The first commander of the Airborne Forces, Uncle Vasya. Legendary Airborne Forces commander Vasily Margelov: “To hell with you!” Contribution to the development of the Airborne Forces

08.03.2020

A military rank is an official qualification that shows an officer’s ability to command, lead a particular unit (company, battalion, regiment, etc.) and the right to hold positions. The position is understood as the responsibilities assigned to... ... Wikipedia

Table of ranks (“Table of ranks of all military, civil and court ranks”) law on order civil service V Russian Empire(ratio of ranks by seniority, sequence of ranks). Approved on January 24 (February 4) ... ... Wikipedia

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See also: Insignia of the Armed Forces of the USSR ... Wikipedia

Military rank determines the position (rights, responsibilities) of the military in relation to other military personnel. Insignia of military rank in modern armies are shoulder straps, chevrons, and less commonly a cockade and other insignia on the headdress. Some titles... ... Wikipedia

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, . In the early 1930s. in the People's Commissariat of Defense of the USSR, preparations were launched for the publication of the multi-volume “Soviet military encyclopedia"edited by the Chairman of the Central Council of Osoaviakhim...
Soviet military encyclopedia,. In the early 1930s. In the People's Commissariat of Defense of the USSR, preparations were launched for the publication of a multi-volume Soviet military encyclopedia edited by the Chairman of the Central Council of the Osoaviakhim Komkor...

There are two types of ranks in the armed forces of the Russian Federation - military and naval.
Rank and file

Private- inferior military rank in the army of Russia and most other countries, the rank is higher only than that of a recruit or cadet (except for officer courses). In the Armed Forces of the USSR, the rank was introduced in 1946 (before that - fighter, Red Army soldier).

Students are called "cadets". During the training period, they are awarded the military ranks of enlisted personnel, and in case of successful completion of a military educational institution, they are immediately officer rank Lieutenant

Corporal- a military rank assigned to the eldest and best soldiers, who replace them during the absence of squad commanders.

IN armed forces USSR (and then Russia) corporal - a military rank in status higher than private and lower than junior sergeant.
Awarded for exemplary performance of official duties and exemplary military discipline. Indicated by one stripe on the shoulder straps.

In the Navy, he corresponds to the rank of senior sailor (photo on the right).

Lance Sergeant- a military rank in the army of Russia and some other countries, in rank below sergeant and above corporal. The regular position is the commander of a squad, tank, or combat vehicle. Also, in exceptional cases, the rank of “junior sergeant” can be awarded upon transfer to the reserve to the most distinguished conscript military personnel who have the rank of “corporal”, but are not in a regular position requiring the rank of sergeant.

Sergeant- junior military rank command staff in the armies of many countries.

IN Soviet army and in the Russian Armed Forces and other law enforcement agencies, the military (special) rank of sergeant was introduced by order of the People's Commissar of Defense of November 2, 1940. Assigned to: cadets who have completed training in educational units in the sergeant training program with “excellent” marks; junior sergeants worthy of being awarded the next military rank and appointed to positions for which the states provide for the rank of sergeant or upon transfer to the reserve. The regular position is the commander of a squad, tank, or combat vehicle.

Staff Sergeant- a military rank in the army of Russia and a number of other countries, in rank above sergeant and below sergeant major.

The words “justice” or “medical service” are added to the military rank of a serviceman or a citizen in the reserve who has a military registration specialty of a legal or medical profile, respectively.
To the military rank of a citizen who is in the reserve or retired, the words “reserve” or “retired” are added, respectively. The regular position is deputy platoon commander.

Sergeant Major- military rank of sergeant (senior officer). In the armed forces of the USSR, it was introduced by a resolution of the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR dated September 22, 1935. According to the current regulations, it is awarded to the best senior sergeants who have served in sergeant positions for at least 6 months and appointed to positions for which the states provide for the rank of sergeant major, as well as positively certified senior sergeants with transferring them to the reserve. In the Navy, the rank of chief sergeant corresponds to the rank of chief naval sergeant (until 1971, in the USSR Navy, the rank of chief sergeant corresponded to the rank of midshipman).
An official in a company (battery). He is the direct superior of the soldiers and sergeants of his unit; is responsible for the correct performance of their service, military discipline, internal order, and the safety of weapons and other property. Subordinate to the company commander and, in the absence of officers, performs his duties. Persons with the rank of warrant officer (midshipman) and long-term servicemen with the rank of sergeant are appointed to the position of company (battery) foreman.

In the Navy, the rank of petty officer corresponds to the rank of chief naval foreman (photo on the right).

Ensign- military rank (rank) in the armies of a number of countries. In the Armed Forces of the USSR, the ranks of ensign and midshipman were introduced on January 1, 1972. Ensigns and midshipmen represent a separate category of military personnel. In terms of their official position, duties and rights, they occupy a place close to junior officers, are their closest assistants and superiors for soldiers (sailors) and sergeants (foremen) of the same unit. Since 1981, the rank of senior warrant officer was also introduced.

The military rank of warrant officer is awarded, as a rule, upon graduation from corresponding schools that do not have the status of higher military educational institutions (graduates of such educational institutions immediately receive officer ranks). Ensigns wear shoulder straps and sleeve insignia of the established type.

The naval rank of military personnel in the Navy is midshipman (photo on the right).

Senior Warrant Officer- a military rank in the Russian army and in the armies of a number of states, higher in rank than ensign, but lower than officers. On January 12, 1981, the military rank of senior warrant officer was introduced in the Soviet Army, coastal units and aviation of the Navy, border and internal troops.

On ships, vessels, coastal combat support units of the Navy and maritime units of border troops - a senior midshipman (photo on the right).

Junior officers

Ensign- the primary military rank of junior officers in the armies and navies of many countries.

Previously, in the Soviet army, the title was awarded to graduates of secondary specialized educational institutions, and in wartime - to graduates of accelerated officer training courses. Currently, in the Russian army, the rank of junior lieutenant is awarded to senior cadets of some higher military educational institutions (for example, 5th year cadets of some military medical academies), graduates of regimental and division schools of junior lieutenants, and in exceptional cases - graduates of civilian secondary specialized educational institutions and warrant officers (midshipmen) for special distinctions or in case of an acute shortage of officers.

Lieutenant- military rank of junior officer in the army of many countries. Awarded as an officer rank to military personnel who have graduated from military schools, and to those liable for military service who have undergone military training at civilian universities, as well as in other cases. Junior lieutenants are awarded the rank of lieutenant upon expiration of the established period of service upon positive certification.

Senior Lieutenant- military rank of junior officer in the armed forces of many states, including Russia.

Before the military rank of a serviceman serving in a guards military unit, on a guards ship, the word “guards” is added.
The words “justice” or “medical service” are added to the military rank of a serviceman or a citizen in the reserve who has a military registration specialty of a legal or medical profile, respectively.
To the military rank of a citizen who is in the reserve or retired, the words “reserve” or “retired” are added, respectively.
Placement of stars on shoulder straps for a senior lieutenant of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation - two lower stars on both sides of the longitudinal line of the shoulder straps and the third above the first two on the longitudinal center line of the shoulder straps, the diameter of the stars is 14 mm. The stars form an equilateral triangle with a side of slightly less than 29 mm between the centers of the stars. There is a button at the top of the shoulder straps.

Captain- military rank of officers in the army and navy of many countries of the world.

In artillery, the rank of captain corresponds to the position of battery commander (battler commander). If an engineer receives this rank, the rank is called “engineer-captain”. A similar system exists in the Navy (engineer-captain 3rd rank, for example).
In the police, a captain usually occupies a position corresponding to a platoon commander.

For naval personnel - lieutenant commander (photo on the right).

Senior officers

Major- first rank of senior officers.

In the navy, he corresponds to the rank of captain of the 3rd rank (photo on the right).

Lieutenant colonel- military and special rank of senior officers between major and colonel in modern army, intelligence services and law enforcement structures of the USSR and the Russian Federation, as well as armies and law enforcement agencies many other countries.

In the navy, the rank of lieutenant colonel corresponds to the rank of Captain 2nd rank (photo on the right).

Colonel- military rank of officers in the Russian army and in the armies of most countries of the world. The colonel is a senior officer.

In the armed forces of the USSR, the military rank of colonel was introduced by a resolution of the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars of September 22, 1935. IN Russian army located between the ranks of lieutenant colonel and major general.

In the Navy, the rank of colonel for ship officers corresponds to the rank of captain 1st rank (photo on the right).

Senior officers

Major General- the primary military rank of senior officers, located between colonel or brigadier general and lieutenant general. A major general usually commands a division (about 15,000 personnel).

Lieutenant General- military rank of senior officers in the armies of a number of states.

In the military hierarchy, a major is higher than a lieutenant, but a lieutenant general is higher in rank than a major general. Historically, in the rank system there was the rank of "full general" or simply general - a rank one step below field marshal. Thus, the rank of “lieutenant general” initially denoted more of a position - deputy to a full general.

In the Russian Armed Forces, he usually commands an army within a military district and holds a number of staff positions. In the category of naval personnel of the Navy, the rank of lieutenant general corresponds to the rank of vice admiral (photo on the right).

Colonel General- military rank of senior officers in a number of countries of the world. In the armed forces of the Russian Federation, the military rank of the highest officer, senior to lieutenant general, but below army general.

In the armed forces of the Russian Federation and other “security” structures, a colonel general is usually the deputy commander/chief of staff of a military district, and also holds senior positions in the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff.
Before the military rank of a serviceman serving in a guards military unit, on a guards ship, the word “guards” is added.
The words “justice” or “medical service” are added to the military rank of a serviceman or a citizen in the reserve who has a military registration specialty of a legal or medical profile, respectively.
To the military rank of a citizen who is in the reserve or retired, the words “reserve” or “retired” are added, respectively. In the Russian Navy, the rank of admiral corresponds to the rank of admiral (photo on the right).

Army General- military rank in the armies of a number of states.

In the army of the Russian Federation, servicemen of artillery, aviation, signal troops, and tank troops can be awarded the rank of “army general” (in contrast to the Soviet army, where there was the rank of marshal of the military branch).

The corresponding rank in the navy is fleet admiral (photo on the right).

1. The next military rank is assigned to a serviceman on the day of expiration of his term military service in the previous military rank, if he occupies a military position (position) for which the state provides for a military rank equal to or higher than the military rank assigned to the serviceman.
By Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of March 19, 2007 N 364, paragraph 2 of Article 22 of these Regulations is set out in a new wording, which comes into force on January 1, 2008.
2. Time limits are established for military service in the following military ranks:
private, sailor - five months;
junior sergeant, sergeant major 2 articles - one year;
sergeant, foreman 1st article - two years;
senior sergeant, chief petty officer - three years;
ensign, midshipman - three years;
junior lieutenant - two years;
lieutenant - three years;
senior lieutenant - three years;
captain, captain-lieutenant - four years;
major, captain 3rd rank - four years;
lieutenant colonel, captain 2nd rank - five years.
3. The military rank of a senior officer may be assigned to a military serviceman after at least two years of his military service in the previous military rank and at least one year in the military position (position) to be filled by senior officers.
The terms of military service in the military rank of colonel general (admiral) and army general (fleet admiral) are not established.
By Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of March 19, 2007 N 364, paragraph 4 of Article 22 of these Regulations was amended, coming into force on January 1, 2008.
4. The period of military service in the military rank of lieutenant for military personnel undergoing military service under a contract who have graduated from military educational institution By full-time studies with a five-year term and above are set at two years.
5. The period of military service of military personnel in the assigned military rank is calculated from the date of assignment of the military rank.
6. The period of military service in the assigned military rank includes the time spent in military service.
The following is counted within the specified period:
a) the time of break in military service in the event of unjustified prosecution of a serviceman, illegal dismissal of a serviceman from military service and his subsequent reinstatement in military service;
b) the time of suspension of military service;
c) time spent in reserve.
7. When a serviceman is appointed to the highest military position (position), at the same time, and if simultaneous registration is not possible, from the date of appointment to the highest military position (position), he is assigned the next military rank if his term of service in the previous military rank has expired, provided that that for this military position (position) the state provides a military rank equal to or higher than the military rank assigned to the military member.
In this case, the military rank of a senior officer is assigned taking into account the requirements of paragraph 3 of this article.
8. A military serviceman who has the military rank of officer and is successfully studying full-time at a military educational institution, postgraduate course, military doctoral program, the next military rank up to lieutenant colonel, captain 2nd rank inclusive, is assigned on the day of expiration of his military service in the assigned military rank, regardless of military position (position) that he held before entering the specified educational institution, postgraduate studies, military doctoral studies.
9. A serviceman who has the military rank of officer, who, before entering a military educational institution, postgraduate course, or military doctoral program, held a military position (position) for which the state provides for the military rank of colonel, captain 1st rank or senior officer, the next military rank up to colonel, captain 1st rank inclusive is assigned in accordance with the military position (position) held before entering the specified educational institution, postgraduate course, military doctoral program after the expiration of the length of service in the assigned military rank.
10. A serviceman may be awarded the next military rank ahead of schedule for special personal merits, but not higher than the military rank provided for by the state for the military position (position) he occupies.
11. A military serviceman whose period of military service in the assigned military rank has expired, for special personal merits, may be awarded a military rank one step higher than the military rank provided by the state for the military position (position) he occupies, but not higher than the military rank of major, captain 3 rank.
12. The military rank of corporal (senior sailor) may be awarded as an incentive for special personal merit to a military personnel holding a military position for which the state provides for the military rank of private (sailor).
13. The military rank of junior sergeant (sergeant major, article 2) is assigned to a private (sailor) holding a military position for which the state provides for the military rank of junior sergeant (sergeant major, article 2) and above, upon expiration of his military service in the previous military rank, as well as a serviceman who has successfully completed training in a military training unit under the sergeant (sergeant major) training program.
14. While serving a sentence in the form of a restriction on military service or arrest, a military serviceman cannot be awarded another military rank.
15. The time spent serving a sentence in the form of a restriction on military service or arrest is not counted towards the period of military service in the assigned military rank.

Generality:
General's shoulder strap and:

-Field Marshal General* - crossed wands.
-general of infantry, cavalry, etc.(the so-called “full general”) - without asterisks,
- Lieutenant General- 3 stars
- Major General- 2 stars,

Staff officers:
Two clearances and:

-colonel- without stars.
- lieutenant colonel(since 1884 the Cossacks had a military foreman) - 3 stars
-major**(until 1884 the Cossacks had a military foreman) - 2 stars

Chief officers:
One gap and:

- captain(captain, esaul) - without asterisks.
-staff captain(headquarters captain, podesaul) - 4 stars
- lieutenant(centurion) - 3 stars
- second lieutenant(cornet, cornet) - 2 stars
- ensign*** - 1 star

Lower ranks

- mediocre - ensign- 1 galloon stripe along the shoulder strap with 1 star on the stripe
- second ensign- 1 braided stripe the length of the shoulder strap
- sergeant major(sergeant) - 1 wide transverse stripe
-st. non-commissioned officer(Art. fireworker, Art. sergeant) - 3 narrow transverse stripes
-ml. non-commissioned officer(junior fireworker, junior constable) - 2 narrow transverse stripes
-corporal(bombardier, clerk) - 1 narrow transverse stripe
-private(gunner, Cossack) - without stripes

*In 1912, the last Field Marshal General, Dmitry Alekseevich Milyutin, who served as Minister of War from 1861 to 1881, dies. This rank was not assigned to anyone else, but nominally this rank was retained.
** The rank of major was abolished in 1884 and was never restored.
*** Since 1884, the rank of warrant officer was reserved only for wartime (assigned only during the war, and with its end, all warrant officers are subject to either retirement or the rank of second lieutenant).
P.S. Encryptions and monograms are not placed on shoulder straps.
Very often one hears the question “why does the junior rank in the category of staff officers and generals begin with two stars, and not with one like for chief officers?” When in 1827 stars on epaulettes appeared in the Russian army as insignia, the major general received two stars on his epaulette at once.
There is a version that one star was awarded to the brigadier - this rank had not been awarded since the time of Paul I, but by 1827 there were still
retired foremen who had the right to wear a uniform. True, retired military men were not entitled to epaulets. And it’s unlikely that many of them survived until 1827 (passed
It’s been about 30 years since the abolition of the brigadier rank). Most likely, the two general's stars were simply copied from the epaulette of the French brigadier general. There is nothing strange in this, because the epaulettes themselves came to Russia from France. Most likely, there never was one general’s star in the Russian Imperial Army. This version seems more plausible.

As for the major, he received two stars by analogy with the two stars of the Russian major general of that time.

The only exception was the insignia in hussar regiments in ceremonial and ordinary (everyday) uniforms, in which shoulder cords were worn instead of shoulder straps.
Shoulder cords.
Instead of epaulettes of the cavalry type, the hussars have on their dolmans and mentiks
Hussar shoulder cords. For all officers, the same gold or silver double soutache cord of the same color as the cords on the dolman for the lower ranks are shoulder cords made of double soutache cord in color -
orange for regiments with a metal color - gold or white for regiments with a metal color - silver.
These shoulder cords form a ring at the sleeve, and a loop at the collar, fastened with a uniform button sewn to the floor an inch from the seam of the collar.
To distinguish ranks, gombochki are put on the cords (a ring made of the same cold cord encircling the shoulder cord):
-y corporal- one, the same color as the cord;
-y non-commissioned officers three-color gombochki (white with St. George's thread), in number, like stripes on shoulder straps;
-y sergeant- gold or silver (like officers) on an orange or white cord (like lower ranks);
-y sub-ensign- a smooth officer's shoulder cord with a sergeant's gong;
Officers have gombochkas with stars on their officer cords (metal, like on shoulder straps) - in accordance with their rank.

Volunteers wear twisted cords of Romanov colors (white, black and yellow) around their cords.

The shoulder cords of chief officers and staff officers are in no way different.
Staff officers and generals have the following differences in their uniforms: on the collar, generals have a wide or gold braid up to 1 1/8 inches wide, while staff officers have a gold or silver braid of 5/8 inches, running the entire length.
hussar zigzags", and for chief officers the collar is trimmed with only cord or filigree.
In the 2nd and 5th regiments, the chief officers also have galloon along the upper edge of the collar, but 5/16 inches wide.
In addition, on the cuffs of the generals there is a galloon identical to that on the collar. The braid stripe extends from the sleeve slit at two ends and converges at the front above the toe.
Staff officers also have the same braid as the one on the collar. The length of the entire patch is up to 5 inches.
But chief officers are not entitled to braid.

Below are pictures of the shoulder cords

1. Officers and generals

2. Lower ranks

The shoulder cords of chief officers, staff officers and generals did not differ in any way from each other. For example, it was possible to distinguish a cornet from a major general only by the type and width of the braid on the cuffs and, in some regiments, on the collar.
Twisted cords were only reserved for adjutants and wing adjutants!

Shoulder cords of the aide-de-camp (left) and adjutant (right)

Officer's shoulder straps: lieutenant colonel of the aviation detachment of the 19th army corps and staff captain of the 3rd field aviation detachment. In the center are the shoulder straps of the cadets of the Nikolaev Engineering School. On the right is the shoulder strap of a captain (most likely a dragoon or uhlan regiment)

The Russian army in its modern sense began to be created by Emperor Peter I in late XVIII century. The system of military ranks of the Russian army was formed partly under the influence European systems, partly under the influence of the historically established purely Russian system of ranks. However, at that time there were no military ranks in the sense in which we are accustomed to understand. There were specific military units, there were also very specific positions and, accordingly, their names. There was no, for example, the rank of “captain”, there was the position of “captain”, i.e. company commander. By the way, in the civilian fleet even now, the person in charge of the crew of the ship is called “captain”, the person in charge of the seaport is called “port captain”. In the 18th century, many words existed in a slightly different meaning than they have now.
So "General" meant "chief", and not just "highest military leader";
"Major"- “senior” (senior among regimental officers);
"Lieutenant"- "assistant"
"Outbuilding"- "Jr".

“The table of ranks of all military, civil and court ranks, in which class the ranks are acquired” was put into effect by Decree of Emperor Peter I on January 24, 1722 and existed until December 16, 1917. The word "officer" came into Russian from German. But in German, as in English, the word has a much broader meaning. When applied to the army, this term refers to all military leaders in general. In a narrower translation, it means “employee”, “clerk”, “employee”. Therefore, it is quite natural that “non-commissioned officers” are junior commanders, “chief officers” are senior commanders, “staff officers” are staff employees, “generals” are the main ones. Non-commissioned officer ranks also in those days were not ranks, but positions. Ordinary soldiers were then named according to their military specialties - musketeer, pikeman, dragoon, etc. There was no name “private”, and “soldier”, as Peter I wrote, means all military personnel “... from the highest general to the last musketeer, horseman or foot...” Therefore, soldier and non-commissioned officer ranks were not included in the Table. The well-known names “second lieutenant” and “lieutenant” existed in the list of ranks of the Russian army long before the formation began regular army Peter I to designate military personnel who are assistant captains, that is, company commanders; and continued to be used within the framework of the Table, as Russian-language synonyms for the positions of “non-commissioned lieutenant” and “lieutenant”, that is, “assistant” and “assistant”. Well, or if you want, “assistant officer for assignments” and “officer for assignments.” The name “ensign”, as more understandable (carrying a banner, ensign), quickly replaced the obscure “fendrik”, which meant “candidate for an officer position.” Over time, the process of separating the concepts of “position” and “rank” took place. early XIX century, these concepts have already been separated quite clearly. With the development of means of warfare, the advent of technology, when the army became large enough and when it was necessary to compare the service status of a fairly large set of job titles. It was here that the concept of “rank” often began to obscure, to relegate to the background the concept of “position”.

However, even in the modern army, position, so to speak, is more important than rank. According to the charter, seniority is determined by position and only in case of equal positions is the one with the higher rank considered senior.

According to the “Table of Ranks” the following ranks were introduced: civilian, military infantry and cavalry, military artillery and engineering troops, military guards, military navy.

In the period from 1722-1731, in relation to the army, the system of military ranks looked like this (the corresponding position is in brackets)

Lower ranks (private)

Specialty (grenadier. Fuseler...)

Non-commissioned officers

Corporal(part-commander)

Fourier(deputy platoon commander)

Captainarmus

Sub-ensign(sergeant major of company, battalion)

Sergeant

Sergeant Major

Ensign(Fendrik), bayonet-junker (art) (platoon commander)

Second Lieutenant

Lieutenant(deputy company commander)

Captain-lieutenant(company commander)

Captain

Major(deputy battalion commander)

Lieutenant colonel(battalion commander)

Colonel(regiment commander)

Brigadier(brigade commander)

Generals

Major General(division commander)

Lieutenant General(corps commander)

General-in-chief (General-feldtsehmeister)– (army commander)

Field Marshal General(Commander-in-Chief, honorary title)

In the Life Guards the ranks were two classes higher than in the army. In the army artillery and engineering troops ranks one class higher than in the infantry and cavalry. During the period 1731-1765 the concepts of “rank” and “position” begin to separate. Thus, in the staff of a field infantry regiment of 1732, when indicating staff ranks, it is no longer just the rank of “quartermaster” that is written, but a position indicating the rank: “quartermaster (lieutenant rank).” In relation to company-level officers, the separation of the concepts of “position” and “rank” is not yet observed. In the army "fendrick" is replaced by " ensign", in the cavalry - "cornet". Ranks are being introduced "sec-major" And "prime major" During the reign of Empress Catherine II (1765-1798) ranks are introduced in the army infantry and cavalry junior and senior sergeant, sergeant major disappears. Since 1796 in Cossack units, the names of ranks are established the same as the ranks of army cavalry and are equated to them, although Cossack units continue to be listed as irregular cavalry (not part of the army). There is no rank of second lieutenant in the cavalry, but captain corresponds to the captain. During the reign of Emperor Paul I (1796-1801) The concepts of “rank” and “position” during this period were already separated quite clearly. The ranks in the infantry and artillery are compared. Paul I did a lot of useful things to strengthen the army and discipline in it. He forbade the enrollment of young noble children into the regiments. All those enrolled in the regiments were required to actually serve. He introduced disciplinary and criminal liability of officers for soldiers (preservation of life and health, training, clothing, living conditions) and prohibited the use of soldiers as labor on the estates of officers and generals; introduced the awarding of soldiers with insignia of the Order of St. Anne and the Order of Malta; introduced an advantage in the promotion of officers who graduated from military educational institutions; ordered promotion in ranks only based on business qualities and ability to command; introduced leaves for soldiers; limited the duration of officers' vacations to one month per year; dismissed from the army a large number of generals who did not meet the requirements of military service (old age, illiteracy, disability, absence from service for a long time, etc.). Ranks were introduced in the lower ranks junior and senior privates. In the cavalry - sergeant(company sergeant) For Emperor Alexander I (1801-1825) since 1802, all non-commissioned officers of the noble class are called "cadet". Since 1811, the rank of “major” was abolished in the artillery and engineering troops and the rank of “ensign” was returned. During the reign of Emperor Nicholas I (1825-1855) , who did a lot to streamline the army, Alexander II (1855-1881) and the beginning of the emperor's reign Alexandra III (1881-1894) Since 1828, army Cossacks have been given ranks different from the army cavalry (In the Life Guards Cossack and Life Guards Ataman regiments, ranks are the same as those of the entire Guards cavalry). The Cossack units themselves are transferred from the category of irregular cavalry to the army. The concepts of “rank” and “position” during this period are already completely separated. Under Nicholas I, the discrepancy in the names of non-commissioned officer ranks disappeared. Since 1884, the rank of warrant officer was reserved only for wartime (assigned only during the war, and with its end, all warrant officers are subject to either retirement or the rank of second lieutenant). The rank of cornet in the cavalry is retained as the first officer rank. He is a grade lower than an infantry second lieutenant, but in the cavalry there is no rank of second lieutenant. This equalizes the ranks of infantry and cavalry. In Cossack units, officer classes are equal to cavalry classes, but have their own names. In this regard, the rank of military sergeant major, previously equal to a major, now becomes equal to a lieutenant colonel

“In 1912, the last Field Marshal General, Dmitry Alekseevich Milyutin, who served as Minister of War from 1861 to 1881, dies. This rank was not awarded to anyone else, but nominally this rank was retained.”

In 1910, the rank of Russian field marshal was awarded to King Nicholas I of Montenegro, and in 1912 to King Carol I of Romania.

P.S. After October revolution 1917 By the Decree of the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars (the Bolshevik government) of December 16, 1917, all military ranks were abolished...

Officer's shoulder straps tsarist army were structured completely differently than modern ones. First of all, the gaps were not part of the braid, as it has been done here since 1943. In the engineering troops, two belt braids or one belt braid and two headquarters braids were simply sewn onto the shoulder straps. For each branch of the military, the type of braid was determined specifically. For example, in the hussar regiments, the “hussar zig-zag” braid was used on officer’s shoulder straps. On the shoulder straps of military officials, "civilian" braid was used. Thus, the gaps of the officer's shoulder straps were always the same color as the field of the soldiers' shoulder straps. If the shoulder straps in this part did not have a colored edging (piping), as, say, it was in the engineering troops, then the piping had the same color as the gaps. But if in part the shoulder straps had colored piping, then it was visible around the officer’s shoulder straps. The shoulder strap was silver-colored without edges with an embossed double-headed eagle sitting on crossed axes. The stars were embroidered with gold thread on the shoulder straps, and the encryption was metal gilded applied numbers and letters or silver monograms (as appropriate). At the same time, it was widespread to wear gilded forged metal stars, which were supposed to be worn only on epaulettes.

The placement of asterisks was not strictly established and was determined by the size of the encryption. Two stars were supposed to be placed around the encryption, and if it filled the entire width of the shoulder strap, then above it. The third asterisk had to be placed so as to form an equilateral triangle with the two lower ones, and the fourth asterisk was slightly higher. If there is one sprocket on the shoulder strap (for an ensign), then it was placed where the third sprocket is usually attached. Special signs also had gilded metal overlays, although they could often be found embroidered with gold thread. The exception was special aviation insignia, which were oxidized and had a silver color with a patina.

1. Epaulet staff captain 20th engineer battalion

2. Epaulet for lower ranks Ulan 2nd Life Ulan Kurland Regiment 1910

3. Epaulet full general from the retinue cavalry His Imperial Majesty Nicholas II. The silver device of the epaulette indicates the high military rank of the owner (only the marshal was higher)

About stars on uniform

For the first time, forged five-pointed stars appeared on the epaulettes of Russian officers and generals in January 1827 (back in the time of Pushkin). One golden star began to be worn by warrant officers and cornets, two by second lieutenants and major generals, and three by lieutenants and lieutenant generals. four are staff captains and staff captains.

And with April 1854 Russian officers began to wear sewn stars on newly established shoulder straps. For the same purpose, the German army used diamonds, the British used knots, and the Austrian used six-pointed stars.

Although the designation of military rank on shoulder straps is characteristic feature namely the Russian army and the German one.

Among the Austrians and the British, shoulder straps had a purely functional role: they were sewn from the same material as the jacket so that the shoulder straps did not slip. And the rank was indicated on the sleeve. The five-pointed star, pentagram is a universal symbol of protection and security, one of the most ancient. IN Ancient Greece it could be found on coins, on the doors of houses, stables and even on cradles. Among the Druids of Gaul, Britain, and Ireland, the five-pointed star (Druid cross) was a symbol of protection from external evil forces. And it can still be seen on the window panes of medieval Gothic buildings. The Great French Revolution revived five-pointed stars as a symbol of the ancient god of war, Mars. They denoted the rank of commanders of the French army - on hats, epaulettes, scarves, and on uniform coattails.

The military reforms of Nicholas I copied the appearance of the French army - this is how the stars “rolled” from the French horizon to the Russian one.

As for the British army, even during the Boer War, stars began to migrate to shoulder straps. This is about officers. For lower ranks and warrant officers, the insignia remained on the sleeves.
In the Russian, German, Danish, Greek, Romanian, Bulgarian, American, Swedish and Turkish armies, shoulder straps served as insignia. In the Russian army, there were shoulder insignia for both lower ranks and officers. Also in the Bulgarian and Romanian armies, as well as in the Swedish. In the French, Spanish and Italian armies, rank insignia was placed on the sleeves. In the Greek army, it was on officers' shoulder straps and on the sleeves of lower ranks. In the Austro-Hungarian army, the insignia of officers and lower ranks were on the collar, those on the lapels. In the German army, only officers had shoulder straps, while the lower ranks were distinguished by the braid on the cuffs and collar, as well as the uniform button on the collar. The exception was the Kolonial truppe, where as additional (and in a number of colonies the main) insignia of the lower ranks there were chevrons made of silver galloon sewn on the left sleeve of a-la gefreiter 30-45 years.

It is interesting to note that in peacetime service and field uniforms, that is, with a tunic of the 1907 model, officers of the hussar regiments wore shoulder straps that were also somewhat different from the shoulder straps of the rest of the Russian army. For hussar shoulder straps, galloon with the so-called “hussar zigzag” was used
The only part where shoulder straps with the same zigzag were worn, besides the hussar regiments, was the 4th battalion (since 1910 regiment) of the Imperial Family riflemen. Here is a sample: shoulder straps of the captain of the 9th Kyiv Hussar Regiment.

Unlike the German hussars, who wore uniforms of the same design, differing only in the color of the fabric. With the introduction of khaki-colored shoulder straps, the zigzags also disappeared; membership in the hussars was indicated by encryption on the shoulder straps. For example, "6 G", that is, the 6th Hussar.
In general, the field uniform of the hussars was of the dragoon type, they were combined arms. The only difference indicating belonging to the hussars was the boots with a rosette in front. However, the hussar regiments were allowed to wear chakchirs with their field uniform, but not all regiments, but only the 5th and 11th. The wearing of chakchirs by the rest of the regiments was a kind of “hazing”. But during the war, this happened, as well as the wearing by some officers of a saber, instead of the standard dragon saber, which was required for field equipment.

The photograph shows the captain of the 11th Izyum Hussar Regiment K.K. von Rosenschild-Paulin (sitting) and cadet of the Nikolaev Cavalry School K.N. von Rosenchild-Paulin (also later an officer in the Izyum Regiment). Captain in summer dress or dress uniform, i.e. in a tunic of the 1907 model, with galloon shoulder straps and the number 11 (note, on the officer's shoulder straps of peacetime valery regiments there are only numbers, without the letters "G", "D" or "U"), and blue chakchirs worn by the officers of this regiment for all forms of clothing.
Regarding “hazing,” during the World War it was apparently also common for hussar officers to wear galloon shoulder straps in peacetime.

on galloon officer's shoulder straps of cavalry regiments, only numbers were affixed, and there were no letters. which is confirmed by photographs.

Ordinary ensign- from 1907 to 1917 in the Russian army the highest military rank for non-commissioned officers. The insignia for ordinary ensigns was the shoulder straps of a lieutenant officer with a large (larger than an officer's) asterisk in the upper third of the shoulder strap on the line of symmetry. The rank was awarded to the most experienced long-term non-commissioned officers; with the beginning of the First World War, it began to be assigned to ensigns as an incentive, often immediately before the assignment of the first chief officer rank (ensign or cornet).

From Brockhaus and Efron:
Ordinary ensign, military During mobilization, if there were a shortage of persons meeting the conditions for promotion to the officer rank, there was no one. non-commissioned officers are awarded the rank of warrant officer; correcting the duties of junior officers, Z. great. restricted in the rights to move in the service.

Interesting history of the rank sub-ensign. During the period 1880-1903. this rank was awarded to graduates of cadet schools (not to be confused with military schools). In the cavalry he corresponded to the rank of estandart cadet, in the Cossack troops - sergeant. Those. it turned out that this was some kind of intermediate rank between the lower ranks and officers. Sub-ensigns who graduated from the Junkers College in the 1st category were promoted to officers no earlier than September of their graduation year, but outside of vacancies. Those who graduated in the 2nd category were promoted to officers no earlier than the beginning of the next year, but only for vacancies, and it turned out that some waited several years for promotion. According to order No. 197 of 1901, with the production of the last ensigns, estandard cadets and sub-warrants in 1903, these ranks were abolished. This was due to the beginning of the transformation of cadet schools into military ones.
Since 1906, the rank of ensign in the infantry and cavalry and sub-ensign in the Cossack troops began to be awarded to long-term non-commissioned officers who graduated from a special school. Thus, this rank became the maximum for lower ranks.

Sub-ensign, estandard cadet and sub-ensign, 1886:

Shoulder straps of the staff captain of the Cavalry Regiment and shoulder straps of the staff captain of the Life Guards of the Moscow Regiment.

The first shoulder strap is declared as the shoulder strap of an officer (captain) of the 17th Nizhny Novgorod Dragoon Regiment. But Nizhny Novgorod residents should have dark green piping along the edge of the shoulder strap, and the monogram should be a applied color. And the second shoulder strap is presented as the shoulder strap of a second lieutenant of the Guards artillery (with such a monogram in the Guards artillery there were shoulder straps for officers of only two batteries: the 1st battery of the Life Guards of the 2nd Artillery Brigade and the 2nd battery of the Guards Horse Artillery), but the shoulder strap button should not Is it possible to have an eagle with guns in this case?

Major(Spanish mayor - bigger, stronger, more significant) - the first rank of senior officers.
The title originated in the 16th century. The major was responsible for the guard and food of the regiment. When regiments were divided into battalions, the battalion commander usually became a major.
In the Russian army, the rank of major was introduced by Peter I in 1698 and abolished in 1884.
Prime Major - staff officer rank in Russian imperial army XVIII century. Belonged to class VIII of the Table of Ranks.
According to the charter of 1716, majors were divided into prime majors and second majors.
The prime major was in charge of the regiment's combat and inspection units. He commanded the 1st battalion, and in the absence of the regiment commander, the regiment.
The division into prime and second majors was abolished in 1797."

"Appeared in Russia as a rank and position (deputy regiment commander) in the Streltsy army at the end of the 15th - early 16th centuries. In Streltsy regiments, as a rule, lieutenant colonels (often of “vile” origin) performed all administrative functions for the Streltsy head, appointed from among the nobles or boyars in the 17th century early XVIII century, the rank (rank) and position were referred to as half-colonel due to the fact that the lieutenant colonel usually, in addition to his other duties, commanded the second “half” of the regiment - the back ranks in the formation and the reserve (before the introduction of battalion formation of regular soldier regiments). From the moment the Table of Ranks was introduced until its abolition in 1917, the rank (rank) of lieutenant colonel belonged to the VII class of the Table and until 1856 gave the right to hereditary nobility. In 1884, after the abolition of the rank of major in the Russian army, all majors (with the exception of those dismissed or those stained with unseemly offenses) were promoted to lieutenant colonel."

INSIGNIA OF CIVIL OFFICERS OF THE WAR MINISTRY (here are military topographers)

Officers of the Imperial Military Medical Academy

Chevrons of combatant lower ranks of long-term service according to “Regulations on the lower ranks of non-commissioned officers who remain voluntarily on long-term active service” from 1890.

From left to right: Up to 2 years, Over 2 to 4 years, Over 4 to 6 years, Over 6 years

To be precise, the article from which these drawings were borrowed says the following: “...the awarding of chevrons to long-term servicemen of the lower ranks holding the positions of sergeant majors (sergeant majors) and platoon non-commissioned officers (fireworks officers) of combat companies, squadrons, and batteries was carried out:
– Upon admission to long-term service - a narrow silver chevron
– At the end of the second year of extended service - a silver wide chevron
– At the end of the fourth year of extended service - a narrow gold chevron
- At the end of the sixth year of extended service - a wide gold chevron"

In army infantry regiments to designate the ranks of corporal, ml. and senior non-commissioned officers used army white braid.

1. The rank of WARRANT OFFICER has existed in the army since 1991 only in wartime.
With the beginning Great War Warrant officers are graduated from military schools and warrant officer schools.
2. The rank of WARRANT OFFICER in the reserve, in peacetime, on the warrant officer's shoulder straps, wears a braided stripe against the device at the lower rib.
3. The rank of WARRANT OFFICER, to this rank in wartime, when military units are mobilized and there is a shortage of junior officers, lower ranks are renamed from non-commissioned officers with an educational qualification, or from sergeant majors without
educational qualification. From 1891 to 1907, ordinary warrant officers on ensign's shoulder straps also wore stripes of the ranks from which they were renamed.
4. The title of ENTERPRISE-WRITTEN OFFICER (since 1907). Shoulder straps of a lieutenant officer with an officer's star and a transverse badge for the position. On the sleeve there is a 5/8 inch chevron, angled upward. Officer's shoulder straps were retained only by those who were renamed Z-Pr. during the Russo-Japanese War and remained in the army, for example, as a sergeant major.
5. Title of WARRANT OFFICER-ZAURYAD of the State Militia. This rank was renamed to non-commissioned officers of the reserve, or, if they had an educational qualification, who served for at least 2 months as a non-commissioned officer of the State Militia and appointed to the position of junior officer of the squad. Ordinary warrant officers wore shoulder straps of an active-duty warrant officer with an instrument-colored galloon patch sewn into the lower part of the shoulder strap.

Cossack ranks and titles

At the lowest rung of the service ladder stood an ordinary Cossack, corresponding to an infantry private. Next came the clerk, who had one stripe and corresponded to a corporal in the infantry. The next step in the career ladder is junior sergeant and senior sergeant, corresponding to junior non-commissioned officer, non-commissioned officer and senior non-commissioned officer and with the number of badges characteristic of modern non-commissioned officers. This was followed by the rank of sergeant, who was not only in the Cossacks, but also in the non-commissioned officers of the cavalry and horse artillery.

In the Russian army and gendarmerie, the sergeant was the closest assistant to the commander of a hundred, squadron, battery in drill training, internal order and economic affairs. The rank of sergeant corresponded to the rank of sergeant major in the infantry. According to the regulations of 1884, introduced by Alexander III, the next rank in the Cossack troops, but only for wartime, was sub-short, an intermediate rank between ensign and warrant officer in the infantry, also introduced in wartime. In peacetime, except for the Cossack troops, these ranks existed only for reserve officers. The next grade in the chief officer ranks is cornet, corresponding to second lieutenant in the infantry and cornet in the regular cavalry.

According to his official position, he corresponded to a junior lieutenant in the modern army, but wore shoulder straps with a blue clearance on a silver field (the applied color of the Don Army) with two stars. In the old army, compared to the Soviet army, the number of stars was one more. Next came the centurion - a chief officer rank in the Cossack troops, corresponding to a lieutenant in the regular army. The centurion wore shoulder straps of the same design, but with three stars, corresponding in his position to a modern lieutenant. A higher step is podesaul.

This rank was introduced in 1884. In the regular troops it corresponded to the rank of staff captain and staff captain.

Podesaul was the assistant or deputy of the captain and in his absence commanded the Cossack hundred.
Shoulder straps of the same design, but with four stars.
In terms of service position he corresponds to a modern senior lieutenant. And most high rank chief officer rank - esaul. It is worth talking about this rank in particular, since in purely historically people who wore it held positions in both the civil and military departments. In various Cossack troops, this position included various service prerogatives.

The word comes from the Turkic “yasaul” - chief.
It was first mentioned in the Cossack troops in 1576 and was used in the Ukrainian Cossack army.

Yesauls were general, military, regimental, hundred, village, marching and artillery. General Yesaul (two per Army) - the highest rank after the hetman. In peacetime, general esauls performed inspector functions; in war they commanded several regiments, and in the absence of the hetman, the entire Army. But this is typical only for Ukrainian Cossacks. Military esauls were elected on the Military Circle (in Donskoy and most others - two per Army, in Volzhsky and Orenburg - one each). We were engaged in administrative matters. Since 1835, they were appointed as adjutants to the military ataman. Regimental esauls (initially two per regiment) performed the duties of staff officers and were the closest assistants to the regiment commander.

Hundred esauls (one per hundred) commanded hundreds. This link did not take root in the Don Army after the first centuries of the existence of the Cossacks.

The village esauls were characteristic only of the Don Army. They were elected at village gatherings and were assistants to the village atamans. Marching esauls (usually two per Army) were selected when setting out on a campaign. Performed the functions of assistants to the marching ataman, in XVI-XVII centuries in his absence, they commanded the army, and later were executors of the orders of the marching ataman. The artillery esaul (one for the Army) was subordinate to the chief of artillery and carried out his orders. General, regimental, village and other esauls were gradually abolished

Only the military esaul was preserved under the military ataman of the Don Cossack army. In 1798 - 1800. The rank of esaul was equal to the rank of captain in the cavalry. Esaul, as a rule, commanded a Cossack hundred. His official position corresponded to that of a modern captain. He wore shoulder straps with a blue gap on a silver field without stars. Next come the headquarters officer ranks. In fact, after the reform of Alexander III in 1884, the rank of esaul entered this rank, due to which the rank of major was removed from the staff officer ranks, as a result of which a serviceman from captains immediately became a lieutenant colonel. Next on the Cossack career ladder is a military foreman. The name of this rank comes from the ancient name executive body power of the Cossacks. In the second half of the 18th century, this name, in a modified form, extended to individuals who commanded individual branches of the Cossack army. Since 1754, a military foreman was equivalent to a major, and with the abolition of this rank in 1884, to a lieutenant colonel. He wore shoulder straps with two blue gaps on a silver field and three large stars.

Well, then comes the colonel, the shoulder straps are the same as those of a military sergeant major, but without stars. Starting from this rank, the service ladder is unified with the general army one, since the purely Cossack names of ranks disappear. Official position Cossack general fully corresponds to the general ranks of the Russian Army.

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