Soviet Army Ranks
v.1.0 March 18, 2001
The Soviet Union no longer exists. Nonetheless, we provide Soviet ranks both for continuity in understanding the new era's ranks, and for war gamers.
This listing of ranks has been translated from the Russian by Mr. Constantine Pehlivanov. He credits Mr. Juri Veremeev of www.armor.kiev.ua/army for the original information.
Artillery became Artillery and Missile Forces. In the autumn of 1980 "starshi praporshtik" - Senior Warrant Officer was introduced. Ranks of officers in Administrative and Supply (intendantskaya) services were formally kept only. Officer of Engineer Service and Officer of Technical Service are seldom. In 1989 Military Jurisdiction was transferred from Ministry of Defense to the Prosecution (Military Prosecution) and Ministry of Jurisdiction (Military tribunals). About 1990 "Marshall" disappeared. Only a few old famous chieftains (Marshall didn't retire) kept this rank, but nobody was favored after the last Minister of Defense of the USSR.
Infantry ranks (Obshtovoyskovie zvania)
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Category |
Rank |
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Soldiers |
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Private (Ryadovi) |
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Corporal (Efreitor) |
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Sergeants (NCOs) |
Junior sergeant (Mladshii serjant) |
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Sergeant (Serzhant) |
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Senior sergeant (Starshii serzhant) |
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Master Sergeant (Starshina) |
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Warrant Officers (Praporshtiki) |
Warrant Officer (Praporstik) - (from 1980) |
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Senior Warrant Officer (Starshii praporshtik) |
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Junior Officers (Mladshii ofitzerskii sostav) |
Junior Lieutenant (Mladshii leitenant) |
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Lieutenant (Leitenant) |
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Senior Lieutenant (Starshii leitenant) |
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Captain (Kapitan) |
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Senior Officers (Starshii ofitzerskii sostav) |
Major (Maior) |
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Lieutenant Colonel (Podpolkovnik) |
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Colonel (Polkovnik) |
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Supreme Officers (Vishii ofitzerskii sostav) |
Maj. General (General-Maior) |
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Lt. General (General-Leitenant) |
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Colonel General (General-Polkovnik) |
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Army General (General Armii) |
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Marshall of the USSR (Marshal Sovetskovo Soiuza) |
In Aviation, Armored Forces, Artillery (subsequently Artillery and Missile Forces), Communication Forces, Chemical Forces, Railway Forces etc all the ranks are the same, but to Supreme Officer's ranks the kind of forces is added. For instance, Maj. Gen. of Armored Forces (General-Maior bronetankovih voisk), Lt. Gen. of Aviation (General-Leitenant aviatzii), Colonel General of Communication Forces (General-Polkovnik voisk svyazi). What's more, Marshall of ~ corresponds to Army General, but Chief Marshall of ~ corresponds to Marshall. For instance, Marshall of Artillery and Missile Forces (Marshal artilerii i raketnih voisk); Chief Marshall of Engineer Forces (Glavni Marshal inzhenernih voisk)
In the Medical (Vet) Service to all the officer's ranks ~ of Medical (Vet) Service is added. For instance, Lieutenant of Medical (Vet) Service (Leitenant Meditzinskoi (Veterinarnoi) sluzhbi).
In the Military Jurisdiction (until 1989), for offices of Prosecution and Tribunals of Jurisdiction is added - Major of Jurisdiction (Maior iustitzii)
Same with Supply Service - Lt. Col. Of Supply Service (Podpolkovnik intendantskai sluzhbi).
Same with Administrative Service - Junior Lieutenant of Administrative Service (Mladshii leitenant administrativnoi sluzhbi)
For engineer staff with high-school education ~ of Engineer Service is added - Captain of Engineer service (Kapitan inzhenernoi sluzhbi)
For engineer staff with university education - Engineer is added. For instance - Colonel-Engineer (Polkovnok-Inzhener)