Between 1943 and 1955, the ranks and insignia of the Soviet Armed Forces were characterised by a number of changes, including the reintroduction of rank insignia badges and the adoption of a number of higher ranks.

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

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

In January 1943 the ranks of marshal of the air force, marshal of the artillery and marshal of the armoured corps came into existence.Decree of the "Presidium of the Supreme Soviet" of 16 January 1943 In October 1943 it was followed by the additional ranks marshal of the communication troops, and marshal of the engineer troops, and the equivalent chief marshal of the branch ranks were added.Decree of the "Presidium of the Supreme Soviet" of 9 October 1943

Generalissimo of the Soviet Union The highest rank of Generalissimo of the Soviet Union () was created in October 1943, as an individual award to Stalin, the Head of Government and party chief, and functioned as supreme commander on all Soviet armed forces. Promotion to this rank was limited explicitly to wartime. The instruction was conveyed by an order to the front commanders-in-chief on 26 June 1945,Decree of the "Presidium of the Supreme Soviet" of 26 June 1945 however, Stalin refused to officially implement the rank.

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

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

Enlisted men and non-commissioned officers The shoulder board padding indicated the appropriate corps colour of service branch, corps or special appointment, with coloured border piping. Colour Branch Padding Piping Field piping Raspberry Black Raspberry Infantry (generic motorised rifles or motorised infantry) Cobalt blue Black Cobalt blue Cavalry Sky blue Black Sky blue Aviation troops and air force Black Red Red Artillery & armoured corps Dark green Red Dark green Medical troops, veterinarian service Black Black Black Technical troops

Junior and senior officers Piping Branch Cobalt blue Cavalry Raspberry Army generic infantry, motorised rifles and logistics Red Artillery, armoured corps, medical troops and veterinarian service Sky blue Aviation troops and air force Black Technical troops

General officers Piping Branch Deep red ("general's red") Army generic infantry, motorised rifles and logistics Sky blue Aviation troops and air force Raspberry All other uses

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

Enlisted men and non-commissioned officers Parade uniform Army Air force Field uniform Army Air force (Before 1946)Устав внутренней службы Вооружённых сил СССР, 1946 г. (After 1946) Translation Sergeant major Senior sergeant Sergeant Junior sergeant Corporal Red Army manPrivate

Variations Field and service uniform as shown for Senior sergeant. Insignia Artillery Armoured Troops Cavalry Chemical Troops Electrical Troops Rank Insignia Engineer Troops Medical Corps Motor-Car Units Pontoon Corps Railway Troops,Military Communications Rank Insignia Road Troops Sapper Troops Signal Troops Survey Troops Veterinary Corps Rank

Officers Marshals of the branch The rank of Army general was only awarded to officers of the army from the infantry branch directly, all other branches and services were promoted to the ranks of marshal and chief marshal of the branch (equivalents, respectively, to the ranks of Army general and Marshal of the Soviet Union). Rank Chief marshal of the branch Service uniform Field uniform Rank designation Translation Chief marshal of artillery Chief marshal of aviation Chief marshal of the armoured troops Chief marshal of the signal troops Chief marshal of the engineer troops Rank Marshal of the branch Service uniform Field uniform Rank designation Translation Marshal of artillery Marshal of aviation Marshal of the armoured troops Marshal of the signal troops Marshal of the engineer troops

Commissioned officers Parade uniform Infantry Air force Field uniform Infantry Air force Translation Marshal of the Soviet Union General of the army Colonel general Lieutenant general Major general Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain Senior lieutenant Lieutenant Junior lieutenant

Variations Service, field and engineering uniform for various officers. Insignia Armoured Troops Artillery Cavalry Chemical Troops Electrical Troops Rank Insignia Engineer Troops Legal Service Medical Corps Motor-Car Units Pontoon Corps Rank Insignia Quartermaster Corps Railway Troops,Military Communications Road Troops Sapper Troops Signal Troops Rank Insignia Survey Troops Veterinary Corps Rank

Student officers Parade uniform Army Air force Translation Cadet sergeant major Cadet senior sergeant Cadet sergeant Cadet junior sergeant Cadet first class Cadet

Ranks and rank insignia of the Soviet Navy By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet on 15 February 1943 on "distinction insignia to the Soviet Navy" the introduction of shoulder straps and epaulettes took effect, marking the début of Imperial Russian Navy-style insignia to the Soviet Navy.Decree of the "Presidium of the Supreme Soviet" of 15 February 1943 As the navy also had coastal services, ground ranks similar to the Red Army and Air Force were introduced with their respective insignia to be used by the coastal service personnel. These ranks were also used by the navy's medical corps and technical services. Shoulder rank insignia were in dark blue shoulder boards (gold on the dress uniform only for officers).

Naval officers and flag officers Shoulder insignia Regular Engineers Sleeve insignia All Translation Admiral of the fleet Admiral Vice admiral Counter admiral Captain 1st rank Captain 2nd rank Captain 3rd rank Captain lieutenant Senior lieutenant Lieutenant Junior lieutenant

Naval ratings (naval service) Rank group Senior ratings Junior ratings Shoulder boardtoservice uniform Shoulder straptoservice uniform

Ranks and insignia of naval ground and technical services Officers General officers Officers & commanders Designation Shoulder straptoservice uniform(Coastal Services, incl. Naval Infantry and Coastal Defense Artillery) Shoulder straptoservice uniform(Coastal Engineers) Shoulder straptoservice uniform(Naval Aviation) Shoulder straptoservice uniform(Naval Aviation engineers and technical staff) Rank designation Colonel general() Lieutenant general() Major general() Colonel() Lieutenant colonel() Major() Captain() Senior lieutenant() Lieutenant() Junior lieutenant() Engineers rank designation Engineer-Colonel() Engineer-Lieutenant colonel() Engineer Major() Engineer Captain() Senior Technician Lieutenant() Technician Lieutenant() Junior Technician Lieutenant()

Other ranks Shoulder straps toservice uniform basic Enlisted men and non-commissioned officers of ground services(Coastal Services and Naval Aviation) Shoulder boardtoservice uniform(Personnel of coastal services) Shoulder boardtoservice uniform(Personnel of naval aviation) Shoulder straptoservice uniform(Personnel of coastal services) Shoulder straptoservice uniform(Personnel of naval aviation) Rank designation Starshina Staff Sergeant Sergeant Junior Sergeant Senior seaman Seaman

See also History of Russian military ranks Ranks and insignia of the Imperial Russian Armed Forces Military ranks of the Soviet Union (1918–1935) Military ranks of the Soviet Union (1935–1940) Military ranks of the Soviet Union (1940–1943) Military ranks of the Soviet Union (1955–1991) Ranks and insignia of the Russian Federation's armed forces 1994–2010

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