Ranks and rank insignia of the Red Army 1918–1935



In the period 1918 to 1935 of the young Soviet Union any bourgeois military thoughts were put under general suspicion by the communists, the new political establishment. Among other the Old Russian tradition, to wear epaulets and shoulder straps as rank insignia, was rigorous abolished.

First rank insignia
In the early period of the October revolution new uniforms were used and new structured units on basis of the former Imperial Russian Army have been deployed. Among others it was characterised by leveling of military grades and neglecting of rank designation. However, the first common rank designation throughout the Red Army was “Red Army Man or Soldier!” (Красноармеец/ Krasnoarmeez). This was absolute insufficient, and to take immediate solutions on short term have been without any alternative.

In order to characterize personnel, in charge to command a military unit, the unofficial named Red commander (ru: Krasnyi komandir; short Kaskom) was used. For specification of commanders of major units (army/ corps sized) then rank designation KomandArm (en: Commander (of the) Army) was created. For more detailed graduation KomandArm I and KomandArm II were adopted. For commanding officers of major units below army and corps level the following ranks were granted:
 * Commander of a division: KomDiv
 * Commander of a brigade: KomBrig.

For the lack of defined insignia of distinction, red bows, red cap bends, red chevrons, and the red soviet star were worn, first by the so-called Red Guard units, followed by all other Red Army units. In 1920 ranks and rank insignia of the Red Army was regulated by order.

Red star
The first official emblem, as symbol to be enlisted to the Red Army, was a chest tack (red textile bend and oak leaves twig, in the middle a star with plough and hammer), introduced in April 1918. From summer of the same year the cap cockade, in form of a fife-rayed star with hammer and plough, was disposed by order. Temporary two rays were directed above, before the unique manner of directing was adopted. Finally two rays were directed to sex o’clock direction, and one ray sowed to twelve o’clock.

By orders number 953 and 1691 of the military revolutionary soviet of the Red Army on structure and design of the cap cockade in shape of a red star, was disposed.

Distinction insignia, ranks and uniform
By order from April 25, 1918 of the “People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs” a temporary committee was established, to develop proposals pertaining to the uniform of the Red Guards. In November 29, 1918 the All-Russian Central Executive Committee approved these proposals and agreed to the rank designations as follows:




 * Red army soldier (original designation: Krasnoarmeez)
 * Subjunit leader (Komandir otdelenija – short: Komot/ Otdeljonnyj komandir [picture 1])
 * Assistant platoon leader (Pomoshtchnik komandir svoda – short: Pomkomwswoda [pic. 2])
 * Company sergeant (Starshina roty), Battery sergeant (Starshina baterei), below squadron sergeant (Starshina eskatrony) or Sotni (picture 3)
 * Platoon leader (Komandir vsvoda – short: Komvsvoda [pict. 4])
 * Assistant company comannder (Pomoshtchnik komandir roty – short: Pomkomroty), Assistant squadron commander (Pomoshtnchik komandir eskatrony – short: Pomkomesk) first of all as assignment only
 * Company commander (Komandir roty – short: Komroty), Squadron commander (Komandir eskatrony – short: Komesk [pict. 5])
 * Assistant battalion commander (Pomoshtchnik komadir bataljona – short: Pomkombat) first of all as assignment only
 * Battalion commander (Komandir bataljona – short: Kombat [pict. 6])
 * Regiment commander (Komandir polka – short: Kompolka [pict. 7])
 * Brigade commander (Komandir brigady – short: Kombrig [pict. 8])
 * Division chief (Natschalnik divisiy – short: Natschdiw [pict. 9])
 * Corps commander (Komandir korpusa – short: Komkor) first of all as assignment only
 * Army commander (Komandujushtchi armiy – short: Komdarm [pict. 10])
 * Front commander (Komandujushtchi fronta – short: Komfronta [pict. 11])

In December 18, 1918, the “Revolutionary Military Committee” agreed upon the new uniforms proposed. Among other three versions of caps and various rank insignia were adopted, in order to emphasize several appointments. It was followed by the official approval by order number 116 of the “Revolutionary Military Committee” from January 16, 1919 (see pictures 1 to 11).