Kombrig



Kombrig is the abbreviation to Commanding officer of the brigade (Комбриг / Командир бригадой; literal: Commander of the brigade / Brigade commander), and was a military rank in the Soviet Armed Forces of the USSR in the period from 1935 to 1940. It was also the designation to military personnel appointed to command a brigade sized formation (X).

Until 1940 it was the fourth highest military rank of the Red Army, and might have been rated OF-6 in NATO (One-star rank). It was equivalent to Brigade comissar (ru: Дивизионный комиссар) of the political staff in all military branches, Kapitan 1st rank (ru: Капита́н 1-го ранга) in the Soviet navy, or to Major of state security (ru: Майор государственной безопасности). With the reintroduction of regular genera ranks, the designation Kombrig was abolished, and replaced by Major general (OF-6).

History
This particular rank was introduced by disposal of the Central Executive Committee of the Soviet Union and the Council of People's Commissars, from September 22, 1935. The new rank structure was as follows:
 * Command level Brigade X: Kombrig Kombrig (Brigadier – OF6)
 * Command level Division XX: Komdiv (Division commander – OF7)
 * Command level Corps XXX: Komkor (Korps commander – OF8)
 * Command level Field army XXXX: Komandarm 2nd rank (Army commander 2nd rank – Commander Army OF9b)
 * Command level Army group, Front XXXXX: Komandarm 1st rank (Army commander 1st rank – Frond commander OF9a)
 * OF10-level: Marshal of the Soviet Union