Ranks and insignia of the Red Army and Navy 1918–1935

In the period from 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 others, the Old Russian tradition to wear epaulets and shoulder straps as rank insignia was rigorously abolished and was replaced with a new tradition of rank designations and insignia for the new Red Army and the nascent Soviet Navy.

First rank insignia of the Soviet armed forces from August 1918, here: enlisted men/privates of the Red Guard and "Army of Taman"

OF5-OF9, 1924–1935

First rank insignia

In the early period of the October revolution new uniforms were used and new units structured on the basis of the former Imperial Russian Army and Navy. The levelling of military grades and neglecting of rank designation were symptomatic of the new order. The first common rank designation throughout the Red Army was "Red Army man" (Russian: kрасноармеец, romanized: krasnoarmyeets) or, in the Workers' and Peasants' Red Navy, "Red Fleet man" (Russian: kраснофлотец, romanized: krasnoflotets).

Personnel designated to command a military unit were unofficially named "red commander" (Russian: красный командир; krasnyi komandir, abbreviated краском; kraskom). Commanders of major units (army or corps sized) were designated "army commander" (Russian: командующий армией; komanduyushchy armyye; abbreviated командарм; komandarm). For more detailed graduation komandarm I and komandarm II were adopted.

Commanding officers of major units below army and corps level were known as:

Commander of a division: komdiv (Russian:комдив)
Commander of a brigade: kombrig (Russian:комбриг)

In the navy from December 1917 until 1918, naval officers of the Imperial Russian Navy who joined its ranks were addressed by their tsarist rank with the addition of front abbreviation "b.", which meant "former", while new officers had to wait till 1924 for their rank designations to be issued.

With no formal Red Army insignia designated, red bows, cap peaks, sleeve patches and the red soviet star were worn, first by the so-called Red Guard units, later by all other Red Army units. In 1920 all the ranks and rank insignia of the Red Army and Navy were regulated by the orders of the Defence Commissar, Leon Trotsky.

Red star

The first official emblem of the Red Army was a chest badge (red textile bend and oak leaves twig, in the middle a star with sickle and hammer), introduced in April 1918. From summer of the same year the cap cockade, in form of a five-pointed star with hammer and sickle, was designated. At first two of the points were uppermost, before it was directed that a single point of the star should face the 12 o'clock position.

By orders number 953[1] and 1691[2] of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Red Army on structure and design of the cap cockade in shape of a red star, the official design was introduced for use by all personnel of the Red Army.

Designation	Chest badge & cap cockade of the Red Army in 1922

Designation	Chest badge, Soviet star (with plough & hammer in the center)	Star-cockade cap	Badge as to Order № 953 (from April 13, 1922)	Badge as to Order № 1691 (from July 11, 1922)

Distinction insignia, ranks and uniform (ground forces)

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.[3] In November 29, 1918 the All-Russian Central Executive Committee approved these proposals and agreed to the rank designations as follows to be used, by both the Red Guards and the Red Army's ground forces as a whole:[4]

Sleeve insignia to commanding personnel of the Red Army by order of the RMC № 116 from January 16, 1919.

Red army soldier (original designation: Krasnoarmeez)
Squad leader (Komandir otdeleniya – short: Komot/ Otdelyonnyi komandir/Otdkom [picture 1])
Assistant platoon leader (Pomoshtchnik komandir svoda – short: Pomkomwsvoda [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 batalyona – short: Pomkombat) - formerly an appointment
Battalion commander (Komandir bataljona – short: Kombat [pict. 6])
Regimental commander (Komandir polka – short: Kompolka [pict. 7])
Brigade commander (Komandir brigady – short: Kombrig [pict. 8])
Division chief (Nachalnik divisiy – short: Natschdiw [pict. 9])
Corps commander (Komandir korpusa – short: Komkor) first of all as appointment rank
Army commander (Komanduyushtchi armiy – short: Komdarm [pict. 10])
Front commander (Komanduyushtchi fronta – short: Komfronta [pict. 11])

In December 18, 1918, the Revolutionary Military Committee agreed upon the new uniforms proposed and the ranks. 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). The ground forces of the Red Army and the nascent Soviet Air Force used these ranks until 1924.

Distinction insignia, ranks, ratings and uniform (naval forces)

With the definite beginning of the rehabilitation of the Soviet Navy in 1923–24 came the introduction of rank appointments for ratings and officers of the Navy. These ranks, however, began to be used during the Civil War years and were sanctioned in 1921.

Red Fleetman (original designation: Krasnoflotez)
Boatswain/Starshina (Botsman/Starshina)
Squad leader (Komandir otdeleniya – short: Komot/ Otdeljonnyj komandir)
Group commander (Komandir gruppy – short: Komgrup)
Combatant Commander (Komandir boyevoy chast – Kombocha)
Assistant Ship Commander (Pomoshchnik komandira korablya – Pomkomkor)
Senior assistant ship commander (Starshy pomoshchnik komandira korablya – Stapomkomkor)
Ship Commander (Komandir korablya – Komkor)
Naval Battalion Commander (Komandir diviziona korabley – Komdivzkor)
Naval Brigade commander (Komandir brigady korabley – Kombrikor)
Naval Division chief (Nachalnik divisiy korabley – short: Nachdivkor)
Chief of Naval Forces of the USSR (Nachalnik morskoi sily SSSR – Nachmorsi SSSR)

Uniform insignia followed the traditions of the Imperial Navy but with sleeve insignia for officers and all ratings, but the uniform itself remained the same as its Imperial Russian predecessors.

Distinction insignia and ranks 1924–1935

The following ranks were used by the Soviet military from 1924 to 1935. The new ranks came as a result of new People's Commisariat for Defense regulations concerning military ranks and appointments.

Rank group leading personnel	NATO equi- valent	Natio- nal cate- gory (K)	Designation of the assignmant in the ...			Collar badge Army[5] (infantry)	Sleeve insignia Navy
Rank group leading personnel	NATO equi- valent	Natio- nal cate- gory (K)	... Army (as to order of the RMC USSR № 807 from June 20, 1924)	... Air Force	... Navy	Collar badge Army[5] (infantry)	Sleeve insignia Navy
No (enlisted men)	OR1[note 1]	no	Red Army Man (красноармеец, krasnoarmeyets)	Red Airman (красновоздухоплаватель, krasnoboedukhoplavately)	Red Fleet Man (краснофлотец, krasnoflotetz)		No insignia

low command level	OR5	K14	Fireteam Leader (Kom Zvena) (командир звена, komandir zvena)	Junior Engine Minder (младший моторист, mladshy motorist)	Group Leader (командир группы, komandir gruppy)
	OR5			Junior Engine Minder (младший моторист, mladshy motorist)	Assistant of Squad Leader (помощник командира отделения, pomoshnik komandira otdeleniya)
	OR6		Squad Leader (KomOt) (командир отделения, komandir tdeleniya)		Squad Leader (командир отделения, komandir tdeleniya) Boatman (боцман, botzman)
	OR7	K13	Assistant of Platoon Commander (PomKom Vzvoda) (помощник командира взвода, pomoshchik komandira vzvoda)	Engine Minder (моторист, motorist)	Deputy Commander of the Battle Station (заместитель командира боевой части, zamestitel' komandira boevoy chasti) Senior Boatman (старший боцман, starshiy botzman)
	OR8	K13	Company Quartermaster (Rotny) (cтаршина роты, starhina roty)	Senior Engine Minder (старший моторист, starshiy motorist)	Chief of the Battle Station (cтаршина боевой части, starhina boevoy chasti) Chief Boatman (главный боцман, glavny botzman)

medium command level	OF-1[note 2]	K12	Platoon Commander (командир взвода, komandir vzvoda)		Battle Station Commander (командир боевой части, komandir boevoy chasti) Assistant of Ship Commander 4th rank (Помощник командира корабля 4-го ранга, pomosh'nik komandira korablya 4-go ranga)
		K11	assistant company leader, – battery, – squadron independent platoon leader	junior pilot	assistant watch officer
		K10	chef or commissar – company, – battery, – squadron	air detail commander	ship commander class 4 senior assistant ship commander class 3 and equivalents
	OF2	K9	assistant commander/ commissar battalion, abteilung or squadron commander independent company	air flight commander	ship commander class 3 snior assistant ship commander class 2 and equivalents

higher command level	OF3	K8	battalion commander battalion-war-commissar	air squadron commander	ship commander 2nd rank
	OF4	K7	assistant regimental commander commander independent battalion	commander independent flying (battalion sized) unit	senior assistant ship commander 1st rank and equivalents
	OF5	K6	regimental commander	air park commander	ship commander 1st rank and equivalents

top command level	OF6	K5	brigade commander assistant division commander	air regiment commander	naval/ship brigade commander
	OF7	K4	divisional commander	air brigade commander	squadron commander
	OF8	K3	army corps commander assistant army commander and equivalents	No equivalent	flotilla commander
	OF8	K2	assistant commander in chief of the military district	assistant commander in chief of the air force of the Red Army	commander of the navy commander in chief of the USSR naval forces
	OF9	K1	commander-in-chief military district, – army or – front member Revolutionary Military Council district	commander in chief of the air forces of the Red Army	No equivalent		No equivalent

The rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union, created on September 1935, took first precedence over all ranks since then. With the new Marshal rank being introduced, the Council of People's Commissars began the process of phrasing out the 1924 rank system.

Notes

The NATO abbreviation "OR" stands for "other ranks"
The NATO abbreviation "OF" stands for "officer".

References

Order number 953 of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Red Army from April 13, 1922 on structure and design of the "Workers' and Peasants' Red Army" cap cockade.
Order number 1691 of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Red Army from July 11, 1922 on structure and design of the "Workers' and Peasants' Red Army" cap cockade.
Order from April 25, 1918 of the "People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs" on development of uniforms, to be worn by the Red Guards.
Decision of the "All-Russian Central Executive Committee" from November 29, 1918 on uniforms and rank designations of the so-called Red Guards.
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR); Workers' and Peasants' Red Army (WPRA); rank insignia 1924–1935 as to the order of the Revolutionary Military Soviet of the USSR Nr. 1244 from October, 1924; here small collar patch (raspberry-coloured with black piping) to tunic (infantry and generally other army units and facilities).

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[6] The NATO abbreviation "OR" stands for "other ranks"

[7] The NATO abbreviation "OF" stands for "officer".

[1] Order number 953 of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Red Army from April 13, 1922 on structure and design of the "Workers' and Peasants' Red Army" cap cockade.

[2] Order number 1691 of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Red Army from July 11, 1922 on structure and design of the "Workers' and Peasants' Red Army" cap cockade.

[3] Order from April 25, 1918 of the "People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs" on development of uniforms, to be worn by the Red Guards.

[4] Decision of the "All-Russian Central Executive Committee" from November 29, 1918 on uniforms and rank designations of the so-called Red Guards.

[5] Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR); Workers' and Peasants' Red Army (WPRA); rank insignia 1924–1935 as to the order of the Revolutionary Military Soviet of the USSR Nr. 1244 from October, 1924; here small collar patch (raspberry-coloured with black piping) to tunic (infantry and generally other army units and facilities).