Ranks and rank insignia of the Russian armed forces until 1917

The Imperial Russian Army (Russian: Ру́сская импера́торская а́рмия, РИА) and the Imperial Russian Navy (Russian: Российский императорский флот) used particular ranks and rank insignia, oriented to German speaking and anglophone terms. However, the entire ranking system was also closely connected to the Russian military historical traditions. The successor armed forces, the Red Army, abolished the historical crown ranks and the rank insignia in 1917-18. Military units engaged in the so-called White movement and in the battles and campaigns of the Russian Civil War used these ranks until the year 1923.


Army ranks and rank designation

The following ranks and their respective insignia, from 1912 to 1917, were also used by the personnel of the Imperial Russian Air Service.

General officers

Designation Commander-in-chief & higher commanders
Rank designation
shoulder strap
Rank insignia General field marshal General of the branch Lieutenant general Major general
Native designation (Генерал-фельдмаршал)
(General-feldmarschal)		 (Генерал рода войск)
(General roda voisk)		 (Генера́л-лейтена́нт)
(General-leitenant) 		(Генера́л-майо́р)
(General-maior)
NATO rank OF-10 OF-8 OF-7 OR-6

Officers

Designation Field and junior grade officers
Rank insignia
shoulder strap
Rank designation Brigadier
(abolished 1798)		 Polkovnik Podpolkovnik Major
(abolished 1884) 		Captain Staff-captain Poruchik Podporuchik Praporshik
Native designation Бригади́р Полковник Подполко́вник Майо́р Капитан Штабс-капитан Пору́чик Подпору́чик Пра́порщик
Cavalry Rittmeister Staff Rittmeister Kornet
Cossacks ranks No equivalent Cossack colonel Lieutenant colonel
(abolished 1884)

Cossack major
(1884-1917) 		Cossack major
(until 1884) 		Yesaul Podyesaul Sotnik Khorunschi No equivalent
Rank group Staff officer Junior officer
NATO rank OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1

Non-commissioned officers & enlisted men

Designation Non-commissioned officers & enlisted men (example boards- 1st Neva Infantry regiment)
Rank insignia
shoulder strap
Rank insignia Acting Ensign
(1885-1917)		 Junior Ensign
(1855-1917)		 Sergeant Senior under officer Junior under officer Corporal Private
Native designation (Зауряд-прапорщик) (Подпрапощик) (Фельдфебель) (Старший унтер-офицер,
starschi unter-ofizer)		 (Младший унтер-офицер,
mladschi unter-ofizer)		 (Ефрейтор) (Рядовой)
Cavalry equivalent
Artillery equivalent
Rank group NCO Soldier
NATO rank OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-4 OR-2 OR-1

Other regiments and cadet corps

The following shoulder board designations of the Imperial Army are illustrated below, which were used by the following units and cadet corps.

Naval ranks and rank insignia

The Imperial Russian Navy (Russian: Российский императорский флот) of the Russian Empire, had been established en of the 17th century under regency of Peter the Great and by the personal leadership of Franz Lefort. It existed until the October Revolution of 1917.[1]

Ranks of the naval service

Flag officers (naval service)

Designation Commander-in-chief & higher flag officersAdmirality officers 1904-1907
Rank insignia
shoulder strap
Rank insignia General admiral Admiral Vice admiral Rear admiral General of the Fleet Admirality
lieutenent general 		Admirality
major general
Native designation (General-admiral) (Admiral) (Vitse-admiral) (Kontr-admiral) (Admiral flota) (General-lejtenant admirality) (General-major admirality)
NATO rank OF-10 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6

Officers

Designation Commanders at sea & officers
Rank insignia
shoulder board
Rank insignia Captain Commodore,
(abolished 1764, reintroduced 1798-1827)
Captain Brigadier
(1765-1798)		Captain 1st rank Captain 2nd rank Captain-lieutenant
(abolished 1884,
retrieved 1907-11) 		Senior lieutenant
introduced 1907 		Lieutenant Michman
(Midshipman)
Native designation (Капита́н-командо́р),
(Капита́н брагади́рского ра́нга)
 (Капитан 1-oго ранга) (Капитан 2-oго ранга) (Kapитан-лейтенант) (Старший лейтенант) (Лейтенант) (1909-1917)(1884-1909)
Rank group Staff officer Junior officer
NATO rank OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-1

Non-commissioned officers & enlisted ratings, naval services

Designation Petty officers & enlisted ratings
Rating insignia
shoulder boards
Rating insignia Gardemarin
(abolished 1883)		 Senior
boatswain		 Conductor
Senior (army) field surgeon 		Boatswain Coxswain Quartermaster Seaman 1st rank Seaman 2nd rank
Native designation (Gardmarin) (Starshy botsman) (Konduktor
Starshy feldsher)		 (Botsman) (Botsmanmat) (Kwartirmeister) (Matros pervoi stati) (Matros vtoroi stati)
NATO rank OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-4 OR-2 OR-1

Ranks of coastal services

Ranks similar to those used by the Imperial Army were, starting from the late 18th century, being used by the coastal services of the Imperial Russian Navy.

General officers

Designation Higher commanders
Rank designation
shoulder strap
Rank insignia General of the fleet Lieutenant general Major general
Native designation (Флота генерал)
(Flota general)		 (Генера́л-лейтена́нт)
(General-leitenant) 		(Генера́л-майо́р)
(General-maior)
NATO rank OF-8 OF-7 OR-6

Officers

Designation Field and junior grade officers
Rank insignia
shoulder strap
Rank insignia Brigadier
(abolished 1798)		Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major
(abolished 1884) 		Captain Staff captain Lieutenant Sub-lieutenant Ensign
Native designation Бригади́р Полковник Подполко́вник Майо́р Капитан Штабс-капитан Пору́чик Подпору́чик Пра́порщик
Rank group Staff officer Junior officer
NATO rank OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1

Non-commissioned officers & enlisted men

Designation Non-commissioned officers & enlisted men
Rank insignia
shoulder strap
Rank insignia Warrant officer
(1885-1917)		 Junior warrant officer
(1855-1917)		 Sergeant Senior under officer Junior under officer Sea corporal Sea soldier
Native designation (Зауряд-прапорщик) (Подпрапощик) (Фельдфебель) (Старший унтер-офицер,
starschy unter-ofizer)		 (Младший унтер-офицер,
mladschy unter-ofizer)		 (Морской eфрейтор,
Morskoy efreytor)		 (Морской солдат,
Morskoy soldat)
Rank group NCO Soldier
NATO rank OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-4 OR-2 OR-1

See also

References

  1. ↑ Erich Donnert: Peter the Great (de: Peter der Große), Koehler & Amelang, Leipzig, page. 130
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