On January 6, 1943, new insignia were introduced into the Red Army, or rather, they did not introduce, but returned shoulder straps that had been abolished in 1917. Traditional royal shoulder straps were taken as a basis, but let's leave these details to fashion historians - today we are interested in something else. Why did they even fuss over this whole garden with the reformatting of military uniforms at a time when every penny counted?

And this is by no means an idle question, because just 25 years ago these same shoulder straps were abolished “forever” and were abolished not out of nowhere. Shoulder straps were banned in order to establish equality between soldiers and officers - the word “officer” itself was also essentially banned. For more than 20 years there were no officers, but only commanders. And then everything was returned back - why?

In the central newspapers of that time, many articles were devoted to “promotion” of this event. Formally, the main reason for the introduction of new insignia was " strengthening discipline and unity of command"Moreover, 'elegant' attempts were constantly made to combine civil equality and a strict system of power-subordination - something like" freedom is the conscious need to obey superior commanders"In general, of course, there was a problem of unity of command, given that the whole country had turned into a military camp. It was necessary to somehow reformat the civilian population to the realities of wartime.

However, as an experienced conspiracy theorist, it seemed strange and suspicious to me that only a third of the “airtime” is devoted to “promotion” of the supposedly main reason for innovation. The bulk of the arguments went towards the formation of continuity between the Russian and Red armies, starting all the way from Peter the Great.

At first glance, the message is simple - “we are the legitimate successors” of the heroic Kutuzov and Suvorov, and not the reactionary Kolchak and Denikin, so it seems that we can now wear shoulder straps. However, I think the real message is a little deeper.

The fact is that by the end of 1942, the forces of the USSR were exhausted to the limit, any careless “movement” could put the country on the brink of disaster - in fact, in the famous order No. 227 “ No step back!"This is stated in plain text. Motivation for mobilization and defense among Soviet people under these conditions, it naturally fell and decadent moods grew.

On the other hand, Hitler’s propaganda worked quite successfully with the thesis - “ We are not fighting against Russians, but against communists and Jews.". And in fact, our country was not a socially homogeneous organism that would support Soviet power under any conditions. therefore, apparently, the decision was made to consolidate the people not only on the basis of the communist idea, but also on the basis of the national Russian idea.

Moreover, the communist idea failed during the war in the context that its thesis that - " The working class does not fight against the working class." failed miserably. It turned out that the German working class is not just fighting, but is also committing direct genocide of our working class.

Thus, the "epaulets" were supposed to unite the entire population of the country, regardless of internal political differences, based on the thesis " Russians against Germans". Accordingly, this message should have reached the residents of the occupied territories.

Goebbels’s ministry quickly realized which way the wind was blowing and immediately “answers” ​​like this began to pour in.

There are many theories that Stalin was planning to return various attributes of the Empire before the war, but what happened happened. And yes, the return of the Patriarchate in 1943, of course, “hit the same gates” as the shoulder straps - it was necessary to consolidate a country divided along religious lines.

P.S. You may ask, why did I go through old newspapers? But the fact is that I am preparing sensational material on Battle of Stalingrad. It will be a shock. Soon.

On January 6, 1943, the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR “On the introduction of new insignia for the personnel of the Red Army” was published. This document prescribed the introduction of new insignia to replace the existing ones - shoulder straps for Red Army personnel, as well as the approval of samples and descriptions of new insignia.
A quarter of a century after the revolution, the country's armed forces returned to their historical form clothes.

The editorial material of the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper dated January 7, 1943 emphasized that “today the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on the introduction of new insignia - shoulder straps for the personnel of the Red Army is published. This event is important event in the life of the army, because it is intended to contribute to the further strengthening of military discipline and military spirit.”

Central authority People's Commissariat Defense of the USSR reminded that “epaulettes with clear and clear outlines of insignia highlight the Soviet commander and the Red Army soldier, emphasize ranks, military specialty and make it possible to further strengthen military discipline and smartness.”
The main military newspaper of the country wrote on this day:
“We have first-class military equipment, and every day there will be more and more of it. The country sent its sons to the fronts - loyal warriors, and a powerful force Soviet soldier became famous throughout the world.
The people brought forward from among themselves cadres of commanders, cadres of military intelligentsia - bearers of everything heroic and noble that is in themselves. In fierce battles with the enemy, our soldiers and commanders raised high the honor of Russian weapons. The importance of a commander in an army is great. He has a primary role in battle, in all military life.
The role of the sovereign commander must be emphasized and strengthened in every possible way. This, in particular, will be facilitated by shoulder straps with their clear designations of service seniority.”
“Red Star” recalled that “epaulets were a traditional decoration of the valiant Russian army. We, the legitimate heirs of Russian military glory, take from the arsenal of our fathers and grandfathers all the best that contributed to raising military spirit and strengthening discipline. The introduction of shoulder straps once again confirms the glorious continuity of military traditions, which is so valuable for an army that loves its fatherland and values ​​its native history. Shoulder straps are not only a detail of clothing. This is a sign of military dignity and military honor.”
The newspaper's editorial emphasized that “the content of the military uniform is determined by the fighting spirit of the troops, their glory, their moral strength, their traditions. By putting on shoulder straps - new signs of rank and military honor - we will feel even more clearly the duty that lies with the army defending its homeland from Nazi gangs. The people will give the army these badges of honor, while demanding that the army's honor be maintained on the battlefield."
The article also recalled: “The people have granted great rights to our officers, but at the same time they have imposed great responsibilities on them. To fight selflessly for the homeland, to always feel like an educator of the Red Army masses in everything, to always and in everything instill in the consciousness of your subordinates a feeling of love for the homeland, a correct understanding of your military duty - such is the duty of a Soviet officer.
The shoulder strap must constantly remind the commander of this duty. Wearing shoulder straps should instill in every serviceman a sense of pride that he has the honor of belonging to the valiant Red Army, a sense of pride both for himself and for our entire army.”
“Red Star” especially emphasized on this day: “We put on shoulder straps in a great and difficult time Patriotic War. Let us immortalize these signs of military distinction and military honor with new exploits for the glory of our fatherland and our heroic army!”

Everyone according to their shoulder straps

Particularly interesting is the use of the words “officer” and “officership” in the editorial material of “Red Star”. For the first time since 1917, the word “officer” appeared in the May Day order of the People’s Commissar of Defense in 1942. This document noted that “the Red Army has become more organized and stronger, its officer cadres have become battle-hardened, and its generals have become more experienced and insightful.”
However, the word “officer” was officially legalized in the second half of 1943.
Work on new uniforms and insignia began even before the war. According to some reports, the first samples of uniforms and shoulder straps were developed back in 1941.
In the study “Uniforms of the Red Army and the Wehrmacht” by Pavel Lipatov, it is indicated that “new insignia and uniforms began to be developed in mid-1942, taking as a basis the galloon and field shoulder straps of the Russian Imperial Army. They looked for old masters who had once woven gold patterned ribbons and revived a half-forgotten technology. Test samples were cut - lush and archaic double-breasted ceremonial frock coats with gold embroidery and thick epaulettes.”
Temporary technical specifications, which included a description of the emblems and insignia on shoulder straps, were published on December 10, 1942.
According to Pavel Lipatov, the new uniform was initially supposed to be introduced only in the guard, but the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, Comrade Stalin, decided to put shoulder straps on everyone.
The decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR emphasized that insignia - shoulder straps - serve to determine the military rank and affiliation of military personnel to one or another branch of the military (service). According to the assigned military rank, belonging to the branch of the military (service), insignia (stars, gaps, stripes) and emblems are placed on the shoulder straps, and on the everyday shoulder straps of junior command, enlisted personnel and military school cadets there are also stencils indicating the name of the military unit (connections).
As noted by researchers of domestic military uniforms, the shape of the shoulder straps of the Red Army was similar to the shoulder straps adopted in the Russian army before 1917. They were a strip with parallel long sides, the lower end of the shoulder strap was rectangular, and the upper end was cut at an obtuse angle. The shoulder straps of marshals and generals have the top of an obtuse angle cut parallel to the bottom edge.
For the first time in Russia, shoulder straps appeared under Peter the Great in 1696. But in those days they were not insignia and were intended to hold the strap of a cartridge or grenade bag on the shoulder of an ordinary soldier.
Then the infantrymen wore, respectively, only one shoulder strap on the left shoulder, the lower edge of which was sewn on, and the upper edge was fastened to the caftan and later to the uniform. In that era, officers, cavalrymen and artillerymen did not have shoulder straps. In other words, they were not present in those branches of the military in which there was no need for them.
Since 1762, shoulder straps have become insignia and determine whether a serviceman belongs to a particular regiment. Under Paul I, shoulder straps again performed only one function - holding the belt of the cartridge bag, but during the reign of Alexander I they again became insignia.
In the armed forces of Soviet Russia, shoulder straps were abolished on December 16, 1917.

Exactly 70 years ago, an event that was significant for everyone who once wore shoulder straps took place - on January 10, 1943, by order of NGO No. 24, the adoption of the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated January 6, 1943 was announced. "On the introduction of shoulder straps for Red Army personnel." The design of the shoulder straps, their shape, the location of the stars, the emblems of the military branches will change, but the insignia themselves will remain unchanged until the very end of the existence of the Red (Soviet) Army in 1991-93.

Then this event was sensational - the size, shape, and surface pattern of the Soviet shoulder straps almost completely repeated the shoulder straps of the Tsarist army, which were so previously hated by the Bolsheviks. Which arrived like nails to the shoulders of those whom the communists contemptuously called “golden chasers.”
There were only minor changes. For example, they abandoned shoulder straps without stars (the Tsar's full general did not have stars on his shoulder straps). To revive the technology for making gold ribbons, we had to look for old masters. It was difficult to find one who worked for the Bolshoi Theater.

As in the Imperial Army, two types of shoulder straps were installed in the Red Army: field and everyday. The field of field shoulder straps was always khaki color, and they were trimmed along the edges (except for the bottom) with colored cloth edging according to the types of troops. Field shoulder straps were supposed to be worn without emblems and stencils with a khaki-colored button with a star in the center of which was a hammer and sickle.

Field shoulder strap of an aviation private. Everyday shoulder straps of an infantry corporal, junior sergeant of electrical units, aviation sergeant. Field shoulder straps of infantry senior sergeant and aviation sergeant major

Everyday shoulder straps had a field of colored cloth according to the branch of service, emblems according to the branch of service, and uniform brass buttons with a star. On the everyday shoulder straps of privates and sergeants, it was necessary to stencil the unit number with yellow paint (which was not carried out everywhere and disappeared by itself).
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Field shoulder straps of a junior lieutenant of artillery, lieutenant of armored forces. Everyday shoulder strap of an aviation senior lieutenant. Field shoulder strap of the captain of electrical engineering units.

The captains suffered the most from this new old introduction - from senior commanders (one sleeper) they turned into junior ones (one clearance and four small stars).
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Everyday shoulder straps of an artillery major, Field shoulder straps of a lieutenant colonel of railway troops, infantry colonel

Not many people know that from 1943 to 1947, the stars on the shoulder straps of the lieutenant colonel and colonel were located not on the gaps, but next to them. This is roughly how the stars were worn on the shoulder straps of the tsarist army, but the problem was that in the tsarist army the stars were smaller (11 mm) and fit perfectly between the gap and the edge of the shoulder strap.
And the stars of the 1943 model for senior officers were 20 mm, and when placed between the gap and the edge of the shoulder strap, the sharp ends of the stars often went beyond the edge of the shoulder strap and clung to the lining of the overcoat. There was a spontaneous shift of colonel's stars to skylights, which was standardized in 1947.
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Everyday shoulder straps of combined arms major general and lieutenant general. Marshal's shoulder strap Soviet Union(belonged to Tolbukhin)

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It was at this same time that the old regime word “officer” returned widely to the official military lexicon. This happened gradually and imperceptibly (in the order of NKO No. 24, officers are still referred to as “middle and senior command and control personnel”). This was due to the fact that throughout the war the term “officer” did not exist legally, and the cumbersome “commander of the Red Army” remained. But the words “officer”, “officers”, “officers” were heard more and more often, first in informal use, and then gradually began to appear in official documents.
It has been established that for the first time the term “officer” officially appeared in the holiday order of the People's Commissar of Defense dated November 7, 1942. And since the spring of 1943, with the advent of shoulder straps, the word “officer” began to be used so widely and universally that in the post-war period the front-line soldiers themselves very quickly forgot the term “commander of the Red Army.” Although formally the term “officer” was formalized in military use only with the publication of the first post-war Charter internal service.
And finally, one more clipping from an old newspaper, but German, in Russian.
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Why do you think Stalin introduced shoulder straps in 1943? There is, for example, an assumption that the introduction of shoulder straps was influenced by Stalin’s love for Bulgakov’s “Days of the Turbins.” Why not an option...

Shoulder straps in the Russian army have long history. They were first introduced by Peter the Great back in 1696, but in those days, shoulder straps served only as a strap that kept the gun belt or cartridge pouch from slipping off the shoulder. The shoulder strap was only an attribute of the uniform of the lower ranks: the officers were not armed with guns, and therefore they did not need shoulder straps.

Epaulets began to be used as insignia of rank with the accession of Alexander I to the throne. However, they did not denote rank, but membership in a particular regiment. The shoulder straps depicted a number indicating the number of the regiment in the Russian army, and the color of the shoulder strap indicated the number of the regiment in the division: red indicated the first regiment, blue the second, white the third, and dark green the fourth.

Since 1874, in accordance with the order of the military department No. 137 of 04.05. 1874, the shoulder straps of the first and second regiments of the division became red, and the color of the buttonholes and cap bands became blue. The shoulder straps of the third and fourth regiments became blue, but the third regiment had white buttonholes and bands, and the fourth regiment had green ones.
Army (not guards) grenadiers had yellow shoulder straps. The shoulder straps of the Akhtyrsky and Mitavsky Hussars and the Finnish, Primorsky, Arkhangelsk, Astrakhan and Kinburn Dragoon Regiments were also yellow. With the advent of rifle regiments, they were assigned crimson shoulder straps.

To distinguish a soldier from an officer, officer's shoulder straps were first trimmed with galloon, and since 1807, officers' shoulder straps were replaced with epaulettes. Since 1827, officer and general ranks began to be designated by the number of stars on their epaulettes: for warrant officers - 1, second lieutenant, major and major general - 2; lieutenant, lieutenant colonel and lieutenant general - 3; staff captain - 4; Captains, colonels and full generals did not have stars on their epaulettes. One star was retained for retired brigadiers and retired second majors - these ranks no longer existed by 1827, but retirees with the right to wear a uniform who retired in these ranks were preserved. Since April 8, 1843, insignia also appeared on the shoulder straps of lower ranks: one badge went to the corporal, two to the junior non-commissioned officer, and three to the senior non-commissioned officer. The sergeant major received a 2.5-centimeter-thick transverse stripe on his shoulder strap, and the ensign received exactly the same one, but located longitudinally.

In 1854, shoulder straps were also introduced for officers, leaving epaulettes only on ceremonial uniforms, and until the revolution there were almost no changes in shoulder straps, with the exception that in 1884 the rank of major was abolished, and in 1907 the rank of ordinary ensign was introduced .
Officials of some civil departments - engineers, railway workers, police - also had shoulder straps.

However, after October revolution shoulder straps were abolished along with military and civilian ranks.
The first insignia in the Red Army appeared on January 16, 1919. They were triangles, cubes and diamonds sewn onto the sleeves.

Rank insignia of the Red Army 1919-22

In 1922, these triangles, cubes and diamonds were transferred to sleeve valves. At the same time, a certain color of the valve corresponded to one or another branch of the military.

Rank insignia of the Red Army 1922-24

But these valves did not last long in the Red Army - already in 1924, rhombuses, kubars and triangles moved to the buttonholes. Moreover, in addition to these geometric shapes Another one appeared - a sleeper, intended for those service categories that corresponded to pre-revolutionary staff officers.

In 1935, personal military ranks were introduced into the Red Army. Some of them corresponded to the pre-revolutionary ones - colonel, lieutenant colonel, captain. Some were taken from the ranks of the former Tsarist Navy - lieutenant and senior lieutenant. The ranks corresponding to generals remained from the previous service categories - brigade commander, division commander, corps commander, army commander of the 2nd and 1st ranks. The rank of major, abolished under Alexandra III. The insignia, in comparison with the buttonholes of the 1924 model, has hardly changed in appearance - only the four-cube combination has disappeared. In addition, the title of Marshal of the Soviet Union was introduced, no longer designated by diamonds, but by one large star on the collar flap.

Rank insignia of the Red Army 1935

On August 5, 1937, the rank of junior lieutenant (one kubar) was introduced, and on September 1, 1939, the rank of lieutenant colonel. Moreover, the three sleepers now corresponded not to the colonel, but to the lieutenant colonel. The colonel received four sleepers.

On May 7, 1940, general ranks were introduced. The major general, as before the revolution, had two stars, but they were located not on the shoulder straps, but on the collar flaps. The lieutenant general had three stars. This is where the similarities with pre-revolutionary generals ended - instead of a full general, the lieutenant general was followed by the rank of colonel general, modeled on the German general oberst. The colonel general had four stars, and the army general who followed him, whose rank was borrowed from the French army, had five stars.
The insignia remained in this form until January 6, 1943, when shoulder straps were introduced into the Red Army. On January 13, they began to enter the troops.

Rank insignia of the Red Army 1943

Soviet shoulder straps had much in common with pre-revolutionary ones, but there were also differences: officer shoulder straps of the Red Army (but not the Navy) in 1943 were pentagonal, not hexagonal; the colors of the gaps indicated the type of troops, not the regiment; the clearance was a single whole with the shoulder strap field; there were colored edgings according to the type of troops; the stars were metal, gold or silver, and varied in size for junior and senior officers; ranks were designated by a different number of stars than before 1917, and shoulder straps without stars were not restored.

Soviet officer shoulder straps were five millimeters wider than pre-revolutionary ones. No encryption was placed on them. Unlike pre-revolutionary times, the color of the shoulder strap now corresponded not to the regiment number, but to the branch of the army. The edging also mattered. Thus, rifle troops had a crimson background shoulder strap and black edging, cavalry had dark blue with black edging, aviation had blue shoulder straps with black edging, tank crews and artillerymen had black with red edging, but sappers and other technical troops had black but with black edging. edging. Border troops and the medical service had green shoulder straps with red trim, and the internal troops received cherry shoulder straps with blue trim.

On khaki-colored field shoulder straps, the type of troops was determined only by the edging. Its color was the same as the color of the shoulder strap on the everyday uniform. Soviet officer shoulder straps were five millimeters wider than pre-revolutionary ones. Encryptions were placed on them very rarely, mostly by cadets of military schools.
A junior lieutenant, a major and a major general received one star each. Two each went to a lieutenant, a lieutenant colonel and a lieutenant general, three each went to a senior lieutenant, a colonel and a colonel general, and four went to the captain and general of the army. The shoulder straps of junior officers had one gap and from one to four silver-plated metal stars with a diameter of 13 mm, and the shoulder straps of senior officers had two gaps and from one to three stars with a diameter of 20 mm.

Badges for junior commanders were also restored. The corporal still had one stripe, the junior sergeant had two, the sergeant had three. The former wide sergeant major's stripe went to the senior sergeant, and the sergeant major received the so-called “hammer” for his shoulder straps.

According to the assigned military rank, belonging to the branch of the military (service), insignia (stars and gaps) and emblems were placed on the shoulder straps. For military lawyers and doctors, there were “medium” sprockets with a diameter of 18 mm. Initially, the stars of senior officers were attached not to the gaps, but to the field of braid next to them. Field shoulder straps had a field of khaki color (khaki cloth) with one or two gaps sewn to it. On three sides, the shoulder straps had piping according to the color of the branch of service. Clearances were installed - blue - for aviation, brown - for doctors, quartermasters and lawyers, red - for everyone else.

The field of an everyday officer's shoulder strap was made of golden silk or galloon. For everyday shoulder straps of engineering and command personnel, quartermaster, medical and veterinary services and lawyers, silver braid was approved. There was a rule according to which silver stars were worn on gilded shoulder straps, and vice versa, gilded stars were worn on silver shoulder straps, except for veterinarians - they wore silver stars on silver shoulder straps. The width of the shoulder straps is 6 cm, and for officers of the medical and veterinary services, military justice - 4 cm. It is known that such shoulder straps were called “oaks” in the army. The color of the piping depended on the type of military service and service - crimson in the infantry, blue in aviation, dark blue in cavalry, a gilded button with a star, with a hammer and sickle in the center, in the navy - a silver button with an anchor.

General's shoulder straps of the 1943 model, unlike soldiers' and officers', were hexagonal. They were gold, with silver stars. The exception was the shoulder straps of generals of the medical and veterinary services and justice. Narrow silver shoulder straps with gold stars were introduced for them. Navy officer shoulder straps, unlike army ones, were hexagonal. Otherwise, they were similar to the army ones, but the color of the shoulder straps was determined: for officers of the naval, naval engineering and coastal engineering services - black, for aviation and engineering - aviation service - blue, quartermasters - crimson, for everyone else, including number of justice – red. Emblems were not worn on the shoulder straps of command and ship personnel. The color of the field, stars and edging of the shoulder straps of generals and admirals, as well as their width, were also determined by the type of troops and service; the field of shoulder straps of senior officers was sewn from a special braid. The buttons of the Red Army generals had the image of the coat of arms of the USSR, and the admirals and generals of the Navy had the emblem of the USSR superimposed on two crossed anchors. On November 7, 1944, the location of the stars on the shoulder straps of colonels and lieutenant colonels of the Red Army was changed. Until this moment, they were located on the sides of the gaps, but now they have moved to the gaps themselves. On October 9, 1946, the uniform of officers' shoulder straps was changed Soviet army– they became hexagonal. In 1947, on the shoulder straps of officers transferred to the reserve and retired by order of the Minister of the Armed Forces of the USSR No. 4, a golden (for those who wore silver shoulder straps) or silver (for gold-plated shoulder straps) patch was introduced, which they were required to wear when they put on a military uniform (in 1949 this the patch was cancelled).

In the post-war period, minor changes occurred in the insignia. So, in 1955, everyday field double-sided shoulder straps were introduced for privates and sergeants.
In 1956, field shoulder straps for officers with stars and khaki emblems and clearances according to the branch of service were introduced. In 1958, the narrow shoulder straps of the 1946 model for doctors, veterinarians and lawyers were abolished. At the same time, the edging for everyday shoulder straps of soldiers, sergeants and foremen was also canceled. Silver stars are introduced on gold shoulder straps, and gold stars on silver ones. The colors of the gaps are red (combined arms, airborne troops), crimson (engineer troops), black (tank troops, artillery, technical troops), blue (aviation), dark green (medics, veterinarians, lawyers); blue (the color of cavalry) was abolished due to the liquidation of this type of troops. For generals of the medical, veterinary services and justice, wide silver shoulder straps with gold stars were introduced, for others - gold shoulder straps with silver stars.
In 1962, the “Project for the abolition of shoulder straps in the Soviet Army” appeared, which, fortunately, was not implemented.
In 1963, blue lights were introduced for airborne officers. The 1943 model sergeant's shoulder straps with the sergeant's hammer are being abolished. Instead of this “hammer”, a wide longitudinal braid is introduced, like a pre-revolutionary ensign.

In 1969, gold stars were introduced on gold shoulder straps, and silver stars on silver ones. The colors of the gaps are red (ground forces), crimson (medics, veterinarians, lawyers, administrative services) and blue (aviation, airborne forces). Silver general's shoulder straps are being abolished. All general's shoulder straps became gold, with gold stars framed with edging according to the branch of service.

In 1972, ensign shoulder straps were introduced. Unlike the pre-revolutionary ensign, whose rank corresponded to the Soviet junior lieutenant, the Soviet ensign was equivalent in rank to the American warrant officer.

In 1973, the encryption codes SA (Soviet Army), VV (Internal Troops), PV ( Border troops), GB (KGB troops) on the shoulder straps of soldiers and sergeants, and K – on the shoulder straps of cadets. It must be said that these letters appeared back in 1969, but initially, according to Article 164 of Order of the USSR Minister of Defense No. 191 of July 26, 1969, they were worn only on the ceremonial uniform. The letters were made of anodized aluminum, but since 1981, for economic reasons, metal letters were replaced by letters made of PVC film.

In 1974, new army general shoulder straps were introduced to replace the 1943 model shoulder straps. Instead of four stars, they had a marshal's star, above which was the emblem of motorized rifle troops.
In 1980, all silver shoulder straps with silver stars were abolished. The colors of the gaps are red (combined arms) and blue (aviation, airborne forces).

Shoulder straps SA 1982

In 1981, shoulder straps for a senior warrant officer were introduced, and in 1986, for the first time in the history of Russian officer shoulder straps, shoulder straps without gaps were introduced, differing only in the size of the stars (field uniform “Afghan”)
Currently, shoulder straps remain the insignia of the Russian army, as well as some categories of Russian civilian officials.

Shoulder straps in the Red Army 1943, 1944, 1945

(using the example of artillery shoulder straps)

On January 6, 1943, the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Council (PVS) of the USSR “On the introduction of shoulder straps for the personnel of the Red Army” was signed, announced by NKO order No. 24 of January 10, 1943. Following this, on January 15, 1943, the USSR NKO order No. 25 “On the introduction of new insignia and changes in the uniform of the Red Army” (). In it, in particular, it was determined that field shoulder straps are worn by military personnel in the active army and personnel of units being prepared to be sent to the front. Everyday shoulder straps are worn by military personnel of other units and institutions, as well as when wearing dress uniforms. That is, in the Red Army there were two types of shoulder straps: field and everyday. Differences in shoulder straps were also introduced for command and command personnel (see the regulations on command and command personnel) so that the commander could be distinguished from the chief.

It was ordered to switch to new insignia in the period from February 1 to February 15, 1943. Later, by order of the USSR NKO No. 80 dated February 14, 1943, this period was extended until March 15, 1943. By the beginning of the transition to summer uniforms, the Red Army was fully provided with new insignia.

In addition to the above-mentioned directive documents, later the Instruction of the Technical Committee of the Main Quartermaster Directorate of the Red Army (TK GIU KA) No. 732 01/08/1943 “Rules for the selection, attachment to uniforms and wearing of shoulder straps by Red Army personnel” was issued, as well as a whole range of technical specifications of the TC GIU KA. In addition, some technical documentation was adopted long before the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. For example, the Temporary Technical Specifications (TTU) of the TC SIU KA No. 0725, which contained a description of the emblems and insignia (stars) on shoulder straps, were published on December 10, 1942.

The dimensions of the shoulder straps were established:

• Null– 13 cm (only for women’s uniforms)
• First– 14 cm.
• Second– 15 cm.
• Third- 16 cm.
  The width is 6 cm, and the width of the shoulder straps of officers of justice, medical, veterinary and administrative services is 4 cm. The length of the sewn-in shoulder straps was set to 1 cm longer for each size.
  Width general's shoulder straps– 6.5 cm. The width of the shoulder straps of the generals of the medical, veterinary services and the highest command. composition of the military-legal service - 4.5 cm. (in 1958, a single width for such shoulder straps was established for all generals of the Soviet Army - 6.5 cm.)

Types of field shoulder straps according to manufacturing method:

• Soft sewn shoulder straps( ) consisted of a field (top), lining (lining), lining and edging.
• Soft removable shoulder straps( ), in addition to the above parts, they had a semi-flap, a semi-flap lining and a jumper.
• Hard detachable shoulder straps( ) differed from soft ones in that during their manufacture, fabrics and shoulder straps were glued together with a paste consisting of 30% wheat flour and wood glue, as well as the presence of an additional lining made of electrical cardboard - pressboard, jacquard or calibrated, 0.5 - 1 mm thick .

— Coloring of field and everyday shoulder straps of the Red Army - .

— Military ranks of the USSR Armed Forces 1935-1945. (table of ranks) - .

Shoulder straps of junior command, command and rank and file of the Red Army
(privates, sergeants and sergeants)

FIELD EMAILS: The field of field shoulder straps was always khaki. The shoulder straps were edged (trimmed) along the edges, except for the bottom, with colored cloth edging according to the branches of the military or services. The stripes on the shoulder straps of junior command and command personnel were silk or semi-silk galloon. The patches were produced in various sizes: narrow (1 cm wide), medium (1.5 cm wide) and wide (3 cm wide). Junior command staff were entitled to burgundy-colored braid, and junior command staff were entitled to brown braid.

Ideally, the stripes should have been sewn onto shoulder straps in factories or in sewing workshops attached to military units. But often the servicemen themselves attached the stripes. In conditions of front-line shortages, stripes made from scrap materials were often used. It was common to use everyday (golden or silver) stripes on field shoulder straps and vice versa.

Field shoulder straps were supposed to be worn without emblems of military branches and stencils. On the shoulder straps there were uniform 20-mm iron buttons of a khaki color with a star in the center of which was a hammer and sickle.

This type of shoulder straps existed until December 1955, when double-sided shoulder straps were introduced. In the period from 1943 to 1955, the technology for manufacturing these shoulder straps changed several times. In particular, in 1947 and 1953 (TU 1947 and TU 1953)

Field shoulder straps of junior command personnel using the example of a senior artillery sergeant. The patch (galloon) is sewn on at the factory using a sewing machine. Iron buttons in khaki color.

EVERYDAY EMAILS: Everyday shoulder straps of junior commanders, junior commanding officers and enlisted personnel were edged (trimmed) along the edges, except the bottom, with colored cloth edging, and also had a field of colored cloth according to the branch of service. The stripes on the shoulder straps of junior command and command personnel were silk or semi-silk galloon. The patches were produced in various sizes: narrow (1 cm wide), medium (1.5 cm wide) and wide (3 cm wide). The junior command staff was entitled to a golden-yellow galloon, and the junior command staff – silver.

Everyday shoulder straps had golden emblems for the branch of service and yellow stencils indicating the unit (formation). It is worth noting that stencils were used extremely rarely.

On the shoulder straps there were shaped golden brass 20-mm buttons with a star, in the center of which was a hammer and sickle.

This type of shoulder straps existed until December 1955, when double-sided shoulder straps were introduced. In the period from 1943 to 1955, the technology for manufacturing these shoulder straps changed several times. In particular in 1947 and 1953. In addition, since 1947, encryption was no longer applied to everyday shoulder straps.

Everyday shoulder straps of junior command personnel using the example of a senior artillery sergeant. The patch (braid) is sewn on by the soldier himself. There are no encryptions, as on most shoulder straps. Buttons: top is brass (respectively yellow-golden color), bottom is iron.

Shoulder straps of senior and middle command and command personnel of the Red Army
(officers)

FIELD EMAILS: The field of field shoulder straps was always khaki. The shoulder straps were edged (trimmed) along the edges, except the bottom, with colored cloth edging. On the shoulder strap, one or two gaps were sewn in burgundy color for the command staff and brown for the command staff. According to the assigned military rank, belonging to a branch of the military or service, insignia were placed on the shoulder straps.

The shoulder straps of the middle command personnel have one gap and silver-plated metal 13-mm stars.

The shoulder straps of senior officers have two gaps and silver-plated metal 20-mm stars.

On the shoulder straps of the command personnel, in addition to the infantry command personnel, silver-plated emblems were installed according to the branch of the army and service.

On the shoulder straps there are uniform 20-mm metal buttons of a khaki color with a star in the center of which is a hammer and sickle.

Field shoulder straps of middle command personnel using the example of ml. artillery lieutenant. The star denoting rank must be silver. IN in this case The silver plating has worn off.

EVERYDAY EMAILS: The field of shoulder straps for command personnel is made of golden silk or golden braid. The shoulder straps of the engineering and command staff, commissary, medical, veterinary, military-legal and administrative services are made of silver silk or silver braid. The shoulder straps were edged (trimmed) along the edges, except the bottom, with colored cloth edging. According to the assigned military rank, belonging to a branch of the military or service, insignia were placed on the shoulder straps.

The shoulder straps of the middle command personnel have one gap and 13-mm gold metal stars.

The shoulder straps of the senior officers have two gaps and 20-mm gold metal stars.

On the shoulder straps of the command personnel, in addition to the infantry command personnel, golden emblems were installed according to the branch of the army and service.

The emblems and stars on the shoulder straps of the engineering and command personnel, quartermaster, administrative and medical services are gold-plated. On the shoulder straps of military veterinary personnel, the stars are gold-plated, the emblems are silver-plated.

On the shoulder straps there are uniform golden 20-mm buttons with a star, in the center of which is a hammer and sickle.

The shoulder straps and insignia of the middle and senior command staff of the military legal service fully corresponded to the shoulder straps and insignia of the senior and middle command staff of the medical and veterinary services, but with their own emblems.

The shoulder straps of the military administrative personnel were exactly the same as the shoulder straps for the senior and mid-level command staff of the medical and veterinary services, but without emblems.

These shoulder straps existed until the end of 1946, when the technical conditions of the Technical Specifications of the State Military Institution No. 1486 dated October 9, 1946 for officers of the Armed Forces established shoulder straps with a cut off corner, i.e. shoulder straps became hexagonal.

Everyday shoulder straps of middle command personnel using the example of the shoulder straps of an artillery captain. The button should be golden.

Shoulder straps of the Red Army senior command staff
(generals, marshals)

FIELD EMAILS: A field of shoulder straps made of specially woven silk braid on a cloth lining. The color of the shoulder straps is protective. Color of shoulder straps: generals, artillery generals, tank troops, medical and veterinary services, senior commanders. composition of the military legal service - red; aviation generals - blue; generals of technical troops and quartermaster service - crimson.

The stars on the shoulder straps were embroidered in silver, 22 mm in size. On the uniform of generals of the medical and veterinary services and the highest command. members of the military legal service - gold, size 20 mm. The buttons on the shoulder straps with the coat of arms are gilded. On the uniforms of generals there is honey. services – gilded metal emblems; there is a breeze on the generals' uniforms. services - the same emblems, but silvered; on uniform of the highest beginning. members of the Supreme Legal Service - gilded metal emblems.

By order of the NKO of the USSR No. 79 dated February 14, 1943, shoulder straps were installed, including. and for the highest engineering and technical personnel of the signal troops, engineering, chemical, railway, topographic troops - to the generals of the engineering and technical service, according to the model established for the generals of the technical troops. From this order the highest beginning. The composition of the military legal service began to be called generals of justice.

EVERYDAY EMAPOLDS: Field of shoulder straps made of braid of special weave: made of gold wire. And for generals of medical and veterinary services, the highest level. members of the military legal service - made of silver wire. Color of shoulder straps: generals, artillery generals, tank troops, medical and veterinary services, senior commanders. composition of the military legal service - red; aviation generals - blue; generals of technical troops and quartermaster service - crimson.

The stars on the shoulder straps were embroidered on a gold field - in silver, on a silver field - in gold. The buttons on the shoulder straps with the coat of arms are gilded. On the uniforms of generals there is honey. services – gilded metal emblems; there is a breeze on the generals' uniforms. services - the same emblems, but silvered; on uniform of the highest beginning. members of the Supreme Legal Service - gilded metal emblems.

By order of the NKO of the USSR No. 61 dated February 8, 1943, silver emblems were installed for artillery generals to wear on their shoulder straps.

By order of the NKO of the USSR No. 79 dated February 14, 1943, shoulder straps were installed, including. and for the highest engineering and technical personnel of the signal troops, engineering, chemical, railway, topographic troops - to the generals of the engineering and technical service, according to the model established for the generals of the technical troops. Probably from this order the highest beginning. The composition of the military legal service began to be called generals of justice.

These shoulder straps existed without fundamental changes until 1962, when by order of the USSR Ministry of Defense No. 127 of May 12, sewn shoulder straps with a steel-colored field were installed on the ceremonial overcoats of generals.

An example of everyday and field shoulder straps of generals. Since 02/08/1943, artillery generals additionally had artillery emblems on their shoulder straps.

Literature:

• Uniforms and insignia of the Red Army 1918-1945. AIM, Leningrad 1960
• Shoulder straps of the Soviet Army 1943-1991. Evgeniy Drig.
• Color chart for field and everyday shoulder straps of the Red Army ()
• Newspaper "Red Star" dated January 7, 1943 ()
• Article by Alexander Sorokin “Field shoulder straps of soldiers, sergeants and officers of the Red Army, model 1943”
• Website - http://www.rkka.ru

article code: 98653