Ruffles of the Russian army. Rifles of the Russian army and navy: photos

Every detail of the military uniform is endowed with practical meaning and appeared on it not accidentally, but as a result of certain events. It can be said that elements of military uniform have historical symbolism and utilitarian purpose.

Appearance and development of epaulettes in the Russian Empire

The opinion that the epaulettes originate from part of the knight's armor, designed to protect the shoulders from the impact, is one of the most common misconceptions. The simple study of the armor and army uniforms of the past, from the second half of the 12th to the end of the 17th century, suggests that nothing of the kind existed in any army in the world. In Russia, even a strictly regulated form of archers did not have anything like that to protect the shoulders.

Russian army rifles were first introduced by Emperor Peter I in the period between 1683-1698 and had a purely utilitarian significance. The soldiers of the grenadier regiments and fusiliers used them as an additional fastening for knapsacks or cartridges. Naturally, the shoulder straps were worn exclusively by soldiers, and only on the left shoulder.

However, after 30 years, as the arms of the armed forces increase , this element spreads through the troops, still serving as the identification mark of a particular regiment. In 1762, this function was fixed for epaulettes officially, beginning to decorate them with officers' uniforms. At that time, it was impossible to find a universal model of epaulettes in the army of the Russian Empire. The commander of each regiment could independently determine its type of weaving, length and width. Often, wealthy officers from prominent aristocratic families wore a regimental insignia in a more luxurious version - with gold and precious stones. In our time, the epaulettes of the Russian army (the pictures are presented below) are a welcome subject for collectors of military uniforms.

During the reign of Emperor Alexander I epaulettes take the form of a cloth valve with precise regulation of color, fastenings and decor, depending on the number of the regiment in the division. Officers 'shuffles differ from soldiers' soldiers only by plating a gold cord (galloon) along the edge. When in 1803 a knapsack is introduced, there are 2 of them - one for each shoulder.

After 1854, signs of differences begin to adorn not only uniforms, but also coats and greatcoats. Thus, for the shoulder straps, the role of the "determinant of ranks" is permanently fixed. By the end of the XIX century, soldiers begin to use a duffel bag instead of a knapsack, and an additional attachment to the shoulders is no longer required. Shoulder straps get rid of fastenings in the form of buttons and tightly sewn into the fabric.

After the collapse of the Russian Empire, and along with it the tsarist army, epaulettes and epaulettes disappear for several decades from the military form, recognized as a symbol of "the inequality of working people and exploiters."

Pogonia in the Red Army from 1919 to 1943

The USSR sought to get rid of the "remnants of imperialism", which also ranked the ranks and epaulettes of the Russian army (the tsarist army). On December 16, 1917, all previously existing army ranks and insignia were abolished by decrees of the All-Russia Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars "On elective initiation and organization of power in the army" and "On the equalization of the rights of all servicemen". And on January 15, 1918, the country's leadership adopted a decree on the creation of the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army (RKKA).

Some time in the army of the new country there was a strange mixture of military symbols. For example, signs of distinction in the form of armbands of red (revolutionary) color with an inscription of a post, a similar tone of a strip on the sleeves of a gymnast or overcoat, metal or woolen stars of different sizes on a headdress or a breast are known.

Since 1924 in the Red Army the rank of servicemen was offered to be recognized by the buttonholes on the collar of the gymnast. The color of the field and edging was determined by the army, and the gradation was extensive. For example, the infantry wore crimson buttonholes with a black frame, the cavalry - blue with black, the signalmen - black with yellow, etc.

The loops of the top commanders of the Red Army (the generals) had the color of the field according to the type of troops and were lined along the edge with a narrow golden cord.

In the field of buttonholes there were red-enameled copper figures of various shapes, allowing to determine the rank of commander of the Red Army:

• Ordinary, junior command staff - triangles with a side of 1 cm. They appeared only in 1941. Before that, servicemen of these ranks wore "empty" buttonholes.
• The average command structure is squares measuring 1 x 1 cm. In everyday life, they were often called "cubes" or "cubers".
• Senior command staff - rectangles with sides 1.6 x 0.7 cm, called "sleepers".
• The highest command structure is a rhombus with a height of 1.7 cm and a width of 0.8 cm. Additional signs for the commanders of these ranks were chevrons from the golden galloon on the sleeves of uniforms. Political structure was added to them by large stars from red cloth.
• Marshals of the Soviet Union - 1 large gold star in buttonholes and sleeves.

The number of signs ranged from 1 to 4 - the more, the higher the title of commander.

The rank designation system in the Red Army was often subjected to changes, which greatly confused the situation. Often, because of supply disruptions, servicemen for months wore obsolete or even self-made signs. However, the buttonhole system has left its mark on the history of military uniforms. In particular, epaulettes in the Soviet Army retained coloring for the arms of the troops.

Pogony in the Soviet Army in 1943-1990

Thanks to the Decree of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of January 6, 1943 and the Order of the People's Commissar of Defense No. 25 of January 15, 1943, epaulettes and ranks returned to the lives of servicemen. These insignia exist before the collapse of the USSR. The colors of the field and the edge will change, the shape and arrangement of the patches, but in general the system will remain unchanged, and later the Russian Army shoulder straps will be created using similar principles.

Servicemen received 2 types of such items - everyday and field, having a standard width of 6 cm and a length of 14-16 cm, depending on the type of clothing. Potholes of non-combatant units (justice, military veterinarians and physicians) were intentionally narrowed to 4.5 cm.

The definition of the kind of troops went according to the color of the edging and lumens, and also to the stylized symbol on the lower or middle parts (for the rank and file) of the shoulder strap. Their palette is less diverse than before 1943, but the basic colors are preserved.

1. Edging (cord):

• Combined-arms (military registration and enlistment offices, military establishments), infantry units, motorized rifles, commissary services - crimson.
• Artillery, tank troops, military doctors - scarlet.
• Cavalry is blue.
• Aviation is blue.
• Other technical troops are black.

2. Enlightenments.

• The command (officer) composition is Bordeaux.
• Quartermasters, justice, technical, medical and veterinary services are brown.

Military rank was designated by asterisks of different diameters - for junior officers 13 mm, for older officers - 20 mm. Marshals of the Soviet Union received 1 large star.

Running shoes of everyday wearing had a gold or silver box with embossed, rigidly fixed on a hard cloth basis. They were also used in the ceremonial uniform that servicemen wore for solemn events.

Field epaulettes for all officers were made of silk or khaki linen with the appropriate rim edging, gaps and signs. At the same time, their pattern (texture) repeated the pattern on everyday epaulets.

Since 1943 and before the collapse of the Soviet Union, military insignia and uniform have undergone repeated changes, among which the following are particularly worth mentioning:

1. As a result of the 1958 reform, the officers' everyday epaulettes began to be made of dark green cloth. For the marks of distinction of cadets and rank-and-file members, only three colors were left: scarlet (combined arms, motorized guns), blue (aviation, airborne), black (all other kinds of troops). Enlightenments of officer's shoulder straps could only be blue or scarlet.

2. Since January 1973 on all kinds of epaulettes of soldiers and sergeants appeared the letters "SA" (Soviet Army). Somewhat later, the symbols "SF", "TF", "BF" and "Black Sea Fleet" - the Northern Fleet, the Pacific Fleet, the Baltic and Black Sea Fleet, appeared respectively among sailors and fleet leaders. At the end of the same year, the letter "K" appears in the cadets of military educational institutions.

3. The field form of the new samples, called the "Afghan", came into use in 1985 and was widely distributed among servicemen of all combat arms. Its feature consisted of shoulder straps, which were an element of the jacket and had the same color as the jacket. Wearing "Afghan" sewn on them strips and asterisks, and only generals were laid special removable epaulettes.

Ruffles of the Russian army. Main features of reforms

The USSR ceased to exist in the autumn of 1991, and with it the epaulettes and titles of the Soviet army disappeared. The creation of the Armed Forces of Russia began with Presidential Decree No. 466 of May 7, 1992. However, this act did not describe the epaulettes of the Russian army. Before 1996, servicemen wore CA insignia. Moreover, confusion and confusion of symbols were encountered until 2000.

The military form of the Russian Federation was almost entirely developed on the Soviet legacy. However, the reforms of 1994-2000 brought to it several changes:

1. On the epaulettes of the sergeant's staff (foremen and sailors of the fleet), instead of cross strips of braid, there appeared metal angles, which are pointed upwards. In addition, the fleet employees received a large letter "F" in their lower part.

2. Ensigns and midshipmen had similar epaulettes with soldiers' epaulettes, trimmed with colored galloon, but without lumens. The long-term struggle of this category of servicemen for the right to officers' insignia was depreciated on the same day.

3. Almost no changes in the officers - the new shoulder straps of the Russian army developed for them were almost completely repeated by the Soviet forces. However, their dimensions decreased: the width became 5 cm, and the length - 13-15 cm, depending on the type of clothes.

Currently, the ranks and shoulder straps of the Russian army occupy a fairly stable position. Major reforms and the unification of the signs of difference have been completed, and in the coming decades the Russian army does not expect any significant changes in this sphere.

Crosstown

Students of military (naval) educational institutions must carry daily and field epaulettes in all forms of their form. Depending on clothing (tunics, winter coats and greatcoats), they can be sewn or removable (jackets, demi-season coats and shirts).

Cursant's epaulettes are strips of dense colored cloth trimmed along the edge with golden braid. On field camouflage of army and aviation schools in 15 mm from the bottom edge, the letter "K" of yellow color with a height of 20 mm is compulsorily sewn. For other types of educational institutions the following symbols are used:

• IWC - Marine Cadet Corps.
• CC - Cadet Corps.
• N - Nakhimov school.
• The symbol of the anchor is the cadet of the fleet.
• SVU - Suvorov Military School.

In the field of the students' pursuit, there are also metal or sewn-on squares, facing an acute angle upwards. Their thickness and brightness depend on the title. A sample of epaulettes with the scheme of the arrangement of signs, presented below, belongs to the cadet of the military high school in the rank of sergeant.

In addition to epaulettes, belonging to military educational institutions and the status of a cadet can be determined from the armorial emblems with the emblem symbol, as well as the "kursy" - coal stripes on the sleeve, the number of which depends on the training time (year, two, etc.).

Running sergeants and sergeants

Ordinary in the ground army of Russia is the lowest military rank. In the Navy, the sailor's rank corresponds to him. A conscientiously serving soldier can become a corporal, and on a ship - a senior sailor. Further, these servicemen are able to transfer to the sergeant's rank for the ground forces or for the Navy.

Representatives of the lower military formations of the army and navy carry epaulets of a similar pattern, the description of which is as follows:

• The upper part of the sign of difference has the form of a trapezoid, within which the button is located.
• The color of the shoulder straps of the RF Armed Forces has a dark green color for everyday shape and camouflage for the field. The sailors wear black cloth.
• The color of the cant indicates the type of troops: blue for the airborne forces and aviation, and red for all others. The navy frames its shoulder straps with a white cord.
• In the lower part of the daily shoulder straps, 15 mm from the edge, the letters "Armed Forces" or "F" (fleet) are golden. Fields do without such "excesses".
• Depending on the rank within the rank and sergeant compositions, epaulettes are attached to epaulets. Their number and thickness are greater the higher the position of the serviceman. On the epaulettes of the sergeant (the highest rank of the sergeant's staff) is also the emblem of the troops.

Separately it is worth mentioning ensigns and midshipmen, whose shaky position between the rank and file officers is fully reflected in their signs of difference. For them, the shoulder straps of the Russian army of a new model seem to consist of two parts:

1. Soldier "field" without lumens, trimmed with colored galloon.

2. Officers' stars on the central axis: 2 for the regular ensign, 3 - for the senior officer. A similar number of signs is given to midshipmen and senior midshipmen.

Officer joggers

The lowest officers begin with the junior lieutenant, and the captain completes it. Stars on epaulets, their number, size and location are identical for the ground forces and the Navy.

Junior officers are distinguished by one lumen and from 1 to 4 stars in 13 mm each along the central axis. In accordance with the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 1010 of May 23, 1994, epaulettes can have the following colors:

• For a white shirt - shoulder straps with a white box, emblems and golden stars.
• For green shirt, everyday tunic, jacket and overcoat - green insignia with gaps along the line of troops, emblems and stars of gold color.
• For the blue air force shirt (aviation) and the everyday upper form - blue shoulder straps with a blue gleam, emblem and golden asterisks.
• For the ceremonial jacket of any kind of troops - the insignia of a silver color with colored gleams, galloons and gold stars.
• For the field form (only VS) - camouflage straps-hladiki without lumens, with gray stars.

Thus, for junior officers there are 3 types of shoulder straps - field, everyday and ceremonial, which they use, depending on the type of wearable form. Marine officers have only everyday and ceremonial.

Mid-officer riders

The group of ranks of the Armed Forces begins with the major and ends with the colonel, and in the Navy - from the captain of rank 3 to the captain of rank 1, respectively. Despite the differences in the title of titles, the principles of construction and the arrangement of the insignia remain virtually identical.

The rifles of the Russian army and navy for the average composition have the following distinctive features:

• In everyday and ceremonial versions, the texture (embossing) is more pronounced, almost aggressive.
• On shoulder straps there are 2 lumens, 15 mm distant from the edges and 20 mm apart from each other. In the field they are absent.
• The size of the asterisks is 20 mm, and the number varies from 1 to 3, depending on the rank. On the shoulder straps of the field form their color is muted from golden to silver.

Officers of the middle ranks of the Sun also have 3 types of shoulder straps - field, everyday and ceremonial. And the latter have a rich gold color and are sewn only on the tunic. For wearing on a white shirt (summer version of the form), white shoulder straps with standard symbols of difference are provided.

According to the polls conducted, the major, whose stars on shoulder straps are alone (and it is very difficult to make a mistake in determining the rank) is the most recognizable serviceman in that part of the population that has nothing to do with the military sphere.

Wrist movements of the highest officers of the Armed Forces

At the highest category of servicemen, the so-called generals, the shoulder straps of the Russian army and navy stop duplicating each other. There are noticeable differences.

Titles in the land forces underwent significant changes in the creation of the army of the Russian Federation. Presidential Decree No. 466 of May 7, 1992 not only abolished the rank of the Marshal of the Soviet Union, but also ceased the division of generals by arms. Following this adjustment, uniforms and shoulder straps (shape, size and insignia) were subjected.

Currently, officers of the highest echelon wear the following types of shoulder straps:

1. Parade - a field of golden color, on which the sewn stars are placed in an amount corresponding to the rank. Army generals and marshals of the Russian Federation in the upper third of the epaulettes have the arms of the army and the country. The color of the edging and stars: red for the ground forces, blue for the aviation, for the Airborne Forces and the military cosmic forces, and cornflower for the FSB.

2. Everyday - the color of the field is blue for the higher aviation officers, Airborne Forces and VCS, for others - green. There is a fringing around the cord, only the general of the army and the marshal of the Russian Federation have a stroke of the star.

3. Field - a field of khaki, and not camouflage, as in other categories of officers. Stars and coats of arms are green, a few tones darker than the background. There is no color edging.

Separately it is necessary to stop on the stars that adorn the epaulettes of the generals. The marshals of the country and the army generals have a size of 40 mm. And the last character has a substrate of the best silver. The stars of all other officers are less - 22 mm.

The rank of a serviceman, according to the general rule, is determined by the number of symbols. In particular, Major General's shoulder straps are adorned with 1 star, Lieutenant-General - 2, and Colonel-General - 3. At that, the first of the listed ones stands by its position below all in the category. The reason for this - one of the traditions of the Soviet era: in the army of the USSR lieutenant-general were deputy generals of troops and took over part of their functions.

Rifles of the Higher Navy Officers

The leadership of the Russian navy is represented by such ranks as the Rear Admiral, Vice Admiral, Admiral and Admiral of the Fleet. Since the field form in the Navy is not provided, these ranks only wear daily or ceremonial shoulder straps, which have the following features:

1. The color of the field of the solemn version is gold with zigzag embossing. Pogon at the same time framing the black edge. In everyday shoulder straps, colors change places - a black box and a golden cord around the edge.

2. Higher Navy officers may wear epaulettes on white or cream shirts. The shoulder strap corresponds to the color of the clothes, and the edge is missing.

3. The number of sewn stars on shoulder straps depends on the rank of serviceman and increases depending on his rank. The main difference between them and similar signs in the ground forces is a substrate made of silver rays. Traditionally the largest star (40 mm) from the Admiral of the fleet.

When the troops are divided into the Navy and the Armed Forces, it is assumed that some are floating, while others are moving along the ground or in extreme cases through the air. But in fact, the Navy is not uniform, and, in addition to naval commands, includes coastal troops and naval aviation. This division could not but affect the epaulets, and if the former are classified as land forces and have the appropriate insignia, then with naval pilots everything is much more complicated.

On the one hand, the highest officers of naval aviation are ranks similar to the general staff of the Armed Forces. On the other hand, their epaulettes correspond to the form established for the Navy. Only the blue color of the edge and the star without the radiation substrate with the corresponding design distinguish them. For example, the ceremonial epaulettes of the major-general of the naval deck aviation have a golden field with an azure edging along the edge and the outline of the star.

In addition to shoulder straps and uniforms, servicemen are distinguished by a number of other signs of differences, among which are the insignia and chevrons, cockades on headgear, symbols of arms in buttonholes and breastplates (badges). Together they can provide the informed person with basic information about the military man - the type of troops, rank, time and place of service, the expected scope of authority.

Unfortunately, most people belong to the category of "ignorant", because they pay attention to the most noticeable detail of the form. Rags of the Russian army in this matter are quite grateful material. They are not overloaded with unnecessary symbols and are of the same type for different kinds of troops.