposed by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet.


 * In line to this disposal the following ranks (OF6 to OR9) were introduced :


 * To top level generic force commanding staff: Major general, Lieutenant general, Colonel general, and Army general
 * Artillery commanders: Major general of the artillery, Lieutenant general of the artillery, and Colonel general of the artillery
 * Air Force commanders (including Navy aviation): Major general of the Air Force, Lieutenant general of the Air Force, and Colonel general of the Air Force
 * Armored corps commanders: Major general of the armored corps, Lieutenant general of the armored corps, and Colonel general of the armored corps
 * Communication´s troops commanders: Major general of the communication´s troops, Lieutenant general of the communication´s troops, and Colonel general of the communication´s troops
 * Engineer troops commanders: Major general of the engineer troops, Lieutenant general of the engineer troops, and Colonel general of the engineer troops
 * Commanding staff of other troops (among others: chemical …, railway …, vehicle/ transport …, military topography): Major general of the technical troops, Lieutenant general of the technical troops, and Colonel general of the technical troops
 * Leading staff of the commissariat service: Major general of the commissariat service, Lieutenant general of the commissariat service, and Colonel general of the commissariat service
 * Flagg officers (commanders & commanding flag officers on board) of the Soviet Navy: Counter admiral, Vice admiral, Admiral, and Admiral of the fleet
 * Generals of the Soviet Navy on coastal service (appointments/ assignments): Major general on coastal service, Lieutenant general on coastal service, and Colonel general on coastal service
 * Flagg officers on ship-engineer service (on top appointments) of the Soviet Navy: Counter admiral engineer, Vice admiral engineer, and Admiral engineer

Already to June 4, 1940, first promotions to the new established ranks were adhered. First to the Army general OF9-rank promoted officers were Zukov, Meretskov and Tyulenev. The rank insignia characterized it as follows:


 * Gorget patch (rhombic): One big star (gold coloured embroidery), on the lower part two round laurel-twigs and the hammer & sickle emblem
 * Chevron: One big star (gold coloured embroidery) red piping, below a red coloured textile angle (with gold piping), rounded by two gold coloured laurel-twigs with red piping

The OF10-rank Marshall of the Soviet Union, established in September 1935, remained untouched.

Ranks and rank insignia
The categorical thought, to neglect traditional rank insignia, i.e. to wear epaulets or shoulder boards, in line to Russian history and tradition, was continued. However, the big gorget patches have had modified. The rhombic patches, foreseen to the ranks OF6 to OF9, have had replaced by one fife-fleshing golden star. The new emblem, symbol of the particular branch of service, was added as well. The generals star (OF6 to OF9) was slightly smaller than the Marshall star OF10.

The small gorget patches, tucked on the gymnastjorka, remained unchanged. However, it was designed in corps colour and contained an emblem, in order to indicate the branch of service or special appointment. The so far used gold coloured rank-chevrons pertaining OF6 to OF10 maintained slightly modified.

Corps colours, emblems
The in 1935, in line to the military ranks and rank insignia, disposed cops colours, were maintained, however slightly changed.

1. Colour Lampasses, padding gorget rank insignia and piping to general officers and Marshall of the Soviet Union:


 * Lampasses Marshall of the Soviet Union and generic force commanders/ commanding generals: –
 * Artillery- and armoured-generals: gorget rank insignia – (velvety), lampasses and piping peak –
 * Padding gorget rank insignia –
 * Air Force: –
 * General ranks communication´s troops, engineer troops, technical troops, commissariat service: –

2. The general rank of the artillery, armoured corps, Air Force, communication’s troops, engineer troops, technical troops, and commissariat service wear on the gorget rank insignia the appropriate emblem of the branch of service, special force, or assignment.

3. Cops colour, typical to the branch of service:
 * Infantry: –
 * Artillery & vehicle transport troops: –
 * Air Force & Air defence: –
 * Cavalry: – ,
 * Rear services (supply, maintenance, transport, medical, … etc.: –
 * Ministry of the interior & states security:
 * Border troops –
 * States security –
 * All others –