The most senior rank in the army. Who is higher: major general or lieutenant general? History of military ranks
Today I will tell you how to get a military rank in the army.
Initially, you will be a private, then comes a corporal, and after the corporal comes a junior sergeant, a sergeant and a senior sergeant. You may not hope for more, but this is not certain, since it is already very difficult to get a sergeant and senior sergeant in the army. Let's take it in order and start, of course, with the military rank of private.
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What military ranks can a conscript soldier achieve?
I would also like to remind you that in addition to the army, we also have the Navy, where military ranks differ from land ones, namely:
Assignment of the military rank of private
The initial military rank in the army is private. A private is an ordinary soldier who serves in the army and does not stand out in any way. This rank is stamped on your military ID at the assembly point where you are from, and the date of assignment to the rank of private is the date of your dismissal from military service. Ordinary soldiers have clean shoulder straps, and, as they say, “clean shoulder straps mean a clear conscience.” There is nothing more to say about the military rank of private.
Assignment of the military rank of corporal
Let's talk about the next military rank - corporal, the so-called most trained soldier. As they say, “it’s better to have a prostitute’s daughter than a corporal’s son,” I don’t know why this title is so disliked, but according to one of the many versions, this is due to Tsarist Russia, where corporals at the front were placed in the first rank, and, accordingly, they died first.
How to get the rank of corporal? There is a so-called ShDS (staff list) - “shtatka”. This is in every company. In order to receive this rank, you need to hold the appropriate military position. That is, your position in this “staff” must correspond to your rank.
A corporal can be assigned to any soldier, for example, by title you will be , and the senior driver should have the rank of corporal.
Assignment of the military rank junior sergeant, sergeant
Military ranks of sergeants and senior officers
Next comes the rank of junior sergeant. Let's think about it, do you need it? A junior sergeant is usually a soldier who knows the regulations, who knows how and wants to lead personnel, who is respected in the military collective, not only by the soldiers, but also by the command. He may already be a squad leader. The squad commander is the soldier who will have him under his command. The squad leader must know everything about each soldier from his squad. And also skillfully manage them.
The direct superior of the squad commander will be the deputy platoon commander (zamkom platoon) - this is the same junior sergeant or sergeant who will lead the entire platoon.
That is, there is a chain of military personnel, namely: private, corporal, junior sergeant and sergeant. Usually the platoon commander is a junior sergeant or sergeant, the squad commander is a corporal, and ordinary soldiers are simply in different platoons.
There is another method for obtaining a military rank. Let's say you approach your company commander and say that after the army you want to serve in the police or another law enforcement agency and the rank of junior sergeant will be useful to you to make it easier for you to move forward. Perhaps this will be enough to award you the military rank of junior sergeant (provided that you are really worthy of it).
The third option for assigning a military rank
Let's say - February 23 or May 9, usually regular and extraordinary military ranks are awarded on these holidays, and accordingly you can fall under this topic.
How else can you get a rank in the army?
This is when the old conscription retired and vacancies became available for military positions, for which the state provides for the military ranks of corporal or junior sergeant. And, since there will be no platoon commanders and squad commanders, any worthy soldier can be appointed to this position with the assignment of the next military rank.
Also, the rank of junior sergeant can be given for some merit, but this is very rare. So let's look at it: a private is a soldier who simply serves in the army. A corporal is the same soldier, but no longer a soldier and not yet a junior sergeant. Next comes the junior sergeant, who leads the squad, and the sergeant, who can already lead an entire platoon. But not all soldiers are given a sergeant. There will be only two or three of them in the company.
Conclusion: if you want to run around at night on platoon or squad business, fill out various documentation, monitor the whole platoon, get paid for them, etc., then you can become a junior sergeant. And if you just want to quietly serve in the army, then be a private.
As they say, everything is in your hands and in fact, make it so that you awarded military rank not that hard
Military ranks
Comparison of military ranks
Each army has its own system of military ranks. Moreover, rank systems are not something frozen, established once and for all. Some titles are abolished, others are introduced.
Those who are at all seriously interested in the art of war and science need to know not only the entire system of military ranks of a particular army, but also to know how the ranks of different armies correlate, what ranks of one army correspond to the ranks of another army. There is a lot of confusion, errors, and simply absurdities in the existing literature on these issues. Meanwhile, it is very difficult to compare ranks not only between different armies, but often also between different armed formations within the same country. If we take, for example, Germany in 1935-45, it is difficult to compare the ranks of the Ground Forces, Luftwaffe and SS troops.
Many authors approach this issue very simply. For example, they take a table of ranks for army A and a table of ranks for army B, look for ranks in both tables that sound the same and, ready to go, there is a comparative table. Typically, such points of comparison are the ranks “private”, “major” (a very convenient rank - it is written and read almost the same in many languages) and “major general” (this rank in almost all armies is the first among the general ranks). Moreover, from lieutenant to colonel, the number of ranks in most armies is the same.
But let's try to create a comparative table of the ranks of the Red Army and the Wehrmacht. Let's not pay attention to the fact that in the German army there is no rank of "private". In any case, he is a soldier. So, the Red Army is a Red Army soldier, the Wehrmacht is a soldier. But then we stumble. In the Red Army - corporal, In the Wehrmacht - oversoldat, In the Red Army - junior sergeant, in the Wehrmacht - corporal, in the Red Army sergeant, in the Wehrmacht - overfreiter, in the Red Army senior sergeant, in the Wehrmacht - staff sergeant, in the Red Army - sergeant major, in the Wehrmacht - non-commissioned officer, in Red Army junior lieutenant, in the Wehrmacht - non-commissioned officer. Stop! This will not work. How then can we compare further if both the Red Army and the Wehrmacht have the rank of lieutenant. Yes, here the Luftwaffe throws up a problem: there is the rank of Hauptefreiter. Yes, it turns out that in the SS troops there are not three corporals, but only two (navigator and rotenführer).
If we look at the US Army, it is difficult to compare here either. For example, in the Marine Corps there is a rank below private - recruit, and between colonel and major general wedge the rank of brigadier general. And with whom in the American army can a marshal of armored forces be compared, if they have the highest rank of general of the army?
You can, of course, do as Messrs. Yegers E.V. and Tereshchenko D.G. did. in the book "SA Soldiers" publishing house "Tornado" 1997. I can’t resist and give this example of a crazy comparison of titles:
| SA Sturmann | private |
| S.A. Obersturmann | senior soldier |
| S.A. Rottenfuehrer | lance corporal |
| SA Shariuehrer | corporal |
| S.A. Oberscharfuehrer | sergeant |
| S.A. Truppfuehrer | staff sergeant |
| SA Obertruppfuehrer | staff Sergeant |
| SA Haupttmppfuehrer | ensign |
| SA Sturmfuehrer | lieutenant |
| SA Obersturmftiehrer | Oberleutnant |
| SA Sturmhauptfuehrer | captain |
| SA Stunnbannfuehrer | major |
| SAObersturmbannfuehrer | lieutenant colonel |
| SA Standartenfuehrer | Colonel |
| S.A. Oberfuehrer | no match |
| SA Brigadefuehrer | Brigadier General |
| SA Gruppenfuehrer | major general |
| SA Obergmppenfuehre | Colonel General |
| SA Stabschef | chief of staff |
Curious, with which army do the authors compare the ranks of SA members? Or is this a free translation into Russian of German titles? Well, then it is necessary to translate brigadenführer not as brigadier general, but as brigade leader or brigade leader, and Standartenführer as leader of the standard.
I would like to propose introducing into everyday use such a concept as “rank encoding”. If each rank has a code, then to compare ranks it is enough to look at the rank code of one army and find the same code in the table of ranks of another army. Everything will become clear then.
As a criterion for compiling a coding of titles, I proceed from the principle that titles are not titles, but are an abstract expression of very specific positions. Simply put, each military rank corresponds to a specific command position.
First, let's look at the hierarchy of military units, units, and formations.
The smallest unit with a full-time commander is department. That's what they call it in the infantry. In other branches of the military, it corresponds to the gun crew (in artillery) and the crew (in tank forces).
Two to four branches make up platoon. Usually in all branches of the military this unit is called that way. Two to four platoons are company. Two to four (or more) mouths make up battalion. In artillery this is called division. Several battalions make up regiment. Several regiments make up division. Several divisions make up frame. Several buildings make up army(we will not go into detail about the fact that an army can consist of divisions, bypassing corps). Several armies make up district(front, army group). Thus, we get the following ladder:
Branch
- platoon
- company
- battalion
- regiment
- division
- frame
- army
Considering that in the US Army and some other armies, a squad in battle is usually divided into two groups (maneuver group and weapons group), and in many armies (including the Russian Army) there is often an intermediate unit “brigade” between a regiment and a division (the formation is larger and stronger than a regiment, but clearly smaller and weaker than a division) we will make amendments to our hierarchy. Then the ladder will look like this:
Group
- department
- platoon
- company
- battalion
- regiment
- brigade
- division
- frame
- army
- district (front, army group).
Based on this hierarchy of units, we will try to create a hierarchy of military positions, immediately entering the code. Let's take into account the existence of a rank below private.
There is a rather strange category of military personnel, which I called “sub-officers”. In the Russian Army, these include warrant officers and senior warrant officers. It is difficult to explain what caused the emergence of this category of military personnel. Typically, warrant officers occupy the positions of warehouse chiefs, company foremen, rear platoon commanders, i.e. partly as non-commissioned officers, partly as officers. But a fact is a fact. Moreover, a number of armies have a similar category. In the US Army they are called "warrant officers", in the Romanian Army they are called "sub-officers". So:
| Code | Job title |
| 0 | Recruit, untrained soldier |
| 1 | Trained soldier (gunner, driver, machine gunner, etc.) |
| 2 | |
| 3 | Part-commander |
| 4 | Deputy Platoon Leader |
| 5 | Foreman of company, battalion |
| 6 | Sub-officers (in the Russian Army warrant officers) |
| 7 | Platoon commander |
| 8 | Deputy company commander, separate platoon commander |
| 9 | Company commander |
| 10 | Deputy battalion commander |
| 11 | Battalion commander, deputy. regiment commander |
| 12 | Regiment commander, deputy. brigade commander, deputy com. divisions |
| 13 | Brigade commander |
| 14 | Division commander, deputy. corps commander |
| 15 | Corps commander, deputy com. army |
| 16 | Army Commander, Deputy com. districts (army groups) |
| 17 | Commander of a district (front, army group) |
| 18 | Commander-in-Chief, Commander of the Armed Forces, honorary titles |
Having such a coding, it is enough to pick up the staffing lists of units and subunits of the desired army and enter the codes by position. Then all ranks will be automatically distributed according to codes. Each position corresponds to certain titles.
You can add letters to digital codes if necessary. For example, let's take code 2. In the Russian army it will correspond to the rank of corporal. And in the Wehrmacht, since there are several corporal ranks, you can encode it like this:
2a - corporal,
2b-oberefreytor,
2v-stafffreiter.
Of course, not everyone has access to the staffing lists of units, units and formations, especially foreign ones. For clarity, we provide an approximate table of correspondence between positions and ranks of the Russian Army:
| Rank | Job title |
| Private | All newly drafted into the army, all lower positions (gunner, driver, gun crew number, driver mechanic, sapper, reconnaissance officer, radio operator, etc.) |
| Corporal | There are no full-time corporal positions. The rank is assigned to highly qualified soldiers in lower positions. |
| Junior Sergeant, Sergeant | Squad, tank, gun commander |
| Staff Sergeant | Deputy Platoon Leader |
| Sergeant Major | Company Sergeant Major |
| Ensign, senior ensign | Material support platoon commander, company sergeant major, warehouse chief, radio station chief and other non-commissioned positions that require high qualifications. Can occupy lower officer positions if there is a shortage of officers |
| Ensign | Platoon commander. Usually this title is awarded in conditions of acute shortage officers after completing accelerated officer courses |
| Lieutenant, senior lieutenant | Platoon commander, deputy company commander. |
| Captain | Company commander, training platoon commander |
| Major | Deputy battalion commander. Training company commander |
| Lieutenant colonel | Battalion commander, deputy regiment commander |
| Colonel | Regiment commander, deputy brigade commander, brigade commander, deputy division commander |
| Major General | Division commander, deputy corps commander |
| Lieutenant General | Corps commander, deputy army commander |
| Colonel General | Army Commander, Deputy District (Front) Commander |
| Army General | District (front) commander, Deputy Minister of Defense, Minister of Defense, Chief of the General Staff, other senior positions |
| Marshal Russian Federation | Honorary title given for special merits |
Please note that this is an approximate correspondence of positions and titles. It should be borne in mind that a soldier holding this position cannot receive a rank higher than the corresponding one. But it can be lower. Thus, a division commander cannot receive the rank of lieutenant general, but a division commander can be a colonel. Usually a colonel is appointed to the position of division commander, and when they are convinced that he can cope with the position, they are awarded the rank of major general. It should also be borne in mind that under certain conditions (small number of units, insignificance of tasks performed) for a particular position the corresponding rank may be set higher or lower than usual. For example, for the position of a company commander, the rank of captain is established, but if the company is a training company, then the company commander may be a major; the position of the division commander is that of a general, but if the division is reduced in strength, then his position will be that of a colonel.
Strict correspondence between rank and position is established only in the US Army. There, simultaneously with appointment to a position, a corresponding title is temporarily assigned. For example, a sergeant in a combat situation was appointed company commander and is immediately given the temporary rank of captain, and when he is returned to his previous position, he again becomes a sergeant.
In a similar way, you can set the encoding of naval ranks:
| Code | Job title |
| 0 | Untrained sailor |
| 1 | Sailor specialist. (motor operator, helmsman-signalman, radio technician, etc.) |
| 2 | Group commander, assistant squad leader |
| 3 | Part-commander |
| 4 | Deputy platoon commander (combat post), boatswain on a ship of 4th rank |
| 5 | Foreman of a combat unit (company) on a ship of rank 2-1, boatswain on a ship of rank 3-2 |
| 6 | Commander of a combat post (platoon) (in wartime), chief boatswain on a ship of rank 2-1 |
| 7 | Combat post (platoon) commander |
| 8 | Deputy commander of a combat unit (company) on a ship of rank 2-1, senior assistant commander of a ship of rank 4 |
| 9 | Commander of a combat unit (company) on a ship of rank 2 or higher, commander of a ship of rank 4, senior assistant commander of a ship of rank 3 |
| 10 | Commander of a 3rd rank ship, senior assistant commander of a 2nd rank ship |
| 11 | Commander of a ship of 2nd rank, senior assistant commander of a ship of 1st rank, commander of a detachment of ships of 4th rank |
| 12 | Commander of a ship of 1st rank, commander of a detachment of ships of 3rd rank, deputy commander of a brigade of ships of 2-1st rank |
| 13 | Brigade commander of ships of rank 2-1, deputy squadron (division) commander |
| 14 | Squadron (division) commander, deputy commander of a flotilla, operational squadron (army) |
| 15 | Commander of a flotilla, operational squadron (army), deputy commander of a fleet |
| 16 | Fleet Commander, Chief of the Main Staff of the Navy, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Navy |
| 17 | Commander-in-Chief of the Navy |
In the army of the Russian Federation, military ranks are assigned to all military personnel regardless of their position. The rank determines the scope of the rights and responsibilities of soldiers and sailors, warrant officers and midshipmen, officers, and also ensures subordination between members of the personnel.
In the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, it is customary to distinguish between naval and combined arms ranks. If a person liable for military service serves on a guard ship or in a military unit, the prefix “guard” is added to his rank (guard captain, guard colonel). It is also assigned for life a certain person. For example, if a serviceman retired as a lieutenant colonel, he is referred to as a “retired lieutenant colonel.”
The terms and procedure for assigning, as well as deprivation of military ranks are regulated Federal law RF and Regulations on service in the Armed Forces. It is generally accepted that the corresponding naval and combined arms ranks are equivalent in relation to each other. They are assigned personally to each serviceman.
Deadlines for conferring the next military ranks
There are several groups of military personnel who make up the current composition of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. These should include soldiers and sailors, sergeants and foremen, warrant officers and midshipmen, and officers. The last group is divided into junior, senior and senior command staff.
To receive the next military rank, soldiers, warrant officers and officers must serve for a certain period of time. For diligent service, sailors and soldiers can be promoted to the next rank (senior soldier or sailor) 5 months after its start.
To receive the rank of junior sergeant, soldiers and senior soldiers are required to serve for at least 1 year, sergeant - for at least 2 years, senior sergeant and warrant officer - for at least 3 years. For an officer to be awarded another title, it is necessary to serve:
- 2 years junior lieutenant;
- 3 years for lieutenant and senior lieutenant;
- 4 years for captain (lieutenant captain) and major (3rd rank captain);
- 5 years for a lieutenant colonel (2nd rank captain).
To receive another rank, graduates of military higher educational institutions must hold the rank of lieutenant for 2 years. Senior officers can be promoted if they served in the previous rank for at least 2 years and for at least 1 year held a position that is subject to replacement by senior military officers.
For generals and admirals of the Russian Armed Forces, including generals of the army or admirals of the fleet, the terms of service in their position and in a specific rank are not established.
The calculation of the period of stay in a military rank begins from the day of its assignment. The period of military service in a certain rank includes the time:
- interruption of service due to unjustified attraction to criminal liability;
- termination of service due to illegal dismissal;
- stay in reserve.
Important: Some changes were made to the legislation of the Russian Federation in 2016, which affected the timing of assigning regular military ranks to military personnel. So, for example, to receive the rank of captain, a senior lieutenant had to serve for 3 years. Currently, the Armed Forces operate personnel certification. This means that military personnel must prove their professional suitability to receive the next rank. An important role is played by discipline, knowledge of the specialty, behavior and absence of official misconduct.
The procedure for assigning military ranks
There are a number of grounds for conferring a military rank. First of all, this should include entering service in the Armed Forces on a voluntary basis, by conscription, as well as entering specialized military educational establishments and their ending.
The expiration of a certain period of service in the previous rank is also grounds for promotion. Military personnel may be awarded a military rank by decision of officials within the framework of their powers.
Also, military personnel can be transferred to a position when a certain military rank is provided for it in the staffing table. It can be either equal or higher in comparison with the existing rank.
Please note that a new military rank is assigned simultaneously with appointment to a new position. As for persons liable for military service for whom sergeant (senior) positions are provided, the basis for their promotion to rank may be successful completion tests according to the service program.
The President of the Russian Federation can assign military ranks to senior officers. To do this, they must be introduced by the manager federal body executive power, in whose department they perform military service. Given executive also has the right to confer the rank of captain 1st rank or colonel.
When entering military service in the Armed Forces in all constituent entities of the Russian Federation, the military commissar has the right to assign the rank of private to conscripts. If military personnel are directly subordinate to officials, the latter have the right to assign them regular military ranks.
It is important to understand that military personnel can be awarded their first and subsequent military ranks. Thus, officers receive the first military rank of “junior lieutenant” and “lieutenant”, warrant officers (midshipmen) - “warrant officer” (midshipman), and soldiers - “private” or “sailor”, respectively.
For personal merits of a military man, he may be awarded the next military rank ahead of schedule, but not higher than the rank that is provided for staffing table for the position held.
The procedure for assigning military ranks also provides for rewarding military personnel for special personal merit if their term in the assigned rank has expired. Thus, an officer can be promoted by one step in rank in accordance with his position, but not higher than “captain 3rd rank” or “major”.
If a soldier has academic degree, holds a teaching position in military educational or research organizations, he may be awarded another rank, but not higher than “captain 1st rank” or “colonel”.
Warrant officers (midshipmen) and sergeants (ship foremen) can also be nominated for the next military rank. For warrant officers (midshipmen), this is “senior warrant officer” (“senior warrant officer”), and sergeants (ship foremen) receive a rank no higher than “sergeant major” (“chief ship’s foreman”).
Can they be deprived of their military rank?
The Russian Armed Forces practice a system of reward and punishment for military personnel, so they can not only be promoted in position and rank, but also be deprived of such privileges. This can happen if a person liable for military service has committed a serious or especially serious offense.
Only a court can accuse a person of an offense. After a verdict is passed, a military man may be demoted in rank, as well as deprived of social benefits and privileges.
Important: By law, judicial authorities have the right to deprive a military personnel of his position and rank. It does not take into account who awarded the title. It can be restored only after the criminal record has been expunged. Its removal alone is not enough to restore one's rank. This will require a positive review from the military commissar, as well as the consent of the relevant authorities.
To be reinstated in position and rank, after a criminal record has been cleared, a serviceman must contact the military registration and enlistment office and submit the appropriate application. According to the law, it may take 30 calendar days. If the military commissar has every reason to restore a person to his rank, a representation and the necessary order are issued to him.
Please note that if a serviceman was convicted unfairly, he will be rehabilitated, that is, automatically restored to rank. More detailed information can provide, whose services it is recommended to use.
When is an extraordinary military rank given?
Military personnel can receive a new rank ahead of schedule for special personal merit. Often, individuals who have proven their professionalism are rewarded by the unit’s leadership in the form of promotion in rank and position, which allows the person to quickly rise through the ranks. career ladder. If it is not possible to make a personnel change, they can only assign the next rank.
To receive an extraordinary rank, an officer may, for example, accept Active participation in special operations or prove yourself in emergency situations. If the serviceman's subordinates showed excellent results in exercises and combat training, there is a high probability that he can be quickly promoted ahead of schedule.
In practice, obtaining an extraordinary military rank can be quite difficult, since the leadership of the unit can carry out this procedure at their discretion. It's no secret that officers who have a relationship with the command are promoted faster than others. family ties. However, if the serviceman’s merits are noticed by higher-ranking officers, then the new appointment will not take long to arrive.
Private
The military rank of “private” is established in the armed forces of many states. In the Russian army, it was first introduced by the Table of Ranks (1722), according to which privates were included in the group of soldiers. After the establishment of universal military service in Russia (1874), privates were classified as “lower ranks.” In the Soviet Republic, with the creation of the Red Army in 1918, ordinary soldiers were called Red Army soldiers. The rank of “private” in the Armed Forces of the USSR was introduced in July 1946. It has also been preserved in the Russian Army. Assigned to persons called up for active military service military service simultaneously with their enrollment in the lists of the military unit.
Corporal
This military rank is assigned to the senior and best soldiers, who replace them during the absence of squad commanders. In Russia it was introduced under Peter I by the Military Regulations of 1716 in the infantry, cavalry and engineering troops. In the artillery of the Russian army, the corporal corresponded to the bombardier, in Cossack troops- orderly. In the Armed Forces of the USSR, the soldier's military rank of “corporal” was introduced in November 1940. With the formation of the Russian Army, it retained its importance. In the Navy, he corresponds to the rank of “senior sailor.”
Awarded for exemplary performance of official duties and exemplary military discipline.
Sergeant
It first appeared as a military rank in the 15th century. in the French, and then in the German and English armies. In the Russian regular army this rank existed from 1716 to 1798. IN Soviet army introduced by order People's Commissar Defense of November 2, 1940. Also preserved in the Russian Army. Sergeant ranks include: junior sergeant, sergeant, senior sergeant and sergeant major. In the navy they correspond to: foreman of the 2nd article, foreman of the 1st article, chief foreman, chief ship's foreman.
Sergeant Major
This word is Russian. Until the end of the 17th century. foremen were the persons who held positions (ranks) of the hetman, in regiments and hundreds. Hence the general, regimental, and hundredth sergeants.
From the beginning of the 17th century. this was the name given to officials, as well as people who had ever occupied ranks and received estates from the authorities. In the Russian Army, the word “sergeant major” has 2 meanings: an official in a company (battery), responsible for the correct performance of service by personnel, order in the unit; a military rank senior to other sergeant ranks.
Ensign
Comes from the ancient Greek “ensign” - banner. It was first established by Peter I when creating the regular army and was the first junior officer rank. Later it was preserved only for reserve officers and was assigned to persons who graduated from ensign schools in wartime. Restored to the Soviet Army on January 1, 1972. It is also assigned to the Russian Armed Forces. He has two degrees: warrant officer and senior warrant officer.
Midshipman
Introduced by Peter I at the dawn of the Russian fleet. The word “midshipman” translated into Russian means ship’s man. This was the first officer rank in the Russian Navy. It was assigned to midshipmen who successfully graduated from the Naval Cadet Corps.
By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of November 18, 1971, the institute of midshipmen, like the institute of warrant officers, was introduced in the Soviet Armed Forces on January 1, 1972. This title has been retained to this day. It is also of two ranks: midshipman and senior midshipman.
Lieutenant
The term is of French origin. Literally, this word means “an officer who replaces his superior.” Hence the double ranks: captain-lieutenant, lieutenant general. The rank of “lieutenant” was first established in the 15th century. in France, first in the navy, then in the ground forces. Lieutenants were the closest deputies and assistants to company and squadron commanders. In the Russian army this rank corresponded to the title “lieutenant”. The ranks of “lieutenant” and “senior lieutenant” were introduced in the Red Army in 1935, and “junior lieutenant” in 1937. These ranks are also established in the Russian Army.
Captain
Military rank of officers in the armed forces of many states. The title “captain” first appeared in the Middle Ages in France, where the heads of individual military districts were called this name. Since 1558, company commanders began to be called captains, and the heads of military districts began to be called captains general. In Russia, the title “captain” appeared in the 16th century. for foreign officers. In the 17th century established for company commanders in the “new order” regiments, and at the beginning of the 18th century. - for company commanders throughout the regular army.
In our Armed Forces, this rank was established by a resolution of the Central Executive Committee and the SNKSSSR dated September 22, 1935 for the command staff of the Ground Forces, Air Force and coastal units of the Navy. The same decree introduced the ranks of “captain 1st, 2nd and 3rd rank” and “lieutenant captain” for the naval personnel of the Navy. The rank of “captain” and its equivalent for the Navy, “captain-lieutenant,” are also retained in the Russian Armed Forces.
Major
A word of Latin origin meaning “large, elder.” It appeared as a military rank more than 400 years ago in the Spanish army. In Russia - since 1711. Introduced into the Red Army on September 22, 1935. Remains in the Russian Army. In the Navy, he is equal to the rank of “Captain 3rd Rank.”
Lieutenant colonel
At first this was the name of the position of assistant regiment commander, and then this word began to denote a military rank. In our army, the rank of “lieutenant colonel” was established shortly before the Great Patriotic War– September 1, 1939
Preserved in the Russian Army. His equal in the Navy is “Captain 2nd Rank.”
Colonel
This was the name given to the person who commanded the regiment. He was either appointed or chosen (among the Cossacks) to lead the regiment during a campaign. Over time, the job title evolved into a military rank. In 1631, it replaced the titles of “voivode” and “regimental head”. At first, only hired officers who were appointed to the position of regiment commander were called colonels.
Since 1632, this rank was assigned to all commanders who led regiments of the so-called “new order”. In the Red Army, the rank of “colonel” was established by a resolution of the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR dated September 22, 1935. It is also awarded in the Russian Army. In the Navy it corresponds to “captain 1st rank”.
General
Military rank or rank of senior officers of the armed forces. The rank of general appeared in France in the 16th century. In Russia it was first mentioned in 1657 under Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. In our Armed Forces, the ranks of general were introduced by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of May 7, 1940. Also preserved in the Russian Army. There are several degrees: major general, lieutenant general, colonel general, army general. In the navy they correspond to: rear admiral, vice admiral, admiral, admiral of the fleet.
Admiral
Translated from Arabic it means “ruler of the sea.” In its modern meaning, this term came into use in the 12th century. In Russia, the military rank “admiral” in the meaning of admiral general, admiral, vice admiral, rear admiral was introduced by Peter I. On May 7, 1940, it was restored in the Navy. Admiral ranks are also awarded in the Russian Armed Forces.
Marshal
This term is known in military history since time immemorial, although its meaning has not always been the same. In the Middle Ages in France and other countries this was the name of the position. The person assigned to it was responsible for the formation of troops for the campaign - march and battle, monitored the performance of guard duty, was in charge of the economic part of the army, and also commanded the avant-garde, chose a place for the camp, etc. In Russia, installers, Starozhestavs, and parcel workers were engaged in similar matters voivodes. At first, marshals were appointed only for the duration of campaigns, but gradually the temporary position turned into a permanent rank, higher than other ranks. During the Great French Bourgeois Revolution, the title of “marshal” was abolished, but Napoleon reintroduced it. In the USSR, the military rank is “Marshal” Soviet Union” was established in 1935.
The first Soviet marshals were K. Voroshilov, S. Budyonny, V. Blucher, A. Egorov and M. Tukhachevsky. The title “Marshal of the Russian Federation” was awarded to the Minister of Defense of Russia I. Sergeev.
Generalissimo
Generalissimo (from the Latin “most important”) is the highest military rank in the armed forces of a number of countries. It was assigned to generals who commanded several, often allied, armies during the war, as well as sometimes to persons from the families of the reigning dynasties and statesmen as an honorary title.
In Russia, the first generalissimo was governor A. Shein. This title was granted to him by Peter I in late XVII V. for successful fighting near Azov. But officially the title of “Generalissimo” in Russia was introduced by the Military Regulations in 1716. In the USSR, the title of “Generalissimo of the Soviet Union” was approved by a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated June 26, 1945.
It was assigned to I. Stalin. Not provided for in the Russian Army.
Why is a lieutenant general older than a major general?
Previously, ranks only denoted responsibilities that were assigned to commanders.
Major translated from Latin as big, he commanded a battalion. Lieutenant, translated as assistant, he helped the captain.
Now the generals. The most high rank was a field marshal general, who was supposed to have an assistant, that is, a lieutenant. Therefore, the rank was lieutenant general.
In the Russian army there was the position of brigade commander, which included from 2 to 4 regiments. Well, such a large army should have been commanded by a major, namely a major general. But he was still younger than the general’s assistant.
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