Ranks and insignia of the Soviet Armed Forces 1943–1955

Ranks and rank insignia of the Soviet Armed in the period 1943–1955 were characterised by a number of changes in the armed forces of the Soviet Union, including the reintroduction of rank insignia badges and the adoption of a number of higher ranks.

Changes

In conjunction with the permanent increase of the manpower strength of the Soviet armed forces, the service branches and arms were formed by orders of the People' Commissariat of Defence, consisting of artillery, air force, air defence forces, signals corps, corps of engineers and the armoured corps. Major combat support units up to command level were established. This process was characterized by a need for well qualified command staff, in a suitable rank structure. The Soviet state – and party administration – responded to these challenges by the introduction of additional higher ranks, as well as by reintroducing the traditional Russian rank insignia.

A new rank group at OF-9 level (equivalent to the general of the branch in the Wehrmacht and the Imperial Russian Army) was introduced, named marshal of the branch or chief marshal of the branch.

In January 1943 the ranks of marshal of the air force, marshal of the artillery and marshal of the armoured corps came into existence. In October 1943 it was followed by the additional ranks marshal of the communication troops, and marshal of the engineer troops, and the equivalent chief marshal of the branch ranks were added.

Generalissimus of the Soviet Union

The highest rank of generalissimus of the Soviet Union (Russian: Генерали́ссимус Сове́тского Сою́за) was created in October 1943, as an individual award to Stalin, the head of state and party chief, and functioned as supreme commander on all Soviet armed forces. Promotion to this rank was limited explicitly to wartime. The instruction was conveyed by an order to the front commanders-in-chief on 26 June 1945.

Ranks and distinction insignia for the land forces and air force

The introduction of new distinction insignia to the officer corps of the Red Army came by order of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet on 6 January 1943. Selected were two versions of shoulder straps or epaulettes, one for everyday uniforms and the second for field use (breadth 6 cm, length 14 to 16 cm, depending on body size). On 15 January 1943 the introduction of new uniforms was decided.

Corps colours

Corps colours, agreed and created in 1935, remained in use, but minor changes took place. The padding of the newly introduced shoulder straps were made from wool cloth, designed in branch of service colours with piping. Command staff wore silver or gold stars and characteristic metallic branch badges.

Corps colours—enlisted men and non-commissioned officers

The shoulder board padding indicated the appropriate corps colour of service branch, corps or special appointment, with coloured border piping.

• Infantry (generic motorised rifles or motorised infantry) – padding raspberry, piping black
• Aviation troops and air force – sky blue
• Cavalry – deep blue with black piping
• Artillery & armoured corps – black with red piping
• Medical troops, veterinarian service – dark green with red piping
• Technical troops – black with black piping

Corps colours—officers up to colonel

• Army generic infantry, motorised rifles and logistics – raspberry
• Artillery, armoured corps, medical troops and veterinarian service – red
• Aviation troops and air force – sky blue
• Cavalry – deep blue
• Technical troops – black

Corps colours—officers above colonel

• Army generic infantry, motorised rifles and logistics – deep red ("general´s red")
• Aviation troops and air force – sky blue
• All other uses – raspberry

Any other insignia

Regiment numbers were placed on other ranks' shoulder straps along with the emblem of the armed service, branch, special troop, or appointment. For commanders of battle units or task forces the emblem was gold coloured, for others it was silver.

Enlisted men and non-commissioned officers

Enlisted men and non-commissioned officers
Shoulder strap to service uniform basic
Rank designation	Private	Corporal	Junior sergeant	Sergeant	Senior sergeant	Warrant officer
	(Рядовой)	(Ефрейтор)	(Мл. сержант)	(Сержант)	(Ст. сержант)	(Старшина)
Emblem
Corps colour	Infantry motorised rifles	Air force	Cavalry	Armoured corps	Medical troops, veterinarian service	Technical troops
NATO-equivalent	OR-1	OR-2	OR-4	OR-6	OR-7	OR-8

Officer up to general of the army

Designation	Officers & commanding staff							Higher commanders & commander in chief
Shoulder strap to service uniform basic
Rank designation	Junior lieutenant	Lieutenant	Senior lieutenant	Captain	Major	Lieutenant colonel	Colonel	Major general		Lieutenant general	Colonel general	General of the army
	(Младший лейтенант)	(Лейтенант)	(Старший лейтенант)	(Капитан)	(Майор)	(Подполковник)	(Полковник)	(Генерал-майор)		(Генерал-лейтенант)	(Генерал-полковник)	(Генерал аpмии)
Emblem
Corps colour	Artillery	Intendantur service	Air force	Armoured troops	Cavalry	Теchnical troops	Infantry motorised rifles	Army (generic)	Air Force		Army (generic)
NATO-equivalent	OF-1			OF-2	OF-3	OF-4	OF-5	OF-6		OF-7	OF-8	OF-9

Marshal up to generalissimus

Designation	Marshal of the branch & chief marshal of the branch to marshal of the Soviet Union							Generalissimus
Shoulder strap to service uniform basic
Rank designation	Marshal of artillery	Marshal of aviation	Marshal of armoured troops	Marshal of signal troops	Marshal of engineer troops	Chief marshal of the branch	Marshal of the Soviet Union	Generalissimus
Emblem
NATO-equivalent	OF-9					OF-9	OF-10

Shoulder straps field uniform

Shoulder strap of a senior sergeant

Shoulder straps to field uniforms, standardized to all service ranches, were made of khaki wool cloth. The piping indicated the service branch, matching the corps colour.

Colours of the rank piping (on shoulder strap)

• Infantry, motorized rifles – raspberry coloured
• Aviation troops and air force – sky blue
• Cavalry – blue
• Artillery and armoured corps – red
• Medical troops, veterinarian service – dark green
• Technical services – black

This specific shoulder strap design was used in the Red Army 1943 until 1946, as well as in the Soviet Army from 1946 to 1955.

Enlisted men and non-commissioned officers

Private – and non-commissioned officers ranks (infantry, motorised rifles)
Shoulder straps to field uniform
Rank designation	Private	Corporal	Junior sergeant	Sergeant	Senior sergeant	Warrant officer
NATO-equivalent	OR-1	OR-2	OR-4	OR-6	OR-7	OR-8

Officers up to general of the army

Designation	Officers and commanders							Higher commanders & commander-in-chief
Shoulder straps to field uniform
Rank designation	Junior lieutenant	Lieutenant	Senior lieutenant	Captain	Major	Lieutenant colonel	Colonel	Major general	Lieutenant general	Colonel general	General of the army
NATO-equivalent	OF-1			OF-2	OF-3	OF-4	OF-5	OF-6	OF-7	OF-8	OF-9

Marshal to generalissimus

Designation	Marshal of the branch					Chief marshal of the branch					Marshal of the Soviet Union	Generalissimus of the Soviet Union
Shoulder strap to field uniform
Rank designation	Marshal of artillery	Marshal of aviation	Marshal of armoured troops	Marshal of signal troops	Marshal of engineer troops	Marshal of artillery	Chief marshal of aviation	Chief marshal of armoured troops	Chief marshal of signal troops	Chief marshal of engineer troops	Marshal of the Soviet Union	Generalissimus of the Soviet Union
NATO-equivalent	OF-9					OF-9					OF-10

Ranks and rank insignia of the Soviet Navy

By decree of the "Presidium of the Supreme Soviet" on 15 February 1943 on "distinction insignia to the Soviet Navy" the introduction of shoulder straps and epaulettes took effect, marking the début of Imperial Russian Navy-style insignia to the Soviet Navy.As the navy also had coastal services, ground ranks similar to the Red Army were introduced with their respective insignia to be used by the coastal service personnel. These ranks were also used by the navy's medical corps.

Naval officers and flag officers

Designation	Officers & commanders							Flag officers & commander-in-chief
Shoulder strap to service uniform
Sleeve insignia on uniform jacket
Rank designation	Junior lieutenant	Lieutenant	Senior lieutenant	Captain lieutenant	Captain of the 3rd rank	Captain of the 2nd rank	Captain of the 1st rank	Rear admiral	Vice admiral	Admiral	Admiral of the fleet	Admiral of the fleet of the Soviet Union
NATO-equivalent	OF-1			OF-2	OF-3	OF-4	OF-5	OF-6	OF-7	OF-8	OF-9	OF-10

Naval ratings (naval service)

Designation	Junior ratings		Senior ratings
Shoulder strap to service uniform
Rank designation	Seaman	Senior seaman	Petty officer 2nd class	Petty Officer 1st class	Chief petty officer	Michman
NATO-equivalent	OR-1	OR-4	OR-5	OR-6	OR-7	OR-8

See also

• History of Russian military ranks
• Ranks and rank insignia of the Russian armed forces until 1917
• Ranks and rank insignia of the Red Army 1918–1935, ... 1935–1940, and ... 1940–1943
• Ranks and rank insignia of the Soviet Army 1955–1991
• Ranks and rank insignia of the Russian Federation´s armed forces 1994–2010