Generality:
General's shoulder strap and:
-Field Marshal General* - crossed wands.
-general of infantry, cavalry, etc.(the so-called “full general”) - without asterisks,
- Lieutenant General- 3 stars
- Major General- 2 stars,
Staff officers:
Two gaps and: 
-colonel- without stars.
- lieutenant colonel(since 1884 the Cossacks had a military foreman) - 3 stars
-major**(until 1884 the Cossacks had a military foreman) - 2 stars
Chief officers:
One gap and: 
- captain(captain, esaul) - without asterisks.
-staff captain(headquarters captain, podesaul) - 4 stars
- lieutenant(centurion) - 3 stars
- second lieutenant(cornet, cornet) - 2 stars
- ensign*** - 1 star
Lower ranks
- mediocre - ensign- 1 galloon stripe along the shoulder strap with 1 star on the stripe
- second ensign- 1 braided stripe the length of the shoulder strap
- sergeant major(sergeant) - 1 wide transverse stripe
-st. non-commissioned officer(Art. fireworker, Art. sergeant) - 3 narrow transverse stripes
-ml. non-commissioned officer(junior fireworker, junior constable) - 2 narrow transverse stripes
-corporal(bombardier, clerk) - 1 narrow transverse stripe
-private(gunner, Cossack) - without stripes
*In 1912, the last Field Marshal General, Dmitry Alekseevich Milyutin, who served as Minister of War from 1861 to 1881, dies. This rank was not assigned to anyone else, but nominally this rank was retained.
** The rank of major was abolished in 1884 and was never restored.
*** Since 1884, the rank of warrant officer was reserved only for wartime (assigned only during the war, and with its end, all warrant officers are subject to either retirement or the rank of second lieutenant).
P.S. Encryptions and monograms are not placed on shoulder straps.
Very often one hears the question “why does the junior rank in the category of staff officers and generals begin with two stars, and not with one like for chief officers?” When in 1827 stars on epaulettes appeared in the Russian army as insignia, the major general received two stars on his epaulette at once.
There is a version that one star was awarded to the brigadier - this rank had not been awarded since the time of Paul I, but by 1827 there were still
retired foremen who had the right to wear a uniform. True, retired military men were not entitled to epaulets. And it’s unlikely that many of them survived until 1827 (passed
It’s been about 30 years since the abolition of the brigadier rank). Most likely, the two general's stars were simply copied from the epaulette of the French brigadier general. There is nothing strange in this, because the epaulettes themselves came to Russia from France. Most likely, there never was one general’s star in the Russian Imperial Army. This version seems more plausible.
As for the major, he received two stars by analogy with the two stars of the Russian major general of that time.
The only exception was the insignia in hussar regiments in ceremonial and ordinary (everyday) uniforms, in which shoulder cords were worn instead of shoulder straps.
Shoulder cords.
Instead of epaulettes of the cavalry type, the hussars have on their dolmans and mentiks
Hussar shoulder cords. For all officers, the same gold or silver double soutache cord of the same color as the cords on the dolman for the lower ranks are shoulder cords made of double soutache cord in color -
orange for regiments with a metal color - gold or white for regiments with a metal color - silver.
These shoulder cords form a ring at the sleeve, and a loop at the collar, fastened with a uniform button sewn to the floor an inch from the seam of the collar.
To distinguish ranks, gombochki are put on the cords (a ring made of the same cold cord encircling the shoulder cord):
-y corporal- one, the same color as the cord;
-y non-commissioned officers three-color gombochki (white with St. George's thread), in number, like stripes on shoulder straps;
-y sergeant- gold or silver (like officers) on an orange or white cord (like lower ranks);
-y sub-ensign- a smooth officer's shoulder cord with a sergeant's gong;
Officers have gombochkas with stars on their officer cords (metal, like on shoulder straps) - in accordance with their rank.
Volunteers wear twisted cords of Romanov colors (white, black and yellow) around their cords.
The shoulder cords of chief officers and staff officers are in no way different.
Staff officers and generals have the following differences in their uniforms: on the collar, generals have a wide or gold braid up to 1 1/8 inches wide, while staff officers have a gold or silver braid of 5/8 inches, running the entire length.
hussar zigzags", and for chief officers the collar is trimmed with only cord or filigree.
In the 2nd and 5th regiments, the chief officers also have galloon along the upper edge of the collar, but 5/16 inches wide.
In addition, on the cuffs of the generals there is a galloon identical to that on the collar. The braid stripe extends from the sleeve slit at two ends and converges at the front above the toe.
Staff officers also have the same braid as the one on the collar. The length of the entire patch is up to 5 inches.
But chief officers are not entitled to braid.
Below are pictures of the shoulder cords
1. Officers and generals
2. Lower ranks
The shoulder cords of chief officers, staff officers and generals did not differ in any way from each other. For example, it was possible to distinguish a cornet from a major general only by the type and width of the braid on the cuffs and, in some regiments, on the collar.
Twisted cords were only reserved for adjutants and outhouse adjutants!
Shoulder cords of the aide-de-camp (left) and adjutant (right)
Officer's shoulder straps: lieutenant colonel of the aviation detachment of the 19th army corps and staff captain of the 3rd field aviation detachment. In the center are the shoulder straps of the cadets of the Nikolaev Engineering School. On the right is the shoulder strap of a captain (most likely a dragoon or uhlan regiment)
The Russian army in its modern understanding began to be created by Emperor Peter I at the end of the 18th century. The system of military ranks of the Russian army was formed partly under the influence of European systems, partly under the influence of the historically established purely Russian system of ranks. However, at that time there were no military ranks in the sense in which we are accustomed to understand. There were specific military units, there were also very specific positions and, accordingly, their names. There was no, for example, the rank of “captain”, there was the position of “captain”, i.e. company commander. By the way, in the civilian fleet even now, the person in charge of the crew of the ship is called “captain”, the person in charge of the seaport is called “port captain”. In the 18th century, many words existed in a slightly different meaning than they have now.
So "General" meant "chief", and not just "highest military leader";
"Major"- “senior” (senior among regimental officers);
"Lieutenant"- "assistant"
"Outbuilding"- "Jr".
“The table of ranks of all military, civil and court ranks, in which class the ranks are acquired” was put into effect by Decree of Emperor Peter I on January 24, 1722 and existed until December 16, 1917. The word "officer" came into Russian from German. But in German, as in English, the word has a much broader meaning. When applied to the army, this term refers to all military leaders in general. In a narrower translation, it means “employee”, “clerk”, “employee”. Therefore, it is quite natural that “non-commissioned officers” are junior commanders, “chief officers” are senior commanders, “staff officers” are staff employees, “generals” are the main ones. Non-commissioned officer ranks also in those days were not ranks, but positions. Ordinary soldiers were then named according to their military specialties - musketeer, pikeman, dragoon, etc. There was no name “private”, and “soldier”, as Peter I wrote, means all military personnel “... from the highest general to the last musketeer, horseman or foot...” Therefore, soldier and non-commissioned officer ranks were not included in the Table. The well-known names “second lieutenant” and “lieutenant” existed in the list of ranks of the Russian army long before the formation of the regular army by Peter I to designate military personnel who were assistant captains, that is, company commanders; and continued to be used within the framework of the Table, as Russian-language synonyms for the positions of “non-commissioned lieutenant” and “lieutenant”, that is, “assistant” and “assistant”. Well, or if you want, “assistant officer for assignments” and “officer for assignments.” The name "ensign" as more understandable (carrying a banner, ensign), quickly replaced the obscure "fendrik", which meant "candidate for an officer position. Over time, there was a process of separation of the concepts of "position" and "rank". After the beginning of the 19th century, these concepts were already divided quite clearly. With the development of means of warfare, the advent of technology, when the army became large enough and when it was necessary to compare the official status of a fairly large set of job titles. It was here that the concept of “rank” often began to be obscured, to be relegated to the background “ job title".
However, even in the modern army, position, so to speak, is more important than rank. According to the charter, seniority is determined by position and only in case of equal positions is the one with the higher rank considered senior.
According to the “Table of Ranks” the following ranks were introduced: civilian, military infantry and cavalry, military artillery and engineering troops, military guards, military navy.
In the period from 1722-1731, in relation to the army, the system of military ranks looked like this (the corresponding position is in brackets)
Lower ranks (private)
Specialty (grenadier. Fuseler...)
Non-commissioned officers
Corporal(part-commander)
Fourier(deputy platoon commander)
Captainarmus
Sub-ensign(sergeant major of company, battalion)
Sergeant
Sergeant Major
Ensign(Fendrik), bayonet-junker (art) (platoon commander)
Second Lieutenant
Lieutenant(deputy company commander)
Captain-lieutenant(company commander)
Captain
Major(deputy battalion commander)
Lieutenant colonel(battalion commander)
Colonel(regiment commander)
Brigadier(brigade commander)
Generals
Major General(division commander)
Lieutenant General(corps commander)
General-in-chief (General-feldtsehmeister)– (army commander)
Field Marshal General(Commander-in-Chief, honorary title)
In the Life Guards the ranks were two classes higher than in the army. In the army artillery and engineering troops, the ranks are one class higher than in the infantry and cavalry. During the period 1731-1765 the concepts of “rank” and “position” begin to separate. Thus, in the staff of a field infantry regiment of 1732, when indicating staff ranks, it is no longer just the rank of “quartermaster” that is written, but a position indicating the rank: “quartermaster (lieutenant rank).” In relation to company-level officers, the separation of the concepts of “position” and “rank” is not yet observed. In the army "fendrick" is replaced by " ensign", in the cavalry - "cornet". Ranks are being introduced "sec-major" And "prime major" During the reign of Empress Catherine II (1765-1798) ranks are introduced in the army infantry and cavalry junior and senior sergeant, sergeant major disappears. Since 1796 in Cossack units, the names of ranks are established the same as the ranks of army cavalry and are equated to them, although Cossack units continue to be listed as irregular cavalry (not part of the army). There is no rank of second lieutenant in the cavalry, but captain corresponds to the captain. During the reign of Emperor Paul I (1796-1801) The concepts of “rank” and “position” during this period were already separated quite clearly. The ranks in the infantry and artillery are compared. Paul I did a lot of useful things to strengthen the army and discipline in it. He forbade the enrollment of young noble children into the regiments. All those enrolled in the regiments were required to actually serve. He introduced disciplinary and criminal liability of officers for soldiers (preservation of life and health, training, clothing, living conditions) and prohibited the use of soldiers as labor on the estates of officers and generals; introduced the awarding of soldiers with insignia of the Order of St. Anne and the Order of Malta; introduced an advantage in the promotion of officers who graduated from military educational institutions; ordered promotion in ranks only based on business qualities and ability to command; introduced leaves for soldiers; limited the duration of officers' vacations to one month per year; dismissed from the army a large number of generals who did not meet the requirements of military service (old age, illiteracy, disability, absence from service for a long time, etc.). Ranks were introduced in the lower ranks junior and senior privates. In the cavalry - sergeant(company sergeant) For Emperor Alexander I (1801-1825) since 1802, all non-commissioned officers of the noble class are called "cadet". Since 1811, the rank of “major” was abolished in the artillery and engineering troops and the rank of “ensign” was returned. During the reign of Emperor Nicholas I (1825-1855) , who did a lot to streamline the army, Alexander II (1855-1881) and the beginning of the reign of Emperor Alexander III (1881-1894) Since 1828, army Cossacks have been given ranks different from the army cavalry (In the Life Guards Cossack and Life Guards Ataman regiments, ranks are the same as those of the entire Guards cavalry). The Cossack units themselves are transferred from the category of irregular cavalry to the army. The concepts of “rank” and “position” during this period are already completely separated. Under Nicholas I, the discrepancy in the names of non-commissioned officer ranks disappeared. Since 1884, the rank of warrant officer was reserved only for wartime (assigned only during the war, and with its end, all warrant officers are subject to either retirement or the rank of second lieutenant). The rank of cornet in the cavalry is retained as the first officer rank. He is a grade lower than an infantry second lieutenant, but in the cavalry there is no rank of second lieutenant. This equalizes the ranks of infantry and cavalry. In Cossack units, officer classes are equal to cavalry classes, but have their own names. In this regard, the rank of military sergeant major, previously equal to a major, now becomes equal to a lieutenant colonel
“In 1912, the last Field Marshal General, Dmitry Alekseevich Milyutin, who served as Minister of War from 1861 to 1881, dies. This rank was not awarded to anyone else, but nominally this rank was retained.”
In 1910, the rank of Russian field marshal was awarded to King Nicholas I of Montenegro, and in 1912 to King Carol I of Romania.
P.S. After the October Revolution of 1917, by the Decree of the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars (the Bolshevik government) of December 16, 1917, all military ranks were abolished...
Officer's shoulder straps of the tsarist army were designed completely differently than modern ones. First of all, the gaps were not part of the braid, as it has been done here since 1943. In the engineering troops, two belt braids or one belt braid and two headquarters braids were simply sewn onto the shoulder straps. For each branch of the military, the type of braid was determined specifically. For example, in the hussar regiments, the “hussar zig-zag” braid was used on officer’s shoulder straps. On the shoulder straps of military officials, "civilian" braid was used. Thus, the gaps of the officer's shoulder straps were always the same color as the field of the soldiers' shoulder straps. If the shoulder straps in this part did not have a colored edging (piping), as, say, it was in the engineering troops, then the piping had the same color as the gaps. But if in part the shoulder straps had colored piping, then it was visible around the officer’s shoulder straps. The shoulder strap was silver-colored without edges with an embossed double-headed eagle sitting on crossed axes. The stars were embroidered with gold thread on the shoulder straps, and the encryption was metal gilded applied numbers and letters or silver monograms (as appropriate). At the same time, it was widespread to wear gilded forged metal stars, which were supposed to be worn only on epaulettes.
The placement of asterisks was not strictly established and was determined by the size of the encryption. Two stars were supposed to be placed around the encryption, and if it filled the entire width of the shoulder strap, then above it. The third asterisk had to be placed so as to form an equilateral triangle with the two lower ones, and the fourth asterisk was slightly higher. If there is one sprocket on the shoulder strap (for an ensign), then it was placed where the third sprocket is usually attached. Special signs also had gilded metal overlays, although they could often be found embroidered with gold thread. The exception was special aviation insignia, which were oxidized and had a silver color with a patina.
1. Epaulet staff captain 20th engineer battalion
2. Epaulet for lower ranks Ulan 2nd Life Ulan Kurland Regiment 1910
3. Epaulet full general from the retinue cavalry His Imperial Majesty Nicholas II. The silver device of the epaulette indicates the high military rank of the owner (only the marshal was higher)
About stars on uniform
For the first time, forged five-pointed stars appeared on the epaulettes of Russian officers and generals in January 1827 (back in the time of Pushkin). One golden star began to be worn by warrant officers and cornets, two by second lieutenants and major generals, and three by lieutenants and lieutenant generals. four are staff captains and staff captains.
And with April 1854 Russian officers began to wear sewn stars on newly established shoulder straps. For the same purpose, the German army used diamonds, the British used knots, and the Austrian used six-pointed stars.
Although the designation of military rank on shoulder straps is a characteristic feature of the Russian and German armies.
Among the Austrians and the British, shoulder straps had a purely functional role: they were sewn from the same material as the jacket so that the shoulder straps did not slip. And the rank was indicated on the sleeve. The five-pointed star, pentagram is a universal symbol of protection and security, one of the most ancient. In Ancient Greece it could be found on coins, on house doors, stables and even on cradles. Among the Druids of Gaul, Britain, and Ireland, the five-pointed star (Druid cross) was a symbol of protection from external evil forces. And it can still be seen on the window panes of medieval Gothic buildings. The Great French Revolution revived five-pointed stars as a symbol of the ancient god of war, Mars. They denoted the rank of commanders of the French army - on hats, epaulettes, scarves, and on uniform coattails.
The military reforms of Nicholas I copied the appearance of the French army - this is how the stars “rolled” from the French horizon to the Russian one.
As for the British army, even during the Boer War, stars began to migrate to shoulder straps. This is about officers. For lower ranks and warrant officers, the insignia remained on the sleeves.
In the Russian, German, Danish, Greek, Romanian, Bulgarian, American, Swedish and Turkish armies, shoulder straps served as insignia. In the Russian army, there were shoulder insignia for both lower ranks and officers. Also in the Bulgarian and Romanian armies, as well as in the Swedish. In the French, Spanish and Italian armies, rank insignia was placed on the sleeves. In the Greek army, it was on officers' shoulder straps and on the sleeves of lower ranks. In the Austro-Hungarian army, the insignia of officers and lower ranks were on the collar, those on the lapels. In the German army, only officers had shoulder straps, while the lower ranks were distinguished by the braid on the cuffs and collar, as well as the uniform button on the collar. The exception was the Kolonial truppe, where as additional (and in a number of colonies the main) insignia of the lower ranks there were chevrons made of silver galloon sewn on the left sleeve of a-la gefreiter 30-45 years.
It is interesting to note that in peacetime service and field uniforms, that is, with a tunic of the 1907 model, officers of the hussar regiments wore shoulder straps that were also somewhat different from the shoulder straps of the rest of the Russian army. For hussar shoulder straps, galloon with the so-called “hussar zigzag” was used
The only part where shoulder straps with the same zigzag were worn, besides the hussar regiments, was the 4th battalion (since 1910 regiment) of the Imperial Family riflemen. Here is a sample: shoulder straps of the captain of the 9th Kyiv Hussar Regiment.
Unlike the German hussars, who wore uniforms of the same design, differing only in the color of the fabric. With the introduction of khaki-colored shoulder straps, the zigzags also disappeared; membership in the hussars was indicated by encryption on the shoulder straps. For example, "6 G", that is, the 6th Hussar.
In general, the field uniform of the hussars was of the dragoon type, they were combined arms. The only difference indicating belonging to the hussars was the boots with a rosette in front. However, the hussar regiments were allowed to wear chakchirs with their field uniform, but not all regiments, but only the 5th and 11th. The wearing of chakchirs by the rest of the regiments was a kind of “hazing”. But during the war, this happened, as well as the wearing by some officers of a saber, instead of the standard dragon saber, which was required for field equipment.
The photograph shows the captain of the 11th Izyum Hussar Regiment K.K. von Rosenschild-Paulin (sitting) and cadet of the Nikolaev Cavalry School K.N. von Rosenchild-Paulin (also later an officer in the Izyum Regiment). Captain in summer dress or dress uniform, i.e. in a tunic of the 1907 model, with galloon shoulder straps and the number 11 (note, on the officer's shoulder straps of peacetime valery regiments there are only numbers, without the letters "G", "D" or "U"), and blue chakchirs worn by officers of this regiment for all forms of clothing.
Regarding “hazing,” during the World War it was apparently also common for hussar officers to wear galloon shoulder straps in peacetime.
on galloon officer's shoulder straps of cavalry regiments, only numbers were affixed, and there were no letters. which is confirmed by photographs.
Ordinary ensign- from 1907 to 1917 in the Russian army the highest military rank for non-commissioned officers. The insignia for ordinary ensigns was the shoulder straps of a lieutenant officer with a large (larger than an officer's) asterisk in the upper third of the shoulder strap on the line of symmetry. The rank was awarded to the most experienced long-term non-commissioned officers; with the beginning of the First World War, it began to be assigned to ensigns as an incentive, often immediately before the assignment of the first chief officer rank (ensign or cornet).
From Brockhaus and Efron:
Ordinary ensign, military During mobilization, if there were a shortage of persons meeting the conditions for promotion to the officer rank, there was no one. non-commissioned officers are awarded the rank of warrant officer; correcting the duties of junior officers, Z. great. restricted in the rights to move in the service.
Interesting history of the rank sub-ensign. During the period 1880-1903. this rank was awarded to graduates of cadet schools (not to be confused with military schools). In the cavalry he corresponded to the rank of estandart cadet, in the Cossack troops - sergeant. Those. it turned out that this was some kind of intermediate rank between the lower ranks and officers. Sub-ensigns who graduated from the Junkers College in the 1st category were promoted to officers no earlier than September of their graduation year, but outside of vacancies. Those who graduated in the 2nd category were promoted to officers no earlier than the beginning of the next year, but only for vacancies, and it turned out that some waited several years for promotion. According to order No. 197 of 1901, with the production of the last ensigns, estandard cadets and sub-warrants in 1903, these ranks were abolished. This was due to the beginning of the transformation of cadet schools into military ones.
Since 1906, the rank of ensign in the infantry and cavalry and sub-ensign in the Cossack troops began to be awarded to long-term non-commissioned officers who graduated from a special school. Thus, this rank became the maximum for lower ranks.
Sub-ensign, estandard cadet and sub-ensign, 1886:
Shoulder straps of the staff captain of the Cavalry Regiment and shoulder straps of the staff captain of the Life Guards of the Moscow Regiment.
The first shoulder strap is declared as the shoulder strap of an officer (captain) of the 17th Nizhny Novgorod Dragoon Regiment. But Nizhny Novgorod residents should have dark green piping along the edge of the shoulder strap, and the monogram should be a applied color. And the second shoulder strap is presented as the shoulder strap of a second lieutenant of the Guards artillery (with such a monogram in the Guards artillery there were shoulder straps for officers of only two batteries: the 1st battery of the Life Guards of the 2nd Artillery Brigade and the 2nd battery of the Guards Horse Artillery), but the shoulder strap button should not Is it possible to have an eagle with guns in this case?
Major(Spanish mayor - bigger, stronger, more significant) - the first rank of senior officers.
The title originated in the 16th century. The major was responsible for the guard and food of the regiment. When regiments were divided into battalions, the battalion commander usually became a major.
In the Russian army, the rank of major was introduced by Peter I in 1698 and abolished in 1884.
Prime major is a staff officer rank in the Russian imperial army of the 18th century. Belonged to class VIII of the Table of Ranks.
According to the charter of 1716, majors were divided into prime majors and second majors.
The prime major was in charge of the regiment's combat and inspection units. He commanded the 1st battalion, and in the absence of the regiment commander, the regiment.
The division into prime and second majors was abolished in 1797."
"Appeared in Russia as a rank and position (deputy regiment commander) in the Streltsy army at the end of the 15th - early 16th centuries. In Streltsy regiments, as a rule, lieutenant colonels (often of “vile” origin) performed all administrative functions for the Streltsy head, appointed from among the nobles or boyars In the 17th century and the beginning of the 18th century, the rank (rank) and position were referred to as half-colonel due to the fact that the lieutenant colonel usually, in addition to his other duties, commanded the second “half” of the regiment - the back ranks in the formation and the reserve (before the introduction of battalion formation of regular soldier regiments) From the moment the Table of Ranks was introduced until its abolition in 1917, the rank (rank) of lieutenant colonel belonged to the VII class of the Table and gave the right to hereditary nobility until 1856. In 1884, after the abolition of the rank of major in the Russian army, all majors (with the exception of dismissed or those who have stained themselves with unseemly misconduct) are promoted to lieutenant colonel."
INSIGNIA OF CIVIL OFFICERS OF THE WAR MINISTRY (here are military topographers)
Officers of the Imperial Military Medical Academy
Chevrons of combatant lower ranks of long-term service according to “Regulations on the lower ranks of non-commissioned officers who remain voluntarily on long-term active service” from 1890.
From left to right: Up to 2 years, Over 2 to 4 years, Over 4 to 6 years, Over 6 years
To be precise, the article from which these drawings were borrowed says the following: “... the awarding of chevrons to long-term servicemen of the lower ranks holding the positions of sergeant majors (sergeant majors) and platoon non-commissioned officers (fireworks officers) of combat companies, squadrons, and batteries was carried out:
– Upon admission to long-term service - a narrow silver chevron
– At the end of the second year of extended service - a silver wide chevron
– At the end of the fourth year of extended service - a narrow gold chevron
- At the end of the sixth year of extended service - a wide gold chevron"
In army infantry regiments to designate the ranks of corporal, ml. and senior non-commissioned officers used army white braid.
1. The rank of WARRANT OFFICER has existed in the army since 1991 only in wartime.
With the beginning of the Great War, ensigns are graduated from military schools and ensign schools.
2. The rank of WARRANT OFFICER in the reserve, in peacetime, on the warrant officer's shoulder straps, wears a braided stripe against the device at the lower rib.
3. The rank of WARRANT OFFICER, to this rank in wartime, when military units are mobilized and there is a shortage of junior officers, lower ranks are renamed from non-commissioned officers with an educational qualification, or from sergeant majors without
educational qualification. From 1891 to 1907, ordinary warrant officers on ensign's shoulder straps also wore stripes of the ranks from which they were renamed.
4. The title of ENTERPRISE-WRITTEN OFFICER (since 1907). Shoulder straps of a lieutenant officer with an officer's star and a transverse badge for the position. On the sleeve there is a 5/8 inch chevron, angled upward. Officer's shoulder straps were retained only by those who were renamed Z-Pr. during the Russo-Japanese War and remained in the army, for example, as a sergeant major.
5.The title of WARRANT OFFICER-ZAURYAD of the State Militia. This rank was renamed to non-commissioned officers of the reserve, or, if they had an educational qualification, who served for at least 2 months as a non-commissioned officer of the State Militia and appointed to the position of junior officer of the squad. Ordinary warrant officers wore shoulder straps of an active-duty warrant officer with an instrument-colored galloon patch sewn into the lower part of the shoulder strap.
Cossack ranks and titles
At the lowest rung of the service ladder stood an ordinary Cossack, corresponding to an infantry private. Next came the clerk, who had one stripe and corresponded to a corporal in the infantry. The next step in the career ladder is junior sergeant and senior sergeant, corresponding to junior non-commissioned officer, non-commissioned officer and senior non-commissioned officer and with the number of badges characteristic of modern non-commissioned officers. This was followed by the rank of sergeant, who was not only in the Cossacks, but also in the non-commissioned officers of the cavalry and horse artillery.
In the Russian army and gendarmerie, the sergeant was the closest assistant to the commander of a hundred, squadron, battery for drill training, internal order and economic affairs. The rank of sergeant corresponded to the rank of sergeant major in the infantry. According to the regulations of 1884, introduced by Alexander III, the next rank in the Cossack troops, but only for wartime, was sub-short, an intermediate rank between ensign and warrant officer in the infantry, also introduced in wartime. In peacetime, except for the Cossack troops, these ranks existed only for reserve officers. The next grade in the chief officer ranks is cornet, corresponding to second lieutenant in the infantry and cornet in the regular cavalry.
According to his official position, he corresponded to a junior lieutenant in the modern army, but wore shoulder straps with a blue clearance on a silver field (the applied color of the Don Army) with two stars. In the old army, compared to the Soviet army, the number of stars was one more. Next came the centurion - a chief officer rank in the Cossack troops, corresponding to a lieutenant in the regular army. The centurion wore shoulder straps of the same design, but with three stars, corresponding in his position to a modern lieutenant. A higher step is podesaul.
This rank was introduced in 1884. In the regular troops it corresponded to the rank of staff captain and staff captain.
Podesaul was the assistant or deputy of the captain and in his absence commanded the Cossack hundred.
Shoulder straps of the same design, but with four stars.
In terms of service position he corresponds to a modern senior lieutenant. And the highest rank of chief officer is esaul. It is worth talking about this rank in particular, since from a purely historical perspective, the people who wore it held positions in both the civil and military departments. In various Cossack troops, this position included various service prerogatives.
The word comes from the Turkic “yasaul” - chief.
It was first mentioned in the Cossack troops in 1576 and was used in the Ukrainian Cossack army.
Yesauls were general, military, regimental, hundred, village, marching and artillery. General Yesaul (two per Army) - the highest rank after the hetman. In peacetime, general esauls performed inspector functions; in war they commanded several regiments, and in the absence of the hetman, the entire Army. But this is typical only for Ukrainian Cossacks. Military esauls were elected on the Military Circle (in Donskoy and most others - two per Army, in Volzhsky and Orenburg - one each). We were engaged in administrative matters. Since 1835, they were appointed as adjutants to the military ataman. Regimental esauls (initially two per regiment) performed the duties of staff officers and were the closest assistants to the regiment commander.
Hundred esauls (one per hundred) commanded hundreds. This link did not take root in the Don Army after the first centuries of the existence of the Cossacks.
The village esauls were characteristic only of the Don Army. They were elected at village gatherings and were assistants to the village atamans. Marching esauls (usually two per Army) were selected when setting out on a campaign. They served as assistants to the marching ataman; in the 16th-17th centuries, in his absence, they commanded the army; later they were executors of the marching ataman’s orders. The artillery esaul (one per Army) was subordinate to the chief of artillery and carried out his orders. General, regimental, village and other esauls were gradually abolished
Only the military esaul was preserved under the military ataman of the Don Cossack army. In 1798 - 1800. The rank of esaul was equal to the rank of captain in the cavalry. Esaul, as a rule, commanded a Cossack hundred. His official position corresponded to that of a modern captain. He wore shoulder straps with a blue gap on a silver field without stars. Next come the headquarters officer ranks. In fact, after the reform of Alexander III in 1884, the rank of esaul entered this rank, due to which the rank of major was removed from the staff officer ranks, as a result of which a serviceman from captains immediately became a lieutenant colonel. Next on the Cossack career ladder is a military foreman. The name of this rank comes from the ancient name of the executive body of power among the Cossacks. In the second half of the 18th century, this name, in a modified form, extended to individuals who commanded individual branches of the Cossack army. Since 1754, a military foreman was equivalent to a major, and with the abolition of this rank in 1884, to a lieutenant colonel. He wore shoulder straps with two blue gaps on a silver field and three large stars.
Well, then comes the colonel, the shoulder straps are the same as those of a military sergeant major, but without stars. Starting from this rank, the service ladder is unified with the general army one, since the purely Cossack names of ranks disappear. The official position of a Cossack general fully corresponds to the general ranks of the Russian Army.
Not only historical documents, but also works of art that take us to the pre-revolutionary past are filled with examples of relationships between military personnel of different ranks. The lack of understanding of a single gradation does not prevent the reader from identifying the main theme of the work, however, sooner or later, one has to think about the difference between the addresses “Your Honor” and “Your Excellency.”
Rarely does anyone notice that in the USSR army the address was not abolished, it was only replaced by a uniform form for all ranks. Even in the modern Russian army, “Comrade” is added to any rank, although in civilian life this term has long lost its relevance, the address “Mr.” is increasingly heard.
Military ranks in the tsarist army determined the hierarchy of relations, but the system of their distribution can only be compared with a slight stretch with the model that was adopted after the well-known events of 1917. Only the White Guards remained faithful to established traditions. Until the end of the Civil War, the White Guard used the Table of Ranks maintained by Peter the Great. The rank determined by the Table indicated the position not only in army service, but also in civilian life. For your information, there were several Tables of Ranks, they were military, civil and court.
The history of military ranks
For some reasons, the most interesting issue is the distribution of officer powers in Russia at the very turn of the turning point in 1917. At this time, the ranks in the White Army were a complete analogue of the above-mentioned Table with the latest changes relevant to the end of the era of the Russian Empire. But we will have to go deeper to Peter’s times, since all the terminology originates there.
The Table of Ranks introduced by Emperor Peter I contained 262 positions, this is the total indicator for civil and military ranks. However, not all titles reached the beginning of the 20th century. Many of them were abolished in the 18th century. An example would be the titles of state councilor or collegiate assessor. The law putting the Table into force assigned it a stimulating function. Thus, in the opinion of the tsar himself, career advancement was possible only for people of worth, and the road to the highest ranks was closed to parasites and impudent people.
Find out: Until what age is the rank of lieutenant awarded? Are there any age restrictions?
The division of ranks involved the assignment of chief officer, staff officer or general ranks. Treatment was also determined according to class. It was necessary to address the chief officers: “Your Honor.” To staff officers - “Your Honor”, and to generals - “Your Excellency”.
Distribution by types of troops
The understanding that the entire contingent of the army was obliged to be divided according to types of troops came long before the reign of Peter. A similar approach can be seen in the modern Russian army. On the threshold of the First World War, the Russian Empire, according to many historians, was at the peak of its economic recovery. Consequently, some indicators are compared specifically with this period. On the issue of military branches, a static picture has emerged. We can single out the infantry, separately consider the artillery, the now abolished cavalry, the Cossack army, which was in the ranks of the regular army, the guards units and the fleet.
It is noteworthy that in the tsarist army of pre-revolutionary Russia, military ranks could differ depending on the military unit or branch. Despite this, ranks in the Tsarist army of Russia were listed in ascending order in a strictly defined order to maintain unity of control.
Military ranks in infantry divisions
For all branches of the military, the lower ranks had a distinctive feature: they wore smooth shoulder straps with the regiment number depicted. The color of the shoulder strap depended on the type of troops. Infantry troops used red hexagonal shoulder straps. There was also a division by color depending on the regiment or division, but such gradation complicated the recognition process. In addition, on the threshold of World War I, a decision was made to unify the color, establishing a protective shade as the norm.
The lowest ranks include the most popular ranks, which are also familiar to modern military personnel. We are talking about a private and a corporal. Anyone who tries to study the hierarchy in the army of the Russian Empire involuntarily compares the structure with modern times. The listed titles have survived to this day.
Find out: How to properly sew and attach shoulder straps to a shirt
The line of ranks, which indicates membership in the group of sergeant status, is positioned by the Tsarist Army of Russia as non-commissioned officer ranks. Here the correspondence picture looks like this:
- a junior non-commissioned officer is, in our opinion, a junior sergeant;
- senior non-commissioned officer - equivalent to a sergeant;
- sergeant major - placed on the same level as a senior sergeant;
- lieutenant - sergeant major;
- mediocre ensign - ensign.
Junior officers begin with the rank of senior lieutenant. The holder of the chief officer rank has the right to apply for a command position. In the infantry, in ascending order, this group is represented by warrant officers, second lieutenants, lieutenants, as well as staff captains and captains.
One noticeable feature is that the rank of major, which in our time is classified as a group of senior officers, in the imperial army corresponds to the rank of chief officer. This discrepancy is further compensated, and the general order of the steps of the hierarchy is not violated.
Staff officers with the rank of colonel or lieutenant colonel today have similar regalia. It is believed that this group belongs to senior officers. The highest composition is represented by general ranks. In ascending order, the officers of the Imperial Russian Army are divided into major generals, lieutenant generals, and infantry generals. As you know, the existing scheme presupposes the rank of colonel general. Marshal corresponds to the rank of Field Marshal, but this is a theoretical rank, which was awarded only to D.A. Milyutin, being Minister of War until 1881.
In artillery
Following the example of the infantry structure, the difference in ranks for artillery can be represented schematically by identifying five groups of ranks.
- The lowest ones include gunners and bombardiers; these ranks ceased to exist after the defeat of the white units. Even in 1943, the titles were not restored.
- Artillery non-commissioned officers are promoted to the status of junior and senior fireman, and then ensign or ordinary ensign.
- The composition of officers (in our case, chief officers), as well as senior officers (here, staff officers) is no different from the infantry troops. The vertical begins with the rank of warrant officer and ends with colonel.
- The senior officers holding ranks of the highest group are designated by three ranks. Major General, Lieutenant General, and also General Feltsechmeister.
With all this, there is a preservation of a single structure, so without difficulty anyone can create a visual table of correspondence by types of troops or correspondence with the modern military classification.
Find out: What military ranks were there in the USSR army before 1943?
Among the army Cossacks
The main distinctive feature of the imperial army of the early 20th century is the fact that the legendary Cossack army served in regular units. Acting as a separate branch of the military, the Russian Cossacks entered the table of ranks with their ranks. Now it is possible to harmonize all the ranks by presenting them in the cross-section of the same five groups of ranks. But there are no general ranks in the Cossack army, so the number of groups was reduced to four.
- The Cossack and the clerk are considered representatives of the lower ranks.
- The next level consists of constables and sergeant.
- The officer corps is represented by a cornet, a centurion, a podesaul and an esaul.
- Senior officers or staff officers include a military sergeant major and a colonel.
The role and place of non-commissioned officers - the closest assistants to officers, the motives for their entry into the army, their intellectual level and financial situation, the experience of selection, training and performance of official duties are instructive for us today.
The institution of non-commissioned officers in the Russian army existed from 1716 to 1917.
The military regulations of 1716 included the following as non-commissioned officers: sergeant - in the infantry, sergeant - in the cavalry, captain-army, ensign, corporal, company clerk, orderly and corporal. The position of a non-commissioned officer in the military hierarchy was determined as follows: “Those who are below the ensign have their place, are called “non-commissioned officers,” i.e., lower-ranking people.”
The non-commissioned officer corps was recruited from soldiers who expressed a desire to remain in the army for hire after the expiration of their military service. They were called "super-conscripts." Before the advent of the institute of conscripts, from which another institute was later formed - non-commissioned officers, the duties of assistant officers were performed by the lower ranks of conscript service. But the “conscript non-commissioned officer” in most cases differed little from the private.
According to the plan of the military command, the institute of long-term servicemen was supposed to solve two problems: to reduce the understaffing of the rank and file, to serve as a reserve for the formation of the non-commissioned officer corps.
After the expiration of the period of active military service, the leadership of the War Ministry sought to leave as many soldiers (corporals) in the army as possible, as well as combat non-commissioned officers for extended periods. But on the condition that those left behind will be useful to the army in terms of service and moral qualities.
The central figure of the non-commissioned officers of the Russian army is the sergeant major. He was subordinate to the company commander and was his first assistant and support. The responsibilities of the sergeant major were quite broad and responsible. This is evidenced by a small instruction issued in 1883, which read:
“The sergeant major is the commander of all lower ranks of the company.
1. He is obliged to monitor the maintenance of order in the company, the morality and behavior of the lower ranks and the accurate performance of duties by the commanding lower ranks, the company duty officer and the orderlies.
2. Transmits to the lower ranks all orders given by the company commander.
3. Sends sick people to the emergency room or infirmary.
4. Conducts all drill and guard crews of the company.
5. When appointed to the guard, he ensures that experienced and efficient people are appointed to posts of special importance.
6. Distributes and balances all regular orders for service and work among platoons.
7. Attends training sessions, as well as lunch and dinner for lower ranks.
8. At the end of the evening roll call, receives reports from platoon non-commissioned officers.
9. Checks the integrity and serviceable condition of weapons, uniform and ammunition items and all company property in the company.
10. Submits a daily report to the company commander on the state of the company: about everything that happened in the company, about household and food matters of the company, about the needs of the lower ranks.
11. In the event of his absence from the company, he transfers the performance of his duties to the senior platoon non-commissioned officer.”
The second most important among the non-commissioned officers was the “senior non-commissioned officer” - the commander of all the lower ranks of his platoon. He was responsible for order in the platoon, the morality and behavior of the rank and file, and for the success of training his subordinates. Produced outfits for lower ranks for service and work. He dismissed the soldiers from the yard, but no later than before the evening roll call. Conducted the evening roll call and reported to the sergeant major about everything that had happened during the day in the platoon.
According to the regulations, non-commissioned officers were entrusted with the initial training of soldiers, constant and vigilant supervision of lower ranks, and monitoring of internal order in the company. Later (1764), legislation assigned the non-commissioned officer the responsibility not only to train the lower ranks, but also to educate them.
However, the number of conscripts did not correspond to the calculations of the General Staff and was far inferior to the number of conscripts in Western armies. Thus, in 1898, there were 65 thousand long-term combat non-commissioned officers in Germany, 24 thousand in France, 8.5 thousand in Russia.
The formation of the institution of long-term service was slow - the mentality of the Russian people affected it. The soldier understood his duty - to honestly and selflessly serve the Fatherland during the years of military service. And on top of that, he deliberately resisted remaining in service for money.
In order to increase the number of long-term servicemen, the government sought to interest those interested: their rights and salaries were expanded, a number of awards for service were established, improved uniforms and insignia, and a good pension upon completion of service.
According to the regulations on the lower ranks of long-term combat service (1911), non-commissioned officers were divided into two categories. The first is sub-ensigns promoted to this rank from long-term combat non-commissioned officers. They had significant rights and benefits. The second is non-commissioned officers and corporals. They enjoyed slightly less rights than ensigns. Sub-ensigns in combat units held the positions of sergeant majors and platoon officers - senior non-commissioned officers. Corporals were promoted to junior non-commissioned officers and appointed squad commanders.
Long-term non-commissioned officers were promoted to lieutenant officers under two conditions: serve as a platoon commander (senior non-commissioned officer) for two years, and successfully complete a military school course for non-commissioned officers. The division chief promoted him to lieutenant ensign by order. Senior non-commissioned officers usually held positions as assistant platoon leaders. As a rule, squad commanders had the rank of junior non-commissioned officer.
Combat long-term servicemen of the lower ranks received a medal with the inscription “For zeal” and the badge of St. Anne for impeccable service. They were also allowed to marry and have families. Long-term servicemen lived in barracks at the location of their companies. The sergeant major was provided with a separate room, and two senior non-commissioned officers also lived in a separate room.
In order to interest them in the service and emphasize the commanding position of non-commissioned officers among the lower ranks, they were given uniforms and insignia, in some cases inherent to a chief officer: a cockade on a headdress with a visor, a saber on a leather belt, a revolver with a holster and cord.
Combat long-term servicemen of the lower ranks of both grades, who served for fifteen years, received a pension in the amount of 96 rubles. in year. The salary of a lieutenant officer ranged from 340 to 402 rubles. in year; corporal - 120 rubles. in year.
Deprivation of non-commissioned officer rank was carried out by the head of the division or a person of equal authority.
It was difficult for commanders of all levels to train an excellent non-commissioned officer corps from semi-literate conscript soldiers. Therefore, foreign experience in the formation of this institute was carefully studied, primarily the experience of the German army.
Non-commissioned officers did not have the knowledge to lead subordinates. Some of them naively believed that orders should be given in a deliberately rude voice, that such a tone would ensure universal obedience.
The moral qualities of the non-commissioned officer were not always up to par. Some of them were drawn to alcohol, which had a bad effect on the behavior of their subordinates. In society and the army, demands were increasingly heard that an illiterate non-commissioned officer should not interfere with the spiritual education of a soldier. There was even a categorical demand: “Non-commissioned officers must be prohibited from invading the soul of a recruit - such a delicate sphere.” The non-commissioned officer was also unscrupulous in the ethics of his relations with his subordinates. Others allowed something similar to a bribe. Such facts were sharply condemned by officers.
In order to comprehensively prepare long-term service personnel for responsible work as a non-commissioned officer, a network of courses and schools was developed in the army, which were created mainly at the regiments.
To make it easier for the non-commissioned officer to assume his role, the military department published a lot of different literature in the form of methods, instructions, and advice. Among the recommendations, in particular, were:
Show subordinates not only strictness but also a caring attitude;
In relation to the soldiers, keep yourself at a “certain distance”;
When dealing with subordinates, avoid irritation, short temper, and anger;
Remember that the Russian soldier, in his treatment of him, loves the commander whom he considers his father;
Teach soldiers to take care of cartridges in battle, and crackers at a halt;
Have a decent appearance: “an unter fit as a bow.”
Studying at courses and in regimental schools brought unconditional benefits. Among the non-commissioned officers there were many gifted people who could skillfully explain to the soldiers the basics of military service, its values, duties and responsibilities.
Here we have a fragment of a conversation between one of the experienced ensigns who are in love with the service with soldiers about the role and value of such concepts as “banner”, “bravery”, “theft”, “sneaking”.
About the banner. “Once a general came to do a review. But in literature (a survey of personnel - author) he asked one soldier: “What is a banner?”, and he answered him: “The banner is a soldier’s God, Your Excellency.” So what do you mean? "What do you think? The general beat him down and gave him a ruble as a tip."
About courage. “A brave soldier in battle only thinks about how he can defeat others, but about the fact that he is being beaten - oh my God - there is no place in his head for such a stupid thought.”
About theft. “Theft among us, the military, is considered the most shameful and serious crime. If you are guilty of anything else, even though the law will not spare you either, your comrades and even your bosses will sometimes take pity on you and show sympathy for your grief. For a thief - never. Nothing but contempt. you won’t see, and they will shun you and avoid you like you’ve lost your mind..."
About the sneaker. “A whistleblower is a person who brings out every little thing in order to denigrate his brother and get ahead himself. Whistleblowers do it on the sly and only... A soldier must, out of honor and service, openly reveal such offenses that clearly disgrace his pure family ".
By mastering knowledge and gaining experience, non-commissioned officers became the first assistants to officers in solving the tasks facing their companies and squadrons.
The state of military discipline in units of the Russian army in the second half of the 19th - early 20th centuries was assessed as satisfactory. The reason for this was not only the work of the officer, who worked, in the figurative expression of analysts of that time, “like a slave on a cane plantation,” but also the efforts of the non-commissioned officer corps. According to the report of the commander of the troops of the Odessa Military District in 1875, “military discipline was strictly maintained. The number of lower ranks fined was 675 people or 11.03 per 1000 people on the average payroll.”
It is generally believed that the state of military discipline would be even stronger if officers and non-commissioned officers managed to eliminate drunkenness among soldiers. This was the root cause of all military crimes and violations.
In the fight against this evil, non-commissioned officers were helped by the Law prohibiting lower ranks from entering drinking establishments and taverns. Drinking establishments could not be opened closer than 150 fathoms from military units. Shinkari could dispense vodka to soldiers only with written permission from the company commander. The sale of alcohol was prohibited in soldiers' shops and buffets.
In addition to administrative ones, measures were also taken to organize the leisure time of soldiers. In the barracks, as they said then, “decent entertainment was arranged,” soldiers’ artels, teahouses, reading rooms operated, and performances were staged with the participation of lower ranks.
Non-commissioned officers played a significant role in solving such an important task as teaching soldiers to read and write, and recruits from the national outskirts to know the Russian language. This problem acquired strategic importance - the army turned into an “all-Russian school of education.” The non-commissioned officers were very willing to teach the soldiers writing and arithmetic, although there was very little time for this. The efforts bore fruit. The percentage of illiterate soldiers was decreasing. If in 1881 there were 75.9% of them, then in 1901 - 40.3%.
Another area of activity of non-commissioned officers, in which they were especially successful, was the organization of economic, or, as they were also called, “free labor.”
For military units, such work had both disadvantages and advantages. The advantages were that the money earned by the soldiers went to the regimental treasury, some of it to officers, non-commissioned officers and lower ranks. Funds were mainly used to purchase additional provisions for soldiers. However, economic work also had a negative side. The service of many soldiers took place in workshops, bakeries, and workshops.
Soldiers of many units, for example the East Siberian Military District, loaded and unloaded ships with heavy quartermaster and engineering cargo, fixed telegraph lines, repaired and constructed buildings, and performed work with parties of topographers. All this was far from combat training and had a negative impact on the course of military education in the units.
In a combat situation, the overwhelming majority of non-commissioned officers were distinguished by excellent courage and carried the soldiers along with them. In the Russo-Japanese War, non-commissioned officers often acted as officers called up from the reserves.
Insignia of ranks of the Russian Army. XVIII-XX centuries.
Shoulder straps of the 19th-20th centuries
(1855-1917)
Non-commissioned officers
So, by 1855, non-commissioned officers, like soldiers, had soft cloth shoulder straps of a pentagonal shape, 1 1/4 inches wide (5.6 cm) and shoulder length (from the shoulder seam to the collar). Average shoulder strap length. ranged from 12 to 16 cm.
The lower end of the shoulder strap was sewn into the shoulder seam of a uniform or overcoat, and the upper end was fastened to a button sewn to the shoulder at the collar. Let us remind you that since 1829, the color of buttons is based on the color of the instrument metal of the shelf. The buttons of the infantry regiments have a number stamped on them. The buttons of the guards regiments were embossed with the state coat of arms. It is simply not practical to describe all the changes in images, numbers and buttons within the scope of this article.
The colors of the shoulder straps of all lower ranks were generally determined as follows:
*guards units - red shoulder straps without encryption,
*all grenadier regiments have yellow shoulder straps with red coding,
*infantry units - crimson shoulder straps with yellow coding,
*artillery and engineering troops - red shoulder straps with yellow coding,
*cavalry - each regiment has a special color of shoulder straps. There is no system here.
For infantry regiments, the color of the shoulder straps was determined by the division's place in the corps:
*First division of the corps - red shoulder straps with yellow coding,
*Second division in the corps - blue shoulder straps with yellow coding,
*Third division in the corps - white shoulder straps with red code.
The encryption was painted with oil paint and indicated the regiment number. Or it could represent the monogram of the Highest Chief of the regiment (if this monogram is in the nature of encryption, that is, used instead of the regiment number). By this time, the infantry regiments received a single continuous numbering.
On February 19, 1855, in companies and squadrons that to this day bore the name of companies and squadrons of His Imperial Majesty, all ranks were ordered to have the monogram of Emperor Nicholas I on their epaulettes and shoulder straps. However, this monogram is worn only by those ranks who served in these companies and squadrons according to as of February 18, 1855 and continue to serve in them. Lower ranks newly enrolled in these companies and squadrons do not have the right to this monogram.
On February 21, 1855, the monogram of Emperor Nicholas I was forever assigned to the cadets on the shoulder straps of the Nikolaev Engineering School. They will wear this monogram until the abolition of the royal monograms in March 1917.
Since March 3, 1862, buttons in the guard with an extruded state emblem, with an extruded grenada about one fire in the grenadier regiments and smooth in all other parts.
Encryption on shoulder straps with oil paint using a yellow or red stencil, depending on the color of the shoulder strap field.
There is no point in describing all the changes with buttons. Let us only note that by 1909, the entire Army and Guard had buttons with the state coat of arms, excluding the grenadier units and engineering units, which had their own images on the buttons.
In the grenadier regiments, the slotted encryption was replaced by one painted with oil paint only in 1874.
The height of the monograms of the Tallest Chiefs since 1891 has been determined in the range from 1 5/8 inches (72mm.) to 1 11/16 inches (75mm.).
The height of the number or digital encryption in 1911 was set to 3/4 inch (33 mm). The lower edge of the encryption is 1/2 inch (22 m.) from the lower edge of the shoulder strap.
Non-commissioned officer ranks were designated by transverse stripes on shoulder straps. The stripes were 1/4 wide 
top (11 mm.). In the army, the badge stripes were white, in the grenadier units and in the Electrical Engineering Company there was a red stripe in the center of the badge. In the guard, the stripes were orange (almost yellow) with two red stripes along the edges.
In the picture on the right:
1. Junior non-commissioned officer of the 6th engineer battalion of His Imperial Highness Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich Senior Battalion.
2. Senior non-commissioned officer of the 5th engineer battalion.
3. Sergeant Major of the 1st Life Grenadier Ekaterinoslav Emperor Alexander II Regiment.
Please pay attention to the sergeant major's shoulder straps. Gold braided patch of the pattern "army galloon" to match the color of the instrument metal of the shelf. The monogram of Alexander II here has a red encryption character, as it should be on yellow shoulder straps. A yellow metal button with a “grenada on one fire”, such as were issued to the grenadier regiments.
In the picture on the left:
1. Junior non-commissioned officer of the 13th Life Grenadier Erivan Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich regiment.
2. Senior non-commissioned officer volunteer of the 5th Grenadier Kyiv Heir to the Tsarevich Regiment.
3. Sergeant Major of the Electrical Engineering Company.
The sergeant major's badge was not a badge, but a braided one, matching the color of the regiment's instrument metal (silver or gold).
In army and grenadier units, this patch had an “army” braid pattern and had a width of 1/2 inch (22mm).
In the 1st Guards Division, Guards Artillery Brigade, and in the Life Guards Sapper Battalion, the sergeant major's patch had a pattern of "battle" braid 5/8 inch wide (27.75 mm).
In other parts of the guard, in the army cavalry, in the horse artillery, the sergeant major's patch had a "semi-standard" braid pattern with a width of 5/8 inch (27.75 mm). 
In the picture on the right:
1. Junior non-commissioned officer of the Life Guards Sapper Battalion.
2. Senior non-commissioned officer of the company of His Majesty's Life Guards Sapper Battalion.
3. Sergeant-major of the Life Guards Regiment, battalion braid).
4. Sergeant major of the Life Guards of the 1st Infantry Regiment (semi-staff braid).
In fact, non-commissioned officer stripes, strictly speaking, in themselves did not mean rank (rank) like stars for officers, but indicated the position held:
* two stripes, in addition to junior non-commissioned officers (otherwise called detached non-commissioned officers), were worn by company captains, battalion drummers (timpani players) and signalmen (trumpet players), junior musicians of non-commissioned officer rank, junior salary clerks, junior medical and company paramedics and all non-combatants lower ranks of non-commissioned officer rank (i.e. non-combatants could not have three stripes or a wide sergeant major stripe on their shoulder straps).
*three stripes, in addition to senior non-commissioned officers (otherwise called platoon non-commissioned officers), were also worn by senior salary clerks, senior medical paramedics, regimental signalmen (trumpeters), and regimental drummers.
*a wide sergeant major's badge was worn in addition to company (battery) sergeant majors (company sergeants - in modern language), regimental drum majors, senior clerks, and regimental storekeepers.
Non-commissioned officers serving in training units (officer schools), like soldiers of such units, wore a “training braid”.
Like soldiers, non-commissioned officers on long or indefinite leave wore one or two black stripes the width of 
11mm.
In the picture on the left:
1. Junior non-commissioned officer of the Training Automotive Company.
2. Senior non-commissioned officer of the 208th Lori Infantry Regiment is on long leave.
3. Sergeant Major of the 1st Life Grenadier Regiment of Ekaterinoslav Emperor Alexander II on indefinite leave.
Non-commissioned officers of the army dragoon and uhlan regiments during the period under review, excluding the period from 1882 to 1909, had epaulettes rather than shoulder straps on their uniforms. During the period under review, Guards dragoons and lancers always had epaulettes on their uniforms. Dragoons and lancers wore shoulder straps only on their greatcoats.
In the picture on the left:
1. Non-commissioned officer of the Guards Cavalry Regiment.
2. Junior sergeant of an army cavalry regiment.
3. Senior sergeant of the Guards Cavalry Regiment.
Note. In the cavalry, non-commissioned officer ranks were called somewhat differently than in other branches of the military.
End note.
Persons who entered military service as hunters (in other words, voluntarily) or volunteers 
when receiving non-commissioned officer ranks, they retained the lining of their shoulder straps with a three-color cord.
In the picture on the right:
1. Hunter sergeant major of the 10th New Ingermanland Infantry Regiment.
2. Volunteer rank junior non-commissioned officer of the 48th Infantry Odessa Emperor Alexander I Regiment.
From the author. It was hardly possible to meet a volunteer with the rank of sergeant major, since after a year of service he already had the right to take the exam for the officer rank. And in a year it was simply unrealistic to rise to the rank of sergeant major. And it is unlikely that the company commander will appoint a “freeman” to this difficult position, which requires extensive service experience. But it was possible, although rare, to meet a volunteer who had found his place in the army, that is, a hunter and had risen to the rank of sergeant major. Most often, sergeant majors were conscripts.
The previous article on soldier's shoulder straps talked about stripes indicating special qualifications. After becoming non-commissioned officers, these specialists retained these stripes.
In the picture on the left:
1. Junior sergeant of the Life Guards Cavalry Regiment, qualified as a scout.
Note. In the cavalry, similar longitudinal stripes were also worn by non-commissioned officers who were qualified as fencing teachers and riding teachers. According to some reports, they also had “training tape” around the shoulder strap, as shown in shoulder strap 4.
2. Junior fireworksman of His Majesty's battery of the 1st Guards Artillery Brigade, qualified as a gunner.
3. Junior fireman of the 16th Artillery Brigade, qualified as an observer.
4. Qualified rider of non-commissioned officer rank.
The lower ranks who remained for long-term service (usually in the ranks from corporal to senior non-commissioned officer) were called long-term servicemen of the 2nd category and wore along the edges of their shoulder straps (except for the lower edge) braided lining made of belt braid 3/8 inch wide (16.7 mm. ). The color of the braid matches the color of the instrument metal of the shelf. All other stripes are the same as for the lower ranks of conscript service.
Unfortunately, it is not completely clear what the stripes of 2nd category long-term servicemen were by rank. There are two opinions.
First, the rank stripes are completely similar to the stripes for conscript ranks.
The second is gold or silver galloon stripes of a special design.
The author is inclined to the first opinion, relying on Sytin’s Military Encyclopedia, edition of 1912, which describes all types of braid used in the Russian Army with instructions on where this or that type of braid is used. There I found neither this type of braid, nor any indication of what kind of braid is used for the stripes of long-term conscripts. However, even the famous uniformist of that time, Colonel Schenk, repeatedly points out in his works that it is simply impossible to collect together all the Highest commands regarding uniforms and the orders of the Military Department issued on their basis, there are so many of them.
Naturally, the above stripes for special qualifications, black leave stripes, encryption and monograms were fully used by long-term conscripts. 
In the picture on the right:
1. Long-term serviceman of the 2nd category, junior non-commissioned officer of the Life Guards Sapper Battalion.
2. Long-term serviceman of the 2nd category, senior non-commissioned officer of the 7th Dragoon Kinburn Regiment.
3. Long-term serviceman of the 2nd category, senior fireworksman of the 20th artillery brigade, qualified as an observer.
4. Long-term serviceman of the 2nd category, senior fireworksman of the 1st battery of the 2nd Guards Artillery Brigade, qualified as a gunner.
The 1st category conscripts had one rank - lieutenant officer. Their shoulder straps were shaped not like a pentagonal shoulder strap, but a hexagonal one. Like the officers. They wore a longitudinal badge made of belt braid 5/8 inch wide (27.75 mm) in the same color as the regiment's instrument metal. In addition to this stripe, they wore transverse stripes for their positions. Two stripes - for the position of a detached non-commissioned officer, three stripes - for the position of a platoon non-commissioned officer, one wide - for the position of a sergeant major. In other positions, lieutenant officers did not have transverse stripes.
Note. The term “commander” currently used in our army refers to all military personnel who command military formations from squad to corps incl. carefully. Above, this position is called “commander” (army commander, district commander, front commander,...).
In the Russian Army until 1917, the term “commander” was used (at least officially) only in relation to persons who command a company, battalion, regiment and brigade and equal formations in artillery and cavalry. The division was commanded by the "division chief". Above is the “commander”.
But the persons who commanded the squad and platoon were called, if the position was occupied, detached non-commissioned officer and platoon non-commissioned officer, respectively. Or a junior and senior non-commissioned officer, if it was a matter of understanding the rank. In the cavalry, if we were talking about rank - non-commissioned officer, junior sergeant and senior sergeant.
I note that the officers did not command the platoons. They all had the same position - junior company officer.
End note.
Ensigns and special insignia (as required) ensigns wore metal officer's invoices in accordance with the color of the regiment's instrument metal.
In the picture on the left:
1. Sub-ensign of His Majesty's Life Guards Sapper Battalion as a detached non-commissioned officer.
2. Sub-ensign for the position of platoon non-commissioned officer of the Life Guards Preobrazhensky Regiment.
3. Sub-ensign in the position of sergeant major of the 5th aviation company.
4. Sub-ensign for the position of senior sergeant of the 3rd Novorossiysk Dragoon Regiment.
Until 1903, graduates of cadet schools, graduated as ensigns and serving in units while awaiting assignment to officer rank, wore cadet shoulder straps, but with the code of their unit.
Completely out of the general appearance of the ensign's shoulder straps was the shoulder strap of the lieutenant ensign of the Engineering Corps. It looked like a soldier's shoulder strap and was trimmed with silver army braid 11 mm wide.
Explanation. The Engineering Corps is not a military formation, but a general name for officers and non-commissioned officers who are specialists in the field of fortification, underground mines, and who serve not in engineering units, but in fortresses and units of other branches of the military. These are a kind of advisers to general-arms commanders in engineering.
End of explanation.
In the picture on the right:
1. Sub-ensign of the Life Guards Sapper Battalion.
2. Sub-ensign of the Engineering Corps.
3. Courier.
There was a so-called Courier Corps, the main task of whose ranks was the delivery of particularly important and urgent mail (orders, directives, reports, etc.) from headquarters to headquarters. Couriers wore shoulder straps similar to those of ensigns, but the longitudinal braided stripe of the belt braid was not 5/8 inch wide (27.75 mm), but only 1/2 inch wide (22 mm).
T 
The same stripes have been worn by candidates for senior positions since 1907. Until this time (from 1899 to 1907), the candidate for the shoulder strap had a patch in the form of an angle of galloon "page's gimlet".
Explanation. A candidate for a class position is a lower rank who is undergoing appropriate training in order to become a military official upon completion of active military service and continue to serve in this capacity
End of explanation.
In the picture on the left:
1. Sub-ensign of the 5th East Siberian Artillery Brigade, graduate of the cadet school (until 1903).
2. Senior non-commissioned officer of the 5th engineer battalion, who is a candidate for a class position (1899-1907).
In 1909 (Order of V.V. No. 100), double-sided shoulder straps were introduced for lower ranks. Those. one side is made of instrument cloth in the color assigned to this part, the other is made of cloth of a protective color (overcoat on overcoat), with two rows of glued lining canvas between them. Buttons in the Guard are the color of the instrument metal of the regiment, in the army they are leather.
When wearing a uniform in everyday life, shoulder straps are worn with the colored side facing out. When setting out on a campaign, the shoulder straps are turned over with the protective side outward.
However, ensigns, like officers, did not receive marching shoulder straps in 1909. Marching shoulder straps for officers and ensigns will be introduced only in the fall of 1914. (Pr.V.v.No. 698 dated 10/31/1914)
The length of the shoulder strap is the width of the shoulder. The shoulder strap width of the lower ranks is 1 1/4 inches (55-56mm). The upper edge of the shoulder strap is cut off at an obtuse equilateral angle and put on with a punched loop (stitched) on a leather button (in the guard - metal), sewn tightly to the shoulder at the collar. The edges of the shoulder strap are not folded, they are stitched with thread. A cloth tongue is sewn into the lower edge of the shoulder strap (between the upper cloth and the hem) across the entire width of the shoulder strap, for threading through a cloth jumper (1/4 inch wide) sewn onto the shoulders of the uniform.
In the picture on the left (drawing of letters and numbers according to the order of V.v. No. 228 of 1912)
1. Junior non-commissioned officer of the Life Guards Izmailovsky Regiment.
2. Senior non-commissioned officer of the 195th Orovai Infantry Regiment.
3. Sergeant major of the 5th separate scooter company.
4. Volunteer non-commissioned officer of the 13th Dragoon Regiment.
5. Sub-ensign as sergeant major of the 25th artillery brigade.
6. Sub-ensign in the officer position of the 25th artillery brigade.
What can you say to this? Here is a quote from Order of the Military Department No. 698 dated October 31, 1914:
"2) For ensigns - also have protective shoulder straps with stitched longitudinal wide dark orange braid, with transverse stripes of dark orange braid according to their positions (non-commissioned officer or sergeant major) or with one oxidized star (for those appointed to officer positions)."
Why this is so, I don’t know. In principle, a lieutenant officer could be either in non-commissioned officer positions and wear transverse stripes for his position in addition to his longitudinal one, or in officer positions. There are simply no others.
On both sides of the shoulder straps of non-commissioned officers of army units, the encryption is painted with oil paint 1/3 inch (15mm) above the bottom edge. The numbers and letters have dimensions: in one line 7/8 inch (39mm.), and in two lines (with an interval of 1/8 inch (5.6mm.)) - the bottom line is 3/8 inch (17mm.), the top 7 /8 inch (39mm). Special signs (who are supposed to) are painted above the encryption.
At the same time, on the marching shoulder straps of ensigns there is encryption and special insignia applied on metal oxidized (dark gray) like those of officers.
In the Guard, codes and special signs are not allowed on shoulder straps, with the exception of imperial monograms in the companies of His Majesty.
The colors of the codes on the protective side of the shoulder straps of non-commissioned officers (except for ensigns) are set by branch of service:
*infantry - yellow,
rifle units - crimson,
*cavalry and horse artillery - blue,
*foot artillery - red,
*engineering troops - brown,
* Cossack units - blue,
* railway troops and scooter riders - light green,
*fortress units of all types of weapons - orange,
*convoy parts are white,
* quartermaster parts - black.
The number encryption in the infantry and cavalry indicated the regiment number, in the foot artillery the brigade number, in the horse artillery the battery number, in the engineering troops the number of the battalion or company (if the company exists as a separate unit). The letter encryption indicated the name of the regiment, which in general, this was typical for the grenadier regiments. Or on the shoulder straps there could be a monogram of the Highest Chief, which was assigned instead of a number code.
Because each type of cavalry had a separate numbering, then after the regiment number there was a italic letter indicating the type of regiment (D-Dragoon, U-Ulansky, G-Hussar, Zh-Gendarmsky squadron). But these letters are only on the protective side of the shoulder straps!
According to the order of V.v. No. 228 of May 12, 1912, on the protective side of the shoulder straps of army units there could be colored edgings of the same color as the edgings on the colored side of the shoulder straps. If the colored shoulder strap does not have edgings, then the marching shoulder strap does not have them either.
It remains unclear whether the lower training units in the Electrical Engineering Company had marching shoulder straps. And if there were, what kind of stripes they had. I believe that since, by the nature of their activities, such units were not expected to go on a campaign and be included in the Active Army, they did not have marching shoulder straps.
It was also not expected to wear black stripes on the protective side of the shoulder straps, indicating that they were on long-term or indefinite leave.
But the lining of the shoulder straps of volunteers and hunters was also on the protective side of the shoulder straps.
In artillery and cavalry, the stripes of scouts, observers and gunners are only transverse.
Moreover:
* in the artillery, non-commissioned officers qualified as observers have a color coded stripe below their non-commissioned officer stripes. Those. in artillery the patch is red, in horse artillery it is light blue, in fortress artillery it is orange.
* in artillery, non-commissioned officers qualified as a gunner have a badge not under the non-commissioned officer badges 
stripe, and in the lower part of the shoulder strap in the foot artillery it is dark orange, in the horse artillery it is light blue.
* in the cavalry, non-commissioned officers, scouts, have a light blue stripe, not a longitudinal one, but a transverse one in the lower part of the shoulder strap.
* in the infantry, non-commissioned reconnaissance officers have a longitudinal dark orange stripe.
In the picture on the left:
1. Junior fireman of the 25th Artillery Brigade, qualified as a gunner.
2. Junior sergeant of the 2nd horse artillery battery, qualified as a gunner.
3. Senior sergeant of the 11th Lancer Regiment, qualified as a reconnaissance officer.
4. Senior fireworksman of the 25th artillery brigade, qualified as an observer. .
5. Non-commissioned officer of the 2nd Horse Artillery Battery, qualified as an observer.
6. Hunter is a senior non-commissioned officer of the 89th Infantry Regiment, qualified as a reconnaissance officer.
7. Long-term serviceman of the 2nd category, sergeant major of the 114th Infantry Regiment.
In military schools that trained officers, cadets were considered lower ranks with the rights of volunteers. There were also cadets who wore non-commissioned officer stripes. However, they were called differently - junior harness cadet, senior harness cadet and sergeant major. These patches were similar to the patches of non-commissioned officers of the grenadier units (white basque with a red line in the middle). The edges of the cadets' shoulder straps were trimmed with galloon, just like those of long-term servicemen of the 2nd category. However, the designs of the braid were completely different and depended on the specific school.
Junker shoulder straps, due to their diversity, require a separate article. Therefore, here I show them very briefly and only using the example of engineering schools.
Note that these shoulder straps were also worn by those who studied at ensign schools during the First World War (4-9 months). We also note that the cadets did not have marching shoulder straps at all.
Nikolaevskoe and Alekseevskoe engineering schools. Silver galloon with "military" pattern. In the picture on the left:
1. Junker of the Nikolaev Engineering School.
2. Junker of the Alekseevsky Engineering School.
3. Junker of the Nikolaev Engineering School, who was a volunteer before entering the school.
4. Junior harness cadet of the Nikolaev Engineering School.
5. Senior harness cadet of the Alekseevsky Engineering School.
6. Junker sergeant major of the Nikolaev Engineering School.
It remains unclear whether the non-commissioned officers who entered the schools retained their non-commissioned officer stripes on their cadet shoulder straps.
Reference. The Nikolaev Engineering School is considered the oldest officer school in the country, whose history began at the beginning of the 18th century and which exists today. But Alekseevskoe was opened only in 1915 in Kyiv and managed to produce only eight wartime engineering warrant officers. The events of the revolution and the Civil War destroyed this school, leaving no traces of it.
End of help.
By the decree of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars of December 16, 1917 (by the new Bolshevik authorities), all the above-described insignia of the lower ranks, like all others, were abolished in connection with the abolition of all ranks and titles. The military personnel of the military units, organizations, headquarters and institutions still remaining at that moment had to remove their shoulder straps. It is difficult to say to what extent this decree was implemented. Here everything depended on the mood of the mass of soldiers, their attitude towards the new government. And the attitude of local commanders and authorities also influenced the implementation of the decree.
The shoulder straps were partially preserved during the Civil War in the formations of the White Movement, but local military leaders, taking advantage of the fact that the higher command did not have enough power over them, introduced their own versions of shoulder straps and insignia on them.
In the Red Army, which began to be created in February-March 1918, they abandoned shoulder straps completely and categorically, seeing in the shoulder straps “signs of autocracy.” The running system will be restored in the Red Army only in January 1943, i.e. after 25 years.
From the author. The author is aware that in all articles about shoulder straps of lower ranks there are minor inaccuracies and serious errors. There are also missed points. But the system of insignia on the shoulder straps of the lower ranks of the Russian Army was so diverse, confusing and changed so often that it is impossible to thoroughly track all this. In addition, a number of documents available to the author from those times contain only a text part without drawings. And this gives rise to different interpretations. Some primary sources contain references to previous documents such as: “.... like the lower ranks ..... regiment”, which could not be found. Or it turns out that they were canceled even before they were referenced. It also happens that something was introduced by order of the Military Department, but then an Order of the Main Quartermaster Directorate comes out, on the basis of the Highest Order, canceling the innovation and introducing something else.
In addition, I highly recommend not to take my information as the absolute truth in its final instance, but to get acquainted with other sites on uniformitarianism. In particular, with the website of Alexey Khudyakov (semiryak.my1.ru/) and the website “Mundir” (vedomstva-uniforma.ru/mundir).
Sources and literature
1. A. Kersnovsky. History of the Russian Army 1700-1881. Rusich. Smolensk 2004
2. A. Kersnovsky. History of the Russian Army 1881-1916. Rusich. Smolensk 2004
3. M.M. Khrenov and others. Military clothing of the Russian Army. Military publishing house. Moscow. 1994
4. O. Leonov, I. Ulyanov. Regular infantry 1855-1918. AST.Moscow. 1998
5.I.Golyzhenkov, B.Stepanov. European soldier for 300 years. Isographus. Eksmo-Press. Moscow. 2001
6.Military encyclopedia. T. I.D. Sytin. St. Petersburg. 1912
7. O. Leonov, I. Ulyanov. Regular infantry 1855-1918. AST.Moscow. 1998
8. V.K.Shenk. Rules for wearing uniforms by officers of all branches of arms. St. Petersburg. 1910
9. V.K.Shenk. Tables of uniforms of the Russian Army. St. Petersburg. 1910
10. V.K.Shenk. Tables of uniforms of the Russian Army. St. Petersburg. 1911
11. V.V.Zvegintsov. Forms of the Russian Army. Paris, 1959
12.V.M. Glinka. Russian military costume of the 18th-early 20th centuries. Artist of the RSFSR. Leningrad. 1988
13. Poster "External differences of ranks and ranks of the military and naval departments." 1914
14. Website “Insignia of the Russian Imperial Army in 1913” (semiryak.my1.ru/).
15.Historical description of clothing and weapons of Russian troops. T.28. Artillery Museum. Novosibirsk, 1944
16. Historical description of clothing and weapons of Russian troops. T.30. Artillery Museum. Novosibirsk, 1946
17. Magazine "Tseykhgauz" No. 3-2000 (12).
18. Website "Mundir" (vedomstva-uniforma.ru/mundir)
19. Website "Warehouse" (www.bergenschild.narod.ru/Reconstruction/depot/1912-18/mundir_pohod.htm).
20. Magazine "Tseykhgauz" No. 1-2003 (21).
21. Magazine "Tseykhgauz" No. 4 (1/1995).
Junior officers. As a rule, distinguished soldiers.
The majority are former peasants, not all are trained to read and write, precisely those who raised the soldiers to attack by personal example.
According to the battle tactics of those years, they went on the attack in a chain, with a fixed bayonet, catching bullets and shrapnel with their chests. Among them are many from Cossack clans, many trained in Cossack combat, scouts with tracker skills and camouflage skills.
It is noticeable that they feel insecure in front of the lens, although most of them had to see enemy gunfire. Many have been awarded the St. George Cross (the highest military award of military valor for lower ranks and soldiers). I suggest you look into these simple and honest faces.
On the left - senior non-commissioned officer of the 8th company of the 92nd Pechora Infantry Regiment of the 23rd Infantry Division Mikhail Petrov
Senior non-commissioned officer of the 12th Starodubovsky Dragoon Regiment (or a rider of non-commissioned officer rank
Vasilevsky Semyon Grigorievich (02/01/1889-?). Senior non-commissioned officer of the L. Guards. 3rd Rifle E.V. Regiment. From the peasants of the Samara province, Buzuluk district, Lobazinsk volost, and the village of Perevozinka. He graduated from the parochial school in the village of Perevozinka. Called up for service in 1912 in the Leningrad Guards. 3rd Strelkovy E.V. regiment. In the regiment I attended a training command course. Awards - St. George's Cross, 4th class. No. 82051. and St. George Medal No. 508671. On the same sheet there are inscriptions in pencil “G. Kr. III Art. Presented to G. Cross. II and I degrees." At the top of the text there is a handwritten inscription in pencil “Write down the number of crosses of the 3rd, 2nd and 1st st.” and a two-line resolution: “Checked. / Sh-K. Ko... (inaudible)
The grenadier is the one who threw hand grenades at the enemy during the assault.
Non-commissioned officer of the 8th Grenadier Moscow Grand Duke of Mecklenburg - Schwerin Friedrich - Franz IV Regiment, in winter dress uniform of the 1913 model. The non-commissioned officer is dressed in a field uniform with a dark green collar and a yellow lapel. A non-commissioned officer's braid is sewn along the upper edge of the collar. Peacetime shoulder straps, yellow with light blue piping. On the shoulder straps is the monogram of the chief of the regiment of the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg - Schwerin. On the left side of the chest, attached to the marching uniform, is the regimental badge for lower ranks, approved in 1910. On the lapel there is a badge for excellent rifle shooting, 3rd degree, and medals: in memory of the 100th anniversary of the Patriotic War of 1812 on the Vladimir ribbon (1912), in memory of the 300th anniversary of the reign of the House of Romanov (1913) on the ribbon state colors. The approximate shooting period is 1913-1914.
Senior non-commissioned officer, telegraph operator, Knight of the St. George Cross, 4th degree.
Art. non-commissioned officer Sorokin F.F.
Glumov, senior non-commissioned officer of the Life Guards of the Finnish Regiment.
Selected military units intended to protect the person and residence of the monarch
Zhukov Ivan Vasilievich (05/08/1889-?). Junior non-commissioned officer of the L. Guards. Kexholm Regiment. From the peasants of the Kaluga province, Medynsky district, Nezamaevsky volost, the village of Lavinno. He studied at a parochial school in the village of Dunino. Called up for military service in 1912 in the Leningrad Guards. Kexholm Regiment. He served in the 5th company, and from 1913 - in the machine gun team. He was awarded the St. George medal of the 4th class, as well as two St. George crosses of the 4th class. No. 2385, 3rd st. No. 5410, medals “In memory of the 100th anniversary of the Patriotic War of 1812”, “In memory of the 300th anniversary of the House of Romanov” and “For work on the mobilization of 1914”. On the left side of the chest there are signs: L.-Guards. Kexholm Regiment and “In memory of the 200th anniversary of the Leningrad Guards. Kexholm Regiment."
From wealthy peasants, if he received home education.
Stetsenko Grigory Andreevich (1891-?). Junior non-commissioned officer of the L. Guards. 2nd Tsarskoye Selo Rifle Regiment. From the peasants of the Kharkov province, Kupyansky district, Svatovolutsk volost, Kovalevka farm. Education at home. Called up for service in the fall of 1911 in the Leningrad Guards. 2nd Tsarskoye Selo Rifle Regiment. All the time he served in the Leningrad Guards. 2nd Tsarskoye Selo Rifle Regiment, only at the beginning of mobilization in 1914 - he served in the Preobrazhensky Regiment for two months. Awarded the 4th class St. George medals. No. 51537, 3rd st. No. 17772, 2nd Art. No. 12645, 1st Art. No. 5997, St. George's Crosses of the 4th Art. No. 32182 and 3rd Art. No. 4700, Presented to the St. George Crosses of the 2nd and 1st Art.
Efremov Andrey Ivanovich (11/27/1888-?). Junior non-commissioned officer of the L. Guards. Kexholm Regiment. From the peasants of the Kazan province, Sviyazhsk district, Shirdan volost, and the village of Vizovy. A competent sailor by occupation. Called up for military service on November 2, 1912 in the Leningrad Guards. Kexholm Regiment. Has two St. George's crosses of the 4th class. No. 3767 and 3rd Art. No. 41833. On the left side of the chest is the sign of the L.-Guards. Kexholm Regiment
Gusev Kharlampiy Matveevich (10.02.1887-?). Junior non-commissioned officer of the 187th Avar Infantry Regiment. From the peasants of the Kharkov province, Starobelsky district, Novo-Aidar volost, the village of Novo-Aidar. Before service - a laborer. On July 1, 1914, he was called up from the reserves and enlisted in the 187th Avar Infantry Regiment. (Since being recruited, he served in the 203rd Sukhumi Infantry Regiment, from which he was transferred to the reserve on November 12, 1910). In February 1916 he enlisted in the 3rd reserve infantry regiment. Awarded the St. George Cross, 4th class. No. 414643.
Porfiry Panasyuk. He was captured by the Germans and tortured.
The Germans cut off his ear piece by piece. He said nothing, according to the press about this case.
Alexey Makukha.
On March 21 / April 3, 1915, during one of the battles in Bukovina, the Austrians managed to capture one of the Russian fortifications defended by soldiers of the Caspian Regiment. During this battle, which was preceded by the shelling of our position by enemy artillery, almost all the defenders of the fortification were killed or wounded. Among the latter was telephone operator Alexey Makukha. Hoping to obtain from the Russian telephone operator, who had access to valuable information due to his nature of service, valuable information about the location of our troops on this section of the front, the Austrians took him prisoner and interrogated him. But just like Porfiry Panasyuk, Makukha refused to tell his enemies anything.
The stubbornness of the Russian telephone operator infuriated the Austrian officers and they moved from abuse and threats to torture. One of the pre-revolutionary publications describes what happened further: “The officers knocked him to the ground prone and twisted his arms behind his back. Then one of them sat on him, and the other, turning his head back, opened his mouth with a dagger-bayonet and, stretching out his tongue with his hand, cut him twice with this dagger. Blood gushed from Makukha’s mouth and nose.”
Since the prisoner they mutilated could no longer speak, the Austrians lost all interest in him. And soon, during a successful bayonet counterattack of the Russian troops, the Austrians were knocked out of the fortification they had captured and non-commissioned officer Alexei Makukha again found himself among his own. At first, the hero was completely unable to speak or eat? the telephone operator's cut tongue hung on a thin bridge, and his larynx was swollen from bruises. Makukha was hastily sent to the infirmary, where doctors performed a complex operation, stitching him to a wound on 3/4 of his tongue.
When the press reported on the torment suffered by the Russian telephone operator, the indignation of Russian society knew no bounds? everyone expressed their admiration for the hero’s courage and were indignant at the atrocities committed by representatives of the “cultured nation.” The Supreme Commander-in-Chief, Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich, expressed personal gratitude to the hero, promoted him to junior non-commissioned officer, awarded him with all degrees of the St. George Cross and 500 rubles, asking the Tsar to grant Makukha a double pension. Emperor Nicholas II supported the Grand Duke’s proposal, and junior non-commissioned officer Makukha “as an exception to the law” upon his dismissal from military service was given a pension of 518 rubles 40 kopecks. in year.
Non-commissioned officer of the 10th Novgorod Dragoon Regiment. 1915
Cavalry non-commissioned officer
Vasily Petrovich Simonov, senior non-commissioned officer of the 71st Belevsky Infantry Regiment, platoon commander
