Komdiv



Komdiv is the abbreviation to Commanding officer of the Division (Комдив / Командир дивизия; literal: Commander of the division / Division 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 division sized formation (XX).

Until 1940 it was the fourth highest military rank of the Red Army, and might have been rated OF-7 in NATO (Two-star rank). It was equivalent to Division comissar (ru: Дивизионный комиссар) of the political staff in all military branches,  Flag Officer 2nd rank (ru: Флагман 2-го ранга) in the Soviet navy, or to Senior major of state security (ru: Старший майор государственной безопасности). With the reintroduction of regular genera ranks, the designation Komdiv was abolished, and replaced by Lieutenant general (OF-7).

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 (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