Ranks of the Red Army during WW2. - Soviet-Empire.com U.S.S.R.

S.T-K.P

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Soviet cogitations: 47
Defected to the U.S.S.R.: 12 May 2004, 21:11
Pioneer

05 Jul 2004, 14:13

Hey, friends. I was wondering what the Red Army equilavents to the English/American ranks(Private, Sargeant, Captain etc.) were during WW2? I found a list of the ranks during the First World War, but I'm guessing they might've changed.

All help would be greatly appriciated

"Its written in the stars,
in every line in your palm,
We're fools to make war on our Brothers in Arms."

interrupt_00h

[+-]

Soviet cogitations: 1445
Defected to the U.S.S.R.: 24 Mar 2003, 19:17
Unperson

05 Jul 2004, 22:47

LOL! That depends!

Ranks of 1939-1940 are one, 1940-1943 are other, post-1943, are quite different.

First, there was no Western-style ranks before 1940. Idea to put back Western/Tzarist system of ranks belong to Voroshilov, and is quite stupid, because Soviet rank system, which was created from scratch, was optimal for XX-century army.

The trick is that Soviet ranks DIRECTLY represented actual role of person on battlefield.

Anyway, here's ranks of Ground Forces and Air Forces for beginning of war and its Western equivalents.

1.Krasnoarmieyets (Red Army Trooper - lowest rank)

3.Komot a.k.a. Otdelenniy Komandir (Squad Commander)
4.Mladkomvzvod (Junior Platoon Commander)
5.Starshina (Sergeant Major)

7a.Mladshiy Leitienant (Junior Lieutenant)
7b.Leitienant (Lieutenant)
8.Starshiy Leitienant (Senior Lieutenant)

9.Kapitan (Captain)
10.Maior (Major)
12.Polkovnik (Colonel)

13.Kombrig (Brigade Commander)
14.Komdiv (Division Commander)
15.Komkor (Corps Commander)
16.Komandarm Vtogoro Ranga (Army Commander 2nd Class)
17.Komandarm Piervogo Ranga (Army Commander 1st Class)
18.Marshal Sovietskogo Soyuza (Marshal of Soviet Union)

There were also separate ranks for Political Officers (like "Politruk"), Technology Officers (like "Korinzhiner"), Logistics Officers (like "Brigintendant"), Medical Officers (like "Armvrach"), Veterenary Officers (like "Korvetvrach") and Juridical Officers (like "Brigvoienyurist"), and, of course, Navy. But there is no room to list all of them.

It is too hard to track them and list them. I repeat, there were at least FOUR different Soviet rank systems changed each other during WW2.

Last edited by interrupt_00h on 06 Jul 2004, 13:12, edited 1 time in total.

Red Star

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Soviet cogitations: 925
Defected to the U.S.S.R.: 22 Mar 2004, 17:55
Komsomol

06 Jul 2004, 12:55

Quote:
8.Mladshiy Leitienant (Senior Lieutenant)

I believe you mean Starshiy Leitenant for Senior Lieutenant?

-"One of the lasses I know is a 32D...yes, I'm a horny, unsuccessful virgin." - LPC reveals all on MSN

interrupt_00h

[+-]

Soviet cogitations: 1445
Defected to the U.S.S.R.: 24 Mar 2003, 19:17
Unperson

06 Jul 2004, 13:12

Red_Star wrote:
Quote:
8.Mladshiy Leitienant (Senior Lieutenant)

I believe you mean Starshiy Leitenant for Senior Lieutenant?

Yes, thanks. It was just a typo, I corrected it.

S.T-K.P

[+-]

Soviet cogitations: 47
Defected to the U.S.S.R.: 12 May 2004, 21:11
Pioneer

06 Jul 2004, 14:00

Thanks, fellas. That really helped alot

"Its written in the stars,
in every line in your palm,
We're fools to make war on our Brothers in Arms."

Red Star

[+-]

Soviet cogitations: 925
Defected to the U.S.S.R.: 22 Mar 2004, 17:55
Komsomol

06 Jul 2004, 16:20

Quote:
Yes, thanks. It was just a typo, I corrected it.

No problem.

-"One of the lasses I know is a 32D...yes, I'm a horny, unsuccessful virgin." - LPC reveals all on MSN

GoM

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Soviet cogitations: 55
Defected to the U.S.S.R.: 02 Jan 2004, 08:03
Pioneer

06 Jul 2004, 18:11

I didn't even ask the question, but that was very informative and something nice to know.

Thank you

"I once knew a man who said death smiles at us all;
All a man can do is smile back."

-Gladiator